StopSmiling

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• Book Launch Party:
  ALEKSANDAR HEMON
• The Lazarus Project
• 04.30.2008

Stop Smiling Headquarters

At our April 30th launch party for Aleksandar Hemon's new novel, The Lazarus Project, the lights were low and the mood was hushed. The event began as Hemon, who speaks with a marked Bosnian accent, read a passage from the novel before a standing room only audience. Black-and-white images of Eastern Europe, taken by Hemon's friend Velibor Bozovic quietly flashed behind the author. Many of Bozovic's noir photographs also adorned our walls, accompanied by quotes from the novel. Following a Q&A session with STOP SMILING editor-in-chief JC Gabel and the audience, we screened a short film produced by Bozovic, set to lyrical, eerie music. Then the lights came up, the drinks came out, and the party started in earnest. We stayed until hunger set in, then departed for a late dinner with Hemon and his friends. The Lazarus Project hit bookshelves to rave reviews the next day.

– Chris Ross

photography by: Chris Salata