Eerie Ghosts and Vampires of the New Orleans French Quarter
Created by Laura Martone
An exclusive pair of spooky, self-guided tours created by two Big Easy storytellers. In ebook, print, and audio. Enjoyable anywhere!
Latest Updates from Our Project:
UPDATE ON REMAINING REWARDS & EXCITING NEW PROJECTS!
over 1 year ago
– Mon, Jan 16, 2023 at 10:28:05 PM
Howdy, beloved backers!
I hope that 2023 is treating all of you well so far. It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through the first month of the new year. Why must time move so darn fast?!
Speaking of time, I want to give you a revised delivery schedule for our remaining rewards. These include:
The Dark Side of New Orleans ebook
the audio commentary for the audio ghost tour
the audio commentary for the audio vampire tour
The Little Big Easy Guide ebook
The Dark Side of New Orleans paperback (which will include all the text, photos, maps, and links in our three ebooks: The Dark Side of New Orleans, The Little Big Easy Guide, and NOLA Lingo)
Obviously, we underestimated how long each of the above items would take to complete, but luckily, the first three (TDSONO ebook and the two commentaries) are almost done, so we expect to upload those by mid-February. We’d aim to do so sooner, but Dan and I are headed down to New Orleans next Monday for a couple weeks (yippee!) – and given the stress of packing (thanks to me and my ever-present OCD), highway travel, and trying to squeeze in as much fun and family time in Louisiana as humanly possible, we’re loath to overpromise yet again.
As an aside, we’d intended to move back down to Louisiana (from northern Michigan) last fall, but life intervened, so while in New Orleans, we plan to gather as much updated info and imagery as possible to enhance our Little Big Easy guidebook – which is why we aim to upload that in March. Then, once that’s done, we’ll finally be able to format, print, sign, and mail out the paperbacks. Woohoo!
In the meantime, we’re currently running our second Kickstarter campaign – Azazel the Zombie Slayer: Illustrated Storybook + Tarot Deck – which brings together many of our favorite things… cats, zombies, tarot, and New Orleans. Specifically, we’re offering a fully illustrated, four-story collection featuring Azazel the zombie-slaying cat as well as our first-ever tarot deck, Zombie Cats of New Orleans. If that intrigues you even a little, please check out our campaign before it ends at 9pm EST on Thursday, January 26th. At the very least, you’ll have the chance to see lots of cute pics of our cat, Ruby Azazel, in the video – and take advantage of our early-bird deals before they end at noon EST today!
Of course, we’re not the only authors running campaigns right now. Here are four more that might interest you:
D.L. Gardner’s YA adventure fantasy campaign features the first three novels in her Ian’s Realm Saga as well as a two-book bundle entitled Layla. All installments are beautifully illustrated and offered in ebook, paperback, and hardbound form. You’ll also be able to snag charms, bookmarks, audiobooks, and other goodies – but only if you back this project by 1am EST on Friday, January 20th.
Author and comic writer Frank Martin has expanded the galactic fantasy universe of Grimm Space with this 26-page, wonderfully illustrated action/adventure adaptation of the fairy-tale classic “Pinocchio.” Fans of TV shows like Grimm, Supernatural, Once Upon a Time, and Firefly will likely love this project – which is why I’m one of its many supporters. If you’d like to join me behind the backer wall, then check out Frank’s campaign before it ends this Friday, January 20th, at midnight EST.
Through this campaign, indie author and librarian Amy Campbell is presenting an illustrated hardcover edition of Effigest, a western fantasy filled with reluctant heroes, magical cowboys, winged horses, fierce outlaws, and badass women. Among the awesome rewards available are ebooks, oracle cards, audio commentaries, enamel pins, signed paperbacks, and art prints. And serendipitously, her campaign ends the exact same time as ours – 9pm EST on Thursday, January 26th!
Author Katharina Gerlach is compiling 100 of her finest short stories into one epic-sized book: The Fires in my Soul. That’s 800+ pages of thrilling tales, covering a medley of genres, from fantasy romance and fairy-tale retellings to sci-fi and steampunk to history and crime. Something for every kind of reader! So, if, like me, you have eclectic reading tastes, then do yourself a favor and check out this campaign before it comes to a close at 11pm EST on Tuesday, January 31st.
Well, that’s it for me, folks! As always, feel free to send any questions or concerns my way – and I’ll do my best to address them. In the meantime, I hope y’all have a wonderful week!
Sincerely,
Laura Martone
THE MAP AND GLOSSARY HAVE FINALLY ARRIVED!
over 1 year ago
– Sat, Dec 10, 2022 at 01:47:03 AM
Happy Friday, y’all!
I hope you’re doing well – wherever you happen to be in the world. Dan and I (plus our beloved cat, Ruby Azazel) are staying warm in northern Michigan – but wishing we were in New Orleans right now.
That said, I’m delighted to report that, at long last, the New Orleans glossary/pronunciation guide and the French Quarter map are now ready to be downloaded from BackerKit.
