It's All in the Epigraphs

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: How much attention do you pay to the epigraphs and dedications in the books you read? Some authors, including me, take a lot of time with those, and work very hard to make them relevant and thematic and, frankly, irresistible. 

Often they mean more if you read them again after you’ve read the book, don’t they?

Here’s the quote at the beginning of the glam and atmospheric SEE HOW THEY FALL by debut author Rachel Paris.


Oooh. Don’t you just instantly know the kind of book you’re about to read?
And then, here’s the author's note.

Again, doesn't that tell you so much about the book? And make you eager to read it?

Of course, we adore debuts here at Jungle Red–standing ovation! And I could not wait to chat with Rachel herself–and keep reading to see how you can win a copy for your very own!

HANK: What book (besides SEE HOW THEY FALL) changed your life?

RACHEL PARIS: Katherine Mansfield’s collected short stories. Katherine was a modernist writer whose stories inspired me to write my own. She was part of the Bloomsbury set in London 125 years ago, but her work still reads as fresh and contemporary in style. My high-school teacher introduced me to her work, and I learned so much from her, especially the importance of clear and vivid language, the power of foreshadowing to create suspense and how to create complex inner lives for characters.

HANK: You’re a debut author! Hurray. Was this book the first manuscript you ever wrote? Tell us a little about your writing journey.

RACHEL: Thank you. It’s a dream come true. For nearly 20 years, I worked as a finance lawyer and secretly wrote little bits and pieces on the side as a hobby. Then, a couple of years ago, I decided it was time to give writing a proper shot, so I went back to university to learn the craft of creative writing. During that MFA course, I wrote the first draft of SEE HOW THEY FALL.

HANK: So tell us about it!

RACHEL: SEE HOW THEY FALL is a twisty thriller that centres on the billionaire Turner dynasty. The Turners own extravagant homes on every continent, globetrot by private jet and super yacht, snap up MoMA-quality art and mingle with fellow celebs and super-models. When the Turner patriarch, Sir Campbell Turner, passes away, his three sons and their families gather to discuss his estate but there are power struggles and, by the end of the weekend, one family member is dead and another is fighting for their life. The question is, who did it, and why? And that’s where the story really kicks off. It turns out there is more to the Turner family than meets the eye, and they will stop at nothing to prevent the unravelling of their empire.

The story is told in turns by two women — Skye Turner who has married into the family, and homicide detective Mei O’Connor who is charged with investigating the. While the novel goes to some dark places, it is ultimately a story about female courage and solidarity.

HANK: Fill in the blanks: If you love _____ and ____, you’ll love SEE HOW THEY FALL.

RACHEL: If you love SUCCESSION and BIG LITTLE LIES, you’ll love SEE HOW THEY FALL.

HANK: Well, that is definitely all of us! So your book is about money and power and family and identity. Can you talk a bit about those conflicts, and how they drive this book?

RACHEL: It’s undeniable that tremendous wealth buys power and, as the saying goes, power corrupts. The collision of those forces — money, power and corruption — is juicy territory for a high-stakes drama. However, as in most wealthy families, the money and power in the Turner family is not distributed equally, and the consequent imbalance is a source of conflict among Sir Campbell Turner’s heirs.

However, when I was writing SEE HOW THEY FALL, I was most interested in the imbalance within Skye and Duncan Turner’s relationship. Although they have been married for 10 years, Skye has no financial resources of her own; she depends on her husband for everything, and so her own identity has become dependent on his too. 

Skye has also become estranged from her old friends by the immense privilege she enjoys as Duncan Turner’s wife. When a shocking tragedy occurs at the start of the book, she’s no longer sure whether she can trust her husband, but at the same time there is no one she can turn to for support who is outside her powerful husband’s reach. Skye is effectively trapped in her gilded cage. It’s a terrifying situation for her to be in, and absolutely perfect for a psychological thriller!

HANK: Did you know the story’s ending before you started?

