Fun & Games Across America: Bound for the City by the Bay

Well, the Los Angeles portion of the summer trek is almost over, sad to say. I'm going to miss this crazy town. I feel like I've been running non-stop for the past two weeks, but also feel like I could use another two, four, ten weeks just to see everyone/do everything I wanted to do/see here.

But no use crying in the warm Southern California sunshine. That's because we're headed up north to San Francisco, my second favorite California town. And there's an honest-to-goodness Fun & Games event this Wednesday night, in case you happen to be in the area.

Janet Rudolph, editor of Mystery Readers Journal (and Philly native!) has invited me to this fancy Mystery Readers NorCal Literary Salon in Berkeley, CA. The fun starts at 7 p.m., and it's a potluck event (attendees are advised to bring "sweets and savories"). If you want to attend, just RSVP with Janet(janet AT mysteryreaders.org).

More postcard/tour updates tomorrow...

Fun & Games Across America: The Starlet

Saw this joint, The Starlet, just a stone's throw from the Warner Bros. lot and just fell in love. Furnished apartments, but also (according to the neon sign) there's a POOL, and if the illustration is to be believed, random buxom starlets on the premises. In the deep background there are a gang of DC Comics and WB toon characters (Batman, Daffy Duck, Superman, Tweety Bird) exploding out of the side of Stage 3. If this image doesn't scream Burbank, nothing does.

Had a meeting this morning in the fabled WB Writer's Building, former home to such luminaries as William Faulkner, Lillian Hellman, John Huston, Irwin Allen and Clint Eastwood. I'll admit; I was geeking out quite a bit about being in the same place where Faulkner toiled many decades ago, especially after visiting his modest quarters in New Orleans just a few weeks back. So yeah... I'm totally stalking Faulkner on this trip.

Also couldn't but help think of the Faulkner-inspired W.P. Mayhew from Barton Fink. "I'll show you the life of the mind..."

Hope you're all staying cool and starlet-like, wherever you are.

Fun & Games Across America: From the Bar to San Diego and Back

 

Yes, it's been a full week since my last post, but that doesn't mean I was sitting poolside, lost in a haze of bourbon and Pinkberry. It's been a busy week, let me tell you. When we last left off... oh yeah, I was headed off to the very first Noir at the Bar L.A., hosted by Eric Beetner, Stephen Blackmoore and Aldo "El Jefe" Calcagno. And it was a true blast. Great crowd, a great lineup of writers (including Josh Stallings and Holly O'Neill West) and a cool space (the Mandrake) that allowed us all to read with an endless loop of film noir trailers playing behind us, which created some interesting, random moments. Check out Mr. Blackmoore with a little James M. Cain backing himu up:

Mr. Blackmoore only rings once.

For the complete set of noir-tinged photos, wander over to my Facebook site. (Not on Facebook? OK, I'll slap 'em up on Flickr, too. Give me a few minutes...)

Most of this past week was spent writing and having meetings about stuff I can't talk about quite yet... but on Thursday I hit San Diego for my very first taste of Comic-Con! I caught a ride down with this guy:

A mini-dog with a mini-hog.

Comic-Con was everything I expected: sprawling, crazy, crowded and pretty damned awesome (once you adapt to the sprawling, crazy crowds). The best part: the happy discoveries. Like aimlessly wandering down one aisle to discover that legendary director Tobe Hooper, of Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Poltergeist fame, was signing copies of his debut novel, Midnight Movie. You'd better believe I flipped the switch to FANBOY mode. Below: a pic of me and Mr. Hooper, who turned out to be the nicest, coolest guy to ever dream up a world populated with cannibal families and evil entities who beckon young children into the light.

Hanging with Mr. Hooper.

Right after this photo was taken I raced over to the Hachette Booth, where I signed copies of Fun & Games for close to an hour. Everyone in line seemed to have a cool first name; I wanted to stop signing and actually jot down a few of them for future use in novels. I was also surprised to see a few youngish kids in line, so I inscribed their copies with a gentle warning: DAVEY, DO NOT READ UNTIL YOUR MOTHER GIVES YOU PERMISSION. Felt kind of like I was corrupting the morals of the young, but hey... you're never too early to hook a new reader.

Finally I raced up to Room 7AB where Charlie Huston was conducting his Spotlight panel. Weeks before, Charlie asked a gang of us to be his secret "expert guests" for a quiz game he'd be running. So before I knew it, I was up on stage with Charlie, Daniel (Deadpool) Way and Circle of Confusion manager Kemper Donovan for a fairly absurd-yet-fun game of "What the Fuck." The rules: Charlie would pick an audience member and ask them a question. However, said audience member was not allowed to answer; instead he or she had to tap a member of the expert panel with the phrase, "What the fuck, Daniel Way?" or "What the fuck, Kemper Donovan?" Prizes were awarded even if the so-called experts totally fucked up the answer. So... everybody wins! I think a cable network should give Charlie Huston his own goddamn game show. Here's Charlie in action:

"What the fuck, Charlie Huston?"

