On the QT: James Ellroy returns

Guest Day Editor Carolyn Kellogg joins LAist with a few posts throughout the day. Read the introductory interview and check out the her litblog.

James Ellroy -- the man who brough noir up to date at the end of the 20th century with his books The Black Dahlia, LA Confidential, White Jazz and more -- is back. He left California for parts midwest (why do people do that?) but has finally come to his senses and returned.

He'll be speaking for free at the Central Library downtown on Sept. 11 as part of the Zocalo series. Better reserve your tickets now -- they're sure to go fast.

In person, Ellroy has all the bluster and bravado as the most macho of his characters. How much of his swearing, icon-smashing and Republicanism is genuine, and how much is calculated for show -- well, I can't even guess. But I do know he's massively entertaining. And he knows a helluva lot about LA police in the 50s, noir film and fiction, and crime and getting away with it. This city has been the heart of his best work and it's about time he came home to the city.

Remember, keep this between us, on the QT, and very HUSH HUSH.