"Louis Maistros has written a lyrical, complex, and brave novel that takes enormous risks and pulls them all off. He is a writer to watch and keep reading, a writer to cherish."
– Peter Straub

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"The Society of North American Magic Realists welcomes its newest, most dazzling member, Louis Maistros. His debut novel is a thing of wonder, unlike anything in our literature. It startles. It stuns. It stupefies. No novel since CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES has done such justice to New Orleans. If Franz Kafka had been able to write like Peter Straub, this might have been the result."
– Donald Harington,
Multiple award-winning novelist and
recipient of the Oxford-American Lifetime Achievement Award.

*

“Set in a meticulously researched, living and breathing Storyville-era New Orleans, The Sound of Building Coffins is variously an ultraviolet comedy, a family saga, and a meditation on race, class, and how those who think they're at the top of the heap seldom really are (more important points than ever in our post-Katrina landscape). Vividly drawn and frequently heartbreaking; a big, tremendously complex, absorbing, essential novel. Some authors live here all their lives and manage to write nothing but cliches about the city, but Louis Maistros gets it right the first time. The Sound of Building Coffins is easily one of the finest and truest pieces of New Orleans fiction I've ever read.”
- Poppy Z. Brite

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“Magical realism meets the seedy melting pot of early 20th-century New Orleans in this richly complex novel. The story has plenty of ghosts, magic, demons and, this being New Orleans, a ‘Cajun bogeyman’ named Coco Robicheux. It depicts a world where Jesus himself, speaking to a pastor busily wrestling with demons, would say ‘Get the fuck out of this house.’ It shows a place where outsiders are conned with elaborate scams that send them packing, none the wiser but considerably poorer. Those who survive this dangerous milieu are bound together by water, and the liquid becomes one of the novel's major leitmotifs. If all of this sounds improbable, it is. Yet this novel contains considerable wonders as well, and these wonders are more than enough to transcend the story's complexities.”
- Publisher's Weekly

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"Deeply original and as hypnotically strange as New Orleans itself, this novel breathes to life a magical realm. Louis Maistros' haunting characters are at once timeless and firmly tethered to their city's dark history."
– Elise Blackwell

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"This is not just historical fiction to me, but literature that illustrates human motivation soaked in the magic of human emotion. Everyone who is curious about or already in love with New Orleans should read this book." –
GiO,
The Burlesque Queen of New Orleans

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“Louis Maistros has an original and dark vision, full of power.”
- Douglas Clegg

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“The nineteenth-century New Orleans that Maistros creates in The Sound of Building Coffins could not come from normal research; you can write a book like this only after spending years obsessed, trawling through old newspapers and out-of-print books and even the streets themselves for clues to evoke this vision of the city's earlier life. That he tells a strange and intriguing story - a horror novel about the birth of jazz - almost doesn't matter. The weird way that this commercial thriller sings its paean to that lost era reminds me of Russell Greenan's IT HAPPENED IN BOSTON?, another classic that defies the easy caricature.”
- Peter Orr

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“Maistros is an explosive new talent whose writing reverberates with color and subtle irony.”
- S .P. Somtow

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“The Sound of Building Coffins is a soulful work from a writer of the weird. Maistros does more than make you feel for his characters and their twisted, damaged lives; he makes you *want* to feel.”
- Paul G. Tremblay

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“The Sound of Building Coffins is a magnetic story with beautifully drawn characters that keep you turning the pages. Maistros captures the dialect, the neighborhood, the whole ambience of Old New Orleans superbly.”
- Raymond Buckland

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(Above photos taken by and copyrighted by Louis Maistros)

Please visit Louie's blog.

Also, please visit Louie's MySpace page and add him as a "friend."

* * *

Louie's Juke Joint of New Orleans

New Orleans Music? Yeah, ya right!

