exlibrislarsen

Maureen and I arrived in New Orleans yesterday afternoon for the World Horror Convention and the release of my novel, LOSING TOUCH, and I have been blown away as much by the convention and its attendees as I have been by the city itself. I wish it could go on forever!

Maureen and I went to Deanie’s for lunch. It was just a couple of blocks from our hotel, but then again, everything seems to be a couple of blocks from our hotel. Maureen had the crawfish etouffee and VooDoo juice. I had the catfish po’boy and a local beer (forget the name) that was served to me in a fishbowl on a stem. They know how to do it in the Big Easy.

The po’boy here was HUGE.

I spent some time in the dealer’s room–and there aren’t just books (though there are a stunning array of those). Corsets, alcohol … its just right for New Orleans.

The Post Mortem Press table at the World Horror Convention (pictured: Eric Beebe, me)

Then I went to the “Great Moments in Horror” panel, but got there a little early and wound up sitting on a bench next to William F. Nolan (one of the panelists) and talking with him for about ten minutes, and I don’t believe either of us mentioned LOGAN’S RUN once. I did tell him I was a big fan, though, and he may be the nicest guy in the universe.

Signing LOSING TOUCH in the Royal Room.

Signed a few copies of LOSING TOUCH at the signing event in the Royal Room, and then went off to dinner with Maureen, Eric Beebe, his wife Stephanie, and Walter Jarvis, author of THE FLESHING. We ate at the Royal House Oyster Bar where I had several Abita Purple Hazes and a plate of shrimp and grits, which is actually quite a bit better than this northern boy would have guessed.

Maureen and me at the Royal House Oyster Bar.

Walked over to Cafe DuMonde for a bag of beignets (they don’t skimp on the powdered sugar–there was about cup left in the bag when we were done) and then back to the Hotel Monteleone for the “Dark and Bookish Tour” Party.

Smoked a cigar on the balcony and watched a wedding or a funeral march right down the middle of the street below us. (In New Orleans, it’s hard to tell the difference between weddings and funerals.)

View from the balcony outside the Iberville Room.

Finally met and hung out with some people who’ve given me some wonderful support (in addition to the gift of letting me read their stories): Michael Bailey, Jay Wilburn, Max Booth III, Lori Michelle, T. Fox Dunham, Eric J. Guignard, Mandy DeGeit, and so many more, I’m sure I’m forgetting a bunch. If I’ve omitted you, then we must drink!

I wonder what my second day in New Orleans has in store…

This entry was posted on June 15, 2013 at 8:41 am and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.