Before long, it was time to return to L.A. I made it to the train station early... only to learn that Comic-Con Con-gestion had snarled up the schedules something fierce, so my 8:20 train turned into a 9:30 train, depositing me back at Union Station just after midnight. You know, I really should have tried to hitch a ride back with that dog on the mini-hog.

Postcard update: Yes, there are still a few dozen to roll out! L.A.-centric postcards are going out  to Laurence K. in Brookings, OR; Brian A. in Amherst, NY; Mark F. in Lilburn, GA; Derek R. in Pasadena, MD; Charles E. in Gainesville, FL; Jeff. M. in Plano, TX; Zachary C. in Rockland, ME; Sarah C. in Aston, PA; Dean B. in Alexandria, VA: Tina P. in Ridley Park, PA; Logan R. in Bayside, NY; Aziz B. in Henderson, NV; Matt S-G. in Chicago, IL; Mary C. in Joilet, IL; Henry DiR. in Cortlandt Manor, NY; Duncan C. in Lane Cove, Australia; Mark A. in Gladesville, Australia; Tania H. in Ottawa, Ontario, and finally, Wostri F. in Budapest, Hungary!

Fun & Games Across America: Noir at the Bar! L.A.! Tonight!

You know this whole Carmageddon thing? Let me tell you, it's been kind of a non-event. I took the back roads (through Burbank, and up around Lake Hollywood Drive, then down in Beachwood Canyon), worried that I'd be late to a party... and I've never seen the streets of L.A. so frickin' deserted. Same thing coming home on the 101 up to Studio City. Deadsville.

So, SoCal residents... this means you have no excuse for not venturing down to the very first Noir at the Bar L.A.!

The event is free; hardboiled-types, noiristas and booze will be in abundance. I'm lucky enough to be sharing the bill with Josh Stallings, Holly O'Neill West, Stephen Blackmoore and Eric Beetner. We'll all be reading from our work. Instead of Fun & Games, however, I think I'll be reading a sliver of a forthcoming novella I've been working on for a while. There's cussing and much violence in this selection; it just feels right for this crowd.

Also, rumor has it... okay, okay, the Facebook event page has it... that noir legends Gar Anthony Haywood, Robert Ward, Gary Phillips and Terrill Lankford will also be dropping by

If you're nowhere near L.A., no worries. There may be a livestream of the event tonight. I'll post details as soon as I receive 'em.

Fun & Games Across America: Poison, Beer and Dust

Haboob.

That's the new word I learned at Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale, Arizona last night. "Haboob" is the Arabic word locals use to describe the fierce dust storms that sometimes wash over the entire Phoenix area. Just like the one that hit the city just a few days ago. I think we were in New Orleans when my son caught footage of the latest haboob on a cable news channel. He turned to me, eyes all wide, and said: "Dad, we're not going to Phoenix, are we?"

Had I known the word last week, I would have told my son in the most reassuring tone possible: "Don't worry, my boy. It's only a haboob."

But even a Biblical-style dust storm wouldn't have kept me away from Poisoned Pen. I'd been dying to visit this store for years. In fact, my only complaint about last night's event was that it was over way too fast. Huge thanks to Barbara Peters and the entire PP gang for being so gracious and fun. I'm already looking forward to my next trip to Scottsdale.

 
I also met some people I feel like I've known forever, namely: Patrick Millikin, Poisoned Pen's resident hardboiled expert, who's been incredibly supportive of my stuff since the beginning. Mike MacLean (shown in the photo above with his arms folded), who writes great crime stories as well as Roger Corman flicks (Sharktopus!). And of course, Keith Rawson, that loveable scallywag who co-edits The Crime Factory with Cameron Ashley. What really stunned me about Rawson is that he looks just like a young Michael Connelly. Seriously. It's uncanny. You can't quite see it in the photo above (he's the dude in the red shirt), but in person... let me tell you, I almost broke out the copy of The Last Coyote in my back pocket and asked him to sign it, that's how close the resemblance is.

After the event proper (with Harry Dolan, Thomas Kaufman and Michael Wiley, all of them true gentlemen), Rawson dragged me into a back room for a video Q&A. He's threatened to post it sometime soon. I'm not exactly the most photogenic person in the world, so I'm hoping the fact that a.) it was dark, and b.) I was wearing a black t-shirt means I'll look like a vague shadow, spewing nerdy nonsense from some pitch black abyss.

