Rita Monette, author of The Legend of Ghost Dog Island, talks about the legend of the Rougarou:
Legends and Myths
In my first book of the Nikki Landry Swamp Legend series, The Legend of Ghost Dog Island, Nikki hears a howling sound coming from a swamp island near their new houseboat home. Nikki ponders on what it could be. The first thing that comes to mind is the age old legend of the Rougarou.
The old Louisiana Legend has the rougarou roaming the deep swamps and searching rural towns for a victim to free it from its miserable condition by passing the curse on to another human. Read more about the rougarou legend on my blog at: http://tinyurl.com/oan4qsu
Nikki’s father explains that legends are born from people not knowing the truth about something they’ve heard or seen, so they invent their own tales to explain the unexplainable.
However, as Nikki and her friends delve into the mystery, they uncover clues that lead them to believe there is a voodoo woman and her ghostly dog living on the island who is not content with one ghostly dog, but is set on gathering others. Nikki must take action to protect her dog, Snooper and decides going to the island is the only way!
About The Legend of Ghost Dog Island:
Moving is nothing new for ten-year-old Nikki Landry. Her father relocates their raggedy old houseboat several times a year in search of better crabbing spots. However, their latest move has brought her to a mysterious bayou where she feels something is watching her from a nearby island.
Nikki learns of a local legend about something sinister inhabiting those swamps, stealing the souls of dogs…which would explain the strange howling sounds. Papa reassures her there’s nothing on the island but gators and snakes. He should know. He’s spent his whole life trapping and fishing those bayous and swamps…But maybe there’s something Papa doesn’t know.
Nikki and her new friends begin to uncover strange happenings from years ago that may have started the old legend…and town folks aren’t talking.
Then her beloved beagle goes missing.
Join Nikki as she seeks to discover the real truth behind the legend of Ghost Dog Island…before it’s too late.
Book Details:
Title: The Legend of Ghost Dog Island
Author Name: Rita Monette
Genre(s): Middle Grade, Adventure, Mystery
Tags: Adventure, mystery, middle grade, louisiana, bayou, dogs
Length: Approx. 204 pages
E-book: 978-1-987976-00-7
Paperback: 978-0-9947490-9-3
Re-Release Date: September 1, 2015
Publisher: Mirror World Publishing
Amazon Link:
Mirror World Publishing Links:
Meet the Author:
Rita Monette was born and raised in Southwest Louisiana. She loves to write stories set in the beautiful, yet mysterious, bayous and swamps of her home state.
Her middle grade series, The Nikki Landry Swamp Legends, is based on tales told by her father—who made his living in those bayous—of reasons to stay out of the swamp.
She currently lives with her husband, four lap dogs, and one lap cat, in the mountains of Tennessee. Besides writing and illustrating, she loves watching the many birds that make their habitat on the Cumberland Plateau, working in the garden, and frequenting waterfalls.
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Sunflowers and Stories 
Great post, Rita! And thanks for hosting, Jojo!
Thank you so much for hosting Rita and The Legend of Ghost Dog Island.
It’s a pleasure as always 🙂
Wonderful post, Rita! I’ve heard another name for a Rougarou is a werewolf. It’s funny how all legends are connected! Congrats on your re-release and here’s wishing for a bestseller! Cheers!