Probably not. It’s true that if I had a couple of elves named Folksy and Droll I could probably find work for them. But for now I just want to share a few items of possible interest, and I’m here in Newberry until mid-December, so…
Never mind. I get it.
Glad to hear it. And the first two items are of local South Carolina interest—if they’re of any interest at all. I have two events scheduled, both free and open to the public.
First is Noir at the Bar: Newberry, on Thursday, October 10, at 8pm. I’ll be reading, as will my Newberry colleagues Warren Moore, John Carenen, and David Rachels, along with area authors Shawn A. Cosby, Eryk Pruitt, Kasey Schroer, and Karina Tarbell. (And, flying in from New York, the irrepressible Jill D. Block.) Venue is Bar Figaro at 944 Main Street, right in the heart of Newberry’s genuinely charming and historic downtown.
Four weeks later, at 7 pm on Thursday, November 7, Warren and I will do an on-stage interview a scant stone’s throw away. An Evening with Lawrence Block is what they’re calling it, and while it’s listed on the Newberry Opera House calendar, you can’t buy a ticket. Happily, you won’t need one. Admission’s free.
I’m trying to figure out which event is worth a trip to South Carolina.
Neither of them would be my guess, but if you’re in the area, come say hello. If you’re not, well, I’ve got some news that won’t require any travel on your part. You don’t even need to lace up your shoes.
Wow. Is that what it looks like?
I dunno. What does it look like?
It looks beautiful.
That’s Jeff Wong’s doing, and I agree—it’s a really fine cover.
But can we tell the book by it? Is it a new Bernie book? A new novel about everybody’s favorite gentleman burglar?
Not exactly? Not exactly??? What does that even mean?
Well, it’s not a new novel. But parts of it are novel, and parts of it are new. And it’s all about Mrs. Rhodenbarr’s son Bernard.
Who sells books and steals stuff.
Right.
But?
The title holds a clue. The book’s a complete collection of Bernie’s short appearances; its fifteen chapters include four short stories, three extracts from novels, five op-ed columns, and an essay—well, some would call it a rant—about Bernie’s experiences in Hollywood.
That’s only thirteen.
There are two more pieces that haven’t been published anywhere before. One’s the foreword, “A Burglar’s Origins,” in which I recount in detail how Bernie came to be, and how I came to be writing about him. The other’s an afterword, “A Burglar’s Future,” in which I drop in at Barnegat Books and the two of us discuss his future prospects.
On February 29, Subterranean Press will publish a $45 Collector’s Edition, bound in leather and limited to 250 signed and numbered copies, and a $30 clothbound Hardcover Trade Edition. You’ll want to pre-order his one, as Subterranean’s limited editions typically sell out in advance of publication. Their trade editions, too, are generally one-and-done, so a pre-order is recommended.
I assume you’ll be self-publishing the ebook and the paperback. Will they also be out on Leap Day?
That’s the plan. They ought to be available for pre-order fairly soon, and when they are I’ll let y’all know. But there’s something else you may want to pre-order, and the time to do that is right now.
Oh? What’s that?
From Sea to Stormy Sea: 17 Stories Inspired by Great American Paintings, coming in two months from Pegasus. This was originally set for September release, then pushed back clear to February for lack of available 
press time. And then a printer found room in his schedule, and November 19 is the release date.
I assume this is in the tradition of In Sunlight or in Shadow and Alive in Shape and Color. Are the paintings as beautiful this time? And are the stories as good?
Yes and yes. The painters include Harvey Dunn, Reginald Marsh, Thomas Hart Benton, Helen Frankenthaler, Winslow Homer, Rockwell Kent, Grant Wood, and Andy Warhol, with stories by Sara Paretsky, Jan Burke, Warren Moore, Patricia Abbott, Christa Faust, Jerome Charyn, Barry Malzberg, Scott Frank, Brendan DuBois, Tom Franklin, Gary Phillips, Charles Ardai, Micah Nathan, Janice Eidus, John Sandford, and Jane Hamilton.