Then, a small gang of us headed across the street to the Coach House, which claims to be "Scottsdale's Oldest Tavern." And while "oldest" actually means "opened in 1959," you've got to love a place that's open 6 a.m. until 2 a.m., 365 days a year. Here's a photo of Mr. Rawson at the Coach House, trying hard to not look like Michael Connelly and FAILING MISERABLY:

 

This morning the Fun & Games rolled across the rest of Arizona, crossed the California border, and crash-landed in Studio City. On the way into town, I snapped a photo on the 101, pretty much where Lane Madden almost buys it in the opening chapter of Fun & Games:

Thankfully, life did not imitate art. No one smashed into us, or tried to inject us with speedballs.

Thus begins the long L.A. chapter of this tour. This weekend I'll be serving as a personal chef for the immortal Mr. David J. Schow, as well as participating the very first Noir at the Bar L.A. But more on that tomorrow. Because now it's time for...

Postcard Update: Man, did I score some winners at a Shell gas station in Palm Springs. Two words: Sonny Bono. Cards are going out to Thomas L. in Columbia, SC; Michael DiG. in Collegeville, PA; Chris F. in Iowa City, IA; David P. in Putnam Valley, NY; Frank R. in Norwood, PA; Tom C. in Vegas; Oto O. in Serbia (oh yes, we do international here at Secret Dead Blog); Shawn C. in Victoria, TX; Brian M. in Ontario (Canada, too, ain't we hell); Eric H. in Alberta;  Van C. in Jasper, TX; Brad S. in Tucson, AZ; Juan H. in Sewickley, PA; Jeff L. in Cedar Park, TX; Bruno R. in Barcelona; Steve M. in the UK; and finally, Tom B. in West Monroe, LA.

One last time (say it with me): Haboob.

Fun & Games Across America: Phoenix is Hot!

In just a few hours I'll be visiting a bookstore I've been dying to visit for years now: the legendary Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale, AZ. I'll be doing a joint appearance with Michael (A Bad Night's Sleep) Wiley, Harry (Very Bad Men) Dolan and Thomas (Steal the Show) Kaufman at 7 p.m. If you're anywhere in Greater Phoenix area, stop by! Granted, the "Greater Phoenix" area seems to stretch for hundreds of miles in every direction... but you know what I mean.

Afterward, I'll be hanging with Crime Factory publisher -- and all-around cool guy -- Keith Rawson, who wants to ply me with alcohol then do a video interview. Little does he know that I have a legendary tolerance, even in this high heat. So the chances of me doing something embarrassing on video thanks to some booze is next to nil. Then again, I usually manage to embarrass myself while stone cold sober. Either way, looking forward to the grilling

A full update on tonight's events... sometime tomorrow!

Postcard update: A mix of Wild West and Arizona postcards are going out to Joe O'T. in... er, Phoenix, AZ (consider it a touch of home); Laurel K. in Pensacola, FL; Tod C. in Horizon City, TX; Ezra W. in Philly; Dan M. in Roseville, MN; Janice S. in Santa Clara, CA; Ben N. in San Francisco, CA; Adam R. in Denton, TX; Lee E. in Pinon Hills, CA; Cotton C. in Upland, CA; Brian L. in Norwich, CT; Sean M. in Muncie, IN; Lola F. in NYC; Holt K. in Albuquerque, NM; Troy K. in Collierville, TN; Thomas P. in San Diego, CA: Robert F. in Vernon Hills, IL; Sean P. in Philly; Joe J. in Fresno, CA; Bradley McL. in El Lay; and Tim T. in Las Cruces, NM.

Fun & Games Across America: The Deepest Heart of Texas

It's been an obscene number of miles since my last post. Something like a thousand, and change... maybe more? But let me bring everyone up to speed. Sunday morning, the Secret Dead Blog tour bus (actually, a minivan) pulled out of Austin for the short, easy jaunt down to San Antonio, where we had enough time for a quick stroll through the Alamo:

 

They say you should remember the Alamo, but it's probably more important to remember the Alamo's business hours, because you ain't seeing shit after 5:30 p.m. Lucky for us we caught it during morning hours. However, as noon approached, we sped up Broadway for a quick drop-in signing at The Twig Book Shop, located at the former Pearl Brewery site:

It's a very cool store, especially if you have little ones along for the ride. And if you happen to be in the greater San Antonio area and are looking for a signed copy of Fun & Games, this is your joint. Meeting us at the store were writer/editor Scott Cupp and his lovely wife Sandi, who showed us the San Antonio sights, including my new favorite Mexican restaurant, Mi Tierra:

When we arrived for lunch, the wait was something like 90 minutes. But we didn't mind, because Scott and Sandi took us to the market across the street where you could find anything from knock-off Batman lucha libre masks to Day of the Dead figurines to leather bullwhips to Mexican wedding shirts. (Almost bought one of those, just to stun Noir at the Bar goers this weekend.) Huge thanks to the Cupps for the excellent company. And for spoiling my children absolutely rotten.

