Le Feu Follet

Deep in the bayou, late at night, if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time, you might see a light moving just over there. Now, some folks’ll tell you they ain’t nothing but swamp gas. You can believe that if you like, but let me tell you about le feu follet ‘fore you go traipsing through the swamp in the dark. It’s not just the gators you have to watch out for.

Le feu follet…the old Cajuns say they are those souls escaped from Purgatory or maybe they’re the souls of babies who were never blessed in the Church. Perhaps you believe them to be Fae or elves holding dances over those marshy places set to trap unwary wanderers in the swamps and bayous. Whatever you believe them to be, le feu follet hold a grand place in Louisiana folklore.

If you wander into the bayou, down where the darkness holds sway, where the ‘gator and the water moccasins hold court, you might see those dancing lights. If you’re coming home after dark, poling your pirogue along in the black water, don’t be surprised if those lights are following you along the shore – they can’t cross the water to get you. So don’t be afraid, but do be wary when you step back on land. The other way to stop those restless spirits from following you is cold iron – take that pocket knife and thrust it into the ground behind you – that’ll hold ‘em for a bit. An elderly Cajun woman told me she didn’t trust a knife. She preferred needles saying that the feu follet just couldn’t resist trying to fit through the eye of the slim bit of steel.

There have always been tales of mysterious lights luring travelers to their doom. The Scots have the will o’ the wisp and the Slavic people tell tales of ghost lights. The Danes and others chase those lights knowing there is a treasure buried beneath it. But in Louisiana to this day, you can buy a beer in a bar and listen to someone who escaped a feu follet just last week.

Go down to Gonzales, Louisiana just outside of Baton Rouge. Get directions for Bayou Narcisse Rd and Cante Rd. Expect to hear dire warnings about what will happen to those foolish enough to follow the lights though. Some will tell you the Gonzales feu follet is harmless—others will tell a more compelling story of terror.

I’ve seen the feu follet dancing across the bayou late at night. Once, gazing out my bedroom window while dreaming about a boy I hoped would call me, a flicker of something caught my eye. I remember straining my neck forward trying to make it come into focus, but it just danced at the edge of the water seeming to mock me. Some Fey part of me cried when I realized I shouldn’t follow the flickering wisp of brightness. When I went to tell my mama, she told me not to mess with the Devil and go to bed. She called me a foolish child, but I heard her stick that steak knife in the front porch.

There are no feu follets to scare you in Changing Times. Just a werepanther trying not to fall in love with a human doctor even as his enemies threaten her life. I hope you will enjoy Tony and Carly’s journey.

Read an excerpt from Changing Times here.

This tale was previously a guest blog on fellow EC author, Shelley Munro's blog.

Check Out Sensual!

Check out Sensual!
I’m helping to spread the word about the newly redesigned website Sensual. If you like your romance novels on the steamy side, you’ll love this site. It’s full of reviews, interviews, excerpts, information on the newest print and ebooks and lots more. You can even win books and other goodies. So check it out. http://sensual.ecataromance.com
Authors, you can spread the word too! If you’d like a chance to win one of 20 Cover Ads and get a shot at a fabulous grand prize (a 3 Pack of their huge billboard ads - a $100 value!) just repost this blurb on your blog or website. Then stop by Sensual and leave a link to your post. All authors are eligible to enter and win so why in the world wouldn’t you? See their site for more information and official rules: sensual.ecataromance.com/?p=688

I’ll see you at Sensual!

If you want to make sure you don't miss any more notices on the other two books that are coming out this year or any other sales, please send an email to Marilu Mann Fans.

We are REALLY excited about the release of Changing Times on May 7th. To celebrate we are giving away a Louisiana themed basket (the first two books in the Lusting Wild Series take place in Louisiana).
Visit our website - Great MTA for more info. While you are there, sign up for our newsletter (which automatically puts you in the running for that basket). As long as you are a member by Tuesday May 6th you will be in the running!



And if you would like a promo item or two (Recipe cards/Pens), send your name and address to Marilu with a subject line of "GIMME SOMETHING, MARILU!" In the spirit of Mardi Gras, we'll throw you something.

Our whirlwind-never-leave-your-chair book tour has started!

Where can you find Marilu?

• Well, we were one of the featured new authors in this month's edition of Lady Jaided's Newsletter. You can check that interview out at Ellora's Cave newsletter. We had some great questions with this interview. Do you know what part of the body Marilu finds the sexiest?
  
  
• We were also one of the featured authors in the Passionate Ink newsletter for the month of May.
  
  
• Saturday we blogged about waiting over at Romerotica Writers. This is a group blog and you just never know who is gonna say what.
  
  
• Sunday came and we're the featured author on MySpace Authors this week!! R.M. offers this service to other authors as well.
  
  
• And our first interview is up at Interviews With Authors. Crystal was such a responsive interviewer.
  
  
• Tonight you can join us at the Love Romances Cafe Yahoogroup (Subscribe if you want to join us) from 7-10pm EST.
  
  
• Wednesday is release day and that's the day we're hosting a chat May 7 on the Ellora's Cave reader loop (Subscribe if you want to join us) from 1pm-7pm EST.
  
  
• Wednesday we will also be blogging at MomDOTCom about dinner disasters. Barb runs a fabulous website for moms.
  
  
• Thursday May 8 you will be able to find us blogging at Shelley Munro's about some Louisiana ghost tales.
  
  
• There will be a chat with Ellora's Cave authors Friday May 9 at Coffetimes Romance
  
  
• Then Saturday May 10 we will be the featured author at The Romance Studio including a free book giveaway!

It's a big week for the writing team of Marilu Mann. Cai and I invite you to come along for the ride. We'd love it if you took the time to leave a comment on every blog just because we like the attention. Ha!

Changing Times, by Marilu Mann will be available for purchase from Ellora's Cave on Wednesday. Use this link on Wednesday to buy your electronic copy! Just download it and read it on your own computer or ebook reader. NOTE: This link will just take you to a blank page until Wednesday.

Escape Into The Fantasy...