Lorraine Evanoff's Blog, page 19

March 28th, 2016

Vingt-cinq ans deja. 

It had been over  twenty-five years since  Louise Moscow’s tumultuous ride working at the Paris branch of BCCI. Her debut novel, Foliage: An International Banking Spy Thriller, inspired by actual events, had hit the shelves and her book tour was in full swing. 

The literary world was in her blood. Enthusiastic readers and fellow writers she met on tour inspired her. Following the advice of a friend who was the foremost authority on Sherlock Holmes and other Edwardian-Era authors, her book signings were primarily scheduled at mystery bookshops and mystery book conferences. 

As always, mystery and intrigue followed her... 

Her first venue was Chevalier’s Books, a historic Hollywood landmark celebrating its 75th year in business, located on the quaint tree-lined Larchmont Boulevard. The two large picture windows brightened the darkening sidewalk inviting curious passersby through a glass door entrance into the long narrow bookshelves. Cheery staff was busy organizing, helping customers and preparing for the evening's event. Just beyond the cash register was an open area with rows of chairs, and further back, a table with a tall chair and a mike for the author. 

Louise helped her publicist set up the refreshments then greeted each guest as they entered. The seats were soon filled and she sat on the tall chair at the table in front of the mike holding a plastic glass of wine that had been placed in her hand by someone. 

The gathering comprised mostly entertainment industry folks: actors, writers, film editors, sound engineers and even a Pulitzer Prize winning photographer. Louise was overwhelmed by the turnout, especially since it was her very first book signing ever. But she steadied her nerves, reassured by the many friendly familiar faces. Except for one. 

After introducing herself she read an excerpt from her book. As she uttered the final sentence of the particularly mystical passage a chill went through the room. She lifted her eyes from the page to take questions when she glimpsed a darkened gaze at the back, which was actually the front of the shop. Then in a blink and he was gone. 

The greeting of guests resumed while she simultaneously wracked her brain to write something meaningful and personalized in each copy of her book. The eerily familiar face reappeared in the shadows then disappeared. Public appearances brought people out of the word work, or, in this case, out of the mystery novel-laden wooden bookshelves.

“It’s best to sign books seated,” her publicist admonished as Louise rose from the chair to pursue of the apparition. She sat back down and another smiling guest popped forth shoving a book under her nose while giving her two cheek-kisses à la Francaise. It was her old friend from Paris, Frédéric. 

“Alors, la belle Louise, tu es devenue romanciere? Bravo,” Frédéric said.  

“Merci, chou chou. Tout seul ce soir? Pas de gonzesse?”

“Je vais passer chez une belle asiatique apres.” 

“Tu m’etonnes.” 

Eavesdroppers leaned curiously into their tête-à-tête, reminding them that Francophones might be within earshot so they toned down their language. 

After an hour of swirling wine and conversation, the crowd thinned until all that lingered were her publicist, the lovably tipsy staff and the classical jazz. Helping clear the remains of the refreshments, Louise recalled the mystery guest and (as though he might still be there) she drifted toward the storefront. Briefly admiring her books prominently on display, she turned right and took the step up into the adjacent room where there was a long table laden with enticingly exhibited coffee table books. 

Following the scent, she continued full circle through the doorway back into the first room, John Coltrane’s Naima liltingly setting the tone. No one. Not satisfied, she passed through the archway to the back staff area. The massive door of a now-decorative vault stood defiantly agape, revealing multiple locking mechanisms. Chevalier’s Books resides in the first building constructed on Larchmont Boulevard in 1924, which was originally a bank. The vault now served as storage space, tall chairs, stacked upside down upon right side up, fitted in snuggly. Book inventory and supplies filled the shelves that once upon a time held more liquid assets. 

Nothing or no one else could be hidden within. 

Thursday, January 21, 2016: 
Chevalier’s Books
126 N. Larchmont Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90004 - (323) 465-1334 http://chevaliersbooks.com/2016/01/16/foliage-launch-signing-with-author-lorraine-evanoff/

New Year's Resolutions

SHARE YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS IN THE COMMENTS! HERE ARE MY RESOLUTIONS FOR 2016
1. Read/research more
2. Meditate more
3. Volunteer and give more to charity
4. Improve golf game
5. Finish writing and release the next book in the Louise Moscow Series! HAPPY 
NEW 
YEAR!

Meta Holiday Thoughts

“There is an old dictum that says you should never discuss religion or politics at a social gathering.”

While working in Silicon Valley, I went by a modified version of that dictum: Never discuss religion, politics or operating systems at a social gathering. Either way, the point is still relevant today.  

Nowadays, we have Google, Wikipedia, and the Internets. But it seems that the more information we have readily available, the more uninformed and biased the public dialogue is. 

Nonetheless, we should continue to tell our story. The expression of ideas and points of view is what keeps our metaphysical world evolving. 

To help this along, I’d like post a weekly subject and get readers’ points of view. So, for this week, in honor of the first full moon on Christmas since 1977, here’s the subject for this week: 

What does the moon mean to you?

Post your perspective in the comments in 100 words or less and I’ll post it on this blog! Please specify if you want your post to be anonymous. Tell your story!

Below is mine:

What does the moon mean to me?
At the end of high school, (not long after the last full moon on Christmas), my best girlfriend and her boyfriend were accepted at different colleges several states away from each other. They promised to get back together after college. In the meantime, they would look at the moon at the same time wherever they were, so it felt like they were together. I never forgot that story. They are still married today. 



International banking in late 1980s Paris had it all: corruption, mystery and romance.  Foliage: An International Banking Spy Thriller about an ingenious third-world entrepreneur is a precursor for the current Panama Papers scandal