This means that, if you backed the $1 reward tier (NOLA GOODIES) or higher during our Kickstarter campaign, you should have received an email notification from BackerKit, enabling you to download the PDF entitled NOLA Lingo: A Glossary &Pronunciation Guide for Visitors to New Orleans. And if you backed the $10 reward tier (DARK SIDE EBOOK) or higher and/or made a relevant pre-order purchase, you should also be able to download the printable French Quarter map (plus a ghostly bonus picture of the Quarter).
I sincerely apologize for the long delay in getting these items to y’all – especially the glossary – but as I explained in a previous update, what was intended to be a two-page “cheat sheet” delivered by the end of July eventually blossomed into an eight-chapter, 16,000-word guide filled with a variety of colorful terms and expressions, well-researched definitions and pronunciation suggestions, and a slew of personal anecdotes and/or explanations (from the perspective of one New Orleans native and one adopted New Orleanian – me and Dan, respectively). I attribute three factors to the evolution of this project: my perfectionistic tendencies, my (and my hubby’s) passion for New Orleans, and my lifelong desire to create such a unique book, a literary love letter to my one-of-a-kind hometown.
So, despite the unplanned delay, I’m incredibly proud of NOLA Lingo – and grateful that our first Kickstarter campaign finally compelled me to make it happen. Thanks again for your support, enthusiasm, and patience – and please let me know if you have any questions.
In the meantime, I hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful holiday season!
Sincerely,
Laura Martone
TAROT READINGS, UPCOMING AUTHOR Q&A, PLUS TWO COOL CAMPAIGNS!
over 1 year ago
– Thu, Oct 13, 2022 at 07:51:02 PM
Howdy, beloved backers!
I hope October has treated y’all well so far.
As you might have guessed by now – given the eerie theme of our first Kickstarter campaign – Dan and I love this particular month. Every year, we devote each night of October to watching a horror movie or two, culminating with Halloween, our favorite holiday.
And last night was no exception. Following the workday, we enjoyed a double feature of Happy Death Day (2017) and Happy Death Day 2U (2019) – two well-made, back-to-back horror comedies that fittingly enough were both shot on a college campus in New Orleans.
Speaking of spooky stuff created in the Big Easy, we’re still planning to deliver the remaining digital rewards by the end of this month. That includes the NOLA glossary (and pronunciation guide), the French Quarter map, our author commentaries for the two tours, and the ebook versions of The Dark Side of New Orleans and The Little Big Easy Guide.
In the meantime, though, I wanted to thank the backers who purchased tarot readings during the campaign. Last week, I “performed” three of these online sessions – and each one was super-fun and quite enlightening – so thanks again for letting me stretch my divination skills with you.
Additionally, I wanted to let everyone know that we’ve uploaded a new version of the PDFs that accompany the two audio tours. Apparently, the original QR codes linking to each location in Google Street View have expired, so whether you have or haven’t yet downloaded the audio tours and their related PDFs, please grab the newest version from BackerKit at your earliest convenience.
I also wanted to remind everyone about our upcoming live author Q&A, scheduled for 3pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on Saturday, October 22nd. As you might remember, this stretch goal was promised to anyone who pledged $10 or more during the campaign. So, if that describes you, please be on the lookout for an invitation in the next few days.
Lastly, I wanted to let y’all know about two awesome Kickstarter campaigns currently running – both of which involve some of my fellow writers and editors.
The first one, a cryptid horror anthology called Darkest of Dreams, features the spine-tingling work of 14 different authors – and ends tomorrow at 7pm EDT. So, if you’re intrigued by the mysterious and horrifying world of cryptozoology, be sure to back this campaign in the next 21 hours!
The second campaign, launched a few days ago by my good friend Mariëlle S. Smith, focuses on a brand-new book and oracle deck meant to grow your creative mindset – or, in her words, help you “cultivate creative courage & kick imposter syndrome to the curb.” I’ve learned a lot from Mariëlle’s other writer-focused books (many of which are included in this campaign), so I’m eager to check this one out as well – and you should, too!
Well, that’s all for now. Remember to keep an eye out for the official invitation to our author Q&A – and let me know if you have any questions, comments, or concerns before then.
Thanks, as always, for your support!
Sincerely,
Laura Martone
A FOLLOW-UP AND AN UPDATE
over 1 year ago
– Thu, Sep 15, 2022 at 03:24:00 PM
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.
GHOST AND VAMPIRE AUDIO TOURS NOW AVAILABLE!
over 1 year ago
– Mon, Aug 29, 2022 at 02:15:18 PM
Happy Monday, beloved backers!
I hope you had a wonderful weekend – and that your week is off to a terrific start!
Dan and I just wanted to let you know that, as promised in our last update, we’ve uploaded and distributed the two audio tours: In the Footsteps of Ghosts and Strolling Among Vampires. If you ordered one or both of these tours, you should’ve received a notification from BackerKit informing you that these digital rewards are now available – and giving you the link to log in and download them.
Jackson Square, where both tours begin
For each, you should see a zipped folder containing the MP3 files (seventeen for the ghost tour and thirteen for the vampire one) as well as a related location guide in PDF form.
If you should’ve received one or both of these tours – but did not – please let me know, and I will redistribute your rewards. And if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to tell me via Kickstarter or email ([email protected]).
Needless to say, we hope you enjoy the tours! Happy listening! And thanks again for your support!