RACHEL: Yes, I knew the very final reveal from the outset. However, I had no clue how I was going to fill in the 79,000 words in-between.

HANK: Ha! Yes, the dreaded middle. But it’s a question of persistence and a little bit of bravery, right?

RACHEL: Yes. Writing SEE HOW THEY FALL was very much a process of discovery. I wish I were a plotter who could map things out in advance, but unfortunately (and I say unfortunately because I spend so much time hitting the delete button) I have to write my way into my characters before the story takes shape. With my second book, I know the ending and have a loose plot outline in my head, but the more I write, the more that outline changes.

HANK: Cannot wait to read it! But so many rave reviews of SEE HOW THEY FALL mention that it has the vibe of THE WHITE LOTUS – can you talk about your setting?

RACHEL: Like THE WHITE LOTUS, my book SEE HOW THEY FALL is a whodunnit with plenty of super wealthy, toxic characters in beautiful settings. The story opens with Skye and Duncan Turner, and their young daughter, Tilly, arriving at an exclusive beachfront estate owned by Duncan’s late father, Sir Campbell Turner. The place is basically paradise — a luxurious residence set in a beautiful private bay — and yet it is also the place that the family is blown apart.

For me, the glamorous settings in the book operate almost as a character in that they speak to the disconnect between the perfect façade the Turner family presents to the public and the ugly truths about them which are revealed over the course of the book.

HANK: When you’re having a difficult writing day, what do you tell yourself to get through it?

RACHEL: I tell myself that any words on the page are a win, no matter how crummy they are, because I can always go back and edit. For every difficult day, there is a wonderful day when words flow, and that wonderful day will only come if I stick at it. I also tell myself there is some delicious Lindt chocolate waiting for me when I finish my daily word count.

HANK: Always a good incentive! But back to real life. There’s that realization that you worked and worked and did your best, and then...someone is going to read it. And comment. Do you read your reviews?

RACHEL: I read reviews that I am tagged in on social media and those published in the traditional media and trades. If someone has spent the time writing a review, I feel that I owe it to the reviewer to take on board any constructive suggestions to improve my work going forward. However, on advice from more experienced authors, I don’t read Goodreads reviews! Not only is it first and foremost a platform for readers, rather than authors, but it would take up way too much time better spent on writing. When it comes to reviews, you have to remind yourself that no book is loved by everyone. Inevitably some people will not connect with your work, and that is okay.

HANK: And that is such a powerful thing to remember. It’s such a learning curve! What did you learn about book world from this experience?

RACHEL: I have learned so much. One pleasant surprise has been discovering the importance of bookstagrammers (book influencers on Instagram) in the reading ecosystem. The bookstagram community is incredibly generous with their time and, if a bookstagrammer loves your book, they will promote it to their followers and this organic publicity is so valuable. It also is a wonderful way of connecting directly with readers. So even if, like me, you find it uncomfortable to promote yourself and your book on social media, it is worth persevering to connect with this incredibly supportive community.

HANK: And we all want to know: What’s your favorite book on writing? And what book are you reading right now?

RACHEL: The two craft books I’ve found super helpful are Ursula K. Le Guin’s book, STEERING THE CRAFT, and Francine Prose’s book, READING LIKE A WRITER..

And my current read is THE BOOK OF GUILT by the brilliant Catherine Chidgey. It’s so imaginative and creepy and a real page-turner.

HANK: Oh, that’s a new one for me! Hurray, thank you!

So Reds and readers, let us know! Do you notice the epigrams and dedications at the beginning of novels? If you are a writer, how carefully do you choose them?

Just leave a question or a comment for Rachel, or even just congratulations on being a debut! And one lucky commenter will win a copy of SEE HOW THEY FALL!

Rachel Paris worked as a commercial lawyer in London and Auckland before writing her debut novel, See How They Fall. She holds a Master of Laws from Harvard Law School and a Master of Creative Writing from the University of Auckland. Rachel currently lives with her family in Auckland.



