About the Author of "The Beaded Shoe"

Aileen McInnis is a full blooded Midwestern native who has always been intrigued by Louisiana and New Orleans ever since her mother allowed her and her brother Timm to visit "The City That Care Forgot" in 1974 as a fifteen year old kid. She originally got the idea for the first novel Killer Rubboard from pondering why the airlines would not let people carry nail clippers on board, but would allow her to board carrying her frottoir or zydeco rubboard. "Couldn't you sharpen the edges and use it as a very nasty weapon?" she mused. Thus, Killer Rubboard, the first of the Cayenne McKenzie Del Roi mysteries began, followed by an exploration of the Mardi Gras Indians in Yellow Magnolias. The Beaded Shoe grew out of a juxtaposition of a trip to New Orleans and Cajun Country and the later devastation of those areas by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Each has been a way to learn more (and to share) information about the very unique Mardi Gras traditions in Louisiana.

Aileen is too much of a Northern girl to ever move to Louisiana, so she visits it in her imagination. She thanks everyone who took the time to travel with her and who had the adventurous spirit to read a serial novel on the web. She sends an extra thanks to kind readers who over the years have sent their own versions of beaded shoes, chicken beads, a yellow feather boutineer, a magic bead, a yellow magnolia velveteen pin, King Cakes, Mardi Gras charm bracelets, a Cayenne McKenzie Del Roi beaded necklace with matching earrings, a beaded purple bra, an antique tea cup, a ceramic mask, Mardi Gras memorabilia post cards, and a yellow magnolia watercolor picture. Thanks for getting in on the fun!

Another very special thanks to folks who don't even know Aileen but heard about the novel from other people. She appreciates you stopping in and she thanks you deeply.

Happy Mardi Gras, everyone! If Cayenne ever gets back to New Orleans...if Mambozo can stay out of the chicken pot...if Rufus can convince his family to move back to New Orleans... if Cay can hang onto Francisco... maybe there will be another adventure next year!

www.killerrubboard.com