Wednesday 11 November 2009

Photographic Evidence...

(L-R Nat Sobel, Stuart Neville, James Ellroy and David Torrans)

Some joker said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Fair enough, says me. Makes for a very short blog post when you've photos like these to display. Many thanks to Hilary Knight for sending the pics through.


(Ellroy, Neville and Sobel in deep literary discussion in the super-chilled surroundings of No Alibis.)

The event itself was one of the best I've attended to date. Ellroy is a showman. He didn't read. He performed. During the performance, it struck me; if this writing business hadn't worked out for him, he could have fallen back on a career as an evangelist. Of course, the subject matter of his sermons might have been a bit close to the knuckle. This cat doesn't hold back.


(Sobel, Neville, Ellroy and Torrans a few hours before the big event.)

Stuart Neville did very well as Ellroy's onstage interviewer. With an audience of close to 800 in front of him and James feckin' Ellroy beside him, it couldn't have been easy to play it cool. He fell right into the role, though.

(Ellroy and Torrans waiting for Adrian McKinty to make a bald joke.)

So, Mister Torrans, proprietor of No Alibis bookstore and proven event manager... what's next?

11 comments:

Kateyo said...

Brilliant wasn't he, I got some pics and a short video. Great blog Gerard, just found it via an e mail from no alibis.

Allen McKay said...

What a wonderful night. Ellroy is such a great performer. Stuart did a great job. Ellroy seemed quite friendly..
Then i got to shake his hand and get a copy of my booked signed! He must have been tired.
Amazing.
Great photos.

Unknown said...

You're a lucky dog, my friend. Ellroy bypassed Arizona entirely this year. I was lucky enough to meet him when he was touring with Destination: Morgue and he is a great performer.

seana graham said...

I know that this kind of goes against his entire image, but Mr. Ellroy really seems like kind of a sweetheart.

Thanks for the pics, gb.

Michael Stone said...

Awesome stuff, mate. Wish I could have been there... grumble grumble

adrian mckinty said...

It is like bald disease going from right to left though isnt it? Good job it wasn't too sunny or the camera would have been able to handle the glare...

seana graham said...

Bald disease?

Wostry Ferenc said...

Ellroy is smiling? What the fuck...

adrian mckinty said...

You know what's interesting about that pic with Torrans? I never knew Ellroy was quite so big. Am I crazy or is there a Kareem Abdul Jabbar vibe about Jimmy E?

Both really intelligent guys, both born around the same and both made their name in LA.

Of course Ellroy didnt battle with Bruce Lee in Game of Death.

(At least not to my knowledge).

seana graham said...

It's funny, Kareem Abdul Jabbar was just on Keith Olbermann, talking about a rare form of luekemia he has which can be managed, but only because he's lucky enough to have health care, and how we need to make sure everyone has access. Anyway, in his civvies, I definitely see what you're saying. Although he is a bit more mild mannered than I think Ellroy ever is.

Photographe à Dublin said...

Just dropping by to say "Hello" from The Widgeting Hour.

Nice photos.

And thanks again for your post to

Writing in a Twist