Friday, August 29, 2008

Book Carnival

There's a funny little bookstore I sometimes go to.  It's in a very low-budget and rather down at the heels looking strip mall in the humble town of Orange.  It labels itself as a shop for "mystery and dark fantasy."  It's smallish, cluttered and dusty, and never seems especially busy.

What's fascinating about Book Carnival is that EVERYBODY, and I mean everybody, who writes mystery novels has book signings there.  The owner, so I've heard, is retired LAPD and great friend of Michael Connelly and many other renowned mystery writers.  The shop was actually featured in one of Connelly's recent Harry Bosch outings.  

I get a card from Book Carnival every month detailing the upcoming month's signings   This month it's Margaret Coel, Stephen Hunter, Michael Connelly; and Dean Koontz.  Recently, I got a chance to visit there with one of my favorites, T. Jefferson Parker (a handsome flirt who had a fairly nervous wife/girlfriend hovering nearby).  I'm hoping to get down to meet Connelly this month, and I'd love to see the head that holds the brain of Dean Koontz.

You can read a little more about it here.

9 comments:

Bert Bananas said...

Verb, ask Connelly (or the store owner) what LAPD detectives call the uniformed officers. What's their slang or nickname for uniformed officers?

vq said...

Well...maybe, if he's friendly. Otherwise, I'll just meekly ask for an autograph on my book.

Gail said...

I'm jealous. There is a smallish bookstore in the next town that has authors visit, but NO ONE anyone has actually heard of.

emma said...

I used to love Dean Koontz. I loved the odd mysteries he used to write. Then he got all devily and stuff.
Have the last few books of his gotten better?

Gail said...

I haven't read much Koontz, but The Good Guy was interesting. The Darkest Evening of the Year was way weird.

Orbie/\;;/\ said...

OMG Verb if you could get a signed anything from Dean Koontz my daughter would be indebted to you forever. She is a major fan and would be sooooo jealous. "From the Corner of his Eye" is her favorite

vq said...

I will most definitely try to do that, Lori!

Beanns37 said...

Hey Verbie, I'd love to go to a book signing, why doesn't my end of LA have anything cool like this? :(

Orbie/\;;/\ said...

Bless you Verb :)