New Guidebook Celebrates Thirtieth Anniversary of San Francisco's Famous Dashiell Hammett Tour

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwire - March 16, 2009) - The new book "The Dashiell Hammett Tour: Thirtieth Anniversary Guidebook" by Don Herron celebrates three decades of America's longest-running literary tour, guided by Herron in San Francisco since 1977.

In this thirtieth anniversary edition of his popular guidebook, Herron takes readers over the fog-shrouded streets stalked by Sam Spade, the Continental Op, and other legendary characters created by Dashiell Hammett. Hammett is San Francisco's most famous mystery writer, so the tour also highlights the places in San Francisco where Hammett lived and worked as a detective and writer.

Publisher's Weekly said, "Hammett fans ... will welcome this 30th anniversary edition of the guidebook. Illustrated with maps and photos throughout, this volume will appeal not just to students of Hammett but anyone curious about the relationship between an author's life and his work." Library Journal concurred: "Quite a thorough and fun package. Recommended."

Readers of "The Dashiell Hammett Tour" can:

--  See every known place where Hammett lived in San Francisco.
--  Visit the majority of settings from "The Maltese Falcon."
--  Follow Hammett himself as he works for the Pinkerton's Detective
    Agency on the infamous Fatty Arbuckle case.
--  See the spot where Sam Spade's partner met his swift death in the
    night-fog.
    

"The Dashiell Hammett Tour: Thirtieth Anniversary Edition" by Don Herron is available March 16, 2009, published by Vince Emery Productions.

Live events

Author and Hammett Tour guide Don Herron will appear at the following live events:

--  Sunday, March 22, 2:00 p.m., signing at Barnes & Noble, Colma.
--  Thursday, Mar. 26, 7:00 p.m., book launch party with lecture and
    signing at Green Apple Books, San Francisco.
--  Thursday, April 2, 7:00 p.m.: double book launch party (with Ace
    Atkins, author of the new novel "Devil's Garden," about Hammett as a
    detective working on the Fatty Arbuckle case) at M Is for Mystery, San
    Mateo.
--  Thursday, April 2, late night party with Don Herron and Ace Atkins at
    the Ha Ra, San Francisco.
--  Friday, April 3, 7:00 p.m., double author event with Ace Atkins at
    Borders San Francisco Union Square.
--  Sunday, April 5, 5:00 p.m., lecture at City Lights Books, San
    Francisco.
    

About Don Herron

Don Herron has led the Dashiell Hammett Tour in San Francisco since 1977, becoming a living institution in the City by the Bay. He is the author of "The Literary World of San Francisco," as well as "Willeford," a biography of crime writer Charles Willeford, and "The Dark Barbarian," on writer Robert E. Howard. Herron has appeared frequently in the media, including PBS and BBC television. He figures he reached the peak of his fame when he turned up on the television quiz show "Jeopardy!." Category: American Cities. "The city in which Don Herron leads the Dashiell Hammett Tour." The button is hit. "What is San Francisco?" Of course.

"The Dashiell Hammett Tour: Thirtieth Anniversary Guidebook" by Don Herron
Clothbound hardcover; 224 pages; 60 photographs, 2 illustrations, 8 maps
$19.95 U.S./$24.95 Canada; ISBN 978-0-9725898-7-1
Publisher: Vince Emery Productions, http://www.emerybooks.com/

Contact Information: Media contact: Vince Emery Vince Emery Productions (415) 337-6000 vince@emery.com