What We're Writing--all kinds of stuff from Hank

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Can you launch a book in a pandemic, and a tropical storm?

This year, the pandemic year, I was trying to look at the bright side. People could come to my launch party for THE FIRST TO LIE lie, virtually, from the comfort and safety of their homes, and we could still celebrate, and the bookstore had drop-shipped me books to sign personally. We were going to make the best of it.

Then I heard the weather report. A huge tropical storm was coming up the coast and was about to batter New England. I know the world is not about me, but in one crazy self-centered moment of launch night, I thought, oh good! People will not have to drive to my book event in a in a tropical storm! Everyone can be home, watching the rain, and being cozy and safe, and not have to decide whether to slog through downpours and puddles lugging clammy umbrellas into my event. Everyone will be safe and cozy.

As I said, I was madly trying to look at the bright side.

Then I started getting emails from my pals, saying that they had no power, and no Internet, and they would not be able to come.

Can you launch a book in a pandemic, and a tropical storm and a power outage?

I have to say–it was an event to remember. (SO many people came, aw, and we sold LOTS of books.) And I hope it’s the only one where I’m at my computer in lipstick and flipflops.

So onward with the launch!

 THE FIRST TO LIE was chosen by the POPSugar as their number one pick for August, and the fab THE REAL BOOK SPY chose it as the August thriller of the month! Oooh, Life goals! And since THE FIRST TO  LIE is partly inspired by my undercover reporting,  the Book Spy asked me to write more about my adventures undercover.  

So I listed the rules for using a hidden camera, which you can read here, including once where.. well, it did not go so well.

Here’s just a taste of that.

"And in writing THE FIRST TO LIE, I realized that these days, hidden cameras do not have to be hidden! There’s nothing more common than someone carrying a cell phone. Simply (and brazenly) holding a cell phone, taking pictures just like everyone else is, draws absolutely no attention. The key then is to hide the fact that you are using it! Don’t brazenly point it at your subject. Pretend you are taking a photo of something else. Or act like you are using it as a phone. And when no one notices: roll. 

Real life sidebar: I once went into a skeevy auto body shop, accompanied by a photographer who had the hidden camera. I had told him to keep it out of sight. 

The plan was that I would go in first, to distract and talk to the proprietor, and then the photographer would come in, as if her were a separate customer, to shoot what was going on. Apparently the cameraman did not understand the concept of “hidden” camera. 

He’d tucked it under a clipboard he was carrying. Which meant, of course, that it was completely hidden—but only from him. The autobody shop proprietor, however, could instantly see it. When the photog walked in, the first thing the guy behind the counter said was: What are you doing with that camera? At that point, I had to hide the fact that I even knew him! I turned, all upset, and said “Hey, what’re you doing with that camera? I do not want to be photographed!” The photographer skedaddled, and, I have to say, we did not work together again."

  

Another great moment was being interviewed by the terrific April Snellings for The Big Thrill, with magazine of the International Thriller Writers. I was on the cover of the mag for the Murder List, so I worried it might be too much Hank, but yay!  April did a brilliant “Up Close” feature—and it’s so much fun to read. Sometimes I think—I said that? 

She asked me:

Do you have a certain type of reader in mind when you write?

I think my readers are smart and savvy and intelligent, and they’re also diabolically good. They try to figure out my stories before they get to that point in the book, and they crow when they do. And so my job, with my author’s sleight-of-hand and misdirection, is to prevent you from figuring out what I’m about to do. My books are cat-and-mouse thrillers, and that’s sort of how I look at my relationship with my darling readers: this is a cat-and-mouse game, and let’s see who’s going to win. I love it. I was just with a big book group last night on Zoom who had been wonderful early readers for THE FIRST TO LIE. They took me through their thought processes in how they read the book. And after a couple of minutes I said, “Can’t you just read the book and have the joy of surprises on every page?” And they said, “No, we have to figure it out.”

  

(And I know, the background is gray, but I can’t fix it.) She also asked me a very thought-provoking question.

Twelve books later, has it gotten easier or harder?

I still wonder if I can make stuff up. There are days that I sit at my desk and I think, I don’t know how to do this. How did I ever do this before? I have no idea how to write a book. I don’t even know how I wrote those other books. No matter if I did or not, I can’t do it now. I mean, absolutely just a complete brain-not-working situation. And what I do at those moments is I say, Okay, you can’t do it. Too bad, honey. I feel bad for you. Just write one sentence. If it’s terrible, you can fix it later. So I write one sentence. And I think, Well, that’s terrible. Now write another terrible sentence. And I just keep writing terrible sentences. And at some point, I’ll have an idea. And then I think, Oh, this is what I’m meant to be writing. And somehow those terrible sentences aren’t so bad. And then at some point, with a little tweaking, they’re kind of good. And then I go ahead. You know what I’ve learned to do? I’ve learned to embrace the panic. That’s a good way to put it.

