An interview between two veteran L.Á. mystery writers Naomi Hirahara and Gary Phillips. In Phillips new novel “One Shot Harry” he strives to keep L.Á. history at the forefront of the story. Continue reading Naomi Hirahara talks to LA crime writer Gary Phillips about the lost landmarks of Los Angeles
By Paula L. Woods
FROM: Los Angeles Times
Just as only James Ellroy could have written the Los Angeles Quartet and only Walter Mosley could have crafted Black Angelenos’ experiences into the Easy Rawlins mysteries, crime novelist and research maven Naomi Hirahara was destined to write “Clark and Division.”
Continue reading “What Came After Japanese American Internment? A Mystery Novelist Holds the Key”By Brian Dunlap
Last Saturday, the first annual Small Press Book Festival took place at the Wende Museum of the Cold War, in Culver City. It was a day to celebrate, promote and connect with Los Ángeles’ independent publishing community. Founded by Mark Lipman, poet and publisher of local independent press Vagabond, the Festival’s “goal is to promote and foster communication and the diversity of voices through literature and the arts as an integral part of the on-going work of building” literary community and community as a whole.
Continue reading “Building Literary Community at the Small Press Book Festival”
By Brian Dunlap
Pasadena Native Naomi Hirahara and L.A. native Walter Mosley have both been nominated for a 2019 Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original, Hiroshima Boy, and Best Novel, Down The River Unto The Sea, respectively. For Hirahara it’s her second Edgar Award nomination, her first being for Snakeskin Shamisen, which won the 2007 Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original. Mosely has been nominated twice before for Best Novel, in 1993 for White Butterfly and in 2013 for All I did Was Shoot My Man and was nominated for Best First Novel in 1991 for Devil in a Blue Dress.
Naomi Hirahara joins an exclusive club — Vroman’s Walk of Fame.
By J.K. Yamamoto
From: Rafu Shimpo
PASADENA — The atmosphere in front of Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena last Saturday afternoon was reminiscent of a Hollywood paparazzi fest.
With dozens of well-wishers taking photos and videos, local mystery author Naomi Hirahara placed her hands in cement and signed her name to become a part of Vroman’s Walk of Fame.
Los Angeles Literature 