tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post199052943639033865..comments2024-03-28T12:00:47.858-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: Ellen Byron--A Christmas ConundrumJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-70050427812269054122017-11-06T01:19:35.879-05:002017-11-06T01:19:35.879-05:00The book sounds so great. Thank you for sharing th...The book sounds so great. Thank you for sharing the post.<br /><a href="https://igviewer.org/" title="ig viewer" rel="nofollow">ig viewer</a>Teresa Halmintonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05892673474997916883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-55249758393565597182017-11-01T11:28:36.955-04:002017-11-01T11:28:36.955-04:00Ellen, welcome to Jungle Reds! Happy book birthda...Ellen, welcome to Jungle Reds! Happy book birthday! I already borrowed your book from the library. Now that Halloween is over, I am reading your book. Happy First Day of November.<br /><br />DianaBibliophilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07764234701385787238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-41946451616024241332017-10-31T21:14:18.377-04:002017-10-31T21:14:18.377-04:00Jay, this is awesome! I knew you were a softie at...Jay, this is awesome! I knew you were a softie at heart!Ingrid Thofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04063912686011336076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-67731961220990863112017-10-31T19:42:29.229-04:002017-10-31T19:42:29.229-04:00Thanks so much, Kait!! Hope you like it. Thanks so much, Kait!! Hope you like it. Ellen Byronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03491931917758692660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-16611455350283066772017-10-31T19:07:09.447-04:002017-10-31T19:07:09.447-04:00Congratulations on A Cajun Christmas Killing, Elle...Congratulations on A Cajun Christmas Killing, Ellen. It sounds wonderful. Can't wait to read it. Nothing like NOLA at Christmas. Kaithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07758348842858993203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-55331385087239482242017-10-31T17:40:33.830-04:002017-10-31T17:40:33.830-04:00Deb, we did the caroling in Jackson Square two yea...Deb, we did the caroling in Jackson Square two years ago! It was fantastic. Thousands of people coming together to carol by candlelight. Your daughter might really enjoy the bonfires on the levee, which happen Christmas Eve. But if she can't get there in person, hopefully my book will make her feel like she's getting a taste of it.<br /><br />And wow re: those pumpkins getting moved out already. Remember when Christmas prep didn't start until after Thanksgiving? If they keep pushing it back, we really will have Christmas in July eventually!Ellen Byronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03491931917758692660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-25517652826910286892017-10-31T17:27:41.666-04:002017-10-31T17:27:41.666-04:00Ellen, I meant to say how much I loved the dog on ...Ellen, I meant to say how much I loved the dog on your cover!<br /><br />And to apologize for being so late to chime in today. Kayti and I both had doctor's appointments in Dallas this morning, so we took Wren out of school and took her to Northpark (Northpark Center is the oldest indoor mall in the country, is still privately owned, and has the most fabulous art and seasonal decorations) to see all the huge displays of pumpkins. And guess what? Today the pumpkins were going out and the Christmas decorations were going in! Halloween really is the beginning of Christmas, lol!<br /><br />AND I can't wait to read A Cajun Christmas Killing. In fact, I'll have to get it for my daughter to read first, as she and my son-in-law are crazy about NOLA. In fact, they are taking Wren for the Christmas caroling the middle of December.Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-62271469990092859972017-10-31T17:22:05.421-04:002017-10-31T17:22:05.421-04:00Jay, I LOVE that you do this!!! What fun, and what...Jay, I LOVE that you do this!!! What fun, and what a great way to connect with your neighborhood and make good memories for the kids.Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-79687255187703516392017-10-31T17:17:24.659-04:002017-10-31T17:17:24.659-04:00Ellen, that gave me goosebumps. Were your parents ...Ellen, that gave me goosebumps. Were your parents all right?Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-20639443772968188802017-10-31T17:15:33.394-04:002017-10-31T17:15:33.394-04:00Thank you, Flora. What a great story.Thank you, Flora. What a great story.Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-9316573971560407062017-10-31T16:44:18.884-04:002017-10-31T16:44:18.884-04:00Ellen,