Social media links: @rachelparisauthor on everything!

MAYBE THAT’S JUST CAPE COD

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN:  Have you ever met someone who you instantly know is going to be a friend forever? That's what happened when I met the fabulous Marion McNabb. I was speaking at an event on the Cape, and she was there, with her mom! And she tentatively came up to me and talked to me about her debut novel SOME DOUBT ABOUT IT, and it all sounded so wonderful. 

Turns out, she's a friend of Hallie’s, too! 

And now, I hope she will be your friend as well.

No doubt about it :) And keep reading for a giveaway!

  

 

MAYBE THAT’S JUST CAPE COD

by Marion McNabb

 

There is something magical in the air… or maybe that’s just Cape Cod.

 

After more than twenty years living out west in Los Angeles I find myself, in springtime, living in a pretty house adjacent to a cranberry bog and steps away from a large freshwater lake on Cape Cod. From my window I see well-bloomed daffodils, tulips, grape hyacinth, little robin red breasts, bunnies, turkeys and so many dancing trees.

 

Oh the trees! The imposing white oaks, always the last to bud, tower overhead, stubbornly resisting the power of new growth that is exploding all around, but the wind bristles and the dogwoods, holly, Japanese maples, pitch pine, spruce and sassafras wave and wiggle hello. I am enchanted. I grew up in New England, north of Boston and came back each summer for visits to Cape Cod.

Last July my move here was made permanent and I am experiencing the change and shift of the seasons once again. I embraced the autumn and winter with curiosity, warm sweaters, and buckets of hot tea. Now, after surviving my first New England winter in decades where these same friendly trees morphed into dark lonely sticks jutting this way and that, there are now fat, eager buds bulging, springing forth, soaking up the sun’s warming rays. It all feels so daring and hopeful, like something great is about to happen.

 

Cape Cod has long been my muse. But I’m not alone, dreamers, writers and artists have long been enchanted by this wondrous strip of land. Thoreau, Vonnegut, Hopper, Mary Oliver and there are just too many to name who have walked these shores. I can feel them. Every time, and I really do mean every time, I drive over that scary Sagamore bridge to return to this arm of land jutting its fist out into the mighty Atlantic, I feel the energy.

And now it’s home. I’m hooked. I feel all the hope and promise of a Cape Cod spring coursing through me, spurring on new growth, inspiring me.

 

In my debut, “Some Doubt About It,” Cape Cod is almost a character unto itself. Caroline, journeys from the white hot frenetic pace of Los Angeles to the sleepy, quaint, seaside New England town of Barnstable and in so doing learns what true love and success really are. Hey, write what you know, right?

 

And, I know what you’re thinking - big city girl goes small town, has an epiphany, centers herself, falls in love, blah, blah, blah. What a tired trope! I mean, I used to sit in velveted, high-back stools sipping overpriced gin in swanky LA bars laughing at how unrealistic those stories are. And now look at me. (And, yes, there is a love story here for me, too, but that’s for another blog…).

 

For now, I am enjoying all of the changes. Four defined seasons! And with Spring a promise of wondrous things still yet to come. It is so welcome, especially at this time in my life when it feels like my children are growing so quickly, two gone to college already, and my career is burgeoning. In sun-soaked Cali it felt like life was flying by. I was racing, trying to catch up to some idea of who I thought I should be.

 

So, I made a decision to live a more intentional life. And, these seasonal changes are so much more pronounced in the Northeast and it makes me feel more aware of time and my space in time.

And now, on the precipice of summer—the most popular season of all on Cape Cod and in my opinion its greatest—I feel like I’ve earned something. I raked leaves, I shoveled snow, I planted seedlings. The osprey have returned to their massive nests. The swans on the lake have built their nest. The hydrangeas made it through March and April without freezer burn and they are getting greener and fuller every day. 