The AMAZING Brenda Novak chose THE FIRST TO LIE as the September Book Box Selection. I signed FIVE HUNDRED books (in our dining room)  for that.

And lucky readers get a box with a signed book, and an incredible array of goodies chosen by Brenda. I mean, incredible. Whoa. It's like--a party in a box!   Check it out here! 

  

My audio book? Macmillan audio is going wacky over it. here are two terrific things they did. First, they created a puzzle that you can do on your computer, and put it together while listening to the beginning of THE FIRST TO LIE.  (It’s read by the amazing Cassandra Campbell, who’s the reader for Where the Crawdads Sing. (Nice neighborhood.)

The puzzle is diabolical. And not so easy! I think the average time is about 20 minutes. (It’s best on a laptop or desktop, not on your phone.  Here it is! 

And if you’re feeling lucky, they’re also giving away some audio books!

Here is the link to the sweepstakes: https://read.macmillan.com/promo/firsttolieaudiosweeps/

And as for the topic du jour, What We’re Writing? Ahhh, yeah. I am absolutely right on time for my new book. If this is June.

Let’s turn the tables today, reds and Readers! What are YOU writing? A book, a short story, a to-do list? Let us know! 

The First Day of The First to Lie!

DEBORAH CROMBIE:  How lucky am I to be hosting our dear Hank and Rhys with their book launches this week?? And I can tell you, THE FIRST TO LIE is a terrific book! But watch out--it may give you whiplash, trying to decide what's true and what's not, and you will love it right up to the very last page! 

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN:  Launch day jitters! Yes, dear Reds and readers, we are in the full throes of them around here. (And at Rhys’ house, too! And she will tell us all about that tomorrow!)

Yes, I know, THE FIRST TO LIE has gotten amazing astonishing buzz and fabulous reviews--it’s PopSugar’s number one pick for August, and CrimeReads picked it, too, and Publishers Weekly starred review calls it “stellar.“ Booklist says “page turning twists and mind-bending drama.” So that’s excellent. And reassuring. 

Oh, and this just in as I am typing: It’s a Publishers Weekly top pick of the week!  And more about the book below.

I have a full calendar of events – – including two appearances on Canadian television and A Mighty Blaze and BookTrib live interviews  (whoa!) and visits to so many wonderful bookstores! Here are the events—please find one that you love!

Tonight is the big launch at my local dear Brookline Booksmith, and it is quite a wave of nostalgia. For the past eight years, I have had an exciting overwhelming joyful celebration at the Booksmith, friends and family and readers and a wall-to-wall filled to the rafters room. It is hard even to imagine that now.

But I am trying to look at the bright side. Any other launch day, I would be full of worry, because it is supposed to rain like crazy here in Boston, and that would keep people away from the event. No problem with that now, right?

And people who can’t get a babysitter--well, they don’t need one!

And no one has to put on shoes. So all good, right?

So here, by the numbers, is The First to Lie.

1. The first line: “Lies have a complicated half-life.”

2.  The first two main characters: Ellie Berensen— A determined reporter on the trail of an expose of a pharmaceutical company. And Nora Quinn, a determined pharmaceutical sales person. Who may not be quite what she seems.  

3.  Three? This is my third psychological standalone!

4. There’s a fun thing on social media where you have to describe your book in four words. So THE FIRST TO LIE is: Betrayal. Motherhood. Obsession. Revenge.

5. Another fun thing is to reveal your book’s five crucial elements. For THE FIRST TO LIE  it’s:

1. A devastating childhood betrayal

2. An undercover reporter, in too deep

3. A beautiful sailboat on the Chesapeake Bay

4. A rich and powerful family

5. An ice pick that is not used for ice

What it all adds up to:  THE FIRST TO LIE is two strong women, facing off in a high stakes psychological cat and mouse game to get revenge for a terrible childhood betrayal. But which one is the cat, and which one is the mouse? And for one to succeed, the other must fail.

The idea for THE FIRST TO LIE  came after all of my experiences as an undercover reporter. I thought:  what if someone decided that being their undercover persona was more desirable than being who they really were? What if being someone else could get you what you want?

So, my darling Reds and Readers--here we go! Thank you thank you for buying this book, and for your reviews. Posting  them is so crucial for the book’s success. 

I am endlessly grateful for any help you can give--but you know that. Speaking of which: here’s a link.  

