Tonight at 7 p.m., two of the featured bestselling authors, Lehane and Michael Koryta will sign books and talk about them at Four Green Fields Irish Pub, 205 W. Platt St., Tampa. Both authors will share stories in conversation with Tampa Bay Times book editor Collette Bancroft, followed by signing.
Lehane's ninth novel, Live by Night, is the compelling tale of Joe Coughlin, youngest son of a prominent police captain, on his dizzying journey up the ladder of organized crime, from petty thief in Jazz Age Boston to wildly successful rumrunner in Ybor City. Characters range from good guys to tough guys to sultry femmes fatales, evangelists and Klansmen.
According to Bancroft, Lehane "evokes Ybor City's multicultural, ardently political past as well as its criminal legends, like those tunnels under the streets that bootleggers and drug dealers used." Bancroft's review praised the book for taking on "big" subjects, like race, class, money, religion, friendship, family, violence — "embedding them in irresistible storytelling about a compelling, conflicted and mordantly funny man.”
Lehane was born and raised in Dorchester, Mass., but now makes his home in St. Petersburg most of the year.
Koryta’s latest novel, The Prophet, deals with the lingering effects of survivors of victims of violent crime, with destinies altered by guilt and blame. Michael Connelly has named him "one of the best of the best." Kirkus Reviews called it “Friday Night Lights meets In Cold Blood.”
The author has won several prestigious awards and nominations for the Edgar, Quill, Shamus and Barry awards, and his work has been translated into nearly 20 languages. A former private investigator and newspaper reporter, Koryta graduated from Indiana University with a degree in criminal justice. He splits his time living in St. Petersburg, and Bloomington, Ind.
Tickets for the signing line are available only with purchase of either Lehane’s newest novel, Live by Night, or Koryta’s The Prophet, from Inkwood Books. Inkwood said that reserving books ahead of time is strongly recommended (813-253-2638 or [email protected]). While tickets guarantee your chance to meet the authors and have books personally autographed, seats are not guaranteed.