Louie's Juke Joint began in 1994 at the New Orleans French Market, selling hard to find local and American Roots Music. In 1997 we moved off the parking lot and into Record Ron's old spot on Decatur Street. In 1998, we moved across the street to a bigger location where we settled in for three years. In order to get away from the grind of the French Quarter and spend more time with my kids, I decided to shut down the physical store in 2001 and deal strictly online. With our newly found low overhead, we are able to sell much of the good stuff at a low, low cost. Check it out!

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Mojo working? Fine tune it here!

My partner in crime and lovely bride Elly became oddly famous for having a full service Voodoo botanica at the back of our shop, known as Scully Elly's Voodoo Joint. From time to time, I'll be selling some of Elly's shrines, altar pieces, artwork and other Voodoo relics on Ebay. Elly's the real deal, having been recently initiated as a Hounsi-Kanza in Haiti by Sylva Joseph and Edgar Jean-Louise.

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The Dynamic Duo

The above photo was taken by our 11 year old daughter Amberle while we were evacuated in Maryland.

"In the Dark" gulf coast tribute video, by Louie Maistros

The following video and song is dedicated to the folks in the Gulf Coast who still struggle to rebuild their lives -- many of whom are still just trying to find their way back home.

Louie Maistros is a musician and author who lives in New Orleans, Louisiana. His most recent novel, "The Sound of Building Coffins," is represented by the Barbara Braun Literary Agency in New York City.

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Love Letter from the Office of the Mayor of New Orleans!

"...your excellent customer service is a fine example of the graciousness and Southern hospitality for which New Orleans is famous."

To read more about this letter and to see what our customers are saying about Louie's Juke Joint, Please click here!

Here are a few of our...

Favorite Links

Visit Louie's MySpace page!

Visit Louie's publisher, The Toby Press!

Quality Guitar Strings in Bulk!

Jazz & Blues Autographs!