Monday was all about the grueling trip from San Antonio to El Paso... 558 miles, to be exact. Plenty of people warned me about how mind-numbing this trip could be. And yeah, it was a lot of this:

Repeat for 558 miles. Actually, it's all kind of beautiful, in a stark kind of way. There were more mountains and hills than I expected. And there is something strangely fun about knowing there's not another rest area for, oh, 90 miles or so. (Double your points if you have children in the car.) We were happy, though, to jump off the I-10 at the Fabens exit and wander five miles into the desert to visit Cattleman's Steakhouse, which was recommended to us by El Paso resident Tod Clark. (Thanks, Tod.) Not only is it a very fine eatery, but the ranch also served as the set to countless flicks, including The Border, Courage Under Fire, On the Border, The Day After Tomorrow, and Walter Hill's Extreme Prejudice, as evidenced by this clapboard hanging on the wall:

And you have to love a place that keeps a children's zoo in close proximity to a snake pit. Because, you know, the snakes must get hungry:

Sadly I did not see much of El Paso, which happens to be the home of one of my favorite rockers, Bobby Fuller (of Bobby Fuller Four fame). There's even a Bobby Fuller Drive, I believe. But  I was too exhausted to do anything but lug the luggage into the room, write out a bunch of postcards, write some funnybook pages, then pass out as gracefully as possible.

Speaking of...

Postcard update: Found a lot of great (and truly weird) postcards on the road between San Antonio and El Paso. These have gone out to Adam L. in State College, PA; Dave R. in Plymouth, MI; Andy B. in Philly; Angie B. in Pleasantville, NJ; Keith B. in Youngsville, NC; Kelly H. in Milwaukee, WI; Jason C. in Plaquemine, LA; Roman C. in Ardmore, PA; Russ M. in Novato, CA; Richard L. in Las Vegas; John D. in Farmland, IN; Craig Z. in Port Orange, FL; Ali H. in Feasterville, PA; Rafael C. in Philly; Tim H. in Columbia, SC; Andrew N. in Richmond, VA; Brian J. in Philly; Derrick B. in Clinton Twp., MI; Howard R. in El Lay; Andy M. in Memphis, TN; and finally, my old colleague Nicole Y. in Philly. Enjoy!

Tomorrow: Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale, AZ! More heat! More driving! More postcards!

Fun & Games Across America: Beer and Chili in Austin

Lane Madden's Austin doppleganger?

Every town deserves an indie bookstore like Book People in Austin, Texas. It's not just the size (huge), nor the selections (smart and cool), but the thoughtfulness, down to the last detail, including the signage and shelf talkers. It's possibly the most inviting bookstore I've ever visited. I pretty much could live inside this store.

Of course, it doesn't hurt that they make visiting pulp hacks feel like freakin' rock stars:

 

Soooo many bonus points for spelling my last name right.

I'll admit it; I was a little nervous headlining my own event after the awesome turnout for Abbott-Gran-Swierczy jawn in Houston. Even with the promise of free beer (a variety of Shiner beers, no less)... nothing's guaranteed. But I'm happy to report that the turnout was fantastic. Even better, everyone came armed with some great questions. And they even raised their bottles of Shiner for y'all:

Note how very few people chose the front row, as if I'm the Gallagher of crime fiction, spewing profanity, beer suds, bullets and blood everywhere.

Seated next to me behind that big wooden table was my buddy (and Book People Mystery manager) Scott Montgomery, who kept the conversation flowing with a lot of sharp questions and observations. You know, the kind that make you seem smarter than you really are. Scott also sold me two books that I'm eager to read: Benjamin Whitmer's Pike and Caryl Férey's Zulu. (I suppose I was in a mood for crime novels with four-letter titles.)

After the event, a small crew of us (Scott, Book People employee Joe, and hot sauce czar Jeff) retired to the infamous Texas Chili Parlor, one of my favorite places in Austin:

Tarantino fans will know it as the setting for the first half of Death Proof. The food and beers were savory. I'm a Yankee spice wimp, so I stuck with a starter bowl of the mild chili. Our new pal Jeff ordered the "XXX" chili, which should have shut down his central nervous system and guaranteed that he'd have to refrigerate his toilet paper for at least a week. Well, Jeff didn't even flinch. In fact, he asked me if our orders had gotten mixed up, as if maybe he'd received the mild instead. Goddamn showoff.

