Thanks so much to everyone who participated in the ongoing conversation about the NoirCon painting of me. That was my intention from the beginning, to encourage dialog about the default sexual stereotypes in our genre and ask people to think before perpetuating them, ironically or otherwise ( Read more... )

The real action at any con is in the bar and NoirCon was no exception. Smuggling Butch into the Doubletree Hotel bar turned out to be way easier than I thought. I zipped him up inside his Sherpa carry bag to sneak him past the front desk and when I let him out, he just sat quietly at my feet the whole time ( Read more... )

NoirCon is like a gay bar. You never get that awkward moment in a conversation where the other person says something like, "I don't read authors that use the f-word." You know walking in the door that everyone in the room is into the same thing ( Read more... )

My NoirCon femme fatale podcast (along with Megan Abbott, Vicki Hendricks, and Jonathan Santlofer) is up on Behind the Black Mask.

I’ve put up a few NoirCon photos, but those who were in attendance during the now legendary “champagne toast” are probably wondering why certain key photos are missing from this set. I’ll get to that…

Meanwhile, a caption contest.


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Started the day with coffee at a wonderfully grungy little South Street joint called The Bean Cafe. It ain’t Starbucks, and that’s a good thing. I spent a very entertaining half hour people watching from my perch under this astounding serial killer painting of Hall and Oates.


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Where to begin ( Read more... )

I’m off to Philly on a redeye tomorrow night, headed for NoirCon. I have to say, I’m seriously sick of travel, but this looks to be a good time.

In other Noir news, Noir City at the Egyptian kicks off this weekend too. How’s that for bad timing? I’m particularly pissed about missing Wicked Woman and The Story of Molly X. I’m gonna try to hit as ( Read more... )