My brother and I used to listen to the Ge...Ellen, <br /><br />My brother and I used to listen to the George Carlin routines at night and we did them verbatim at the dinner table...while my mother cringed.Jay Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11409350742317719903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-87691181741633208632017-10-31T16:01:44.866-04:002017-10-31T16:01:44.866-04:00now this is way cool. So very happy that children...now this is way cool. So very happy that children can find safe places to still have fun. <br />Coralee Hickshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06691335135691119400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-85183178624814995862017-10-31T16:01:01.112-04:002017-10-31T16:01:01.112-04:00Thanks so much, Kathy. I hope you get to read my b...Thanks so much, Kathy. I hope you get to read my book. Gopher, the doggy, is a downright hero in a chapter!<br /><br />The story of the Bakkers' downfall is almost Shakespearean. Fascinating. And the son turned out to be an interesting character himself.Ellen Byronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03491931917758692660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-48268326793202106242017-10-31T15:58:23.122-04:002017-10-31T15:58:23.122-04:00All I can say is, I REALLY want to come to your ho...All I can say is, I REALLY want to come to your house for Halloween!!!!Ellen Byronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03491931917758692660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-19207485114205902582017-10-31T15:56:44.606-04:002017-10-31T15:56:44.606-04:00OMG, don't be embarrassed! I'm super proud...OMG, don't be embarrassed! I'm super proud of having written for FOP. Let me tell you, when I'm with a bunch of too-cool-for-school twentysomethings and they hear that credit, I am instantly the most popular person in the room. I LOVE it!Ellen Byronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03491931917758692660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-84433106163826628082017-10-31T15:55:20.672-04:002017-10-31T15:55:20.672-04:00LOL, Jay! Thanks so much. You may like this book b...LOL, Jay! Thanks so much. You may like this book because it's centered around a tradition unique to Cajun Country: bonfires on the levee. So it's a different twist on holiday traditions.<br /><br />And I LOVE George Carlin.Ellen Byronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03491931917758692660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-62449391621965437792017-10-31T15:54:56.711-04:002017-10-31T15:54:56.711-04:00Congratulations on the Christmas book, Ellen, and ...Congratulations on the Christmas book, Ellen, and it is in my sights as a Christmas read. Who can resist that sweet doggie on the cover? I don't envy you your assignment of dealing with the mega church preachers. I remember being in Acapulco years ago, staying at The Princess Hotel, where Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye and their children were also staying. They were usually having breakfast when my husband and I did, and Tammy Faye wore her full makeup, even on vacation. I just remember they always seemed super aware of themselves, like being in a play. At the time I felt a little sorry for them, but later, after learning what they were really about, that sympathy quickly dissipated.<br /><br />But, back to Christmas. I have actually started a Christmas reading list already, and the first book will probably be The Ghost of Christmas Past by Rhys. I am now adding A Cajun Christmas Killing to it. I also have some short story collections I'll be delving into.<br /><br />Oh, and when I went to the grocery store yesterday, the Christmas candy was on its way in, as the Halloween candy was half price. Of course, I resisted buying more Reece's eyeballs. Num, num, num Kathy Reelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17004247271452356577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-18157380828606279132017-10-31T15:53:56.435-04:002017-10-31T15:53:56.435-04:00Thanks so much, Pat! So glad you enjoyed BODY ON T...Thanks so much, Pat! So glad you enjoyed BODY ON THE BAYOU. Hope you like this one, too.<br /><br />Very interesting take on televangelists. My takeaway is that sincerity can be corrupted by money and power. That's why my conversation with Marvella Schuller was so refreshing. Either she was just a straight shooter or I got her on a good day for me. And I agree re: Billy Graham. I found out something interesting the other day doing a mystery trivia appearance at our local library. He was very good friends with Patricia Cornwell. I had no idea. Ellen Byronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03491931917758692660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-79883213028854653032017-10-31T15:48:05.039-04:002017-10-31T15:48:05.039-04:00Thanks so much, Hank! You'll laugh at this - I...Thanks so much, Hank! You'll laugh at this - I only have one photo of me with anyone I interviewed. It's of me with Frank Perdue from when I did a press junket to his low-fat chicken farm!! That's because it was a prearranged press tour. If I ever asked an article subject to take a photo with me, I'd most likely be fired. It's been fun reliving these adventures, I have to say. But I'm running out of stories!!Ellen Byronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03491931917758692660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-21598386080240910262017-10-31T15:44:43.844-04:002017-10-31T15:44:43.844-04:00Thanks, Ingrid! Boy, do things get complicated whe...Thanks, Ingrid! Boy, do things get complicated when money, power, and faith mix. Several of the men in my article ended up serving as a cautionary tale of exactly that.<br /><br />My path? I went to college at Tulane, moved back to NYC, became a playwright and freelance magazine writer, then moved to Los Angeles to write for television. My dream is to one day divide my year between LA, NOLA, and NYC. I think I'll need to write a blockbuster to make that happen!