(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)
New Orleans is such a wonderfully literary town, it's a shame it's so hard to write there. No, it's not a shame--I regret nothing. I only wrote one day on my trip, but I wrote about two thousand words. I've been playing catch-up ever since I got home, and I'm only at about 13,000 words total for the month so far, which is not where I need to be! Fortunately, I have some days set aside for writing time next week and a short break from my intense school schedule.
But all that is future me's problem. Past me's problem was that I had too much fun in New Orleans. And of course you want to see the sites, and the haul.
Official 2022 NaNowriMo Kit.
I didn't bring much with me. I'm a light packer in general, but I went extra light on stationery because I knew that I would only be focusing on one writing project. I had the Aurora 88 Utica Nera fountain pen I'm using as my one NaNoWriMo pen, and one Paperblanks blank book for writing in, and one Field Notes for making quick travel notes or journal entries. I brought one tactical pen with a Fisher Space Pen refill as my general use pen. That's it!
Until I went to Papier Plume. Twice. And then Scriptura.
Papier Plume entrance.
I was mostly good. I didn't buy any pens! Though I very much wanted the Bayou St. John Wetland Cypress pen from Papier Plume. It's gorgeous and the perfect local souvenir, but I exerted my self control. Instead, I bought their limited edition Rougarou ink, which is the most perfect shade of brown-black, and I got one of only two remaining werewolf wax seals that they used to stamp the bottle. I also got a classy magnifying hand lens, because I can't be practical all the time.
Inside Papier Plume.
Awooooo!
Papier Plume is such a charming shop. It's right in the French Quarter, surrounded by good food, fun shopping, and amazing art galleries. The whole quarter feels like it exists in another time, and the wares and decor in the shop highlight this effect. All of the furniture used to display items is antique and the walls are covered in local art. It's a nice place to be. I didn't get to see Patrick this time, alas. He wasn't working either of the times I stopped in, but I passed along my greeting. It's probably a good thing he wasn't there, because he'd have talked me into buying that cypress pen.
Scriptura is a good distance away, on Magazine Street in the Garden District. It is also a gorgeous, charming shop in a fantastic old building. This shop focuses more on paper than anything else, so of course I bought a notebook. And for a person who likes to travel light, I made a slightly ridiculous choice. A notebook with a wood and metal cover? I'm not sure I could have found anything heavier or bulkier to try and fit into my luggage. It was too strange and enticing to resist. I haven't tried this brand of notebook before, so I'm looking forward to trying it out and reviewing it for you all.
Inside Scriptura.
Notebook, or cutting board? From Bindewerk.
Apart from stationery shopping, there were also strange museums, amazing meals, a vampire ball, a private vampire Halloween party, and of course an author convention with a panel, a reading, and a book signing. This was my first time attending World Fantasy Convention, and I had a wonderful time. I got to see many old friends and met a few new ones. I got to shake hands or share tables with some of my favorite authors and editors.
Overall, I existed in a fairy tale for a week, and coming back to reality wasn't easy. Literally or figuratively. It took me 22 hours to get home, over 15 of which were spent waiting out delay after delay at Charlotte Douglass Airport, where I counted more cockroaches than employees. I had to be at work less than four hours after I walked through my front door, and my days haven't slowed for a second since.
My next trip will be quite different. I'll be heading to my spot on the lake, where I bring nothing but writing and do nothing but write. Hopefully I'll have more word count updates for you soon!
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