And The Old Courtesan’s Dark Underbelly. The session will be led by Julie Smith, Edgar winning mystery writer, who is the editor of the new anthology, New Orleans Noir: The Classics, short fiction revolving around elements of the mysterious and dark underbelly of the Crescent City by both famous authors of the 19th and 20th centuries and new authors on the scene. Featured with Julie will be two contemporary writers featured in the anthology: John Biguenet, who demonstrated his mastery of “noir” fiction in his brilliant story collection, The Torturer’s Apprentice, and Maurice Carlos Ruffin, whose story included in the anthology The Pie Man, was first runner-up in the Faulkner Society’s short fiction competition several years ago. Another story, “The Purple Hat,” will be the jumping off point for a mystery discussion at lunch on Friday.