Thursday 8 October 2009

No Alibis Event - John Connolly


(From the No Alibis website)

No Alibis Bookstore is pleased to be hosting the launch party for John Connolly's latest novel, THE GATES on Friday 9th October at 6:30PM.

THE GATES OF HELL ARE ABOUT TO OPEN. MIND THE GAP.

Young Samuel Johnson and his dachshund Boswell are trying to show initiative by trick-or-treating a full three days before Hallowe'en. Which is how they come to witness strange goings-on at 666 Crowley Avenue.

The Abernathys don't mean any harm by their flirtation with Satanism. But it just happens to coincide with a malfunction in the Large Hadron Collider that creates a hole in the universe, a hole through which can be glimpsed a pair of enormous gates.

The gates to Hell. And there are some pretty terrifying beings just itching to get out...

John Connolly was born in Dublin and has, at various points in his life, worked as a journalist, a barman, a local government official, a waiter and a dogsbody at Harrods department store in London. He studied English in Trinity College, Dublin and journalism at Dublin City University, subsequently spending five years working as a freelance journalist for The Irish Times newspaper, to which he continues to contribute.

His first novel, Every Dead Thing, was published in 1999, and introduced the character of Charlie Parker, a former policeman hunting the killer of his wife and daughter. THE LOVERS is his tenth novel, and the eighth featuring Parker.

John Connolly is based in Dublin but divides his time between his native city and the United States, where each of his novels has been set.

You can find out more on John's website.

We expect this to be a popular event, so reserve your spot now by emailing David, or by calling the shop on 9031 9607.

11 comments:

Gerard Brennan said...

And as timing would have it, I need to choose between this event and a night with my missus to celebrate our 7th anniversary. We even have a babysitter!

But then, Michelle's got a cold...

I should probably skip the event anyway, though.

However, I'm open to persuasive arguments for attending the reading.

Cheers

gb

Stuart Neville said...

I shall be attending the reading, but will be unable to partake in the semi-customary post-reading pints.

The snippets John treated us to at the last No Alibis event were most entertaining, so I'd hope for more of the same.

marco said...

However, I'm open to persuasive arguments for attending the reading.

Reliable internet polls have ascertained that Connolly is the sexiest crime-writing person in Ireland.

will be unable to partake in the semi-customary post-reading pints.

Gerard, Peter Rozovsky outed you as a quasi-teetotaller. He said he cannot understand why Belfast has such a bad rep, two times he has been out drinking with you and both times you averaged a mere Carlsberg (a Carlsberg!)- to think your family proudly owned a shebeen, you black sheep.

I have read my first Bruen, "Cross", which should be immediate sequel to "Priest" of which in the post beneath this one. It was good, and very well written.

Ciao

Gerard Brennan said...

Stuart - The Gates does sound frickin' great, doesn't it? And Connolly is definitely one heck of a performer at his readings...

Marco - He's a good-looking bloke, all right. I'll need more than that, though.

Unfortunately, I was driving both times I met Peter, but I kind of like that I've spread a rumour contrary to the stereotype.

Won't admit that to my da, though!

I'll have to get my hands on a copy of Cross and Sanctuary. I imagine they'll have even more impact now that I've read the preceding tomes.

Cheers

gb

Allen McKay said...

Unless Michelle would enjoy the event as much as you, you may have to make the scarifice!! although you could do both...
It should be another great night, and after the last event The Gates sounds wonderful, lets hope he does another reading.
Unfortunately i'm going to miss it too.

Gerard Brennan said...

Allen - Bringing the missus along would have been the easiest solution. She really enjoyed the Connolly and Hughes event just over a year ago. But it would have meant speeding from Belfast to Dundrum and back again while she sorted the kids out in less than two hours. It's possible, but likely I'd be arrested.

It's a pity you'll miss it too. Did you make the Paul Charles event for Family Life? Had to give that one a miss too. I'm having no luck with any of these launches lately.

Cheers

gb

adrian mckinty said...

I'll be there.


Well actually no I wont.


But I'd like to be.

Stuart Neville said...

Mr. Connolly was as entertaining as always, and kindly signed a couple of copies of The Gates for me. Am I alone in thinking there shades of Hitchhiker's Guide to this book? I mean in the conversational tone of the narrative, as opposed to plot.

Anyway, I was a little pushed for time last night, so as the Q&A was drawing to a close, I decided sneak quitely out while David and John were deep in discussion and the audience rapt. And of course, I tripped over a chair and destroyed the moment entirely.

D'oh!

Gerard Brennan said...

Adrian - By all reports I've heard so far, we definitely missed out.

Stuart - And I bet Mister Connolly and Mister Torrans let you escape without drawing the slightest bit of attention to you, right?

And you're not alone in the Hitchhiker's comparison. See Dec Burke's latest CAP post.

Cheers

gb

Allen McKay said...

Sounds like it was another enjoyable night. hope to get The Gates soon. i could even read it to the kids at night...

I think i read that someone is writing another Hitchhiker's book. It may even have been on CAP site.

Gerard, i made the Paul Charles event, an entertaining night about music and books. I haven't had time to read the book yet!

Gerard Brennan said...

Allen - I'm reading Family Life at the minute. A great follow up to the first Starrett novel.

gb