Wednesday, August 25, 2021

This Time For Sure @HankPRyan



LUCY BURDETTE: Among the casualties of the current surge in Covid cases in Louisiana was the Bouchercon mystery conference. So many people work so hard to put on a conference of this size, and so many authors and readers had planned to attend--we all felt sad when it had to be cancelled. Our own Hank had been chosen as the editor of the official Bouchercon anthology of stories, with all proceeds from sales designated for the New Orleans library. She chose the theme of second chances. Naturally, most of the sales would have happened at the conference, so we felt really glum. But now the anthology is available and we asked a few of the stellar writers who appear in it to tell us something about how they took off on the second chances theme. I cannot wait to read all the stories! 


Gabriel Valjan on Burnt Ends: The 1987 film Angel Heart, which was an adaptation of William Hjortsberg’s 1978 novel Falling Angel, haunted me, so much so that when I had read Hank’s call and the theme of ‘second chances,’ I knew I wanted to write an atmospheric story that would leave the reader, I daresay, unsettled. I wanted to convey a New Orleans in high swelter, on the verge of a reckoning. “Burnt Ends” is a noirish tale about unfinished business. History is what comes between two men. First, there is a world war and then a pandemic. The HOW and WHY I hope readers enjoy with a Sazerac, NOLA’s official cocktail.


Charles Todd: One of the great things about Bouchercon is the anthology, which is always a fundraiser for a good cause. And this year's is awesome. Thanks to Hank and her team! We can say one thing about our own story--we had such fun writing it. Wait till you see some of the characters Rutledge meets--only in a short story could we get away with testing him like this. Does everyone deserve a second chance? Even a murderer? Hmmmmm. 


Elisabeth Elo on The Unappreciated Wife: As her husband lay dying, Polly Clancy finds herself on the verge of widowhood—and a second chance at happiness. After thirty-seven years playing dutiful second fiddle to an ambitious and demanding husband, she will finally be able to make her own choices and pursue her own interests. So it comes as a shock to find out, quite by accident, that her dream will actually not materialize, at least not in the way she imagined it. Now Polly must finally face herself. What does she really want, and what is she willing to do to get it? 


Alexia Gordon on Love’s Labor: I was living in Newport, Rhode Island when I wrote this story, “virtually in-residence” as a student at the US Naval War College. My classmates and I had all relocated to Newport, excited to study at this prestigious school, founded in 1884 as the staff college for the United States Navy, only to learn that our entire academic experience would be conducted via Zoom. We felt cheated. I wanted a do-over, a second chance to experience all that the Naval War College had to offer. My mood was often as dark as Aquidneck Island’s fog is thick. I’d wander around Newport, a city that dates to 1639, to cheer myself up. I spent a lot of time by the harbor, imagining what Newport must have looked like in its 18th century heyday as a major trade center, filled with ships and rum distilleries and enough people to make it the 9th largest Colonial city. One day, instead of imaginary ships, I saw real teenagers daring each other to jump from the causeway between Newport and Goat Island into the harbor. Their target was a narrow strip of water between the causeway and a pier. Being an old fuddy-duddy and not an invincible teen, my first thought was “Do your parents know what you’re up to? One of you kids is going to whack your head on the pier, and then what?” My next thought was, “And then what? What if a loved one died because of a stupid stunt and you carried that resentment around for years, what would you do?” Love’s Labor was the answer to that question.


Lucy Burdette on Married Seeking Married: About thirteen years ago, I was waiting for my latte in a local coffee shop and spotted this on the cork board nearby: Married Seeking Married. Attractive, safe man (and with honorable reasons!) looking for companion for friendship and intimacy. Oh my gosh, someday this was going to make a doozy of a story, I thought as I pocketed the card. When Hank mentioned the theme for this anthology, I knew the moment had come. Angry divorces, second chances, FantasyFest in Key West with a fairy tale theme--this was a blast to write!


And now a question for Hank: Tell us about the theme and what you were expecting, and how that compared to what turned up in your inbox.


HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: This is so exciting! And I cannot wait for you all to read this. Here’s the scoop. Last...April? I got a call from the powers that be at Bouchercon--and figured they were setting up a signing for HER PERFECT LIFE and I was delighted to agree. But that was not why they were calling! When they asked me to edit this year’s anthology, I almost fell off my chair, and then of course, with much delight said yes.


All you have to do, they said, is come up with the theme and title, invite authors to participate and get them to say yes and set a deadline for the stories and edit them and organize them and write an introduction and the cover copy and coordinate the promotion. 