<br /><br />Ellen Byronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03491931917758692660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-61695456034790489622017-10-31T15:43:28.594-04:002017-10-31T15:43:28.594-04:00BTW - since I missed yesterday's topic (31 hou...BTW - since I missed yesterday's topic (31 hour power outage thanks to a storm) and it is unlikely my response would get read there now, I'm putting it here for anyone to read.<br /><br />I'm not one for dressing up on Halloween usually. People have asked me for years if I was dressing up and I would respond that I was dressing up as a nice guy who gives away free crap at my door!<br /><br />This year however, I found myself with invitations to two parties that required a costume (I haven't worn one since I was 15). The first one was originally themed as a "dress as the job you wish you had" but it got changed to a general theme. I couldn't think of anything so I just ended up getting a black cowboy hat and mask and went as the Masked Man In Black.<br /><br />The other party isn't until Dec. 2nd. The woman holding it is a HALLOWEEN FREAK. It is a Nightmare Before Christmas party to combine both "holidays". The costume theme is either an actual dead celebrity or a living celebrity done up as if they were dead. I'm going as Bob Ross, the painter of the "happy little trees" from PBS.<br /><br />As for what I'm doing this Halloween, I will be giving out the stuff at the door as always. It is the first Halloween without my mom so it will be interesting to see if any of the people coming to the door as about her as she always wanted to see the costumes.<br /><br />I give out the usual candy of course, but I also give out comic books as well. And I theme them to the costume the person if I can. A Star Wars costume gets a Star Wars comic book etc. I am actually known as "The Comic Book House" by the kids in the neighborhood. <br /><br />But that's not all. I give out special prizes for really good costumes as well. And this year I have Batman Pop vinyl figure for the first superhero costume of the night. There's a Star Wars action figure for the first Star Wars costume. I've got crayons for the younger kids, Magic The Gathering packages for the somewhat older kids and a few other trinkets as well. That's on top of the 600 comic books.<br /><br />I have one little girl who comes the house every year as a superhero and her mom told us last year that as soon as they step out of their house, the girl immediately asks, "When are we going to the Comic Book House?". This year, she gets a special choice between either a Wonder Woman or Supergirl action figure to go with her candy and comic.<br /><br />I get at least 200 kids at my door each year so the 5 big bags of candy comes in handy. I usually give out leftovers to friends afterwards and I give away some of the comics to the local barbershop and dentist office as well.Jay Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11409350742317719903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-45991850280072748912017-10-31T15:40:58.680-04:002017-10-31T15:40:58.680-04:00Thanks so much, Jenn, and right back at ya! And I ...Thanks so much, Jenn, and right back at ya! And I totally feel the same way. I was once in the car with my parents driving into the city to meet friends of theirs. At the last minute, I impulsively got out of the car to go to the high school instead. Literally - as the light changed. They had an accident and if I'd stayed in that car, I wouldn't be writing this right now. I have to think, what was motivated that life-changing moment? Luck, intuition, or divine intervention? Ellen Byronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03491931917758692660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-78704080138892617072017-10-31T15:40:00.199-04:002017-10-31T15:40:00.199-04:00I have to admit to a soft spot for Christmas-theme...I have to admit to a soft spot for Christmas-themed mysteries. There's a jaded part of my brain that tries to sneer, "that's so cheesy" but the larger, sentimental part always manages to stare it down. I'm looking forward to reading A Cajun Christmas Killing.<br /><br />Like Jay, I have a lot of respect for your writing credit for Wings. But (almost embarrassed to admit this) what really gave me a little thrill was that you wrote on Fairly Odd Parents! It was huge when my son was the appropriate age, and I was always impressed at how clever the writing was. Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08292993485984273172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-14634040332098700142017-10-31T15:38:27.334-04:002017-10-31T15:38:27.334-04:00Thanks so much, Hallie!! Thrilled. :-) And yes, wh...Thanks so much, Hallie!! Thrilled. :-) And yes, what a difference. At first I felt like I sold out because I needed the money, but it proved to be a great opportunity to grow as a person. Ellen Byronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03491931917758692660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-11328497566615864402017-10-31T15:29:45.134-04:002017-10-31T15:29:45.134-04:00Oh, and anyone who worked on Wings is A-OK in my b...Oh, and anyone who worked on Wings is A-OK in my book. Loved that show.Jay Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11409350742317719903noreply@blogger.com