Louie's Juke Joint

Scully Elly's Voodoo Joint

Vinyl Resting Place

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To protect bidder privacy, when the price or highest bid on an item reaches or exceeds a certain level, User IDs will be displayed as anonymous names. For auction items, a bold price means at least one bid has been received. Note: Anonymous names may appear more than once and may represent different bidders. Currently featuring Jazz CDs, LPs, Autographs & Memorabilia, Show Posters from New Orleans & the work of famed outsider folk artist Dr. Bob! Ow! Ow! Ow! Hot Cha Cha! Item Start End Price Title High Bidder/Status 360213046685 Nov-29-09 Feb-27-10 19:53:54 $35.00 FRANK ROSOLINO Kenton Alumni Trombone 1954 Mono 10" LP Available 360213046674 Nov-29-09 Feb-27-10 19:53:53 $10.95 IVY SMITH & COW COW DAVENPORT 20s Blues NEW Document CD Available 360213046656 Nov-29-09 Feb-27-10 19:53:51 $10.95 GEORGIA WHITE 1936-37 Dirty Blues Barrelhouse Singer CD Available 360213046647 Nov-29-09 Feb-27-10 19:53:49 $4.95 CHAMPION JACK DUPREE & Muddy Waters, Me and My Mule CD Available 360213046636 Nov-29-09 Feb-27-10 19:53:43 $10.95 VIOLA McCOY & JULIA MOODY 1920s Blues Singers NEW CD Available 360212999223 Nov-29-09 Feb-27-10 16:53:07 $8.95 SHORTY ROGERS Plays Richard Rodgers 1957 OOP Mono LP Available 360212998630 Nov-29-09 Feb-27-10 16:50:31 $60.00 RIVERSIDE MODERN JAZZ SAMPLER Ultra Rare 1956 S-3, LP Available 360212998172 Nov-29-09 Feb-27-10 16:48:32 $5.95 JOAN RIVERS What Becomes a Semi-Legend Most 1983 OOP LP Available 360212997891 Nov-29-09 Feb-27-10 16:47:16 $8.95 WES MONTGOMERY Tequila 1966 Jazz Guitar VERVE Mono LP Available 360212997065 Nov-29-09 Feb-27-10 16:43:54 $9.95 ART BLAKEY & Donald Harrison, Terence Blanchard 1985 LP Available 360212996734 Nov-29-09 Feb-27-10 16:42:28 $5.95 MAYNARD FERGUSON Carnival OOP 1978 Columbia Promo LP Available 360212996435 Nov-29-09 Feb-27-10 16:41:08 $9.95 KENNY BURRELL Man At Work 1965 Guitar Jazz OOP LP Available 360212948843 Nov-29-09 Feb-27-10 13:36:17 $18.00 NIRVANA '91 Smells Like Teen Spirit CD Maxi Single RARE Available 360212947985 Nov-29-09 Feb-27-10 13:33:37 $3.95 PARIS Let's Take a Trip, Reggae Guitar OOP SEALED CD Available 360212898043 Nov-29-09 Feb-27-10 11:30:17 $5.95 MOTORHEAD Live, Loud & Lewd 1970s Live OOP SEALED CD Available 360212897480 Nov-29-09 Feb-27-10 11:29:11 $6.95 MOTHER LOVE BONE Stardog Champion 1992 OOP 2 CD Set Available 360212679645 Nov-28-09 Feb-26-10 16:31:40 $18.00 PAUL DESMOND 1969 Brazilian Jazz LP w Milton Nascimento Available 360212629612 Nov-28-09 Feb-26-10 12:44:38 $10.95 1927-43 EARLY GOSPEL Choirs, Singers & Preachers NEW CD Available 360212626463 Nov-28-09 Feb-26-10 12:34:57 $9.99 NEW ORLEANS City Park Storm Clouds PHOTO Louis Maistros Available 360212626452 Nov-28-09 Feb-26-10 12:34:55 $475.00 HUMMINGATOR New Orleans Louisiana Folk Art by DR. BOB Available 360212626436 Nov-28-09 Feb-26-10 12:34:53 $850.00 HOLLYWOOD POWER MOVE SALON Louisiana Folk Art DR. BOB Available 360212626433 Nov-28-09 Feb-26-10 12:34:52 $9.99 NEW ORLEANS Mardi Gras Bacchus Parade Dancer 8x10 Photo Available 