The Blog That Ate Chicago

Sreve Hockensmith

Reacher's Creatures II

The Reacher Creature Party

Megan Abbott and Ben Rehder

C. J. Carpenter and Mary Reagan in the bar

The Noir Panel

All right, so the cell pohone picture thing is not working. After lunch
I will get the real camera.

I tried to stick it out upstairs at the thriller panel but the
sweltering heat drove me (and others) away. So I went in search of the
other must-see panel: 21st Century Noir. I'll skip the details about
the twenty-minute search for the right room. Suffice it to say that
with four floors of conference rooms, and several different different
groups meeting, it was a challenge to get here.

But it was well worth the effort. Once again great writers give great
panel. Sean Doolittle. Jason Starr, Ken Bruen, Simon Kernick, and
moderator Charles Ardai were funny and inciteful.

Best line of the panel came from Charles Ardai: "A good noir story
should make you aroused."

The Thriller Panel

From left to right; Lee Child, Barry Eisler, moderator Dave Montgomery,
Gayle Lynds, and David Morrell. Great writers make great panelists.

Lee Child on the difference between a mystery and a thriller: Time
management. Thrillers tend to unfold more in real time than mysteries.

Sidenote: Standing room only, probably 400 people in attendance. And
the air conditioning is not working because . . . ?

Steve Hamilton

Otis Twelve with the September 2005 issue of CRIME SPREE

Since the opening night festivities were short on sustenance, Otis
suggested dinner at a great Italian place a few blocks from the hotel.
We swapped stories, drank red wine and ate fantastic pasta. Then he
produced the latest issue of CRIME SPREE and I got to see my article on
my book launch week.

Opening night Schmoozapalooza

1,500 people. One food station. Use your imagination.