JENN McKINLAY: Ellen and I met at Left Coast Crime in Phoenix several years ago. Honestly, it was love at first snort. Ellen is fresh, funny, and feisty just like her books and I'm so pleased to call her my friend. Here she is to tell us about her latest!
ELLEN BYRON: People often ask authors if they listen to music while they write. My answer? Music is what I dance to. Always has been. Always will be. I think KC and the Sunshine Band’s disco anthem, “Get Down Tonight,” is the best song ever written. Argue all you want but you will never change my mind.
When I was a kid, my mother enrolled me in ballet lessons. The teacher, a Ballet Russe vet, told her I had great potential to be a ballerina. Unfortunately, I also had an undiagnosed case of A.D.D., which limited my ability to focus with the concentration that a professional dancer must have. But I never lost my love of dancing. I studied jazz, tap, African dance, Afro-Caribbean. I even returned to ballet a few times. I never got to go en pointe, which is one of my biggest disappointments. But I kept shaking my groove thing. I’m not joking when I say that getting to dance in this Go-Go cage at a friend’s party umpteen years ago fulfilled one of the top items on my bucket list.
(That’s actor Brad Sherwood of “Who’s Line Is It Anyway?” in the role of M.C.)
I know one reason I fell in love with Cajun Country, where my series is set, is that Louisianans are a music and dance-loving people. If an infectious tune comes on, no matter where you are, a stranger may pull you into a two-step. That’s why the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is such a dream come true for me. Stage after stage of toe-tapping, infectious music. I’m nuts about Cajun and Zydeco tunes but when I’m lucky enough to go to Jazz Fest, I dance everywhere. I even kick up my heels in the gospel tent.
(Hey, who’s that in the background holding up a copy of Fatal Cajun Festival? Thanks, Photoshop!)
Much as I knew I’d center a Cajun Country Mystery around Mardi Gras, I knew that Jazz Fest would inspire a plot for the series. And it has. In Fatal Cajun Festival, Pelican, Louisiana, my series’ fictional town, sponsors its own festival to attract visitors on their way down river to NOLA’s. Good things happen — Music! Dancing! Pralines! But it’s a mystery, so of course bad things happen too.
I still bust a move five to seven times a week at the gym, either by doing Zumba or a format called Dance it Out that I love so much I wrote it into A Cajun Christmas Killing as “DanceBod.”
Here's a before and after of me, recovering from a DIO class with master teacher Rae Toledo Latsch, who was in the national tour of “Miss Saigon”.
I’m hoping that someday my two great dance loves will come together, and I’ll be able to “get down tonight” with KC and the Sunshine Band at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Until then, I leave you with this video. And always remember… dance like nobody’s watching.
Readers, what song makes you want to drop everything and dance? Comment to be entered in a giveaway for a copy of FATAL CAJUN FESTIVAL!
Mardi Gras Murder, Ellen Byron’s fourth Cajun Country Mystery, won the Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Novel. The series has also won multiple Best Humorous Mystery Lefty awards from Left Coast Crime. Writing as Maria DiRico, she’ll debut a second series, The Catering Hall Mysteries, in 2020. TV credits include Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Fairly OddParents. Her award-winning plays, published by Dramatists Play Service, have been performed throughout the world. Fun fact: she worked as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart.
To connect with Ellen:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard
Ellen, your “Fatal Cajun Festival” sounds like lots of fun.
ReplyDeleteDrop everything and dance? It’s gotta be “Singin’ in the Rain” . . . .
LOVE that movie!
DeleteEllen, welcome to Jungle Reds! It was great to see you at LCC in Vancouver! I loved the Fatal Cajun Festival novel. I felt as if I was right there dancing with Maggie, Bo, Gaynell and Grand Mere.
ReplyDeleteInteresting about ADD because somehow I was able to focus on ballet. I remember practicing and counting the sound of the different notes from music, which I continue to do with my auditory training. Unbeknowest to me, I was teaching myself auditory training, though my speech therapists at that time did not figure that out! LOL.
When I got my cochlear implants, my new speech therapist reminded me to listen for different beeps like long sound, short sound, and so on.
Since I am still learning about music, I cannot pinpoint which song I like. However, I know that I really like classical music or what I call "ballet" music. I remember being able to feel the vibrations from the loud sounds of jazz music way before my cochlear implants.
