You Had to Be There

Since Anthony, Richie, and I were among the readers at KGB Bar last week, we didn't have much time to take pictures of the first Lineup event. The three taken for us on camera phones came out blurred beyond our photo editing abilities. I may invest in a Flip Mino HD for next time.

Sarah Cortez at Houston Public Library, 10/28, 11/4

Wednesday, Oct. 28, 9:30 a.m.

Sarah Cortez reads excerpts from How to Undress a Cop at Houston Public Library's Inversion Coffee shop (500 McKinney) as part of its "Café Reads" series.

From Rhyme to Crime: An Evening With...
Two Latina Writers
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 7:00 p.m.

Lucha Corpi and Sarah Cortez present their literary work together as part of the Houston Public Library's "An Evening With..." series at the Central Branch (500 McKinney).

For more information, call 832-393-1652.

CrimeWAV 42: "In the Kitchen with Johnny Albino" by R. Narvaez

Friend of The Lineup Seth Harwood invited Richie back to CrimeWAV to read his story from Hit List: The Best of Latino Mystery (co-edited by Sarah Cortez).

Listen to CrimeWAV #42: "In the Kitchen with Johnny Albino" by R. Narvaez.

Our First Reading

It was great to meet Jennifer L. Knox, Carol Novack, and Karen Petersen along with a slew of Lineup fans and learn they're all as enthused about crime poetry as Patrick, Sarah, Richie, Anthony, and I.

I began last night with these remarks:

Welcome to the first reading from The Lineup: Poems on Crime. I'm Gerald So, founding editor, and with me are two of my co-editors—Richie Narvaez and Anthony Rainone—and three contributors—Jennifer L. Knox, Carol Novack, and Karen Petersen. I'd like to thank Carol, Richie, and KGB for tonight's event. Feel free to order refreshments throughout the night and support this great venue for writers.

A lot of people who hear about The Lineup think crime poetry is new or gimmicky, but the same emotions that inspire crime have long inspired poetry. Crime poetry is akin to crime fiction. Both have a sense of purpose. Every word, every sentence plants clues, reveals character, tries for resolution, but crime poetry forces us to face the same fear, jealousy, anger, indignation—without fiction's buffer of make-believe.

Karen read first, followed by Anthony, who read poems by Patrick Shawn Bagley, Ken Bruen, Reed Farrel Coleman, and Stephen D. Rogers. Anthony introduced Jen Knox who read several crime-related poems including "Why We Came and Why We Stayed" from The Lineup 2.

After a twelve-minute break to sell books and mingle, I introduced Richie, who read his poems "Metro", "Papi Was a Numbers Runner", and "Judgment Day" from The Lineup 1, as well as "Latest Victim" by Graham Everett and "Prayer of an Arson Investigator" by Sarah Cortez, also from Issue 1.

Richie introduced Carol Novack, who read her Lineup 2 poems "Willie" and "Color Symphony: Bronx Summer", Janis Butler Holm's Lineup 2 prose poem "Shopping with Winona", and finally a short play.

I capped the night with my Lineup 1 poems, "Witness Protection," "Four Minutes," and "Mickey Spillane".

We'd sold four copies of Issues 1 and 2 before I had to catch a train home. Thanks to everyone who attended, and once again to KGB for having us. A picture or two to come.

The prospect of audio and video recording the event fell through. If you attended, feel free to leave a comment. If not, you can experience a virtual reading by listening to The Lineup episode of Seth Harwood's CrimeWAV.

The Lineup at KGB Bar Tomorrow Night, 10/22

You are cordially invited to the first reading from The Lineup, tomorrow night from 7:00-9:00 PM at NYC's KGB Bar (85 East 4th Street). Scheduled readers include Jennifer L. Knox, Richie Narvaez, Carol Novack, Karen Petersen, Anthony Rainone, and me.

Issues 1 and 2 of The Lineup will be available for signing and sale, as will Carol Novack's CD Inventions II.

Join us for this festive night of crime poetry.

"I like Indiana."

I've actually never been to Indiana. The entry title is a quote from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, but I'm sure I would like Indiana later this week when Bouchercon 2009 comes to Indianapolis. Unfortunately I can't make it this year and was unable to set up any B'con Lineup events by proxy. At least two Lineup contributors—Reed Farrel Coleman and Sophie Hannah—will be there, as will one of our sponsors, Graham Powell.

Lineup co-editor Anthony Rainone is attending B'con 2010 in San Francisco, and I'm attending B'con 2011 in St. Louis. If you're a Lineup fan in Indy this year, you might ask Reed and Sophie to sign Issue 2. Then huddle in a bar, buy Graham a drink, and read your favorite poems.

Meanwhile, here's my post on Bouchercon 2008's "Poetry in Motion" panel.

Come to our reading 10/22

Click on the image of our promotional flyer to download it at full size and spread the word about our reading Thursday, October 22, 7:00-9:00 PM, at NYC's KGB Bar.

Reed Farrel Coleman and Tower at Once Upon a Crime

Tomorrow night, Lineup 2 contributor Reed Farrel Coleman stops by Minneapolis Lineup vendor Once Upon a Crime to read from and sign Tower, co-authored by Lineup 1 contributor Ken Bruen.

Tuesday, October 6, 7:00 p.m.
Once Upon a Crime
604 W. 26th St.
Minneapolis, MN 55405
(612) 870-3785
http://www.onceuponacrimebooks.com/

CrimeWAV 41: TOWER by Ken Bruen and Reed Farrel Coleman

This week, Seth Harwood's CrimeWAV welcomes Reed Farrel Coleman (Lineup 2 and 3 contributor, Issue 4 co-editor) reading an early excerpt of Tower, a novel written with Ken Bruen (Lineup 1 contributor) and published by friend of The Lineup Busted Flush Press.

Listen to CrimeWAV #41: Tower by Ken Bruen and Reed Farrel Coleman.