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“Some cities are naturally holiday cities. London is a Christmas city. Paris is a Valentine’s Day city. And no place in the world is a Halloween city more than New Orleans.” –The opening lines of “RUSTED VEINS (US | UK)

While I am a huge fan of both New Orleans and Halloween, I not yet had the good luck to be in the Big Easy on All Hallow’s Eve. However, I’ve been to NOLA many, many times over the last decade, and I’ve researched the city’s Halloween traditions extensively (for my book GREEN-EYED DEMON [US | UK | AUS]). Even though we can’t all just drop everything and go to New Orleans to celebrate Halloween this year, it doesn’t mean we can’t bring it to our own houses.

I am not exactly a party planner (except for fictional ones where budget is no object), but I do love to attend a good party, so I’ve put together my dream New Orleans-themed Halloween party. I’m tempted to throw this party to celebrate the release of my Sabina Kane Halloween novella “Rusted Veins.” Since it is available this week and happens to be set in New Orleans, the timing couldn’t be more perfect.

The Invites:

Tie a calligraphied invite to a chicken foot or gris-gris bag for a charming voodoo touch. If it’s in the budget, have a second line band deliver them door-to-door while playing a funeral dirge.

The Music:

• “Bloodletting” by Concrete Blonde
• “Hoodoo” by Muse
• “Voodoo Child” by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
• “The Witch Queen of New Orleans” by Tom Jones
• “504” by the Old 97s
• “Louisiana Blues” by Muddy Waters
• “Apache Rose Peacock” Red Hot Chili Peppers

The Costumes:

Guests will be invited to dress as their favorite real or fictional New Orleans resident. I’ve included some suggestions below.

For the ladies:

• Marie Laveau, Voodoo Priestess
• Madame Delphine Lalaurie, Famous murderess
• Lulu White, famous Storyville Madam
• Blanch DuBois or Stella Kowalski from Streetcar Named Desire
• Anne Rice, author
• Bella Donna Boudreaux, from X-Men (more…)