Sure, I said. (Having no idea. :-))   


But a few inner workings. I wanted to make sure the collection encouraged and included all authors--so we decided to have a huge widespread call for submissions. We fervently encouraged writers in all stages of their writing lives to submit, and especially encouraged those who had never been in an anthology before. Bouchercon recruited six judges (who we are keeping anonymous) to read the hundreds--I mean hundreds!--of stories that came in. All the submissions were anonymized, so no one knew who had written them.


Meanwhile, all of the New Orleans guests of honor were invited to write a story, and I was also allowed to ask some people who I thought might write terrific stories. I can tell you--they are all amazing! Craig Johnson’s story will break your heart. David Heska Wanbli Weiden--so incredible. Karen Dionne reveals the untold history of the Marsh King’s Daughter. And Alexia Gordon writes a darkly hilarious podcast. And more. 


FInally, the judges--who are definitely saints!--sent me 30 or so still-anonymized stories. I read them, and chose 12.  Out of all those submissions! AndI had NO idea who wrote them. And one of the joys of my life was when I was told who the authors were. People I had never heard of, hurray! First time short-story writers, hurray! Friends--like Gabriel Valjan and Martha Reed and Clair Lamb--hurray! Oh, it brings tears to my eyes.  Can you imagine how much fun it was to see that?  


 It’s called This Time For Sure--which was initially because it was the second Bouchercon in New Orleans. But now, it’s turned out to be a much more ironic title than any of us had imagined.


All the profits go to the New Orleans public library.  They get help from us, you get a terrific book. Please do not miss this--it’s a limited edition, and soon to be a collector’s item. Until we run out, each book will have signed bookplates from some of the authors.  And when the books are gone, they’re gone.


We have one copy of THIS TIME FOR SURE to give away today, but grab your copy here before they're gone!


56 comments:

  1. Sad news about the conference :) but this anthology sounds amazing . . . I can't wait to read these stories!

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  2. Sounds like a very fun collection. Glad it is being released so all the hard will can be appreciated even if the conference isn't going to go on.

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    1. Yes, we are really eager for people to buy it--it will help Bouchercon, and the NOLA library, and get you some great reading, too!

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  3. What a super collection! It must have been a relief to know you didn't have to read ALL the submissions, Hank. I'm looking forward to read the ones that made it in.

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    1. Oh, thank you! I was so paranoid that we might miss something that I actually read many many MANY stories--but the judges were amazing and the stories were brilliant.

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  4. Oh Hank, that sounds amazing. It is so totally like the Hank I have come to know to say yes to a task this enormous! You are a star!

    I love that the submissions were anonymous! It still must have been really difficult select 12 out of 30, but there were hundreds. Wow, oh, wow! What do you do with all of the rest of those stories? Second chances?

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    1. It was difficult, but in situations like this, the best ones rise to the top somehow, they really do. What did we do--well, the stories belong to the authors, not to us! SO they are free to do whatever they want with them! Cannot wait for you to read this book!

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  5. Sure, that sounds easy, just come up with a theme, right? And of course you were up for the challenge, Hank. Ironic theme, to be sure.

    Anthologies always get chosen when I put them in my Little Free Library. I wish I knew if it was one person picking them, or many. They never seem to bring them back, though.

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    1. Yes, you cannot believe how hard I thought about this...it was the second time (supposedly) that Bouchercon would be in New Orleans..so I kept thinking: second time around, do over, flashback, re-run, double-something...ahhh.

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  6. Love hearing the story behind the story. Perfect theme. Kudos to all who contributed to this anthology.

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  7. Okay, I'm hooked! Just ordered my copy!

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    1. Oh, how wonderful! YAAAYYY!!! It truly makes a difference. A BIG BIG difference.

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  8. These stories sound fantastic! And yes, what of the ones that almost made it? Will they ever see the light of day?

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    1. Thank you! They truly are. And the stories belong to the authors, not to Bouchercon, so the authors can do what they want with them! And we wish them luck...lots of talent in there!

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  9. Ordering my copy now! And what an excellent process for picking the stories to be included.

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    1. Thank you, dar Hallie. Yes, the anonymization was such a joy--it really allowed us to read with an open mind. ANd then to see the names--amazing!

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  10. Just wondering - will this be available in libraries?

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  11. It sounds like an excellent collection, Hank. Congratulations!

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  12. Second chances--what a timely theme! So glad to hear that you reached for as many writers as possible to submit. A question about those new writers who were not selected--hundreds of submissions, right? Did they get a short rejection letter? Or did any of their stories lead a judge to give them some feedback? Because that would be a second chance (to improve a work for submission elsewhere maybe) for those writers, you know?

