The Book Post

Lee Tulloch launches The Black Russian, by Lenny Bartulin.

The Black Russian was recently launched by author Lee Tulloch at Lesley McKay's independent bookshop in Woollahra. Both Lee and Lenny are salon regulars and wonderful writers, and the opportunity to have them both at the microphone in one evening was positively irresistible for this little bibliophile. The setting for this event was most fitting, as Lenny worked for 7 years at the very same bookshop as an unpacker. He recently quit, however (Sorry fans), saying it 'got a bit tough working in a bookshop when people would walk past my book.'

At the launch, Lenny's agent Sophie Hamley explained that she found the manuscript for his debut A Deadly Business in her slush pile. The rest, as they say, is history. Or BiblioMysteries, actually.

Sophie accurately described Lenny as 'that rarest of creatures - An extroverted author.' I would add that he is an extroverted author with a penchant for accents. He broke into an American-esque 'film noir' accent at the launch. He did the same during his reading from The Maltese Falcon at Literary Salon 4 - Dashiell Hammett and Dorothy Porter, and his reading from A Deadly Business at Crime Time at the Justice and Police Museum in 2008, where we first met...

In launching Lenny's second novel, Lee Tulloch described it as 'containing a lot of guilty pleasures.' She also warned that it is 'one of those novels you can't read in public because you are too busy snorting.'
Be warned.

1. Why the title, The Black Russian? (Is it the drink, the terrier...?)
There is a Russian gangster in the novel and the 'Black' of the title reflects his particular take on life...can't give more than that! Also, I think the title is really cool, and when I searched it I couldn't believe it hadn't been used before...so, I'll have that, thanks!

2. Favourite line from the novel? - Impossible to answer...all of them! But probably the first one..."Sometimes, it was just bad luck."

3. What is the best thing about being published?
Being given the wonderful excuse to write some more...

4. What is the most bizarre thing that has happened to you on tour so far? (I do love collecting these stories.) Mmmm, there have been one or two. Probably being told not to walk around in an unnamed small Australian country town (its identity is being withheld for legal reasons) barefoot as there was some kind of soil disease present after the rains and it could kill you. I wore shoes.

5. Why did you choose Lee Tulloch to launch your second novel? (They met at one of my salons last year, and instantly clicked.)
Well, such a fine lady, brilliant writer, and exactly the kind of glamour that attracts a man like Jack Susko. He insisted.

Well, naturally...

Lenny Bartulin is the author of A Deadly Business (2008). The Black Russian is his second novel. His poetry and short stories have appeared in numerous publications, including HEAT, Meanjin, and New Australian Stories.

Happy reading,