A collection of authors from five states headlined by international bestsellers are bringing a two-night Noir at the Bar tour to Kentucky on November 17 and 18, 2023.
Crime and suspense authors S.A. Cosby (VA), David Joy (NC), Ashley Erwin (CA—Louisville native) , Eryk Pruitt (NC), J Todd Scott (Louisville, KY), JH Markert (Louisville, KY) Laurel Hightower (Lexington, KY), Wesley Browne (Richmond, KY), James DF Hannah (Louisville, KY) and Bobby Matthews (AL) will team up for two Noir at the Bar events at Kentucky watering holes sponsored by Apollo Pizza, 3rd Turn Brewing, Country Boy Brewing, Angel’s Envy Bourbon, and Book Social 502.
Night one will take place Friday, November 17, 2023 at 7:00 PM at Apollo Pizza & Beer Emporium at 228 South Second Street in Richmond, Kentucky. The event is free and open to the public but space is limited due to capacity. Hazard, Kentucky’s Read Spotted Newt Bookstore will be on hand selling the authors’ books and the authors will be available for signing.
Night two will take place Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 7:00 PM at 3rd Turn Brewing at 10408 Watterson Trail, Louisville, Kentucky. The event is free and open to the public but space is limited due to capacity. Louisville’s Carmichael’s Bookstore will be on hand selling the authors’ books and the authors will be available for signing.
Noir at the Bar is a loosely organized series of events which takes place at establishments across the United States. The concept was originated by author Peter Rozovsky in Philadelphia in 2008 and spread from there. It initially featured only crime writers but with the expansion of the series has come to include horror authors and other literary genres that lean toward darker content.
Los Angeles Times Book Prize winner Cosby’s two most recent novels RAZORBLADE TEARS and ALL THE SINNERS BLEED both appeared on Barack Obama’s summer reading list, have been lauded by Stephen King, and became New York Times Bestsellers. Cosby has appeared on The Tonight Show and his work has been purchased for film adaptations by the likes of Jerry Bruckheimer.
Joy is the Edgar Award-nominated author of the book WHERE ALL LIGHT TENDS TO GO which was adapted into a film starring Billy Bob Thornton and Robin Wright. His latest THOSE WE THOUGHT WE KNEW was one of the buzziest releases of 2023.
The Kentucky tour was born on the social media platform previously known as Twitter when Cosby and Joy got into a discussion of Kentucky author Walter Tevis’s final resting place in Richmond. Tevis, who lived in both Lexington and Richmond, is the author of literary classics such as THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT, THE HUSTLER, THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH, and more. Joy pointed out that his gravesite is very near Apollo Pizza and that the pizza shop hosts author events. The two agreed that they each would make the trip if the other attended.
Browne, author and co-owner of Apollo Pizza, agreed to host the event and it eventually to include Louisville with the help of local authors Markert and Hannah. “It started on Twitter and grew from there,” Browne said. “Shawn (Cosby) confirmed he was coming at Bouchercon (crime writers conference) in San Diego in August (2023), which meant Joy was also in. Once that got out other authors asked to jump on board. It may not be the most star-packed Noir lineup ever, but it’s definitely in the discussion.”
