Happy New Year!
I can’t really complain about the frigid NY weather (though, I guess this serves as a passive way of doing so), considering I spent a few weeks in the Florida sun over the holiday break. Lots of stuff happened while I was there, too – including an amazing SILENT CITY event at Books & Books in Coral Gables.
I’m really thankful to the store for letting me do a reading of SILENT CITY in my hometown – and the setting for the book. It was a great mix of new fans, old friends, family and more. Happy to say the room was packed and we sold a lot of books – always a good sign for a book event! If you’re in the Miami area, you can probably still grab a signed copy, while supplies last. Photo above was taken by my dear friend, Rebekah Monson.
Another highlight over the break was seeing the book reviewed by the amazing Oline Cogdill, one of my favorite mystery reviewers. Her review, which called SILENT CITY “energetic” and also noted:
“Segura’s command of tight plotting and realistic characters keeps his debut on track…Segura is off to a good start with Silent City.”
Oline’s review ran on SouthFlorida.com (part of the Sun Sentinel) and in the print and online editions of The Miami Herald – as you can see below.
Both are huge for me personally, as I was an avid reader of both papers growing up and interned at the former – while working at The Herald for a few years after college. A huge, surreal and wonderful honor.
Speaking of huge honors, Crimespree Magazine was kind enough to include SILENT CITY as part of their Favorite Reads of 2013 roundup – putting the book in amazing company among some of my favorite authors, like Chris F. Holm, Jedidiah Ayres, Megan Abbott, Dana Cameron, Scott Weddle, Hilary Davidson and many more. I suggest you pick up every book on the list – definitely worth it!
And in the “Best First Line of a Review Ever” category, Son Of Spade gave SILENT CITY a nice plug, kicking off their post with: “The new George Pelecanos is here…” I’m reposting that not because I agree with it, per se, but mainly because I got a kick out of the mere mention of Pelecanos – one of my favorite writers. As some of you know, A FIRING OFFENSE is what inspired me to put pen to paper and start writing SILENT CITY, so to see a review where the writer gets the connection and applauds it…well, I’ll take it.
I think that’s it for now. Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and New Year – here’s to a great 2014!