Finding Inspiration in Cemeteries

Hi y'all! It's my great pleasure to introduce Katie Reus, awesome author and friend, who spins some great paranormal romance and romantic suspense stories. She's going to take you on a virtual tour of cemeteries. Woot!

Don't forget to check out the giveaways (from Katie) and from moi at the bottom of the post!




Thanks so much to Mina for having me here today!

I don’t know if it’s weird but I totally have a fascination with old cemeteries. In fact, I even live behind one. It’s not intentional, but when we were looking at rentals, this house had everything we needed. Say what you will, but since I work from home, it’s very nice to have quiet ‘neighbors’. And it’s a gorgeous place to take a stroll through (ahem, in the day time only, I’m not that brave). 

(Mina: Thought I'd plug one of my favorites :)...and you can BUY the book!)

Living in the South I’ve never been at a loss for cool cemeteries to visit. In fact, I love the St. Louis cemetery #1 (there are a total of three) in New Orleans. The first time I visited I was surprised by how small it actually is.

It’s not like I celebrate death or anything, I just think it’s cool to see how people revere and take care of their dead. In some countries women are buried with no headstones or markers, as if they never existed. To me, that’s incredibly depressing. In New Orleans, most graves are in above ground vaults and some are more ornate than others. Supposedly the voodoo queen Marie Laveau was buried in above mentioned St. Louis Cemetery #1 but according to my husband (and many others) it’s not true. It certainly doesn’t stop people from flocking to see her tomb. And all around it there are markings of three XXXs in a row from people hoping she’ll grant them a wish. If you ever make it to New Orleans it’s well worth seeing and almost impossible to get lost in. Even though the cemetery houses close to 100,000 it only covers one square block! Talk about crowded.

So what about you? Do you have any weird pastimes or hobbies? Please share! One commenter will win a bundle of my three Harlequin Nocturne Cravings novellas: Destined Mate, Protector’s Mate and A Jaguar’s Kiss to one commenter! Open until Friday, November 16 at Noon Central. Winner will be announced in the comments section. 




Thanks again, Mina for having me ;)

A little about Katie: I’ve been reading romance since a young age—ever since I discovered my mom’s hidden stash. Luckily the addiction stayed with me into adulthood. I’m the author of the Moon Shifter series for NAL/Signet Eclipse and I also write paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense for Carina Press and Harlequin Nocturne. To learn more about me please visit my website, my blog, facebook or find me on twitter @katiereus.

ALSO, the #DjinnsDilemmaBirthdayBash giveaway is still going on and we've added a special SHERRILYN KENYON package, a CYNTHIA EDEN giveaway, exotic art and more! So check it out!

16 comments:

  1. When I was in high school i used to scout out old cemetaries and do rubbings of the head stones. I always thought it was sad that they were falling apart and I wanted to preserve a part of that person's history. I have 3 kids now and never seem to have time to go do that anymore but I will still stroll through and look at the stones occasionally and talk to whomever happens to be under there. My kiddos think I am crazy but i just tell them that there is a lot of history to be found in older cemetaries.

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  2. You're so right...there's a lot of history and neat stories to be found in cemeteries. I like to stop at them when taking road trips and yes, I drag the kids into the adventure.

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  3. i don't have nay weird hobbies
    i just love to collect CD/DVD from my fav singer/band, collect girls stuff

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  4. Well if it's weird to want to wander through cemetaries count me in :) I also love to go through cemetaries and live in the south, South Carolina to be specific. Some tombstones can be so ornate while others are very simple. Always wonder what kind of life they lived and what happened that caused their death when its obvious they were young when they died. Now a weird habbit I do have is if I drive by a cemetary I hold my breath :) Always told that breathing in while going past one is breathing in any unsettled spirits :)

    Thanks for stopping by Katie, been enjoying your Moon Shifter Series :)

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    1. My mom always said not to point at a cemetery when driving by...hmm, she probably wouldn't like that I walk around and point out interesting headstones and carvings when I'm at a cemetery!

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  5. I actually took an Anthropology of Death course last year in college, it was great. Really informative, and fascinating how different cultures deal with death and their deceased loved ones. I had to do a paper on different head stones and spent three hours in a local cemetery. I probably looked really strange with my camera and notebook. :) A weird past time of my own is going to the aquarium. I like to just sit there surrounded by the sea life. It's weird but it helps me focus for some reason.

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    1. Wish I could have attended that class! Sounds uber interesting!

      As for the aquarium, yes I have done that before too. There's something soothing about muted lights and underwater life.

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  6. There's a ton of history there, Kristina! I agree, it's so sad how so many of the older ones aren't being kept up. I love all the architecture.

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  7. Vivi, I'm a DVD 'collector' too, lol. I'm such a movie junkie! :)

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  8. Michele, I'm always curious about their lives too! I'm curious about everything though ;)

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  9. I bet that was a fascinating class, Tempest :)

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  10. I didn't wander cemetaries but I did enjoy going into any church I happen to pass by. There is such beautiful art and the glass windows, the architecture...gorgeous!

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    1. Oooh yes, I love the stained glass windows and Gothic architecture....

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  11. Woot! The winner is Kristina Parmenter...happy reading!

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