Walter Mosley Talking: Bestselling Novelist, African-American Activist March 31, 2009

WALTER MOSLEY TALKING
Bestselling novelist, celebrated crime writer, African-American activist
March 31, Tuesday, 7:30 PM
First Congregational Church of Oakland
2501 Harrison Street, at 27th Street Oakland

Tickets: $10 advance: www.kpfa.org/events or supportive bookstores,
$13 door, night of event. Benefits KPFA Radio, 94.1FM

Info: www.kpfa.org/events 510.848.6767X612

The great crime novelist talks about his life and work and big new book, answers questions from the audience and signs copies of his book. Hosted by KPFA Radio's Anita Johnson, host of Hard Knock.

Walter Mosley has written 29 critically acclaimed books (translated into 21 languages). Best known among them are the historical mysteries featuring two-fisted detective Easy Rawlins, a black private investigator living in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. One of these, Devil in a Blue Dress, was made into a major film starring Denzel Washington. Among his other popular titles are: Red Death, Black Betty, A Little Yellow Dog, The Man In My Basement, Blonde Faith, Cinnamon Kiss, and Fear of the Dark. Mosley served on PEN's Open Book Committee, a group working to increase the presence of African-Americans and other others in the publishing community. He was a finalist for the NAACP Award in Fiction, and was given the Risktaker Award by the Sundance Institute.

In THE LONG FALL, Mosley leaves behind Easy Rawlins, Fearless Jones, and Los Angeles to create a dynamic new character, Leonid McGill - "a red-diaper baby, ex-boxer, a man eternally at war with himself, who may be his most compelling hero yet" - Kirkus Reviews.

The novel is "an astounding performance by a master, a searing X-ray of grasping, conspiratorial New York and of the penitent soul of a wily, battle-scarred private-eye. Dark: because it takes us express to the lower depths. Beautiful: because Mosley never leaves us without light. This is, simply, Mosley's best work yet." -Junot Diaz

$10 advance, $13 door.

Official Website: http://www.kpfa.org/events