Postcard update: Oh, did I find some stone-cold winners at Book People. Anyway, cards going out to Marty McC. in Cambridge, MA; Andy J. in Jenkintown, PA; Jan L. in West Covina, CA; Kenny T. in Union, NJ; John M. in Derby, KS; Paul O. in Redding, CA; Alex C. in Anaheim, CA; Chris LaT. in Missoula, MT; Robert K. in Little Falls, NY; Ron E.P. in Charleston, WV; Aaron R. in Jefferson CIty, MO; Joseph H. in Las Vegas; Kris E. in Des Plaines, IL; Nelson "Nasty Bo" McL. in Etters, PA; Lonnie V. in Castalia, OH; Tim O'B. in Port Townsend, WA; John N. in El Lay; Patrick L. in Tustin, CA; Theron K. in Long Island City, NY. I've been having a lot of fun writing these postcards, by the way. Sure, my hand ends up cramped to all hell... but there's something wonderfully old-fashioned about the whole thing. And I really love that some of you have been posting pics of the cards on Twitter, letting me know they arrived safe and sound.

Tomorrow morning: The San Antonio lowdown! More postcards! More stories about beer and Mexican food!

Fun & Games Across America: San Antonio by High Noon

Last night's event at Book People was fantastic; look for a longer post (with pics!) on that later. Just wanted to spread the last-minute word that I'll be at The Twig Bookshop (200 E. Grayson, Suite 124) in San Antonio today at high noon today, signing copies of Fun & Games. No formal talk or reading. Just me and a pile of books. Stop by and say hello!

It's just about 8 a.m., which means I need to pack and haul ass down I-35.

Postcard update: I procured all kinds of awesome postcards at Book People that will MELT YOUR FACES. Word on the lucky recipients later.

Fun & Games Across America: Noir Night in Houston

I've honestly lost track of how many times I've signed at Houston's wonderful Murder By the Book. Pretty sure I've been here for nearly every book, including Damn Near Dead, the "geezer noir" anthology I edited for David Thompson's Busted Flush Press. So would that be six now? Seven? All I know is each time is just as much fun as the first.

This time I was lucky enough to team up with Megan Abbott and Sara Gran, who are not only smart and hilarious, but pretty damned sick, too. As Noir Night 2011 attendees can tell you, the conversation took some really strange turns. We somehow managed to cover noir films without crimes, adolescent sexuality, genre-hopping, suburban psychodrama, mosquito-borne diseases, parenting, the importance of place in writing and Rosemary's Baby, all in one rambling session.

Behind the table with Abbott, Gran.

And then we signed books. Lots and lots and lots of books, both old and new, which is always a delight. Afterward we hit the jam-packed Raven Grill for dinner with the MBTB gang, where conversation took even stranger turns... including the realization that all three of us panelists are almost exactly the same age, and all of us read Bret Easton Ellis's Less Than Zero at just the right, tender, impressionable age. (Unlike Ms. Abbott and Ms. Gran, however, I was never an impressionable 13-year-old girl, despite what they may have alleged at the panel.)  The night ended back at the shop with a 12-pack of Shiner Bock and even more conversation. Seriously: get us going, and it's tough to shut us up.

Huge thanks to everyone who turned up, including (but not limited to) Scott Montgomery, Ed Mattingly, Michelle Isler, Scott Parker, Bill and Judy Crider, Karen Kowal (and thank you for the extremely lovely note), Hank Schwaeble and everyone else who I'm sadly blanking on right now.

Today: the mystery train rolls on to Austin, just three short hours away, for "Happy Hour with Duane Swierczynski" at BookPeople, 5 p.m. Sadly, it's just me this time... but did I mention there's free beer? So stop on over if you're anywhere near Austin and thirsty.

Postcard update: Struck out yesterday finding postcards. Will stop at roadside gas stations on the road to Austin to pick up some winners. I seem to remember one tourist trap-style place out somewhere near La Grange...

Fun & Games Across America: Gone to Texas

Yes, those are a pair of silver testicles hanging from the back of that truck. Yes, I'm in Texas.

The trip across the I-10 in Louisiana was long, and it took us through the largest swamp in the U.S. (the Atchafalaya Basin) as well as "Crawfish Country." Every other billboard advertised either crawfish or crawdads, as well as boudin and cracklins (that's sausage and pork rinds to you Yanks). When we crossed the Texas border, however... damn, you could feel the Texas-ness of it all. The big sky does seem a bit more expansive. The highways wider. The spaces more open. Not to mention that everything is suddenly in-yo-face TEXAS. The local Burger Kings don't serve ordinary Whoppers; they feature TEXAS WHOPPERS. There are silhouettes of the state everywhere--on billboards, on restaurant signage, on the support columns of the highways... I wouldn't be surprised to find little Texas-shaped cakes in every roadside urinal. Y'all sure do love your state.