That’s only sixteen stories. You said seventeen.
Oh, right. I forgot to mention myself. I wrote a new story for the book, to go with a painting by Raphael Soyer. And, of course, I supplied the usual self-serving introduction.
I’m really proud of this anthology, and am very happy the pub date has been moved up in time for Christmas, as I’d be hard put to come up with a better book for the Holiday season. Pre-ordering will guarantee you have books in hand in timely fashion.
Oh, and here’s a little something to pique your interest. One of the paintings is by the father of one of the writers. Yes, really.
Well, that’s enough for me. I’m sold. Or should I say pre-sold? A pity, though, that I have to wait until November. I’m the kind of guy who thinks instant gratification takes way too long.
I know what you mean. One thing that’s taken far too long is the audiobook for Spider, Spin Me a Web. A sequel to Telling Lies for Fun & Profit, it’s been a popular book for fictioneers ever since its initial publication, and Richard Neer‘s brilliant audio version has only just become available this past week.
Both Telling Lies and Writing the Novel from Plot to Print to Pixel have proved popular in audio, and Spider is already off to a good start. I think you’ll like Richard’s narrative style, and if so you’ll be glad to know he’s already at work on another non-fiction book of mine that never made it into audio, The Crime of Our Lives.
Meanwhile, another of my books for writers is soon to be ready for your ears. Michael Bonner, who’s been getting raves (really!) for his narration of Step by Step, will once again be speaking in my voice with The Liar’s Bible. I’m not sure when it’ll be on sale, but as soon as it is, rest assured I’ll let y’all know.
All non-fiction? You think that’s more successful than fiction in audio?
I know instructional books have a certain edge in the medium. You don’t have to struggle to keep the characters and plot points straight while you’re waiting to make a left turn or passing a sixteen-wheeler. And you can also profit from repeated listening; it’s a good way to internalize what you’re listening to.
But fiction is no less popular in audio, a medium that some people tell me takes all the work out of reading. I have a batch of novels I’ll be publishing in audio when I can, and Theo Holland, who’s been making new friends left and right for Evan Tanner, will be wrapping up that series and following up with a few more novels, including Ronald Rabbit is a Dirty Old Man.
I guess your teaching gig will keep you in South Carolina for the whole semester—and away from Bouchercon.
You would think that, wouldn’t you? Fortunately I’ve mastered the subtle art of bilocation. I’ll be in Dallas for the annual conclave, and even have a panel assignment on Saturday, November 2, 1-2pm. Bad to the Bone is its name, the indispensable Janet Rudolph is the moderator, and my fellow panelists include Colin Campbell, Connie Dial, Thomas Perry, and Alex Segura.
And then, before anyone even notices my absence, I’ll be back in Newberry and prepping for the November 7 event at the Opera House.
Aren’t you the busy little boy? I suppose you’ll wrap this up by plugging some of the books most of us have thus far managed to avoid.
What a nice way to put it. As a matter of fact, I’ve been thinking lately of my first three books as Jill Emerson. Ms. Emerson, it should be noted, has had a diverse career…
Checkered, some might call it.
I suppose some might. Jill’s books range widely, with her body of work including 1970s cutting-edge erotica (Thirty, Threesome, A Madwoman’s Diary), road-company John O’Hara (The Trouble With Eden) and Marjorie Morningstar (A Week as Andrea Benstock), and what might be the ultimate Hard Case Crime thriller (Getting Off).
But the first three books, while occasionally shelved with erotica, are far more properly categorized as Lesbian Romance. Shadows was my very first novel, written in 1958. Warm & Willing and Enough of Sorrow followed six years later.
Now you may be asking yourself why on earth you would want to read Lesbian Romance Fiction, even as you may well wonder whatever prompted me to sit down to write it. Never mind. I have a special fondness for all the Jill Emerson novels, not least of all these first three volumes,and can but hope they find their ideal audience.
