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Ellis Bookstore Signing Report

I've had a couple of individuals contact me who were able to make it to the bookstore appearance in LA that I mentioned last week. Here is the report back and photos from the first - David.

I attended the Carter Coleman/Bret Easton Ellis book signing last night at Book Soup in West Hollywood.

I've attached four photographs...it was a small, dark room and out of respect to the hosts, I didn't want to use a flash. The pictures are decent, but dark.

Twenty people on metal folding chairs, Lauren Hutton, various friends of Carter Coleman, publishers, a sales clerk with tattoos, several Goths.

Bret Easton Ellis reminds me in person of a younger Bill Murray. Soft, easy to know face and shy, humble personality. Kind, complimentary and generous to fans.

Bret introduced Carter in a short speech. They met years ago when Carter interviewed Bret on the release of RULES OF ATTRACTION or was it LESS THAN ZERO for a New York newspaper. They partied together, became friends. Bret spent "a hundred hours" editing Carter's first book, THE VOLUNTEER and according to Carter, Bret has mentored 6 or 7 other authors, but rarely takes credit for his assistance.

Carter read two chapters from his new book, CAGE'S BEND.

Carter and Bret divided the room, Carter giving autographs at the front of the room, Bret at the back. One gentleman in line had Bret sign a stack of ULTRA-RARE copies of each of his novels, which Bret did with enthusiasm, commenting, "I don't even own these copies...where did you get these?" These signed books will no doubt be on eBay by the time you read this. Bret noted, "They are worth a fortune."

I spoke with Bret for a moment while he signed my copy of GLAMORAMA, he said:

LUNAR PARK will be out in September 2005.

Bret is familiar with www.notanexit.net and has spent time on the website. He said there are some really bad photographs of him on notanexit and he thought the LUNAR PARK manuscripts leaks were in bad taste.

I asked Bret if he minded me posting tonight's photographs on notanexit, and he did not mind.

He lives in the West Los Angeles area and has an apartment in Manhattan.

He likes all of the film adaptations of his books...although Bret didn't seem like the type to bash any of the films, especially in conversation with fans.

That's all I can recall.

Thanks,

David Reeve
davidwilliamreeve@yahoo.com

A big thanks to David for sharing his pictures and experiences with us. I've put his four photos from the event after the jump.

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