And you know what? I do, too.

Tonight I'm lucky enough to be part of Murder By the Book's Noir Night 2011 with superstars Megan Abbott and Sara Gran. This will be a homecoming in a lot of ways, because my very first appearance as a novelist was at the store's first "Noir Night" back in 2005, along with Ken Bruen, Jason Starr, Allan Guthrie and J.D. Rhoades. This was back when Secret Dead Men had barely just appeared from Point Blank Press, and many months before The Wheelman was published. (I was so green I could have sung a duet with Kermit the Frog.) The night was epic. Many beers were consumed, friendships were forged, and at least one anthology (Damn Near Dead) was hatched.

I'll admit it; tonight will be bittersweet, since this is will be my first event at MBTB without my friend David Thompson. It's always going to feel strange to be in Houston and not see David. But I'm very much looking forward to seeing McKenna, Anne, John, and the rest of the MBTB family who have always made this Philly boy feel right at home deep in the heart of you-know-where.

Anywhere near Houston? YOU MUST ATTEND. C'mon, it's Abbott! Gran! Me! Murder By the Book is at 2342 Bissonnet Street, Houston, Texas, not far from Rice University. Can't make it, and want some signed books? Call (713) 524-8597, or (888) 4-AGATHA and we'll personalize the living hell out of them.

Postcard update: Haven't been out to buy any postcards yet, but will do so today. Stay tuned...

Fun & Games Across America: French Quarter, Garden District

Many friends told me that I was insane for visiting New Orleans in July -- that my pale Yankee ass would spontaneously combust upon contact with the humid atmosphere of the Big Easy. And yes, sure, it was ridiculously hot touring the French Quarter this morning. But you learn to adapt. When the sweat starts to pour down your face, you simply duck into whatever shop is closest, because the air conditioning is sure to be blasting full-tilt. Doesn't matter what kind of shop. Today I found myself in a praline store, a store that sold feathery masks and stuffed birds, a postal shop, and a hotel where William Faulkner, Truman Capote and Sherwood Anderson once stayed. (Okay, that last one was on the purpose; it was the Hotel Monteleone, and it's very much worth checking out if you're in town.)

New Orleans, I've learned, is all about going with the flow. You're not exactly in control of yourself, which is just how the city wants you. Just before noon today, when thunder boomed and wet fat drops started to fall, we ran across the street and into a restaurant that I half-remembered as advertising "live jazz brunch." The restaurants turned out to be The Court of Two Sisters, and both the food (a hot and cold buffet) and live jazz (a bass, banjo and clarinet trio) turned out to be pretty amazing, especially as it pissed down hard outside. There is no better place to be stranded, especially when you have a bowl of jambalaya and a couple of Sazeracs to keep you company.

 

Of course, I did manage to make a few intentional stops, such as visiting the Faulkner House Bookshop. Small place, but what a treat. I picked up Faulkner's first two novels, Soldiers' Pay and Mosquitoes, as well as Thinking of Home: William Faulkner's Letters to His Mother and Father, 1918-1925 and a hardcover edition of one of my favorite books, Some Time in the Sun by Tom Dardis. Faulkner's Mosquitoes will be the book that resonates with me this whole dang road trip; my legs have been absolutely savaged by the little bastards.

Later in the afternoon, I set off down lovely St. Charles Street with my bodyguard (that would be my eight-year-old daughter Sarah) for a drop-in signing at Octavia Books, which is a fantastic indie store in the uptown area. Not only did I sign some copies of Fun & Games, but they also had a whole bunch of copies of the new edition of The Perfect Drink For Every Occasion, the cocktail guide I wrote almost a decade ago. Meanwhile, Sarah picked up a Diary of a Wimpy Kid book and two pens that allegedly last for seven years. Huge thanks to Mark for making us feel right at home.

Next stop: the Garden District Book Shop, where I signed copies of Fun & Games and talked smack about Sara Gran and Megan Abbott with the store's manager, Ted. (Just kidding, guys. We were singing your praises... honest!) I picked up a copy of Wicked New Orleans: The Dark Side of the Big Easy by Troy Taylor, while Sarah bought a copy of Roald Dahl's The BFG and a journal with a fur cover. Again, a great indie store, and one I heartily recommend you visit if you're ever in the NOLA area.

Tomorrow the tour continues to Houston, which I consider a second home. (Seriously, I've been there more times than any other city besides Philly.) Can't wait to hang with the aforementioned Ms. Gran and Ms. Abbott, as well as my good friends at Murder By the Book. Check my Twitter feed for road updates along the I-10 from New Orleans all the way across the Texas border.

