#noiratthebar

[cazvincent]

#NoirattheBar #Newcastle A FB memory. Two years ago, this was the first bookish event I attended in the UK - I'd come to live here in March 2019. I remember my excitement. Such a brilliant evening! ##happymemories ❤ #CarolineVincent #livingthedream #IARTG #WritingCommunity #editorsofinstagram #amwriting #professional #editing & #writing services https://www.instagram.com/p/COkmvf7L2iK/?igshid=1hzi4lejh85x5

[davidabrams]

Great Falls raconteur @ericheidle casts a spell over the Union Club during the #NoirAtTheBar reading tonight. We're wrapping up the #MontanaNoir road trip in style at the #MontanaBookFestival! (at Union Club Bar & Grill)

[kimsavageauthor]

THIS beautiful girl. #nextgeneration #authorreading #brooklinebooksmith #noiratthebar (at Osaka Japanese Sushi & Steak House)

[crimefictionreader]

What an amazing way to spend a Friday night...listening to crime authors read from their work right here in Astoria.  On my way to the event, I saw Lawrence Block walking down the street (how cool!).

This was my first visit to Astoria Coffee.  It’s a clean, intimate coffee shop with decor that seemed tailor made for the reading of crime fiction.  The authors read in front of a cinder block wall with industrial lights shining down on them.  The room was packed and the lighting definitely added to the atmosphere.

Henry Chang read from “Death Money”, the fourth installment of the Jack Yu series which was published last year.  In the scene, a group of Manhattan detectives and a group of Bronx detectives respond to a 911 call about a floater spotted in the Harlem River. An argument ensues about which jurisdiction is responsible for investigating the murder.  The crowd was absorbed in the reading and were laughing uproariously by the end.

Jason Starr read from “Savage Lane”, which was published just a few days ago.  His writing was crisp and smooth as usual.  

Dennis Tafoya did a reading from an unpublished novel that he is currently working on.  The scene was between an off-duty corrections officer (”CO”) and a woman who is an accomplice of one of the prisoners in the CO’s prison.  The woman was trying to convince the CO to smuggle contraband into the prison.  The CO had smuggled items into the prison before but, despite this, his decision is presented as being a pivotal moment for him.  

I had never heard of Dennis Tafoya but I’m definitely going to check out his books after hearing his work.  I was impressed with his dialogue and storytelling.  For example, there was a line about how the woman pronounced the word “boat” with a southern drawl that made it seem that the vowels went on forever. Amazing.

I couldn’t stick around to hear Lawrence Block read.  I’m hoping someone will post a video online.  He was reading from his new book, “The Girl with the Deep Blue Eyes”.

Many thanks to Astoria Coffee, The Astoria Book Shop, and Alex Segura for putting together a great night.