Zydeceo music is a new to me type of music. My math tutor played klemer (sp?) music.
Diana
Diana, what an extra challenge you had--dancing to vibrations!
DeleteThat could be "klezmer". Traditional Ashkenazic Jewish music originally for weddings. A lot of happy music in minor keys.
DeleteDiana, fascinating about your ability to connect to ballet. It was great meeting you and your mom at LCC. Hope you'll be there in March. And so glad you liked the book!
DeleteDiana, what a challenge that must have been!
DeleteOne of my favorite Dancing With the Stars contestants was a deaf-from-birth man. He either won the season or came very close to it. It was fascinating to watch his natural athletic grace, knowing he could not "hear" the actual music.
How wonderful that you finding music for real now.
Lucy, it takes practice :-)
DeleteDavid, thanks!
Ellen, I was also fascinated by the French words that our ballet teacher wrote on the board. Planning to go to LCC in March. It was fun meeting you at Malice Domestic and again at LCC in Vancouver!
Karen, are you talking about Nyle DiMarco? His whole family is Deaf!
Yes, it is really nice being able to listen to music with my CI processors WITHOUT getting headaches :-)
Diana
True confession: dance was always my worst subject, and the lowest grades I got in college. That doesn't mean I don't like to shake my booty. I work for a major professional wind ensemble, and when we play big band swing, you can bet I'm boogieing backstage.
ReplyDeleteHowever, number one on my list of can't miss, makes-me-wanna-dance-every-time music is just about anything by my personal guitar god, Sonny Landreth. He can be heard every year at the New Orleans Jazz Fest, as it happens, and is also the opening act for every Crossroads festival. So I totally get it when you shake it all around NOLA. I have Sonny's "Live in Lafayette" recording as my commute soundtrack right now and, yes, I'm dancing--at least from the waist up--all the way to work and back.
I LOVE swing music. We actually had a tenor band play at our wedding. That's great about your passion for Sonny Landreth!
DeleteOMG, Ellen, we ARE soulmates! I adore KC and the Sunshine Band! I used to pretend I was in the band while singing into my hair brush in my bedroom as a teen! I still can't sit still when their music comes on!
ReplyDeleteAnnette, I LOVE this so much!!! They played the House of Blues when I was six months pregnant and I went to see them by myself! I almost danced Eliza out of me right there. If they're ever playing when we're in the same town, we HAVE to go together!
DeleteA favorite memory: Zydeco CD playing as I prepared Christmas dinner--and the boys (aged 8-9 at the time) come boogieing through the house in their own personal line--shades on, boas swinging, and hair jelled into mohawks!! Or anything with a good fiddle and I'm on my feet!
ReplyDeleteI'll be looking for Fatal Cajun Festival!
What an awesome memory! Hilarious. Hope you got a picture.
DeleteOMG, I already knew I loved you, Ellen, but that you love to dance? We are sisters from different mothers! Why doesn't Bouchercon have a dance party? We'll do it one of these years. I will say I'm fond of What a Feeling from Flashdance, but seriously, I will dance to pretty much anything. Can't wait to read the new book.
ReplyDeleteEdith, love this!!! You, me, Annette - dancing at a con! I will dance to anything, too. And yes, I'm always thinking, why is there no dancing at any of these cons? We have to get that going at one of them!
DeleteWe used to dance at Crime Bake but that has gone away, alas...
DeleteEllen, I'm not a dancing kind of guy. I love music but there's nothing out there from my rock and metal fandom or any other kind of music that lends itself better to dancing that makes me want to get up and show just how lacking in rhythm I am.
ReplyDeleteBut, I'm glad to see that you have a new book out and I look forward to getting my hands on it!
Lol, Jay. You are not alone. My husband isn't a dancing kind of guy either. I tell him, that's okay, I'll just dance around him. And that's exactly what I do.
DeleteWithout a doubt, anything 80s. I was at our local craft brewery for trivia night a couple weeks ago and they had a whole category centered on 80s music. They would play a snippet and you had to guess song and artist. I danced on my chair the whole time. The millennials there were baffled. I went 6/7 (I never listened to Jane's Addiction, so I missed that one).
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the new book!
Liz, lol! Thanks so much. And I love 80s music too. Great to dance to!
