Haunted New Orleans: Book Launch & Ghost Tour with Rory and Rosary O’Neill

Step into the haunted heart of the Crescent City.

New Orleans is a city like no other—alive with music, mystery, and spirits that never rest. From haunted hotels and vampire legends to the enduring power of Voodoo, the city’s supernatural history is as rich as its culture.

This October, you’re invited to experience it all with authors Rory O’Neill Schmitt, PhD and Rosary O’Neill, PhD, as they celebrate the release of their brand-new book:

📖 The Haunted Guide to New Orleans: Ghosts, Vampires & Voodoo Protection

In partnership with Arcadia Publishing’s The History Press, this one-night-only event combines a guided Haunted Ghost Tour through the French Quarter with a signed copy of the book included in every ticket.

Date: Friday, October 3, 2025 – 7:00 PM

Location: Pirate’s Alley, French Quarter, New Orleans

Included: Haunted Ghost Tour + Signed Copy of The Haunted Guide to New Orleans

This book takes readers and tour-goers deep into the city’s most legendary hauntings and dark folklore:

👻 Ancient ghosts patrolling the French Quarter

🍴 Spirits lingering at Antoine’s and Commander’s Palace

🏨 Hotel Monteleone’s eternal residents

⚔️ Duels echoing beneath the city’s oaks

🧛 Vampires rising from caskets

🏚️ Madame LaLaurie’s tortured mansion

It also explores how Voodoo rituals connect the living with their ancestors, offering protection and guidance in a city where the past never truly sleeps.

Rory O’Neill Schmitt, PhD

• Faculty development manager at USC’s Bovard College
• Award-winning filmmaker (Garden District, winner of 20+ international awards)
• Executive Producer of Duplass Brothers’ The Long Long Night
• Visiting Fulbright Scholar
• Co-author of multiple cultural histories, including New Orleans Voodoo: A Cultural History (2019)

Rosary O’Neill, PhD

• Senior Fulbright Drama Specialist and nine-time Fulbright Award winner
• Playwright of 19 published works and founder of Southern Rep, New Orleans’ first repertory theater
• Author of numerous play anthologies and cultural histories

Together, this mother-daughter team blends scholarship, artistry, and local knowledge to uncover the supernatural side of New Orleans.

✨ Exclusive Experience – Walk the haunted streets with the authors and American Ghost Walks’ expert storytellers

📚 Great Value – Your ticket includes admission + signed book

👻 Authentic Stories – Learn folklore, history, and firsthand encounters from New Orleans natives

🎃 Halloween Kickoff – Start October with a supernatural celebration in America’s most haunted city

Also check out other Arts events in New Orleans, Literary Art events in New Orleans.