BAM!

The reading last night at The Cell Theater in New York was a blast. I think I did pretty well, and the other readers were all great and entertaining. And there was free wine. What more do you want?

Famous author Sean Ferrell showed up, which was a great surprise, and I asked him to video my reading. When I got home and checked the camera, there were two videos. This was the first one:

That’s right: Thirty-six seconds of Sean Ferrell’s foot.

The second video started off better: It was actually me, reading! A bit shaky, perhaps, as if Sean was falling into a coma of some sort as my voice washed over him, but still, video. Then, at the 2 minutes mark: Done. I don’t recall seeing Sean sleeping, but then I was distracted:

(giggling courtesy of The Duchess)

All in all, though, a lot of fun, and I thank Karen Heuler and The Tandem Reading Series for the invitation! The Cell has an amazing program of events – music, literature, art – so I encourage anyone in the area to stop by!

Reminder: IN just 9 days I will be in public making a fool of myself. Stop on by!

Sunday,  Oct. 10, 2010, 5:00 pm

The Tandem Reading Series continues at The Cell Theatre

Not your typical crime

This month’s readers step out of the ordinary and into the strange. Join us for an evening of ghosts, vampires, augmented assassins, and something nasty in the subways: mysteries that go a step beyond.

E. F. Watkins will read from her latest paranormal thriller, One Blood. Just released in September, it is a prequel to her novel Dance with the Dragon, which won a 2004 EPPIE Award as Best Horror Novel.

Jeff Somers, author of the Avery Cates series of noir-SF novels and editor of the long-running underground zine The Inner Swine, will be reading from his latest Cates novel, The Terminal State. And possibly doing some improv break-dancing.

Jeff Cohen, author of the Double Feature Mystery series and now the Haunted
Guesthouse Mystery series, will read from his novel Night of the Living Deed, involving ghosts, poison, and property values on the historic Jersey Shore.

Ameer Youssef reads from Kronman, about a series of Unnatural murders in New York City.

Come join us for an eclectic evening.
Reception to follow.

The Cell Theatre, 338 West 23 St. (between 8 and 9 Ave.; take the 1, C, E to 23rd St; www.thecelltheatre.org). 212-989-7434. Donation: $5.

Well, I’m heading to Bouchercon next week. I’ve never been – I’m not much of a convention rat, to be honest; I attended a World Fantasy a few years ago and dipped my little toe into NY Comic Con last year, but that is actually the sum total of my experience. This year at Bouchercon I’ll actually know some folks and my agent will be there. Having someone there who is contractually obligated to buy you drinks is … something I’m not used to. Things might get ugly.

So, if you live in San Fran or are attending the con: Look me up. I’ll be the guy wandering around with a cowbell and a sandwich board that reads BUY ME A DRINK DAMN YOUR EYES. If you have any trouble locating me on the floor, show up for my 30-On-30 session on Thursday (here‘s the Thursday program for you):

30 on the 30

Jeff Somers: Science Fiction and Crime Fiction: The Most Exciting Combination since Whiskey and Soda

Time: 3:00 PM
Room: Seacliff D

Will there be actual whiskey in the room? Probably, and probably some tiny plastic cups for everyone too. Will there be much discussion of SF and Crime fiction? Maybe. If I sense I’m losing the room I’ll probably start break-dancing. This also depends on whether there’s whiskey in the room.

Anyways, see ya there!