April updates

My poem "Independence Day 1976" appears in the new edition of the annual poetry collection THE LINEUP , now available. A podcast will follow April 18. The collection also features the work of many real poets, including James W. Hall, Reed Farrel Coleman, James Sallis and others. My piece was written shortly after the death of Jim Carroll, and is dedicated to him.

+ I've had to cancel/reschedule some upcoming events, so I will not be appearing at the April 13 Mystery Writers of America "Crime Scene" panel at the New York Public Library. However, my place will be ably taken by Dennis Tafoya, the Philly-based crime novelist and author of DOPE THIEF and the upcoming THE WOLVES OF FAIRMOUNT PARK.

My appearance at the Brielle Public Library has been rescheduled for Monday, May 10 at 7 p.m.

Manasquan bound

The GONE 'TIL NOVEMBER tour winds down - at least for now - this Saturday (3/20) at Book Towne in Manasquan, N.J., from noon-2 p.m. For those who don't know it, Manasquan is a lovely little Shore town right on the ocean, and Book Towne is located in the heart of the town's historic business district. It's the first day of spring, and temps are expected to be in the 70s.

Quick updates - updated!

+ The Red Bank Orbit has a fairly wide-ranging interview with me, originally pegged to the screening of THE KILLING. It's a Q&A about crime novels, film noir, chicken dinners and Timothy Carey.

+ Reviewing the Evidence delivers its verdict on GONE 'TIL NOVEMBER.

+ I was recently notified that my short story "Heart," which featured Morgan before his appearance in GONE 'TIL NOVEMBER, made the short list for the next "Best American Mystery Stories" anthology, and will be listed in the back of the book among the "Other Distinguished Stories of 2009" listing. The book, guest edited by Lee Child, will be published later this year.

Ocean Grove, 3/13/10

Shot from my back window at about 5:45 a.m.

The KILLING in Asbury

This Sunday (3/14) at 4 p.m., I'll host a special screening of Stanley Kubrick's classic 1956 film noir THE KILLING at the ShowRoom independent theater in Asbury Park, N.J., as part of their ongoing BookFLX series. The ShowRoom is Asbury's newest theater/screening room, located in the newly revitalized Cookman Avenue business district (it's just a couple doors down from what used to be the legendary Upstage Club.)

Based on the novel CLEAN BREAK by Lionel White, Kubrick's film revolves around an intricately plotted $2 million racetrack robbery organized by ex-con Johnny Clay (Sterling Hayden, in one of his best roles). THE KILLING has both classic noir elements and a trailblazing narrative structure that Quentin Tarantino would revisit years later with RESERVOIR DOGS and PULP FICTION.

I'll introduce the film, and a discussion and Q&A will follow the screening. Refreshments, including beer and wine, will be served. Tickets are $15. Seating is limited. For more information and advance tickets, click here or call (732) 502-0472.

To make it an even more special night in Asbury, singer-songwriter Matthew Ryan will be performing later on at The Saint, just blocks away on Main Street. Ryan is one of America's great unheralded songwriters, and his new album, DEAR LOVER, is just out. A number of his songs made it onto the mix CD I compiled during the writing of GONE 'TIL NOVEMBER. He can get pretty noir himself now and then.

For more on the screening, and a Q&A, check out Tom Chesek's piece in the Red Bank Orbit.

For more on Ryan, visit his Facebook page.

The Page 69 (and 70) Test

GONE 'TIL NOVEMBER gets the Page 69 Test today, over at Marshal Zeringue's blog.

Hello, Flemington!

This Saturday I'll be following in the footsteps of the late, great Dan "The Phantom" Federici, with events in his hometown of Flemington, N.J., and then across the state in Asbury Park. From 2 to 4 p.m., I'll be at the Moonstone Mystery Bookstore, 12 Bloomfield Ave., Flemington. Then from 6:30 on, I'll be at Words! Bookstore at 612 Cookman Ave., Asbury Park, as part of the town's monthly "First Saturday" festival (last month's was canceled because of snow). Shops and restaurants will be open late, and there's free parking. As at previous events, I'll be signing books and giving away CDs and baked goods.

And for possible post-event entertainment, the legendary Blasters (minus Dave Alvin) will be playing that night at The Saint, just a few blocks away on Main Street.