DeleteWelcome Ellen, and congrats on the new book, which we all want to hear more about! I have quite a few "must dance" tunes, including the Isley Brothers Shout, anything by the Temptations, Twist and Shout, and many more. My hub is a reluctant dancer so he gets dragged out more than he might wish. And we used to have a dance party at Crime Bake--Hallie and Edith and I were always out there:). but I'm envious of your talent!
ReplyDeleteLOVE Shout! Such a fun, perfect dance tune. A dance party at Crime Bake - glad Edith got that on the agenda, because I bet it was her!
DeleteHi, Ellen! You know how much I love your books, and what you say about dancing resonates. You can't keep me off the dance floor. But never at your level. I'm so impressed. You were a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart? How'd that work out for ya?
ReplyDeleteHallie, thanks, means the world to me. And I loved Martha. If you run across one of the OG editions of "Entertaining," take a look at page 29 and see who's standing next to her. ;-) And love our mutual admiration writing society!
DeleteEllen, I'm not surprised that you love dancing, as you are an enthusiastic, vivacious person. I think some people have dancing in their souls even when they're not dancers. I am one of those people who have had no dance training, but love to move to the beat. I'm also someone who imagines big dance numbers out in public when a song I love plays. Hahaha! Oh, I heard Zydeco music when I was in New Orleans for Bouchercon, and I had to get a CD of it. Love it!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new book. I'm sure it will have much success. And, your covers are always the best.
Kathy, thanks for the lovely compliment. So glad you got turned onto to zydeco. I LOVE it. And totally agree about my covers. A shout-out to artist Stephen Gardner on that.
DeleteAnything from the 60’s. I have enjoyed reading this series.
ReplyDelete60s has GREAT music. So glad you've enjoyed the series!
DeleteAll sorts of songs make me want to get up and dance! I'm not familiar with your books, Ellen. How can that be? But I'm looking forward to reading them. Love finding new authors!
ReplyDeleteJudi, glad to e-meet you!
DeleteWhat’s the song they always play at weddings? September? Anything with a chorus is great, right? Twist and shout. Satisfaction. I wanna dance with somebody. Also, and I apologize in advance, moonlight serenade.
ReplyDeleteWelcome, Ellen! And do I remember… You liked Martha Stewart? I am in awe of her.
Apologize? Never. After KC, any big band song is my favorite. You know what "our song" was at my wedding? Sleepy Lagoon. And yup, I love Martha. If you ever interview her, please send my love. I keep meaning to send one of my books to her people. Have to do that.
DeleteClassic 60-70's folk rock gets me moving.
ReplyDeleteLove it. I just saw the David Crosby doc and that's put me on a CSN jag.
DeleteZydeco makes me want to dance all night long. I love it the best of all.
ReplyDeleteMe too, LOVE it. I have a playlist on my phone.
DeleteZydeco is the best. I met Buckwheat Zydeco when I was a bartender back in the day. I was so sad when he passed in 2016. He was a real sweetheart.
DeleteI love the 50's music since it is what I grew up with and enjoy the most.
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing like it. I love swing dancing to "Runaround Sue."
Deleteanother alias...um, penname? congrats! When my daughter was last in Cincinnati, she taught me some of her Disco Amigos routines. I want to dance in a NOLA parade!
ReplyDeleteMargaret, that's so cool! I'm with you. I would LOVE to dance in a NOLA parade.
DeleteShalom Reds and fans. I am too self-conscious to enjoy dancing in public. However, I love music and have seen almost all music and dance films that there are to see. I was in my late twenties and nursing a broken heart during the height of disco. So, to this day, I will play Donna Summer and Earth Wind and Fire on Spotify. I just now turned on The Fifth Dimension and Marilyn McCoo and Billie Davis Jr.
ReplyDeleteI listen to a lot of spoken word recordings, either podcasts or audiobooks but I can’t really concentrate on that when I am working or writing on my laptop. So I listen to music. All sorts of music. Classical music, piano jazz, any kind of jazz, gospel, Christian contemporary, klezmer, blue grass, zydeco, pop and of course Michael Jackson et al.
I have two brothers and all of us are serious music aficionado. My brother, Don, plays jazz guitar but back in the day he was a serious tap dancer. He still has a vanity plate that says “hoofer”.
I'm in awe of tap dancers. I've done a little of it, but as with ballet, I had a focus problem. I envy your brother and LOVE his license plate. Donna Summer is one of my idols!
DeleteTap dancing is delightful, but it looks so hard.
