Voodoo Movies and Books

            Voodoo has always been fascinating to me ever since I saw a movie about it long ago. I can’t even remember which one, and it was likely not at all accurate – most of them aren’t – but it sparked an interest to learn what it’s really all about.

            Voodoo isn’t evil the way it’s depicted on television. It refers to several related religions, such as Louisiana Voodoo and Haitian Vodou, with roots in West African Vodun. I’m seriously oversimplifying here because it has such a rich culture and tradition, but the point is, it’s not all about voodoo dolls and zombies!

            However, voodoo dolls and zombies make for a really entertaining story! Here are a few of the most famous movies involving voodoo:

• Angel Heart (1987) – This dark, complex horror film starring DeNiro, Rourke, and Bonet has become a cult classic.
• The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988) – Loosely based on a nonfiction book, Wes Craven makes things downright scary!
• White Zombie (1932) – I’m putting this one on my Netflix list since I haven’t seen it yet, but you gotta love the classics!
• Skeleton Key (2005) – Okay, this one is a little bit of a cheat since it’s about hoodoo, not exactly voodoo, but it’s very creepy and awesome all the same.

           Warning – shameless marketing pitch here – if you want a fun fiction book with a touch of voodoo in it, check out my novel, Magick Charm! If you enjoy nonfiction, you'll also want to check out The Serpent and the Rainbow.

            What are your favorite voodoo movies and books?

Halloween Movies: Thursday 13

I’ve been watching a bunch of horror movies this month leading up to Halloween. There are a lot of great (as well as awful) movies, but here are a few of my all-time favorites:

1. The Exorcist – This one still scares the crap out of me every time I watch it! To be honest, I can’t even put it on anymore. But it makes it the favorites list because I think (at least for me) it’s the scariest movie of all time.
2. Scream – This movie channels all of the classic scares into one snarky, awesome, bloody package.
3. 28 Days Later – Zombies! Need I say more?
4. Resident Evil – Video game-inspired zombies!
5. Bram Stoker’s Dracula – Classic horror with Winona, Sir Anthony, and the amazing Gary Oldman. This movie was awesome enough to even put up with Keanu’s “acting.”
6. Underworld – Kate Beckinsale just plain kicks ass.
7. The Omen – Make sure to watch the original version – so creepy! “It’s all for you, Damien!” *shudder*
8. Contagion – This movie is so frightening because it’s so realistic.
9. Aliens – I know, I know. It’s a sequel. Alien was amazing and suspenseful, but Alien*s* is infinitely scarier. What would you rather face: one alien or hundreds? No contest.
10. The Skeleton Key – New Orleans and voodoo… yay!
11. The Craft – No, this isn’t what witches really do (that would never be exciting enough for a horror movie!), but it’s just plain wicked fun!
12. Wicker Man – Watch the classic version. Sure, it’s a campy, 70’s, half-ass musical/horror film, but the end is chilling.
13. The Shining – Again, the original version is the best. Jack Nicholson makes this entire movie! As always, no movie can capture the nuance and terror of Stephen King’s books, but it’s a good movie in it’s own right. That being said, if you haven’t, go read the book! And did you hear? He’s working on a sequel to The Shining now! Horror squee!!!

There’s a sneak peak into my fears! What are your favorite horror movies? What scares you?

V is for Voodoo - A to Z Challenge

Today, I’ll be arriving in Salem, Massachusetts. When you think of Salem, you probably think of witches, in much the same way that you probably think of New Orleans and voodoo. Both are favorite cities of mine, and I’ve been in my fair share of both witchy and voodoo shops.

Louisiana and Haitian voodoo and Wicca don’t have a lot in common when it comes to religion. But both religions tend to be very misunderstood, and both use magic.

I’m not an expert when it comes to voodoo, but I like to think I’m an expert shopper! And for me, the biggest similarity in religions is that I like to SHOP in both voodoo and witchcraft stores! I tend to find similar things them: herbs, candles, oils, tarot cards, ritual kits, and jewelry. Some kind of tarot reader or psychic is usually available in both kinds of stores too.

I love finding hand-crafted items and meeting the unique people who work in the shops – and I do mean that in the nicest possible way! My friend, Sam, owns a witchcraft shop, and she and her employees are some of my closest friends.

I think I’ve wandered a bit off topic… well, anyway, my final word is about being misunderstood. Voodoo (and witchcraft) is not what you see on TV and movies. You might be surprised how many people come into Sam’s shop asking about Harry Potter spells.

But just in case I’m wrong...

... don’t piss off a witch! 

(Kidding!!! So seriously kidding! Don’t burn me at the stake or anything! Lol!)

Thursday 13: Things I'm looking forward to in New Orleans

(Note: This really was posted on Thursday before Blogger had its little hiccough!) 


John and I are renting a house on the edge of the French Quarter for a week. We leave in 18 days and 17 hours (but who's counting)! The last time I was in New Orleans was only a couple weeks before Katrina, and I'm so glad to finally be going back. Here's a few things I'm planning to do there:

1. Book research. My first book takes place in New Orleans, and I’m currently working on a sequel. What better way to capture the flavor of this fabulous city than to do a bit of writing while I’m there.
2. Drinking a hurricane. A little rum on Bourbon Street… okay, it’s probably more accurate to say a lot of rum.
3. Dueling piano bar. Pat O’Brien’s is also famous for their hurricanes. How serendipitous! And it’s always fun to make the pianists play “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
4. Hot tub!
5. Shopping at the French Market. Shopping... need I say more?
6. Ordering a muffuletta from Central Grocery. What is a muffuletta, you ask? It’s an enormous sandwich made with Italian meats and cheeses and topped with olive salad.
7. Live jazz music. You can’t sling a dead cat in this town without hitting a jazz musician. Not that I’d want to sling a cat, dead or alive, or hit a musician, jazz or otherwise.
8. Voodoo shops. Metaphysical stuff + shopping = happiness.
9. Beignets and café au lait. There is no other way to start the morning in New Orleans, at least as far as I’m concerned.
10. Aquarium. Have I ever been to a city with an aquarium and NOT visited it? I think not.
11. St. Louis Cemetery #1. Okay, potentially morbid, but it is a key location in my next book!
12. Karaoke at the Cat’s Meow. Yes, enough hurricanes (see #2!) and I have been known to do karaoke.
13. Relaxing!