Postcard update: Oh, man, did I score some insane postcards today from all over the French Quarter. Cards going out to Richard P. in Jefferson City, MO; Jim O'G in Omaha, NE; John B. in NYC; Raphael W. in the UK; Bradley McL in L.A; Brian B. in Belleville, IL; Peter V. in Arlington Heights, IL; Gene Z. in Milpitas, CA; Michael K. in Boone, NC; Peter F. in Acworth, GA; Nick T. in Irving, TX; Mark T. in Missoula, MT; Marc M. in Levittown, PA; Steph C. in Las Vegas, NV; Matthew J. in NYC; Luke E. in Madison, WI; Greg B. in Tinley Park, IL and Jim R. in Fort Worth, TX... as well as one wildly inappropriate card to my literary agent, David Hale Smith (because that's how I roll).

Fun & Games Across America: The Road to New Orleans

A warm, heavy lashing of rain welcomed us as we made the final approach to New Orleans yesterday. You know... just to keep us on notice. The trip across the rest of the Florida panhandle, Alabama and Mississippi was more or less uneventful... except for this massive traffic jam just outside Mobile. I think I managed to cover 10 miles in an hour, inching along, no end in sight... until we finally reached the tunnel that shoots you under Mobile (and looks uncomfortably like a a giant white drain as designed by Steve Jobs.)

This morning's agenda: wander to the French Quarter to look around and buy a metric shit-ton of postcards. Check my Twitter feed (@swierczy) for pics and such. This afternoon I'll be wandering over to the Garden District (and Uptown) to visit Octavia Books and the Garden District Bookshop, and will offer a full report later.

Is it possible that I'm adjusting to Central Time, still? Feeling a little dislocated... then again, that could just be the Big Easy working on me.

Postcard update: None now, but look for a whole mess of 'em later.

Fun & Games Across America: Across the Panhandle

Today's a travel day, zooming through the rest of the Florida panhandle after a layover in Tallahassee. The visitors' center on I-95, just over the Georgia border, gives you a free shot of Florida orange juice. I thought this was a brilliant idea, and yesterday mused on Twitter that Pennsylvania should give tourists a shot of Cheez Whiz as they enter. (Other Tweeps mused possibilities for other locales: @BenoitLeLievre suggested a "mouthful of poutine" for Montreal; @FrankWheelerJr suggested corn on the cob, a steak, and a Huskers t-shirt for when you cross the Missouri River into Nebraska; @tinapporter and @PhillyPoeGuy both suggested adding scrapple to that Philly Cheez Whiz at the border.)

Anyway, no big update today... but this is just the calm before the storms of New Orleans, Houston, Austin and San Antonio (today through Sunday). Lots of bookstores to visit, including the Garden District Bookshop and Octavia Books (in New Orleans) tomorrow. Also kind of dying to check out the Faulkner House Books in the French Quarter.

Postcard update: No postcards today. Saving the next wave for N'Awlins, but will also pick up some Florida beauties along the way today.

Fun & Games Across America: Oh, Savannah

Happy Independence Day to all my fellow Americans.

And what better way to celebrate our freedom than a cheesecake Marilyn Monroe moment, immortalized in plaster?

Yesterday was a taking-it-easy kind of day in lovely Savannah, hanging around the Ellis Square area (where I saw that Monroe statue), then later, the walk along River Street. And while the heat was kind of on the oppressive side, a warm breeze would waft its way from the river every so often and kinda sorta wick away the sweat. I'm the kind of old-school guy who carries a linen handkerchief in my pocket to wipe away the sweat, and by the end of the day, I could have wrung the sucker out. If I had a straw hat and a seersucker suit I might be able to tolerate this kind of heat on a regular basis.

My favorite part of the River Street area? The crazy Exorcist-style stone steps leading down from Bay Street. I mean, look at this:

The crime writer in me is so jonesin' to set a chase/gunfight here. (This is why crime writers are rarely invited places. We ruin everything!)

E. Shaver, the bookstore recommended to me by my friend Andy Junkin, was indeed closed (it being Sunday), but I'm hoping to return one day to check it out. And when I return, I hope to finally meet up with my favorite Savannah resident, book blogger Elizabeth A. White (a.k.a. @APMonkey to you folks on the Twitters). Again, just more reason to return.

Today we'll be spending the Fourth making our way down to Florida, and eventually, Tallahassee. Shockingly, this will be my first time ever in the state of Florida. How did I live almost four decades without migrating South?

Postcard update: Today a set of Savannah postcards are going out to Kevin B. in Ocean City, NJ; Peter D. in Chanhassen, MN; Jeff Z. in Daytona Beach, FL; Laszlo D. in West Hills, CA: Kevin T. in Whittier, CA; Josh L. in Parkersburg, WV; Bob G. in Cincinnati, OH; Hassan A. in Calabasas, CA; and Jeff M. in Exton, PA.

