JC and Me...

After my author event photo-policy rethink earlier this year, here's a new pic from last night's John Connolly event at Auckland City Library. It was a fantastic evening, with a good crowd of around 90 people in attendance.

Everyone was well entertained by Connolly, who is a great storyteller and raconteur, as he spoke (quickly - like me, and Gregg Hurwitz, he's a 'fast talker' when he gets going on a subject he likes) about a variety of things: the attraction and appeal of crime fiction; the difference between 'crime' and 'mystery' (the latter having more ties to the supernatural); how readers develop affection for recurring characters more than writers; his passion for reading; why he thinks people will buy more and more e-books, but hard-copy books will never go out of fashion completely; how crime fiction is often about redemption; his thoughts on Dan Brown and THE DA VINCI CODE, and on Patricia Cornwell's career trajectory; and what makes a writer - amongst much, much more.

I tried to keep up, and took plenty of notes - so I will share a longer 'report' on the evening with you all later in the week. Connolly closed the evening with quite a long reading (no one was complaining) from his recent young adult book THE GATES - which had a theme of "satanism for kids", as he put it. He had the audience in stitches, and me thinking I'm going to have to accelerate THE GATES up the TBR pile on my bookshelves.

Connolly also took some time after his book signing for an exclusive interview with me for the Crime Watch 9mm series - so look out for that in the near future too.

Connolly is a very funny, fascinating, and down-to-earth guy. I really enjoyed meeting him (and sharing a drink or two afterwards while we chatted about life, the universe, and crime fiction for a couple of hours). For crime fiction fans in Christchurch, or the central North Island, I urge you to go along to one of his events over the next couple of days.

Wednesday 2nd June - Christchurch (tonight!)
An Evening with Irish crime writer John Connolly
7.30pm
Our City O-Tautahi, cnr Oxford Tce & Worcester Boulevard, Christchurch
Tickets: $12 from Ruth Todd, ph 384 4721

Thursday 3rd June – Taupo and Rotorua
Taupo Library Is Proud To Bring You Award-winning Thriller Writer John Connolly
1.00pm
Taupo Library

Rotorua District Library Is Proud To Bring You Award-winning Thriller Writer John Connolly
5.30pm
Rotorua District Library, 1127 Haupapa St, Rotorua

Have you read John Connolly's books? Are you a fan of Charlie Parker? Would you be keen to see him at an author event? For those overseas readers - have you seen him at an event before? Please share your thoughts, comments, and experiences.