The LA Times Festival of Books is a much needed yearly reminder of just how many people actually give a damn about reading. Of course it’s only a small percent of the larger population, but when you put them all together in one place it’s pretty astounding. It’s also always hot as hell. I figure those 20 dollar lemonade dealers have some kind of top-secret weather machine that cranks the mercury up to three digits every year just in time for the Festival. It’s hard to be glamorous and sweaty at… Continue

I attended the last night of Noir City at the Egyptian to catch one of my all time favorites NIGHT AND THE CITY on the big screen, along with a rare Ida Lupino melodrama called WOMAN IN HIDING. What was particularly interesting about the screening of NIGHT was that it was a British print. I have the Criterion DVD, which I watch compulsively, and right away I noticed substantial differences. Familiar scenes were gone and new scenes were added. Nothing major, just little things here and there.… Continue

I really need to just hole up and write, but first a few more signings. I’ll be at the L.A. Times Festival of Books this coming Saturday the 26th. I’m signing at the Mystery Bookstore booth (#411) from noon to 1 pm and then at the Sister in Crime booth (#355) from 4-6pm.



After that, I’m not leaving the house until the new book is done, or… Continue

I’ll be signing tomorrow Saturday April 19th at 4pm with Kathryn Lilley and Sue Ann Jaffarian at

Metropolis Books
400 South Main Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
213-612-0174

Just when I think I’ve got the best of this Black Death/Captain Tripps/Ebola/whatever the fuck has been wrong with me since Left Coast Crime…



Over the past two days I’ve been dealing with yet another unwanted encore of high fever and coughing, this time with the added bonus of severe sinus congestion and an inexplicable stabbing pain in the right side of my mid-back. Sheesh! This damn flu is like a bad rock band that will not get off the stage.



But on the bright side, I… Continue

In spite of my promise to cut out the distractions and get back to work, I still managed to fuck off to the movies last night. I had a fantastic time last year doing the entire Film Noir Festival, but sadly, this year I just can’t spare the hours away from my desk. So I’m picking and choosing. One of my picks from this year’s crop was last nights rare proto-noir double bill of STRANGER ON THE THIRD FLOOR and THE FACE BEHIND THE MASK.



STRANGER has Lorre slinking around in the shadows… Continue

Well, that’s enough of that. I’m officially done with traveling for the next few months. Time to pull up the drawbridge and chain myself to the desk. Jetsetting around like a rockstar is all well and good, but it’s meaningless if I don’t do the other, more important part of my job. I’m going to go write a book now.

I’ve put up a few NoirCon photos, but those who were in attendance during the now legendary “champagne toast” are probably wondering why certain key photos are missing from this set. I’ll get to that…



Now, where was I?



OK, we finally get Lou’s car back to him and help him lug some stuff over to the restaurant where the auction will be held. Bookstore Greg already got all my extra money and I… Continue

Started the day with coffee at a wonderfully grungy little South Street joint called The Bean Cafe. It ain’t Starbucks, and that’s a good thing. I spent a very entertaining half hour people watching from my perch under this astounding serial killer painting of Hall and Oates.

This was actually for sale. I wonder how much the artist was asking…



From there it was off to the Noir Ladies Auxiliary panel. Now that’s not entirely… Continue

Where to begin…?



I guess I’ll start by saying that this was probably the best convention I’ve ever attended. The smaller size made it much more intimate and I really enjoyed what I call the “gay bar” factor. By that I mean you know going in that everyone in the room is into the same thing. You don’t get that awkward “what do you write” moment where you find out the person you’ve been chatting with for ten minutes only likes cat cozies where no one swears.



I arrived at 7am… Continue

I’m off to Philly on a redeye tomorrow night, headed for NoirCon. I have to say, I’m seriously sick of travel, but this looks to be a good time.



In other Noir news, Noir City at the Egyptian kicks off this weekend too. How’s that for bad timing? I’m particularly pissed about missing Wicked Woman and The Story of Molly X. I’m gonna try to hit as many of… Continue

First Night and the City's star Richard Widmark, now the director! Jules Dassin (Brute Force, Thieves' Highway, Rififi) has died in Greece at 96.