Colman,

I see that you are just like me in that you have several books cued, whoops, I mean "queued" up for reading. "The Blonde." It's not as taut as "The Wheelman," though it will still amaze you.

Another story that I would like to add to my recent recommen list is a Bosch short story that Michael Connelly snuck into a collection called "Hollywood And Crime."

Kelli,

Noir dialogue would be difficult for stage actors if they didn't see enough films and it could turn their cadence into bad soap opera-like pacing.

If ACT would do more plays like that, I would go. Nowhere is the drama more intense than in noir.

Karyn,

I heard that the Badgers QB pulled it out with a miracle run. The Mountain West Conference can be tricky in terms of offense, but I was surprised that the game was so close as defense in that conference is an afterthought. I chalk it up to early season lethargy and the Wisconsin would destroy them if this were November.

I agree with you about the airlines, I'm just waiting on them to bring out trough, as they've done just about everything else to ruin the travel experience.

Hi Cormac,
Badgers almost lost! Packers won against the odds. And we survived the traveling American's most humbling experience-commercial airline transportation. If the common man was meant to fly, commercial air lines would not have been deregulated!

Hi, Cormac!

Yup, Word for Word was surprisingly really good. I say surprisingly because I was initially skeptical, too. The direction and pace of the acting was really brisk, and the actors were great. There was even a Carmen Miranda-type song offered as a nightclub interlude (to set the scene)--very, very fun.

I'd like to see more live period noir--the closest in recent memory was a terrific production of The Time of Your Life at ACT--a play I love, and have always felt was distinctly noirish.

Karyn,

Still, that can't tickle and it means that you literally suffer for your art every few keystrokes.

Thanks, just singed the last three fingers of my right hand. Since I failed keyboarding 100 years ago, I just use my thumbs and first fingers most of the time anyway.

Vicky,

You're welcome.

Thanks for pointing out the typo. All fixed now.

Liz,

Wait until the movie version, then they will change it to a song or whatever marketing thinks will sell, relevance to the story be damned.

Glad you like my title, Cormac--so do I! I was so relieved to find my editor did too--lived in fear they'd change Death Will Get You Sober to something cute or innocuous. :) Liz

Eric,

I think's it perfect and it's one of those that the rest of wish we came up with along time ago. I'll have to check out Colin's page when I get a chance.

Kelli,

Have you taken the walking Hammett tour yet? I keep putting it off, but this September will be the one. I don't remember "The Bookmonger," though I have a tendency to get tunnel vision when I am on Clement. This is especially true the longer it takes for me to find a parking place.

Thanks, Cormac! We live in the same city and like the same writers, so I figured it was destiny! :)

Speaking of good used book stores, there used to be another treasure on Clement Street called "The Bookmonger." It's been closed for a awhile, but it was one of those scattered, tattered and eclectic places where you could discover just about anything. I miss it! (That, and Greco-Romana Pizza, which was near by).

See you in the City!

Kelli

Thanks for accepting. And thanks for the kind words about Living Room. I was very pleased when I came up with it. So far I've been lucky in that my publishers have all liked my titles and never given me any grief over them. Colin Cotterill, who is also here on Crimespace, has some very funny stories about problems he's had with his publishers and his suggested titles.

Welcome aboard!

Thank you Steven for the "welcome aboard" and thanks to Eric, Sara and Meredith for inviting me to be friend. I ask please for everyone's patience as I am something of a Luddite when it comes to non-Blogger blogware.