I’m the author of JUST ONE NIGHT, DECEPTIVE INNOCENCE, the SOPHIE KATZ Mysteries, the upcoming novel, THE GREAT MANN and a bunch of other books. I’m also a political junkie and have an AMAZING dog named POTUS. She’s a girl.
Last night I had the most ah-maze-ing #juneteenth #book signing event at Chevalier’s Books in #losangeles It was packed! And SUCH an amazing crowd!
But best of all, the grandchildren of Norman O. Houston, one of the historical figures I feature in my novel showed up! They said I captured the grandfather perfectly (thank God!).
Honestly I’m still buzzing!
#author #Books #bookstodon
This is one of those conversations that’ll stay with me.
On the podcast of lawyer, activist and political commentator, Tany Acker, she and I talked about my latest historical fiction novel, The Great Mann, but also how, as minorities, we often find ourselves holding love for the work of artists who never held love for our community and all the complexities of that.
Grateful for the opportunity to dig into so many issues
#Books #bookstodon #Racism #author #losangeles
https://the-tanya-acker-show.captivate.fm/
@alan Ha, 💯
@RVLara23 Thank you!
Eek! My novel, The Great Mann, is an Esquire Best Book of Summer!
Maybe I shouldn’t need these kind of accolades, but I gotta admit, this feels pretty good
#bookstodon #author #Writing #writingcommunity #books
The actions and behavior of the LAPD during last weekend’s protests deserves serious scrutiny. They may not have been part of the military invasion of our city, but that doesn’t make them the good guys.
https://www.npr.org/2025/06/16/nx-s1-5434279/lapd-immigration-protests-journalists-rubber-bullets Journalists dodge rubber bullets in covering LA immigration protests | LAist
#lapd #NoKings #losangeles #Police #protest #journalism #protests
There are now multiple, confirmed reports of American citizens of Latino heritage not just being questioned, but being detained by ICE and denied access to their lawyers
If ICE wasn’t out here kidnapping kids and grandparents, the U.S. military hadn’t invaded L.A. and there hadn’t been BOTH a political assassination & a North Korea-styled military parade all in the space of a few hours, the abusive & escalatory actions of the LAPD during yesterday’s peaceful protests would be getting a lot more attention
#NoKings #ice #losangeles #lapd
https://youtube.com/watch?v=o1Q5P_70ZCY&si=KR7PdqdUwrKsdqan
@offby1 I’m certainly not ruling it out. There’s obviously a lot we don’t know, but if they actually haven’t been able to identify the suspect yet then I don’t see how they can make any kind of judgement in regard to what his profession is or isn’t…and if reports that he was driving a police cruiser are true…well there’s only so many people who have access to those
Any fellow Angelenos here?
Chevalier’s THE GREAT MANN event will double (triple?) as a Juneteenth celebration & fundraiser for the Altadena Community Preservation Fund, an organization dedicated to the post-fire rebuilding of one of America’s most prominent and historic black communities. 15% of THE GREAT MANN book sales will go toward the cause.
I’d really love to meet some fellow Mastodon folks there. We’re a rather rare and elite group! ;)
#LA #bookstodon #Books #author #losangeles
I was invited to write a short day-in-the-life scene for the protagonist in THE GREAT MANN, Charles Trammell.
I found it surprisingly comforting to have the opportunity to step back into Charlie’s head and his world. As a writer, I’ve missed it.
I wrote a piece for @literaryhub on how, and why, I reimagined THE GREAT GATSBY for my latest novel, THE GREAT MANN
I also discuss F. Scott Fitzgerald’s bigotry. I can’t separate the author from his work, but what I can do is hold love for the art of a deeply flawed man
#Writing #bookstodon #author #Racism
There is no practical reason for ICE to be wearing camouflage fatigues in L.A.’s urban, garment district other than to engage in some kind of pathetic Army cosplay and try to intimidate and terrorize a community.
@asmaloney Thank you, it really is!
It is always a moment when you finally get the finished copies of your #book 🥂🍾
#bookstodon #writersofmastodon #authors #Books #writers #writerslife
While writing THE GREAT MANN I loved revealing how the Black Hollywood actor who were meek and subservient on screen were fabulous and subversive off screen. It was a pleasure and an honor to give readers a more honest look at who these individuals were
#BlackMastodon #bookstodon #hollywood #historical #historicalfiction
#bookstodon I’m all up in my feelings right now! I just received a starred review from the Library Journal for my June release, THE GREAT MANN!:
“Lurie’s nuanced and sympathetic characters and stellar writing are nearly as brilliant as in Gatsby”
I know reviews in trade publications don’t sell a lot of books but it’s such a wonderful validation for all the blood, sweat and tears I put into this novel. I know other #authors will relate
https://www.libraryjournal.com/review/the-great-mann-1816335
@Ttown True