Before I ever sat down to write The Last Thing She Saw, I visited New Orleans with my husband and my sisters-in-law.
One destination was non-negotiable.
Algiers Point.
We spent time walking its quiet streets, taking in the historic homes, watching the Mississippi River roll by, and soaking up the atmosphere. Standing there, it wasn't hard to imagine that history still lingered around every corner.
That's where many of the ideas for The Last Thing She Saw were born.
Back home, I dove into research.
I spent countless hours reading about New Orleans history, searching old newspaper articles, studying maps, and learning about the people and events that shaped the city. One particular historical event became a major part of the novel, and discovering it completely changed the direction of the story.
Years later, after moving to Florida, I returned to the manuscript for another revision.
By then, I wanted more than research from books and websites.
I wanted to make sure every location felt authentic.
I'm a bit of a stickler when it comes to getting the details right. If a reader from New Orleans picked up my book, I wanted them to recognize the places, the atmosphere, and the little details that make the city unlike anywhere else.
So I packed my bag and headed back to New Orleans.
That trip changed everything.
I quickly discovered that my first chapter wasn't nearly as authentic as I thought it was. Thank goodness I made the trip before calling the manuscript finished.
I visited every restaurant that appears in the novel... and quite a few that didn't. I walked the same streets as my characters, stepped inside the buildings that inspired scenes, and took hundreds of photos to help me remember every detail once I was back home writing.
Those experiences didn't just improve the setting.
They made the entire story feel more real.
One of my favorite parts of writing The Last Thing She Saw wasn't sitting behind my computer.
It was walking the streets of New Orleans.
My view of New Orleans from the Algiers Ferry.
Places You'll Find in The Last Thing She Saw
The neighborhood bar
One of the very first chapters takes place in a Bourbon Street bar inspired by a real location I visited while exploring Bourbon Street for a bar that would fit the bill for what I wrote about. The moment I stepped inside, I could picture conversations unfolding, the dancing, the band, and all of my characters coming to life.
Pat O'Brien's
No trip to New Orleans feels complete without a visit to Pat O'Brien's. The lively courtyard, brick walkways, and unmistakable atmosphere made it an easy choice to include in the story.
Preservation Hall
Music is part of New Orleans' heartbeat.
Walking into Preservation Hall is like stepping back in time. Even before the first note is played, you can feel the history in the roo
Café du Monde
Yes, I had the beignets.
Research can be delicious.
The powdered sugar, the café au lait, and the people-watching all helped bring New Orleans to life while I was writing.
Carousel Bar & Lounge
This may be one of the most unique bars I've ever visited.
The famous revolving bar isn't just beautiful. It feels like the kind of place where anything could happen. It was the perfect setting to spark my imagination.
Did I sample the drinks my characters might be drinking? I just may have.
Voodoo Authentica
One stop left a particularly lasting impression.
Voodoo Authentica became the inspiration for the shop where Lucy finds the gris-gris intended to help keep everyone safe. I spent time looking around, asking questions, and soaking in the atmosphere. While the shop in the novel is fictional, its inspiration came directly from this fascinating place.
Wonderful Places That Inspired the Story... But Didn't Make the Final Cut
Not every location makes it into a novel.
Sometimes a place simply helps you understand the city better.
Louis Armstrong Park gave me a deeper appreciation for New Orleans' rich musical history.
Standing inside St. Louis Cathedral reminded me just how much history surrounds every corner of the French Quarter.
And St. Louis Cemetery... well, it's every bit as fascinating as you've probably heard. The above-ground tombs, the history, and the stories surrounding them stayed with me long after I left.
Even though these places didn't appear in The Last Thing She Saw, they absolutely became part of the city's personality in my mind while I was writing.
You Can Eat Where My Characters Ate
One of the fun things about writing this novel is that several restaurants my characters visit are real places you can enjoy yourself.
New Orleans Creole Cookery served meals that were almost too pretty to eat... almost.
The Original French Market Restaurant offered exactly the kind of authentic New Orleans experience I wanted my characters to have.
And Briquette combined incredible food with an atmosphere that fit perfectly with the city's charm.
If you ever find yourself in New Orleans, I highly recommend stopping by one or all three. You might even recognize them when you read the book.
The Best Research Isn't Always in the Guidebooks
Some of my favorite memories from this trip weren't famous landmarks.
They were the quiet moments.
Walking side streets.
Watching locals go about their day.
Finding hidden courtyards.
Listening to street musicians.
Reading historical markers.
Those moments don't always make it into a scene, but they make a place feel real. And that's what I hope readers experience when they open The Last Thing She Saw.
Have you ever visited a place that stayed with you long after you came home? I'd love to hear where it was.
Until next time...
Keep exploring.
Keep asking questions.
And never underestimate the stories old places have to tell.
