Laffite's Lady [Paperback]

Susan Elliston (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 4, 1999

Laffite's Lady is an epic adventure, whose modern day heroine travels back in time to New Orleans in the year 1810. It leaves her holding the key to many unexplained questions surrounding such historical characters as the infamous Jean Laffite, the Voodoo queen Marie Laveau and the gambler John Davis, and why Andrew Jackson won the Battle of New Orleans against all odds. The stunning conclusion and shocking possibilities leave many asking the question: " Is it fact or fiction?"

Editorial Reviews

Review

A real page turner. I didnt know American History could be such fun! -- Au Pair from Norway Tina Jensen, mid 20s

Exciting, fabulous, pulls the reader in and makes history believable. -- ICU pediatric nurse, Crystal Kisselburgh, late 40s

I wish I was Tori. I couldnt put it down. -- Student, Desiree Bathemess, 18 yrs old

It made me laugh and cry. I loved it! -- Housewife, Kathy Cherrett, mid 40s

It reads like a Gone With The Wind. -- Australian published author Joan Morrison, mid 60s

Its a must for a screenplay. -- Producer / Director / Writer, Walter Von Huene, early 50s

The last great love epic of the Millennium -- Capt. Daniel Polchinski, mid 40s

The story picks up steam and like an avalanche grows and grows. The ending is a surprise, but a nice one. -- Entertainer Promoter, Sid Silver, mid 60s

About the Author

Susan Elliston currently lives in Orlando, Florida with her family. Together with well known screenplay writer and film director Walter Von Huene, she has just completed the screenplay for Laffite's Lady. Susan has also just finished her second novel, The Wardrobe, to be released on the FirstPublish label soon. Her next challenge is to complete the sequel to Laffite's Lady, the second novel in the time travel trilogy.

I grew up traveling the world as a British navy brat and continued the life style as a flight attendant and marrying a pilot. This has given me the love of reading and of history, both of which fell into place with my passion of storytelling. I began telling my tales, at about the age of ten, to my younger brother. Roland would much rather sit for hours listening to my adventures than pick up a book himself. I did not however start thinking about writing anything down on paper until long after I was married. It was with the support of my husband and children, that I have spent the last twenty years writing and researching the historical love story "Laffite's Lady"

If I had known how daunting a task it was going to become, I might have reconsidered such a complicated undertaking. But, like the story itself, the project took on a life of its own. At each stage of my research and always when needed most, little signs of encouragement would appear to keep me going. Many times I needed either an actual location or historical character for the continued time line to be realistic. My eyes would open in amazement as one after the other would find their way to the storyline. Weaving history in with fiction, explaining and answering questions in such a way as to be believable slowly became second nature to me. Often, I have said that the ghost of Jean Laffite himself sat on my shoulder guiding me. Many trips over the years to New Orleans and studying historical facts of his era was the intriguing part.

Finding the odd signs alone that way, like the writing on the bar wall, was like something right out of the twilight zone! The encouragement given to me to finish the project was wonderful. In all the time it has taken to create this story, I never forgot my goals. First off I set out to write a story of which no one would guess the outcome. But most of all, I wanted it to become so realistic that the fact it was fiction based on history would be forgotten. The result is something that I feel Laffite himself would be proud of. After such a long time of having him in my life, letting go was not easy and yet once again a small sign came my way that allowed me to do so.

While I was in the middle of writing my second book, a horror novel called "The Wardrobe", I found myself suddenly and for no reason writing Laffite's good-bye. It came like this:

" Time is as fluid as the sea I sailed upon. Its currents like the days washing you along on life's journey. The kindest, most beautiful gift ever deposited upon my shore was you. The cruelest its waves ever became was the day it swept you from my life. And now it seems its grandes moment, I am to be put adrift in the mystery of its depths. Or rather set free to sail up on heavens ocean above.... Upon which star I wonder will I wash ashore? Where ever time and tide take me, I go full of love and peace. Let me no longer be an anchor to you. Instead let the memory of us calm your soul and set you free to sail the most glorious ocean of them all, the one called life. "

Product Details

• Paperback: 602 pages
• Publisher: Firstpublish.Inc (October 4, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 192992500X
• ISBN-13: 978-1929925001
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,838,427 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Trip to Old New Orleans, April 29, 2000

By 

Pam Milton (Bedford, Texas USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Laffite's Lady (Paperback)

Laffite's Lady was wonderfully written. The author obviously did extensive research and invested a lot of time and love in this book. As a native of New Orleans, I know the places she wrote of; the plantations were as she described them; the Blacksmith shop is still there and the inscriptions described in the book are accurate; the characters were so well described I could see them strolling through the French Quarter. Her unique writing style kept me waiting from page to page to see what surprises were next. I am anxiously awaiting the next book in the series; I'm already try to figure out what avenues she will explore and how the characters will interact. While there was certainly romance in the novel, it didn't depend on romance or love scenes to carry it; the story was rich with suspence mixed with history. One of the best books I've read in years.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't be Ignorant., November 19, 2000

By 

Brett Thomas (New Orleans) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Laffite's Lady (Paperback)

I am Brett Thomas, a licensed tour guide with the city of New Orleans, a historian, and book lover. As I have read many other novels with grammatical problems in the past, I have yet to encounter one so rich in every aspect of the human drama of early 19th century New Orleans. I truly couldn't put it down! I would whole heartedly recommend this book to anyone who is intelligent enough to look past the grammar, and look into the genius that is Susan Elliston. I recommend this book daily to tour participants, and am anxiously awaiting a sequel. Keep up the great work Ms. Elliston!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Adventure, March 10, 2000

By 

Bonnie Gilbert - See all my reviews

This review is from: Laffite's Lady (Paperback)

While on vacation in New Orleans instead of enjoying a peaceful vacation, a beautiful young woman has the adventure of her lifetime.

While swimming one morning Tori finds herself thrown back into the year 1810 and away from her daughter. She vows to return, but finds returning to her time is harder than she expected.

Tori soon finds out that 1810 New Orleans is a completely different world. Men own slaves, women have no rights, and a woman alone is a dangerous position to be in.

After many adventures Tori soon finds herself on privateer's Jean Laffite's ship heading to the Caribeans. They soon fall in love, but Tori never forgets her vow to return to the 20th century and to her daughter.

Susan Elliston's Laffite's Lady is a highly enjoyable novel that is rich in history and adventure. Anybody who loves stories of privateer Jean Laffite and New Orleans will surely keep this book on their shelf to be read over and over and over again.