360212626426 Nov-28-09 Feb-26-10 12:34:49 $9.99 NEW ORLEANS PHOTO Mardi Gras Bacchus Parade Jazz Photo Available 360212339505 Nov-27-09 Feb-25-10 12:07:05 $10.95 EARLY BLACK VOCAL GROUPS 1927-1941 Vol. 7 Gospel NEW CD Available 360212339503 Nov-27-09 Feb-25-10 12:07:04 $10.95 EARLY BLACK VOCAL GROUPS 1919-1929 Vol 10 Gospel NEW CD Available 360212339484 Nov-27-09 Feb-25-10 12:07:01 $10.95 EDNA HICKS 1923 Tragic New Orleans Blues Singer NEW CD Available 360212339246 Nov-27-09 Feb-25-10 12:06:05 $10.95 MEMPHIS MINNIE & Kansas Joe 1930-1931 NEW Document CD Available 360212327864 Nov-27-09 Feb-25-10 11:28:11 $7.95 RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS This is New! 1965 Moonglow Mono LP Available 360212324165 Nov-27-09 Feb-25-10 11:16:22 $350.00 BYWATER FISH MARKET Louisiana Outsider Folk Art DR. BOB Available 360212324166 Nov-27-09 Feb-25-10 11:16:22 $195.00 BE NICE OR LEAVE New Orleans Louisiana Folk Art DR. BOB Available 360212324153 Nov-27-09 Feb-25-10 11:16:19 $325.00 SNOW CONE SHACK New Orleans Louisiana Folk Art DR. BOB Available 360210670374 Nov-22-09 Feb-20-10 13:15:36 $14.95 BILLIE HOLIDAY 1944 Apollo Theatre Jazz Sho Deco Poster Available 360210616345 Nov-22-09 Feb-20-10 12:08:50 $10.50 PETE FOUNTAIN 1991 New Orleans Jazz Clarinet NEW CD Available 360210608213 Nov-22-09 Feb-20-10 12:06:06 $10.50 JIMMY YANCEY 1939 Piano Boogie 1st Recordings SEALED CD Available 360210582497 Nov-22-09 Feb-20-10 11:57:25 $10.95 1961 NEW ORLEANS Preservation Hall Jazz Emile Barnes CD Available 360210184621 Nov-21-09 Feb-19-10 11:34:37 $4.95 REV. TIMOTHY WRIGHT Let Freedom Ring, Savoy Gospel CD Available 360209954600 Nov-20-09 Feb-18-10 16:07:06 $12.00 SCORPIO Burt Lancaster 1973 Rare Mexican Movie Poster Available 360209953568 Nov-20-09 Feb-18-10 16:03:46 $12.00 CHARLES BRONSON 1970s Mexican Lobby Card LOVE & BULLETS Available 360209951759 Nov-20-09 Feb-18-10 15:55:39 $9.95 ORSON WELLES Southern Star 1969 Mexican Movie Poster Available 360209950052 Nov-20-09 Feb-18-10 15:47:12 $10.95 GENE VINCENT Rebel Heart Vol. 8, OOP Rockabilly NEW CD Available 360209947876 Nov-20-09 Feb-18-10 15:39:55 $18.00 RONNIE LANG Modern Jazz 1956 Tops Microgroove Mono LP Available 360209947362 Nov-20-09 Feb-18-10 15:37:06 $3.95 K.D. LANG All You Can Eat 1995 Alternative Country CD Available 360209947128 Nov-20-09 Feb-18-10 15:36:00 $4.95 PATTY LARKIN Regrooving the Dream 2000 Vanguard CD Available 360209946899 Nov-20-09 Feb-18-10 15:34:28 $3.95 LOS GENERALES Al Mando Rare Latin Rap SEALED OOP CD Available 360209944568 Nov-20-09 Feb-18-10 15:24:20 $3.95 BOB LOWERY Yellow Light, Alt Folk Blues OOP CD Available 360209942648 Nov-20-09 Feb-18-10 15:16:54 $8.95 STAN KENTON Sketches on Standards '60s Capitol Mono LP Available 360209940390 Nov-20-09 Feb-18-10 15:05:10 $18.00 Session With GARY LEWIS & PLAYBOYS 1965 Liberty Mono LP Available 360209940132 Nov-20-09 Feb-18-10 15:03:52 $8.95 STAN KENTON Milestones, Original Mono 1955 Capitol LP Available 360209939197 Nov-20-09 Feb-18-10 14:59:56 $12.00 STAN KENTON Popular Favorites 1955 Mono Capitol Jazz LP Available 360209909026 Nov-20-09 Feb-18-10 12:54:21 $18.00 