I did promise a happy post and by god, this is it ……….. so get ready
I’ve just returned from LA ………… great line that ….. as if I kinda hopped over there every week
I know you believe that
Long flight, eleven hours and change and that’s from Dublin, I’d already flown from Galway in the wee hours but ………. ok, this is a happy post and there will be no bad vibes
Finally get through all the security and immigration, take me seat and the woman sitting next to me, gives me the look
“Uh oh”
She goes
“I asked for the aisle seat”
She’s in the window, as if you haven’t guessed, and I offer her my seat, the obviously coveted aisle job and she goes
“And have you resenting me for 11 hours ………… no thank you Mister.”
We didn’t talk a whole lot after that save when they didn’t bring her Vegetarian meal and I wisely keep me mouth shut, let the airline deal with it
The devil is in me to tell her……….it’s AIRLINE FOOD……….it all tastes the same, and when people tell me they reserved their special meal three months before, I’m going to fess up and say
“Jesus wept”
I watch Zodiac purely for Robert Downey Jnr………..God, what a talent
Here’s the really happy bit………..we get to LAX………….my veggie friend doesn’t say goodbye or such but you know, fookit
A limo waiting……………is there a writer on God’s earth doesn’t want to arrive in LA and have a stretch limo waiting…………….just once
I’m both delighted and mortified, I ask the driver if I can sit up front and he gives me the look
The back it is
I try to sneak in, I know it’s LA……like anyone gives a toss
I’m staying in Beverly Hills and yes, for me……….add Hillbilly
Huge room with a balcony
I’m but a bad book review from Rodeo Drive
First night, I go to a party in Laurel Canyon and no shite but everybody is
Scriptwriter
Actor
Director
Nobody is a mere book writer
And everybody is gorgeous……….honest to God, I dunno if it’s all NIP AND TUCK or
whatever but Jesus, it worked
A stunning young girl tells me
“I just like, love your accent.”
See, looks aren’t everything
Next day
I meet with Brad, the producer for Blitz. I’ve waited a lot of years to use that sentence.
We have lunch outside on Sunset Boulevard and my jaw drops every few minutes as some star strolls by. I have shades on…….see, I’d gone Hollywood in 24 hours and speaking of……..Keifer stops by as Brad cast him in Freeway, I’m introduced and cool, I say
“Good to see you.”
Fook, did I really say that
Alas
Brad produced Monster and I’ve a million things to ask about that but I pick up the menu, ask
“What’s good here?”
I so badly want to name drop others who stopped by but how awful would that be
Skip to the chase and the show, we tape at 4.30 and it’s all done and wrapped in jig time,
I can’t get me head around the fact I’m wearing a tie
I did remove the shades
Briefly
In the car, am……….limo…….after, I try to recall a single word I said and all I can remember is Craig Ferguson giving me a hug
Saturday, we hit the bookshops and the Independents as usual are just so welcoming and friendly
I’m signing books and realize, I love this, this is the icing on the cake
Sunday, drove up the Pacific Coast Highway and for once, I’m lost for words, I briefly wonder what it would be like to live here, would I produce work full of sunshine and light
I doubt it
But the wind and the rain and the dark, it’s what I know, it never once occurred to me to ask
“Do you like it?”
It’s my terrain
All too soon, I’m back on a plane, aisle seat of course and guess what’s showing
Zodiac
I watch the completely hilarious Will Ferrell’s “Blades of Glory”
I’m laughing out loud and this might be the nearest to happy I get
I’m not complaining
Back in Dublin, you guessed it, it’s raining and cold and what the hell, I slip my shades on, live the dream another little while
K.B.
It sounds like there were some real highlights to the trip.
I’m sure if you lived in Hollywood, you would write books where disaffected Irish movie stars kill paparazzi for entertainment.
I’m really looking forward to seeing “Blitz” on the big screen.
It was a nice tie though…
Saw you on Craig’s show. You looked great! But wished Craig had talked less so you could have talked more.
Yeah, that’s it. Our glamour Ken back from kabitzing with the glitterati . . .
Glad you had some fun for a change. May you have much more — even in the dark rain.
It’s amazing what a pair of shades will do.
BTW: I, too, wish you’d had more time to talk. I suspect part of Craig’s mania was that he was so excited to meet you.
You were great on Ferguson, though I agree that it would have been nice if he’d have let you talk about the book you were there to promote. Still, a writer on network TV… that’s not bad these days. Glad you enjoyed the trip.
There’s darkness in L.A., too, in the right neighborhoods. The longer you stay, the easier it is to find them.
What!??? A happy post from Ken Bruen?
Be still my heart.
Oh, and I forgot to add … congratulations, Ken, on the Shamus Best Novel nomination for THE DRAMATIST!
You were here in LA and we didn’t have a stout? My bad, tis the bad the luck of Irish/Italian, lol.
The road is rising to meet you, dear. Enjoy it!xo
Ever notice after reading a Ken Bruen post you start trying to talk like an Irishman? Then you feel like a complete…tosser.
Congrats on a great TV appearance and on the Shamus nom.
Ah, Ken, you were gorgeous and brilliant on TV (no surprise). Perhaps you could consider just *wintering* in California? Every other year, at least? We are just so deprived without you, it doesn’t seem fair.
I hope you get lots more limos and GOOD stuff happening, round the clock.
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