Beer and Loathing

Yesterday's signing at the Port Richmond Bookstore was a lot of fun, despite the fact that my nerves got the better of me and, right in the middle of my little talk, I accidentally dumped a bottle of Yuengling, spraying beer across my crotch in a manner that suggested I'd lost control of my bladder. Actually, this was the best place the beer could have ended up up; the bottle had been sitting on the writing desk of pulp legend Mike Avallone, which thankfully remained safe and dry.

Thanks to everyone who ventured out, including national internet sensation Joe Walker, Ed "Poe Boy" Pettit, Dennis Tafoya, Curt Broad (former owner of the much-missed Marlo Books), and whole gaggle of cool people who didn't mind hanging out with a guy with wet jeans. Special thanks to my hosts, Deen Kogan and Greg Gillespie, absentee host Lou Boxer (who arranged the whole darn thing), and my own Bride, who ran sales and, at one point, when someone asked for another beer, suggested I wring out my pants. Love you too, honey.

By way of revenge, I managed to do a little damage at the bookstore. Here's what I picked up. Usually I go for the paperbacks, but I was in a hardcover mood yesterday:

A Morning For Flamingos, by James Lee Burke. Picked this up last night, intending to read a page or two, and ended up blazing through the first 50. I love Burke.

The Way We Die Now, by Charles Willeford. I have the paperback, but I couldn't resist the hardcover for my collection.

Blood Simple, by Joel and Ethan Coen. Apparently, St. Martin's had an "original screenplay series" back in the 1980s?

The Player, by Michael Tolkin. I've wanted to read this for a while now.

True Confessions, by John Gregory Dunne. One of my favorite writers. Own the paperback, but again, this hardcover called out to me. Which is just an excuse to read it again.

Dreamland, by Newton Thornburg. Thoughts of Cutter & Bone made me pick this one up.

The Breaks, by Richard Price. Signed, too! Haven't read it yet. I'm pretty sure Greg Gillespie gave me a ridiculous discount on this one.

Chandlertown, by Edward Thorpe. Say the words "Chandler" and "Los Angeles" and I'm already pulling out my wallet.

Also purchased, but not shown: a paperback copy of Elmore Leonard's Ryan's Rules, which is actually Swag. Which I own. But I couldn't resist... alternate cover... alternate title... someone... help me...

Expiration Date: Port Richmond

Today at 2 p.m. I'll be signing books and talking Expiration Date at the Port Richmond Bookstore (3037 Richmond Street, Phila. PA 19134, just a few blocks from I-95). There will be cold beer and soft pretzels on hand, as well as copies of Expiration, Severance Package and the increasingly hard-to-find Secret Dead Men. But you'll also want to poke around the store, which is more or less vintage hardcover/paperback heaven. Hope to see some of you there.

You're Officially Invited...

... to the Crimes of Dr. Watson/Blonde/Redhead launch party!

It's a week from today, at the Port Richmond Bookstore in the lovely (and extremely Polish) neighborhood of Port Richmond. There will be plenty of books, booze, food and of course, Poles on hand. I've launched my last two books at the store, and each time it was a blast. You recall last year's blog post, about how we all ended up at a Polish disco? No futher questions, your honor.

So to recap: Sunday, November 18th, 2 p.m. Port Richmond Bookstore (3037 Richmond Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19134, 215-425-3385). C'mon. Can you think of a better way to kick off your Thanksgiving week?

(Huge thanks, in advance, to Lou Boxer, Deen Kogan and Greg Gillespie for hosting me yet again.)