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    1. I think the submission process--run by Bouchercon--relied on announcing the winners, rather than notifying the ones who were not chosen. The judges did not give feedback--yikes! can you imagine??--but the stories belong to the authors. This was not in the nature of an opportunity for a critique, but as an opportunity to show your work to judges.
      I worked very closely with all the authors of the stories that were chosen--we took some of those stories through multiple edits and revisions. Just as happens with a novel.

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  13. Congratulations Hank and writers! Great stories for the benefit of a great charity. Looking forward to reading it this weekend.

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    1. Great! It's not published yet, so your weekend it open! But it will be soon! Thank you SO much--every order makes a huge difference..

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  14. Wonderful! This is so great, and so generous of you all… I have a meeting and then I will be right back!

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  15. What a terrific theme. And what a terrific amount of work to pull together this wonderful anthology. Kudos to Hank and all involved. Off to find it now.

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    1. Thank you--and EVeRY sale makes a HUGE difference...I cannot emphasize that enough . So allow me to make it easier!
      https://downandoutbooks.com/bookstore/bouchercon-2021/

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  16. Great work, Hank! It sounds terrific and I am anxiously awaiting my already-ordered copy.

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    1. Oh, you are a dream Triss! THANK YOU! We are applauding EVERY copy sold.

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  17. I'm so excited to read this anthology! So many amazing voices all in one volume! Yay! Tragic about Bouchercon, though :( I am so over this pandemic. Ugh.

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    1. The stories are terrific, I really do have to say. And yes. OVER IT.

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  18. What a great theme. Who doesn't want a second chance? I can't wait to read these stories! Thanks to all the authors who submitted a story.

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    1. Crossing fingers you love it! PLEEEEEZE get yourself a copy!https://downandoutbooks.com/bookstore/bouchercon-2021/

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  19. Hank, what a brilliant theme! And so wonderful that you did blind submissions! I can't wait to read these!

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    1. Debs, uncovering those blind submissions turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life. I honestly, truly, burst into tears. Thank you!

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  20. Hank, I know that anything orchestrated by you will be amazing. The anonymous submissions must have been so much fun. The descriptions from some of the authors you've provided in your piece today sound absolutely thrilling. I've already ordered my copy of This Time For Sure and can't wait to receive it.

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    1. Oh, I am so honored! I cannot wait for you to read it Dash – you will absolutely be blown away. Please let me know!

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  21. Hank, the title is SO bittersweet now...
    I was excited to read the list of authors - the diversity of experiences, ages and backgrounds are going to make for a stunning array of stories!

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    1. Oh my goodness, thank you! And thank you for noticing that :-) it was such a top priority.

      Xxx

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  22. Sounds like an amazing anthology. Thanks for the chance.

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  23. Sounds so good.I always thought I would love a job where I read all day but I'm such a slow reader that it probably wouldn't work out.

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    1. Look on the bright side! We have chosen these stories for you :-)

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  25. I'm soooo happy to see all the Hank love on this blog post! Having worked with Hank on my short story for the anthology and also partnering with her in The Back Room during the past year, I'm in awe - not only of her amazing energy and her talent, but of her dedication to the craft and of her love for readers and writers. Never mind buying this anthology because it's chock-full of amazing stories (a fact I can state with certainty, since as a contributor, I've read an early copy) - buy it for Hank, who put in a bazillion hours to make this anthology happen, and who deserves to see it succeed. We love you!!!!

    https://downandoutbooks.com/bookstore/bouchercon-2021/

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    1. Awwwwww you just made me burst into tears! But tell us more about YOUR story! It is an absolute treasure!

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    2. :) I hope they were happy tears! Regarding my anthology short story, "The Other One," I don't think it's giving away too much to say that this is the origin story for how Helena's father Jacob in The Marsh King's Daughter came to escape from prison. It was so much fun to write this story from the perspective of a character who's mentioned in the novel, but never has a voice. Thanks again for the opportunity!

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  26. This sounds good but it’s out of my price range right now
    sgiden at verizon(.)net

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    1. We are giving away one here today! So there is always that :-)

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  27. Not possible money wise for me right now with the way things are.....which along with Covid is why I had to bail on trying to get to NO for Bouchercon. Sounds like a great read.

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    1. Oh, it is so awful all around… So wonderful to see you here, dear Kevin!

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  28. Just want to add that working with Hank on this project was wonderful! Thank you, Hank--we truly appreciate you. David Heska Wanbli Weiden

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  29. Sounds great! Would love to read - and thanks for the Bouchercon back story!
    Sharon

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