The Naughty Nine ~ Mardi Gras Party!

Well, it's the ninth of the month, so we must be partying. The theme this month is Mardi Gras--'cause it just doesn't get more festive than that!

We've got music and videos, a hottie, beads, giveaways and fun questions for you--and us--to answer. So, let the good times roll!

It wouldn't be Mardi Gras without the chance to catch some beads. We've got a bucketful. If you want us to toss some your way, email us at ninenaughtynovelists@gmail.com to be put on our mailing list and we'll send you a string. Sorry, you'll have to supply your own hottie. Offer good while supplies last and/or until Mardi Gras (next Tuesday) whichever comes first.

Instead of our usual contest, this month we're doing something a little different. We're donating a dollar to the Red Cross for every comment we receive today.

And now, onto the questions, the music and the fun...

1. What would you like somebody to toss you from a Mardi Gras float?

money

2. What's your favorite New Orleans food?

never ate it

3. What's the hardest thing you've ever given up for Lent?

mcdonald's diet coke

1. What would you like somebody to toss you from a Mardi Gras float?

Well, if it could be *anything*... In keeping with a well-loved theme--Matthew McConaughy. Or money. Better yet, Matt in a loin cloth made of hundred dollar bills (you know they'd have to use a lot of them!! *G*).

2. What's your favorite New Orleans food?

I've lived a sheltered life. Don't know of anything I've eaten that is really authentic, frankly. But I love any seafood. I don't however intend to ever try crawfish and don't appreciate really spicy food. Probably good I grew up North, huh?

3. What's the hardest thing you've ever given up for Lent?

I actually don't usually give stuff up for Lent :) I'm really not good with deprivation. But one year I did try to give up caffeine. I think I made it to day three. This year I think I'll give up dieting.

1. What would you like somebody to toss you from a Mardi Gras float?
A new contract!

2. What's your favorite New Orleans food?

Due to my notorious sweet tooth I'm most looking forward to trying beignets someday.

3. What's the hardest thing you've ever given up for Lent?

Chocolate! (See sweet tooth, Q. #2)

1. What would you like somebody to toss you from a Mardi Gras float?

I understand they toss beads – I would like mine to be diamonds. Laissez les bons temps rouler!

2. What's your favorite New Orleans food?

I love most seafood especially shrimp and I also love spicy food so I like Cajun and Creole food. I once ate ALLIGATOR. I thought it was Cajun-spiced pieces of chicken, just a little tougher. I won’t say that’s one of my favorites! One thing I’ve never had that I would like to try is beignets.

3. Hardest thing ever given up for Lent

I’ve never given anything up for Lent. Am I going to burn in hell?

1. What would you like somebody to toss you from a Mardi Gras float?

A Zulu coconut

2. What's your favorite New Orleans food?

Anything at Acme Oyster House and the beignets at Cafe Du Monde

3. What's the hardest thing you've ever given up for Lent?

Beer

1. What would you like somebody to toss you from a Mardi Gras float?

Maybe Remy McSwain (Dennis Quaid's character in The Big Easy, the sexiest NOLA flick ever).

2. What's your favorite New Orleans food?

Fried oysters at the Acme Oyster House. Oh man, my mouth waters just remembering.

3. What's the hardest thing you've ever given up for Lent?

I don't usually give things up for Lent. But if I were to do it, I'd probably go with some kind of food, maybe pasta. Now that would take some willpower, believe me!

1. What would you like somebody to toss you from a Mardi Gras float?

Kelly's magic review lamp? Or pralines. Pralines are always good.

2. What's your favorite New Orleans food?

Oh, man, what isn't my favorite? I love it all--from beignets in the morning, to bread pudding late at night with lots of oysters in between (fried, raw, in po boys--I'm not fussy). But lately I've been jonesing for Voodoo Shrimp. And pralines, of course.

3. What's the hardest thing you've ever given up for Lent?

Don't really do Lent all that much. As a kid, I remember my school used to hand out little metal boxes for us to put our money in--they were collected at the end of Lent and sent off somewhere. I never really got the point of that. Were we giving up money for Lent? I really liked those boxes though--they were so cute! So, giving up the boxes--that was the hardest part for me.

1. What would you like somebody to toss you from a Mardi Gras float?

A winning lottery ticket might be nice. Or a chai tea... mmm. Ok, I'm off to Starbucks...

2. What's your favorite New Orleans food?

I've actually never had New Orleans food, so I'll be taking advice from the other Nine on this one.

3. What's the hardest thing you've ever given up for Lent?

In my episcopalian middle school, I tried telling them I was giving up homework for Lent, but that didn't fly.

1. What would you like somebody to toss you from a Mardi Gras float?

A maid? I could really use someone to do the laundry so I can have more time to write. No maids, huh? Bummer. Well, I guess beads will work. Maybe I can use them to tie my husband to the dryer and let him look for missing socks.

2. What's your favorite New Orleans food?

Anything with alcohol. :) What? Liquor can so be a food group, and I've heard interesting things about the Sazerac.

3. What's the hardest thing you've ever given up for Lent?

Pop/Soda. My mother talked me into one year and I don't think I've ever forgiven her for it. :)