Oh, I know you will buy it, so I have one advance review copy for one lucky commenter! Just tell me--something GOOD in your life that was a first!

Love you all so much. Wish me luck! 

The Reds Weekly Check-In, or, BEE Grateful

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Let’s check in on how we’re all doing, what reopening looks like in our neighborhoods, and any notable events from this past week or upcoming! Last week’s big event for me was a bee invasion upstairs - literally. My Guest Son’s room filled up with bees, much to his consternation. We could see them sort-of-swarming outside, going in and out of a crack between the main house and the addition. They were entirely peaceful honey bees, but even the most peaceable bees aren’t what you want to see inside the house - less so when you can see a hundred of them!

I contacted the Maine Beekeepers Ass’n and left a help ticket on their website, but it seems they’re more or less offline during the pandemic. Instead, we found help through Twitter! My oldest daughter, the Maine Millennial, tweeted about our...issue, and she got a DM from a beekeeper at The Honey Exchange. This led to a phone call, and within a few hours, a wonderful young woman named Thalassa Raasch was at our door, net hat and bee vacuum in hand.

With a little sleuthing, we discovered the bees were reachable via the inside wall of a kneehole closet in Guest Son’s room. We took out everything stored there (mostly old luggage, which I was happy to remove to the attic) and could see a brand new colony was trying to start itself in an uninsulated gap in the wall. (Old house - modern insulation was shoved in where workmen could reach and left off where they couldn’t. Please refer to past JRW posts where I complain incessantly about the cold.) Fortunately, we caught the bees before they were able to begin building, so it was a relatively straightforward job for Thalassa to suck them up into the bee vac. 

We got thank-you honey for saving the bees!

We opened up the windows, closed the door, and gave the room twenty-four more hours to clear out. Fortunately, when we went inside, most of the bees had escaped, leaving behind only a handful of tiny striped corpses to be swept up. Even better, Thalassa reports the bees have been successfully moved into one of her hives, meaning they, and we, can now continue to lead happy and productive lives - twenty-plus miles apart.

What’s buzzing in your life, Reds?

LUCY BURDETTE: That’s a wonderful story Julia! We are in Connecticut now, which is just opening up. I walked on the wild side and went to my favorite local bookstore, RJ Julia Booksellers. Everyone was masked up and there were markings on the floor showing us where to walk, and books! Thousands and thousands of books--definitely essential for these times! I’ve also been going to our farmer’s market on the town green. Again, masks and social distancing required. So many yummy veggies and good bread...I’m in heaven.

Bad news--we are worried about the spike in Florida and people getting crazy in Key West. Praying for everyone to stay sane and safe.

HALLIE EPHRON: The bee invasion sounds terrifying. We’ve had a swarm of thousands of bees take up residence hanging from a bush in our backyard (called the beekeepers and they were moved to safe quarters), but never IN the house. Yes, Florida looks ominous. Ditto Texas (sorry Debs). And Arizona not so good either. Time will tell.

I’ve been slowly crawling out. I went to my local grocery store for the first time, bought plants for the garden and fresh cherries and plums which, ordering for delivery, is a crap shoot.  I clipped my front hedges and the hedge clipper promptly died, so I ordered one from my local hardware store and went to pick it up. They are doing a busy busy business and had it totally under control.

Feeling like small bits of normal are creeping back. We’re in the suburbs so at least we can walk and sit out in the yard anytime we want, and I have great neighbors.

DEBORAH CROMBIE: Our little air conditioning issues are very tame compared to Julia's bee story! So glad you are now happily separated, Julia--a win-win!

Yes, Texas is very worrying. I think we are just now starting to see the results of our "opening" and all the Memorial Day festivities with no masks or social distancing. I don't want to contemplate what will happen in the next couple of weeks after all the protests here.

I've had two masked trips to Trader Joe's at senior hour now--so exciting to pick out my own produce and groceries!! Also, two outings to the farmer's market. It was very busy this Saturday, but more people were wearing masks than the previous Saturday, so maybe that's an improvement. I've also had a friend (waving at you, Gigi!) over for a socially distanced happy hour on the patio, ditto morning coffee with another friend. I would really really hate to give up these small gains, but I think a lot of people here have just decided the pandemic is over, which doesn't bode well….

RHYS BOWEN: We have finally made it safely back to California after 110 degrees drove us from Arizona. The drive went amazingly smoothly. We spent the night at a Hyatt in Pasadena where they have arranged everything really well. We stopped at clean rest area bathrooms. No problems.  Now we are enjoying cooler weather and we’re back in Marin County where everyone wears masks, is polite, and only a few things have opened up… yes, and they have 17 deaths to date. None of them recently.  So I feel much safer than crazy Arizona.