 

And now Cape Cod and all its glory is gearing up to show off all summer. Go get it, girl! I’ll be watching. Front row tickets. And having all of this lined up with the release of my debut novel feels kismet. Magical even. A truly beautiful connection I have longed for.

 

That old Cape magic. Can you feel it too?

 

 

HANK: This is SO wonderful! Hurray, Marion!

Reds and readers, have you ever been to Cape Cod? Have you ever wanted to? (I'm doing a whole tour of the Cape in August for my paperback release, and I absolutely cannot wait!) What's your favorite place on the Cape? And your favorite bookstore?

And we will give a copy of Marian’s new book to one lucky commenter !

SOME DOUBT ABOUT IT

In this fun, feisty romp, a celebrity life coach collides with her former mentor as both women struggle with the choices they’ve made, the lives they have now, and the legacy they’ll leave behind. 

Caroline Beckett is living the dream. A self-help guru with a glamorous clientele and a marriage to a handsome photographer, she’s proof women really can have it all. But one night leaves Caroline reeling, forcing her to reconsider everything she thought she knew about her life—and what (if any) business she has teaching anyone how to live theirs. 

Retired professor Devorah Van Buren is spending her time getting herself and her chihuahua, Mary Magdalene, kicked out of local restaurants for causing scenes with tourists. When she learns about Caroline’s rise to success and the personal scandal that’s followed, Devorah has a new purpose: sue her former student for stealing the ideas that made Caroline famous. 

Back in her hometown to handle this new problem, Caroline is surprised to find reconnections with not only Devorah but her high school sweetheart too. After the way her life fell apart, Caroline is beginning to wonder if, with Devorah’s help, maybe she can build something better. 

Marion McNabb is an author and screenwriter for film and television whose work includes the animated series Rainbow Rangers on Nick Jr. and Netflix. She studied film at NYU and received a theater degree from Arizona State University. McNabb lives on Cape Cod with her family, swimming with the mermaids when not working on her next novel.

The Monsters Made Her Do It

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN:  Pop the champagne, toss the rose petals, and give a standing ovation! It is debut day here on Jungle Red. We love love love debut authors, and we are so pleased to welcome Sarah Reida today!

 

She describes her new book, NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH as “an adult debut dark comedy thriller.” SO great! Adult, check. Debut, love. Dark, perfect. Comedy? Yes, I read it, and it is hilarious. (Darkly hilarious.) Thriller. Yes, indeed. And it just got a STAR from Kirkus!

 

(Oh we interrupt this program for  BREAKING NEWS: Don’t forget the Reds and Readers Happy Hour Facebook LIVE at 5PM ET today! Join us on the Red and Readers page—and remember you have to join the group to join the fun. So click here.  And I will approve you instantly. Then come to Reds and Readers Facebook Page at 5PM Tuesday! ANd yesterdays winners from the Reds and Readers tests are Laurie Hernandez and Janice Harris. Message me!)

But right now, let's get the scoop from Sarah! And she reveals she had some unusual help for her wonderful debut novel. Monsters.

 

My Monsters Wrote My Book For Me

by Sarah Reida

 

As many writers know, it’s rough to write when the process is protracted. If you’re constantly pulled away to deal with something (like, I don’t know, literally wiping someone’s behind), the issue isn’t simply that it takes longer. The time you’re actually spending isn’t being spent well. You have to re-read what you’ve written before starting again. Get back into the flow.

 

No one knows this better than a mother. Gawd, I love my little monsters, but they sure are a demanding handful. (In fact, as I write this–at 9:22 PM on a Friday night–I’m ignoring thumps and screams from the floor above. Apparently, our nightly exorcism was unsuccessful).

 

Interestingly, however, my children are the reason my adult debut dark comedy thriller, Neighborhood Watch, came to be. I had this great idea–Desperate Housewives, only more stabby (which is totally a legitimate verb)­–but I only had a grand total of four and a half hours every day to write. And this is assuming that I could let my house go to filth and also put off my work duties.