DeleteDance like no one is watching! That's my motto.
ReplyDeleteMy whole family is filled with dancing fools, from my mom down. She'll be 90 in January, but at my cousin's wedding a couple of weeks ago she was out on the dance floor, shaking a leg with my cousins and me. She can't help herself! On a road trip to Florida with my youngest daughter, Mother and Holly and I car danced all the way, both directions.
My middle daughter used to dance around the kitchen island, doing made-up ballet moves. I so wish I had video of that, she was such a hoot.
The song that makes me jump to my feet is Bruno Mars's Uptown Funk. How can you not move to that song? And sing along, too?
In my case, it's probably best if no one is watching. LOL. Uptown Funk is totally contagious!
DeleteAt my family's Italian weddings, all us women danced with each other. I remember many waltzes with my nonna. And ALL Bruno Mars songs are great to dance to, but Uptown Funk is def #1!
DeleteMy favorite song for dancing has to be James Brown's "I Feel Good," which seemed to become my husband's and my song in our later life. I remember requesting it at one of my company's holiday parties and rocking out to it on the dance floor. On a side note, Mike and I won the twist competition on our first Royal Caribbean cruise, which made us minor celebrities on that cruise and won us a few prizes. I still can't believe we did that! It's a proud memory.
ReplyDeleteMargie, now you have to twist again, like you did last summer.
DeleteMargie, I am so impressed about that twist competition. And "I Feel Good" - what a great song!!
DeleteI’m married to a reluctant dancer too. I love the Isley Brothers’ Shout. Who can sit still when that’s playing? And the Village People’s YMCA. I’ve many fun memories of that one: downtown Akron First Night trying to get warm outside and between innings at a baseball game. Must be a NE Ohio thing. Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys music. Who can resist Texas swing? Same goes for zydeco. Huba huba Ellen!
ReplyDeletePat, I want to get up and dance to every song and group you just mentioned!
DeleteI actually took ballroom dance when I was in high school. I loved it! Honestly, I miss it.
ReplyDeleteThis book (and series) are tons of fun. If you haven't picked them up, you should.
I have a friend who was a competitive ballroom dancer - it is a workout! I'm so impressed you did this! More high schools should have this.
DeleteBallroom dance is enormously challenging. And popular. Strictly Come Dancing--which starts this Saturday night on BBC One, is the biggest show in the UK. I think it's terrific that people of all ages love it so much.
DeleteMark, thanks so much. I took ballroom dancing in middle school and loved it. We need to get you out on a dance floor sometime!
DeleteMusic - any day, yes!. Dance - uh, no! Classic, big band, Celtic, bluegrass, some styles of Jazz - if it doesn't hurt my ears or head I'll listen at least once. The tinnitus is effecting my enjoyment and level of sound but I still aim for music as a comfort. Just don't expect me to move around, just not comfortable with myself to try but I'll listen and have a great time. Shh, don't tell anyone, I wiggle in my car, no one can see me, right?
ReplyDeleteDeanna, we call that Butt Dancing in my family, and I count it as exercise.
DeleteThere's nothing better than looking over at the car next to you at a red light and seeing someone rocking out, Deana!
DeleteMotion to petition the Bouchercon committee for a dance with a Go-Go cage. Who's with me?
ReplyDeleteI'm with you!!! And I want the white boots, too.
DeleteCan we do it in cowboy boots?
DeleteMe, me!! I won't be at Dallas but you can start the trend there and I'll catch up in Sac. AND of course in NOLA 2021.
DeleteHow can we not have a dance party in 2021?!
DeleteEllen, you do realize that the next time I see you, you're going to have to bust out some moves, don't you? Are you going to Bouchercon? Line dancing, baby!
ReplyDeleteWhat about dance partners? Aren't they more difficult to find these days? It seems like men used to actually know how to slow dance.
ReplyDeleteMy first husband was a pretty good dancer, and he enjoyed it, but he was a horrible person. My second husband is a teddy bear, but not only does he not have any ryhthym, he will only dance after more than two drinks, and then I have to lead.
Props to the teddy bear! I actually think the popularity of hip hop created a gen of men who love to dance and don't think of it as "girly." When I go to a friend's co-ed gym- mine is all women - there are always men in the Zumba class we take.
DeleteHi, Ellen! Can't wait to see you at Bouchercon!! And can't wait to read the new book!