CANNONBALL ADDERLEY African Waltz '61 Riverside Mono LP Available 360209908208 Nov-20-09 Feb-18-10 12:51:07 $185.00 HARLEY TRIBUTE New Orleans Louisiana Folk Art DR. BOB Available 360209906572 Nov-20-09 Feb-18-10 12:45:29 $18.00 GEORGE SHEARING Touch of Genius 1955 Piano Jazz Mono LP Available 360209905222 Nov-20-09 Feb-18-10 12:40:45 $450.00 CAB CALLOWAY 1930s Jitterbug Society SIGNED Member Card Available 360209901332 Nov-20-09 Feb-18-10 12:28:42 $18.00 GO TELL THE SPARTANS Burt Lancaster 1978 Mexican Poster Available 360209900958 Nov-20-09 Feb-18-10 12:27:44 $8.95 MURRAY THE K Boss Golden Gassers 1962 OOP LP 5th Beatle Available 360209899405 Nov-20-09 Feb-18-10 12:23:26 $12.00 GENE PITNEY Only Love Can Break Your Heart 1962 Mono LP Available 360209899078 Nov-20-09 Feb-18-10 12:22:22 $6.95 DEAN MARTIN 25 Early Radio Recordings, Lounge SEALED CD Available 360209897676 Nov-20-09 Feb-18-10 12:18:25 $12.00 FORT APACHE, THE BRONX Paul Newman 1980 Mexican Poster Available 360209896086 Nov-20-09 Feb-18-10 12:14:14 $14.95 THE HAWAIIANS Charlton Heston 1970 Mexican Movie Poster Available 360208983671 Nov-17-09 Feb-15-10 15:13:17 $18.00 BILL HOLMAN w/ Frank Rosolino, etc OOP 1960 Mono LP Available 360208982664 Nov-17-09 Feb-15-10 15:07:52 $12.00 AHMAD JAMAL Happy Moods, Piano Trio OOP 1960 Argo LP Available 360208982452 Nov-17-09 Feb-15-10 15:06:36 $75.00 JAZZ FOR HI FI LOVERS Ultra Rare 1956 Dawn Mono Jazz LP Available 360208982234 Nov-17-09 Feb-15-10 15:05:26 $4.95 HUDSON & LANDRY, KGBS Radio DJs 1972 DORE LP Available 360208982016 Nov-17-09 Feb-15-10 15:04:07 $12.00 JONAH JONES Jonah Jumps Again OOP 1959 Capitol Mono LP Available 360208980616 Nov-17-09 Feb-15-10 14:58:22 $65.00 DAVE BRUBECK Jazz Piano 1964 Signed HAM Radio Stamp FDC Available 360208382870 Nov-15-09 Feb-13-10 20:10:06 $7.95 WOODY HERMAN Live at Monterey 1959 OOP Big Band LP Available 360208308670 Nov-15-09 Feb-13-10 15:58:24 $36.00 BUNK JOHNSON 12" 78 RPM American Music New Orleans 1944 Available 360208306081 Nov-15-09 Feb-13-10 15:49:45 $18.00 ERROLL GARNER Self Titled 1956 Mono OOP Piano Jazz LP Available 360208305181 Nov-15-09 Feb-13-10 15:46:31 $5.95 GREATEST HITS OF THE 30s Limited Ed. 1930s Swing OOP LP Available 360208304819 Nov-15-09 Feb-13-10 15:45:07 $5.95 EARL GRANT Ebb Tide 60s Organ & Piano OOP Lounge LP Available 360208304448 Nov-15-09 Feb-13-10 15:43:38 $8.95 JACKIE GLEASON Love Embers and Flame 1962 OOP Mono LP Available 360208304128 Nov-15-09 Feb-13-10 15:42:20 $18.00 BENNY GOODMAN 1935-39 Half-Speed Mastered 2 LP Box Set Available 360208303578 Nov-15-09 Feb-13-10 15:39:51 $9.95 ERROLL GARNER Most Happy Piano 1956 Mono OOP Jazz LP Available 360208303192 Nov-15-09 Feb-13-10 15:38:22 $18.00 ERROLL GARNER TRIO '56 Jazz Piano OOP Mono Atlantic LP Available 360208242248 Nov-15-09 Feb-13-10 12:36:34 $125.00 BULK GUITAR STRINGS Martin Acoustic Medium 48 Full Sets Available 360208210669 Nov-15-09 Feb-13-10 11:30:58 $350.00 VOODOO BOX Barq's Crate New Orleans Folk Art DR. BOB Available 360208201020 Nov-15-09 Feb-13-10 11:12:16 $350.00 MIRROR BOX Barq's Crate New Orleans Folk Art DR. BOB Available 360207944521 