Fun & Games Across America: Doing the Charleston, Plus: The Tour Expands

 

Yesterday Secret Dead Blog hit Charleston. Hard. First stop, on the suggestion of Wyn in yesterday's comments: Blue Bicycle Books. The shop itself is just like its stock: narrow yet deep. Lots of great local books, a cool, eclectic lit section, small-ish but well-chosen mystery and sci-fi shelves, as well as military history and a kids/YA room (where the daughter picked up the first Lemony Snicket book), and of course, like all great bookstores, a sleeping cat. My daughter would not let this poor cat rest. She sat down next to it as it lounged in a metal chair and stared at it until she practically willed it awake. My favorite part of the shop? A big poster for Kerouac's On the Road tucked in the very back:

 

Next we toured the waterfront park where we watched one of those big-ass, top-heavy Carnival cruise ships disembark, gliding past the USS Yorktown docked in Charleston Harbor. It was a strange clash of vessels; I couldn't help but think about the men who fought and died on one ship to preserve the buffet rights of the people on the other ship. Later, we hit the four blocks of the Old City Market, wandered down East Bay Street where I snapped a photo of "Charleston's Tightest Bar" (see top of this post) and eventually the eye-popping houses/mansions along the Battery. The heat and humidity was unreal, at least to this northern-blooded boy. I suppose you just have to surrender to it, right?

Today it's out of the frying pan and into the fire as the road trip continues down to Savannah, Georgia. If you have any indie bookstore suggestions, fire away!

Also: the F&G tour has expanded in the past few days. I'm happy to report that I'll be a featured speaker at the very first Noir at the Bar L.A. on July 17th, hosted by Stephen Blackmoore, Eric Beetner and Aldo Calcagno, and with readings by Holly O'Neill, Josh Stallings, as well as Messrs. Blackmoore and Beetner.

And I'll be doing drop-in signings at two bookshops in New Orleans this Wednesday:

GARDEN DISTRICT BOOKSHOP
2727 Prytania Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
504-895-2266
http://www.gardendistrictbookshop.com/  

OCTAVIA BOOKS
513 Octavia Street
New Orleans, LA 70115
504-899-7323
http://www.octaviabooks.com/

I'll keep you guys posted on possible times, but know that these fine stores will have signed copies of F&G in stock should you desire some.

Postcard update: Today we've got Charleston, SC cards going out to Pierluigi C. in L.A.; Erik A. in Lebanon, PA; Lauren O'B in Alameda, CA; Tim T. in NYC; Ed S. in Philly; Danny B. in Philly; Dave S. in Philly and Rusty R. in Hyattsville, MD. Enjoy!

Fun & Games Across America: Charleston

Secret Dead Blog is writing you from a hotel room in Charleston, South Carolina. Yesterday was a long haul behind the wheel, 13 hours total (left Philadelphia just before 5 a.m.; rolled into the Greater Charleston Area just before 6 p.m.), whizzing down I-95 just fast enough to stay in the game, yet not quite fast enough to attract the attention of the many, many highway patrolmen in unmarked sedans. Saw a lot of people pulled over yesterday, which makes sense, this being a holiday weekend. Also saw a car that had apparently rocketed off the highway with such velocity that it had spun around and landed backwards in a cluster of trees, headlights facing us. Miraculously, the driver seemed to be okay, standing on the side of the road with a dazed What the hell just happened? look on his face. Anyway, be safe out there.

When you travel down I-95, you're pretty much secluded from seeing much of the eastern seaboard. Saw the Baltimore skyline, but nothing of D.C. or Richmond or nearby Raleigh or any other city or town of note... except for the infamous "South of the Border," a Mexican-themed tourist trap that starts assaulting you with billboards a good 100 miles out. South of the Border is just south of the border between North and South Carolina; I can't explain the Mexican thing, because, um, it's freakin' nowhere near Mexico. But they did have a RoboCop arcade game in the ice cream shop, which thrilled me to no end.

Also visited with friends who live next to a creek and saw two lazy alligators, a gang of angry fire ants, and a lot of mosquitoes who enjoyed dive bombing me. So yeah, the South so far: Packed with creatures that are all bitey.

Postcard Update: While at South of the Border I picked up some fairly goofy and surreal postcards will be going out to Mike O. in Eureka, IL; John S. in Santa Clara, CA; Sharif Y. in Chicago, IL; David F. in Montclair, NJ; Jeff M. in Fairfield, CT; John H. in Walnut Creek, CA; Luke B. in Lansdale, PA. Enjoy!

Going to check out Charleston proper today. If you know of any good bookstores in the area (or suggestions in general), let me know in the comments below. Also would welcome suggestions on how to avoid creatures that bite.