ReplyDeleteAlso married to a reluctant (as in never) dancer--what is it with these self-conscious guys? But I love to dance. And LOVE Zydeco. I think my very favorite "must dance" music is the soundtrack from The Big Easy.
OMG, Deborah, I LOVE that soundtrack. "Zydeco Gris Gris" by Beausolil (sp) is one of my favorite songs ever. And can't WAIT for your next book! xo
DeleteMy mom and dad met at a Louisiana dance hall call Lee Brothers. Most of my aunts and uncles met at dances. My grandmother could not understand what my mother saw in "that big tall blond boy who can't dance" but my mother said she'd teach him. And she did.
ReplyDeleteI was home last week, and a local musician passed away at age 90, and there was much reminiscing about the old dance hall days. He was also the parish assessor, did a newspaper column on local history, and wrote over 200 Cajun songs, which the locals call "cha-chinky" music. Some trivia for you!
Ramona, you KNOW how much I love this. I'm dying to go to a dance hall in Cajun Country. Your family is classic. They're the people I'm talking about. The ones who made me fall madly in love with your glorious region. I wonder if they still have Fais Do Do's anywhere?
DeleteEllen, there is a Facebook group called Louisiana Dance Halls that has some great photos. There are a few around that host events like weddings, anniversaries, KC fundraisers, etc. Great place for a body drop! I have not heard of a Fais Do Do in a long time, but I'll ask my mom and get back to you!
DeleteRamona, thanks so much! Just liked the page. And saw Lee Brothers pop up
DeleteAny song Annette sings. Beach Party songs and her older ones too. Dance Annette is fun.
ReplyDeleteOh, those movies are SO much fun!
DeleteJunior Brown's Surf Medley always gets me dancing ~
ReplyDeleteLove Junior Brown!
DeleteMe too!Surf music is SO much fun to dance to.
DeleteEllen, so looking forward to reading your next book. I think that I first heard about you here on Jungle Red Writers and have been keeping up with your delightful series ever since. The song that always gets me on my feet is Old Time Rock and Roll by Bob Seger. It doesn't take much to get me on my feet, however, with so much great music out there. The '50's and '60's changed the way people thought about dance and how they danced together. I danced modern dance as a teen and wish I could still bend all those body parts the way I used to do! Also, I agree the soundtrack to the Big Easy is amazing.
ReplyDeleteJudy, thrilled you discovered the series here. And I know what you mean about bending the old body parts. One dance instructor ends her classes by doing a cartwheel and splits, and I want to weep. I'm like, I used to do those, sigh...
DeleteThis sounds fabulous! Ya know, I was going to the disco at the time, but don't recall that song. I guess we were too busy doing the hustle or listening to the Bee Gees.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the Hustle! AND the Bee Gees. What can I say? Disco is muh jam!
DeleteThe music from the 60's and 70's and really any catchy song makes me want to dance.
ReplyDeleteAgreed!
ReplyDeleteI love all kinds of music. I dance along with Dancing with the Starts, The Voice, and TV shows with great theme music like Hawaii 5-0 and SWAT. I just finished watching all 12 seasons of New Tricks from the library. That has a fun theme song. My mom and dad met at a square dancing club.
ReplyDeleteI love that your parents met at a square dancing club! That is awesome.
DeleteHow did no one mention my guilty secret? A love of ABBA! Dancing Queen, I loves it in a somewhat embarrassed way. I was too young to appreciate the disco years as they were happening, but as a roller skater in the early 80s, those are some of my favorites!
ReplyDelete-Melanie
Lol, you're right. ABBA rules!
DeleteI would say Celebration by Cool and the Gang!
ReplyDeleteI want to jump up and dance every time that song comes up.
DeleteI love surf music...and dancing!!! This is awesome! I love the song, "Little Old Lady from Pasadena". LOL!!
ReplyDeleteSO much fun to dance to!
DeleteI love music but I’m a terrible dancer. Music makes me move but not really dance. I missed out on the rhythm gene, so I only dance in private. One of my favorite songs to dance to is Get On Your Feet by Gloria Estefan. I also can’t stay still when I hear any of those great Motown songs from the 60s.
ReplyDeleteOh, there's nothing like Motown. And I do a lot of dancing when no one's home. ;-)
DeleteI Second That Emotion by Smokey Robinson - love that song!
ReplyDeleteGreat, great song.
Delete