Nov-14-09 Feb-12-10 14:25:40 $175.00 BE NICE OR LEAVE New Orleans Louisiana Folk Art DR. BOB Available 360207942481 Nov-14-09 Feb-12-10 14:18:21 $125.00 BE NICE OR LEAVE New Orleans Louisiana Folk Art DR. BOB Available 360207929070 Nov-14-09 Feb-12-10 13:26:54 $9.95 RAMBLIN' JACK ELLIOTT 1999 The Long Ride NEW Folk CD Available 360207928799 Nov-14-09 Feb-12-10 13:25:33 $9.95 1920s KANSAS CITY JAZZ, 25 Rare Tracks OOP SEALED CD Available 360207927542 Nov-14-09 Feb-12-10 13:20:10 $150.00 BE NICE OR LEAVE New Orleans Louisiana Folk Art DR. BOB Available 360207691309 Nov-13-09 Feb-11-10 15:54:14 $9.99 NEW ORLEANS Post-K Mardi Gras Pig Girl Mask Photograph Available 360207691310 Nov-13-09 Feb-11-10 15:54:14 $9.99 NEW ORLEANS Child's Toy in Lower 9th Ward After Katrina Available 360207691308 Nov-13-09 Feb-11-10 15:54:13 $9.99 NEW ORLEANS Lower 9th Ward Hurricane Katrina Photo Available 360207691307 Nov-13-09 Feb-11-10 15:54:12 $9.99 NEW ORLEANS Post-K Mardi Gras Decadence Color Photo Available 360207691300 Nov-13-09 Feb-11-10 15:54:11 $9.99 NEW ORLEANS Mardi Gras on Jackson Square Color Photo Available 360207691301 Nov-13-09 Feb-11-10 15:54:11 $9.99 NEW ORLEANS Lower 9th Ward Hurricane Katrina 8x10 Photo Available 360207691302 Nov-13-09 Feb-11-10 15:54:10 $9.99 NEW ORLEANS Lower 9th Ward Hurricane Katrina 8x10 Photo Available 360207669067 Nov-13-09 Feb-11-10 14:01:14 $9.99 NEW ORLEANS French Quarter Easter Parade Color Photo Available 360207669047 Nov-13-09 Feb-11-10 14:01:11 $9.99 Hurricane Katrina Highway 11, OK To Destroy, 8x10 Photo Available 360207669048 Nov-13-09 Feb-11-10 14:01:11 $9.99 NEW ORLEANS Krewe du Vieux Mardi Gras Parade Tuba Photo Available 360207669039 Nov-13-09 Feb-11-10 14:01:09 $125.00 BE NICE OR LEAVE New Orleans Louisiana Folk Art DR. BOB Available 360207669033 Nov-13-09 Feb-11-10 14:01:08 $9.99 NEW ORLEANS Lower 9th Ward Hurricane Katrina 8x10 Photo Available 360207669034 Nov-13-09 Feb-11-10 14:01:08 $9.99 NEW ORLEANS Krewe Du Vieux Photo Crime Scene 8x10 Photo Available 360207086834 Nov-11-09 Mar-11-10 17:37:40 $10.95 BUDDY BURTON & FATS HUDSON 1928-36 Jazz & Blues NEW CD Available 360207086831 Nov-11-09 Mar-11-10 17:37:38 $10.95 EDNA HICKS Hazel Meyers 1923-1927 Blues Singers NEW CD Available 360207086563 Nov-11-09 Mar-11-10 17:36:14 $10.95 1930s-40s JAZZ & BLUES Rosetta Tharpe, Albinia Jones CD Available 360207085606 Nov-11-09 Mar-11-10 17:31:18 $10.95 1933-38 PIANO BLUES Whistlin Rufus, Curtis Henry NEW CD Available 360207084069 Nov-11-09 Mar-11-10 17:24:41 $145.00 RENEW OR LEAVE New Orleans Louisiana Folk Art DR. BOB Available Go see all current items for sale by this member. Here's a few things that have been recently added...

Favorite Links

Visit Louie's MySpace page!

Visit Louie's publisher, The Toby Press!

Quality Guitar Strings in Bulk!

Jazz & Blues Autographs!

Louie's Juke Joint

Scully Elly's Voodoo Joint

Vinyl Resting Place

Louie's Juke Joint has been lost in the Bizarro Ebay Universe since Friday, Jul 24, 1998

The current time in the Bizarro Ebay Universe is: Feb-10-10 07:32:08 PST

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