THE MIGHTY LOU by Ken Bruen

What was missing in 2009?

I mean, apart from

The economy

Hope

Chelsea in the European Final?

Noir Con.

And did we feel the loss.

I sure did.

Greg

Lou

Our wondrous lady who managed to arrange an event for the homeless during controlled

mayhem that any mystery event entails.

Deen Kogan is our own Mother Theresa of mystery

Sure, they are so many mystery events in the year that we are nigh spoilt for choice.

Almost

Noircon was sadly missed.

But trust me, it’s not like they were sitting on their laurels after two hugely

successful festivals.

Lou and crew have been working literally 24/7 to ensure that Noir Con 2010 is ultra

special.

And phew-oh, is it ever?

The David Goddis Award is being presented to one of the most beloved writers in

mystery and also,

the most elusive.

Not that he’s avoiding us, or attempting to create a blog enigma, no, he is truly a

humble man who

shuns the spotlight and continues to write books that are rapidly becoming the

social commentary of

our times.

And the award for publisher goes to ……….flat out, just about me favorite independent.

Smart

Savvy

Wonderfully engaging

And

A fine musician.

What’s not to love about a publisher who takes his band on grueling road tours to

keep the publishing

company afloat.

Noir Con 2008 was stunning.

An attendance of everyone who’s the biz in the mystery world

Megan Abbot

Scott Philips

George Pelecanos

Jim Nesbit

Gary Philips

Judy Bobalik

And would be writers note

Agents like

Lukas Ortiz

Scott Miller

Mingling quietly among the fun were the duo of

Reed Coleman

Jason Starr

And all singing the praises of Dr Lou Boxer

Gary Gillespie

And the magnificent Deen Kogan

With a wondrous homage to David Goodis which was the raison d’etre of us being there.

Dennis Mc Millan managed as usual to steal all fashion accolades and indeed, gave a

whole new

meaning to the wearing of a fedora, a linen suit and a guitar slung casually over

his impeccable

wardrobe

Now that is class.

At any given moment, you could grab a brew with Duane Swieczernski

Robert Truluck

Shannon Clute

Vicki Hendricks

Jen Siler

Seth Harwood

I kid thee not

This is how the festival began for me.

I flew from Galway to Newark

Don’t ask

Then got the train to Philly

I was heading for a sandwich and brew on the Amtrak and I noticed a guy carrying a

copy of PRIEST.

There isn’t a writer on God’s somewhat green earth won’t tell you, that is the best

feeling on the

whole damn planet

How I met Seth Harwood.

And it literally just got better from there.

I got to meet the Asian answer to Britney Spears and her considerable

…..armed………..entourage.

But Reed Coleman tells that story so much better than me as he was in the firing

range of

aforementioned.

The armed female cop who , once I passed the metal detector, moved towards me, and

as I put up me

hands, she asked

‘Can I have my photo taken with you?’

I think she thought I was Lee Child’s Dad.

Such was Noir Con

Wild

Funny

Family

Roll on 2010 and honest, you don’t have to carry a copy of me book if you’re on

Amtrak, I’ll but you a

brew anyway.

That’s how delighted I’ll be to be there again

Our renowned Irish Playwright , Brian Friel wrote the terrific play

…………………………….Philadelphia Here I Come.

In all the ways that matter, I never left

Thank God and Noir Con