Virtual Readings
As some of you know, I host the Noir at the Bar reading series in D.C. and this Friday night, April 10th at 8 PM EST, we're moving it online! I'm excited about this for three reasons - two professional, one personal.
First, I love Noir at the Bar readings, and I watched the one my friend Alex Segura did for Queens last week and was so impressed. Like all of our N@B events, this one will feature heavyweights in D/M/V (D.C / Maryland / Virginia) fiction - see the flyer above for the names. And, and and and, we'll have music from local jazz star Sara Jones!
Second, we're doing this event in support of One More Page Books, an enchanted beauty of a bookstore located in Arlington. If you hear a writer you like and want to order their book, then we ask you to visit this link https://www.onemorepagebooks.com/event/virtual-noir-bar. and order a copy. If this event goes well and we do more of these, we'll do the next event in support of another D/M/V bookstore.
And personally...the first week that my day job had us work from home, it was lovely and almost heartbreaking to see my colleagues on a Zoom meeting. I hadn't realized how much I already missed constant human contact. And even if this distance has become part of our "new normal," there's still a loveliness in doing what we once did.
This Friday night, we get to do one of the things we do best as people: story-telling. We get to share stories with each other, to laugh and recoil and commiserate. So much of that, when reading, happens alone; all we can do is tell our loved ones "you have to read this!" and wait. Live readings give us the chance to experience those emotions together, and a good Noir at the Bar tends to reject the staid conservatism that often paralyzes readings. Emotions are invited.
So this Friday night we'll share stories through readings and songs, and remember some of what we're missing. And realize it's not lost.
And, you know, probably have some inappropriate humor here and there. As we do.
The event link is https://www.crowdcast.io/e/d-c--virtual-noir-at-the. I suggest registering for the event ahead of time - you just need to submit your e-mail address, and you'll be signed up (and I haven't received any spam from them since I signed up). Hope to see you there.
Nothing, man.
But stay tuned for more Virtual Noir at the Bars!
I met Angie Kim about a year or so before Miracle Creek, her beloved debut, was published, and we became fast friends. In fact, she's since become a close friend, one of those rare people who make you smile every time you see or hear from them. So I was excited to ask her to participate in this newsletter's "Two Writers You Should Read" segment. And the writer she picked? Steph Cha. As Angie writes:
A book I think should be required reading for everyone is Steph Cha’s YOUR HOUSE WILL PAY. Inspired by a real-life crime—the 1991 shooting of an unarmed African-American teenager by a Korean immigrant grocer—it explores the complexities of justice, race relations, and family secrets like nothing I’ve read before. Heartbreaking, riveting, and powerful, it’s that perfect blend of page-turning suspense and gorgeous writing.
Thanks to Angie for this suggestion, and click on the pics and names above to learn more about both writers and their most recent work.
It's contest time! The monthly contest winner wins copies of the two books listed in my "Two Writers You Should Read" segment.
The winner of this month's contest is...
Reanna Muller
Congrats, Reanna! Check your e-mail for a separate note from me, and happy reading!
My latest column in the Independent was called "Cut to the Chase," and I asked some of my favorite short story writers to name their favorite short story. Sarah M. Chen and I discussed our co-edited novel-in-stories The Swamp Killers with The Big Thrill, and then chatted with Art Taylor at the award-winning site, Jungle Red Writers, about the recent publication. And D.C. historical fiction author Greer Macallister invited me to take part in her #99Women series, in which writers list a female character or writer they admire (Greer's recent novel, Woman 99, is fantastic).
Until next time, much love to all of you. Hope to see you Friday, and Happy Reading!