Last week I sent in my next section of pages for my book Hope and New Orleans. This is where I am: My contract calls for 35 photographs and 40,000 words. Or 65 photographs and 35,000 words. Or something that works in between. I want to cover between 125 and 150 streets (the quandary has always been what streets – I want to give a good overview).
Right now I am at 27,000 words and 56 streets. Obviously that is a problem. I suspect I will finish around 50,000 words (I hope by October so I can have some breathing room to edit before my December 1 due date). Then trim, trim, trim, trim. I am also taking photographs, gathering archival photos, newspaper clippings, etc. I will more than likely turn in twice as many photographs as required to give them options. Luckily, my editor Christen is pretty kick-ass and she doesn’t freak or worry when I tell her I know I will be over my word count, but I will fix it.
This month I covered: Clarence Henry, Lafreniere, Ulloa, O’Reilly, Kerlerec, Chef Menteur, D’Abadie, Onzaga, Frenchmen, Hurst, Eleanore, Arabella, Joseph, Benjamin, Nashville, Treme, Vignaud, Pirates Alley, St. Claude, and Aubry.
See any themes in there? I will give you a hint – there are two! Here are a couple more hints: rebellion and bankruptcy.
I also spent time at the Ursuline Convent. It was actually very relaxing, walking around by myself taking photographs. I am not sure which photographs I will submit yet, but I love these (even though they are not in the running).
M. Katherine Drexel doesn't seem like the type who would like pranks.
This is what I feel like most of the time
Until next month…