We also go to Trader Joe’s for senior hour. Very well done with no stress. And I’m busy with the edits of my new Venice Stand alone. I’m also on a cleaning and weeding out jag. I’m about to Kondo my house, after my Arizona home that has no clutter. I’ll be ruthless!

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Oh-- BEES! Oh my gosh, that is a nightmare. Just like everything else. Anyway, Massachusetts is apparently doing well, but we shall see. Reading about all of you is fascinating--truly. Jonathan and I are not budging. Not one bit. We have been home for 93 days. Not going anywhere. We have ordered groceries, ordered front porch chairs, ordered plants, planted tomatoes and basil, we have worked worked worked. Jonathan in virtual court, with the full array of personnel, I’m trying to write and be on TV (via Zoom) and it’s like--living on our own private planet. 

"Ryan could win a sixth Agatha with this one." !!!

Sometimes I actually pat the freezer to reassure it that  I am so pleased with it. My hair is awful, but I am persevering with many zooms and appearances and bookclubs, and THE FIRST TO LIE got a Publishers Weekly starred review so I am counting blessings.

I think the whole thing is horribly scary, insane, and I hope we can just all hang in.

JULIA: Check in time, dear readers! How are you doing, what are you doing, and are there any BEES involved? 

What We're Writing--the Hank edition

                

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: What we're writing?  Everything but what I'm supposed to be. I have NEVER been in so many live and taped events, reading and teaching and talking and interviewing, and it's fabulous. But as a result, all the things on my to do list get nicely crossed off-- except the one that says "Write."

The good news? Look at THIS!! 

THE MURDER LIST hit NUMBER ONE legal thriller on Amazon. I am--floating, crazy, and fell off my chair. Honestly?  I just sat and stared at the screen, gasping with delight. (It got that lovely green Barnes & Noble bestseller banner, too! Number 9 in ALL Nooks!)

And then look at this: how awesomely awesome to be on the same page with Anatomy of a Murder? Amazing. (And look: it says "Your best e-book deals this week." Got to love it.)

(If you don't have THE MURDER LIST, might I prevail on you to check it out for $1.99? Maybe as a Mothers Day gift?  Every sale matters, it really does.) 

And yeah, all that proved to me that sometimes it can work. I just have to DO it. (Are you having troubles like this?)  And try to peel off the weird veneer of terror that I understand is throwing me off my writing game. But I will persevere! I was going to show you a bit of my 15,000 words that should be 30,000 words, but next time, okay?

So. The response to the new book, THE FIRST TO LIE, is beginning to tickle in, and it's a dearly lovely trickle.

For instance: 

"Hank Phillippi Ryan is one of my favorite authors of suspense. Her latest, featuring the colliding worlds of a cast of intriguing female characters, is tailor-made for readers who are drawn to taut, propulsive plots with twists that do more than just surprise - they take your breath away. Book clubs will gobble up THE FIRST TO LIE."    --Sarah Pekkanen, internationally bestselling author of The Wife Between Us and You Are Not Alone

         Ooh. That's pretty darn reassuring.

         

   

    So--wanna see the pre-chapter one beginning of THE FIRST TO LIE?  It's not labeled "prologue." It just--is. And in this font, too.

  

        

 Without any sneaky fine print and totally knowing everything you know now, if you could start your adult life over as someone else, would you do it?

Say you could choose the person. Where they live and what they do. You could choose what parts of your prior knowledge to retain, and what parts to “forget.” Family baggage? Discard it. Friends and lovers and commitments? Erased, along with your vanished past. Obsessions? Obsessions could stay.

How you look and how you sound, your goals and motivations and deepest desires. Whatever you want, you could do it, be it, love it, lose it.

Sound good?

I fibbed. There is one bit of fine print. You. Every time you’d look in the mirror, you’d remember.

Mirrors make such false promises. They tell you: look here, and you’ll see yourself.

But that’s the first lie. You see a face and a body, sure. But a mirror doesn’t show your true self.

That you have to find on your own. By looking inside. And  no seductive piece of silvered glass can help you.

Still. I know all it takes is a tweak here and a twist there to become someone else. So, would you do it? To get what you always wanted? Sure you would.

All you have to do is lie.

HANK:  It's so funny, reading that. I wonder where it came from in my head. 

(Did I tell you THE MURDER LIST is--briefly--just $1.99? And Lucy's DEATH ON THE MENU is, too!  (We are relying on you, loyal and trusted readers!) 

Reds and readers--how are YOU doing? Are you accomplishing what you're supposed to accomplish?