 

Then, there was my attention span. This was a get-er-done-or-it’s-not-happening kind of situation. I felt that in my bones.

 

I’ve never written for grownups before. Before I had kids, I spent ten years on agented submissions to publishers with a series of middle grade books that didn’t sell. This was my first foray into this area, which was probably why I was able to write Neighborhood Watch without second-guessing myself. I didn’t expect too much of myself. I just had fun with it (and the awful, awful characters I created and then murdered).

 

So, by writing two short chapters a day–and by always having a definite stopping point–I finished a 320-page novel in two months. And, seven months after beginning the book, I had a traditional publishing deal.

 

It’s all because of the monsters. I never would have approached a project this way if not for them. I molded my writing process to fit into my schedule as a mother, and miracle of miracles, that’s how I finally got my traditional deal.

 

The best part is that now I can share this publishing experience with them. I can show them what it’s like to not give up on a dream. To have proof that something can come through when you least expect it.

 

This leads me to the question I have for the writing community of ladies: how do you balance it? Everyone has to, and everyone does it differently. They say there’s no wrong way–though the mommy guilt is real, and constant–so share your story in the comments!

 

FYI, a monster has wandered downstairs. Rather than lead him back to bed, I’ll take the photo op:

 

HANK: Awww.... Great question, Sarah! Not only how do you all balance, but what are the monsters that interrupt YOUR day?

And a copy of NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH to one lucky commenter!

 

Sarah Reida is an attorney who works with veteran businesses performing contracts with the federal government. While she was traditionally published once in the middle grade genre, Neighborhood Watch is her debut in the adult thriller genre. In a starred review, Kirkus Reviews referred to this dark comedy thriller as “immersive and compelling.” Sarah and her husband Scott live in the Atlanta area with their small children and many rescue cats. Follow Sarah on Instagram here.

About Neighborhood Watch

 

A killer terrorizes the morally bankrupt residents of an upscale neighborhood, leading them to turn to—and on—one another to survive.

The neighborhood of Oleander Court is the poster child for suburban bliss. The residents compare lawns beautified by hired help. They monitor home values. They toss perfect furniture because they wanted tapioca, not beige.

But when a string of murders rips through the neighborhood, suspicions abound as new secrets come to light. And as more and more bodies are taken away, it becomes clear that the killer is strategically selecting each and every victim, picking off the shallowest, most wasteful of the lot in spectacular fashion and leaving everyone in the neighborhood to wonder: Who’s next?

While most of their neighbors scatter like well-dressed cockroaches, a small group of the neighborhood ladies team up to solve their local mystery and restore their once-peaceful lives. But is this ragtag collection of amateur sleuths truly a united front? With reputations, freedom, and personal sanity on the line, the ladies must unmask the killer . . . even if the killer is among them.

Links to Buy:

Amazon

 Barnes and Noble

The NEW Definition of A Cozy Mystery!

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Ruffles and flourishes and confetti! You know how much we adore debut authors here on Jungle Red, and today we celebrate the fabulous Mia P. Manansala, whose ARSENIC AND ADOBO is all the buzz.  It comes out May 4, but you are hearing about it here first!

And I have to say, she’s amazing. We met at Malice, where she was constantly surrounded by pals.  She has a big launch event May 6 with our own Jenn McKinlay! Info here.

And I’m hosting her in The Back Room on May 16 with Peter Swanson, Mary Kubica and CJ Box!  (Whoa.) Info here.

Very very exciting!

Here today on Jungle Red, Mia  reveals how she discovered something SO true and SO hilarious--and, I have to say, so wise. I never thought about it this way. And now I never won’t.

What do you think of Mia's realization, Reds and readers? And the generous Mia is giving away a copy of her new book!  (LOOK at that fab cover!)

Having Fun with Genre Tropes

by Mia P. Manansala

 

It all started with a conversation between me and Kellye Garrett.

 

I can’t remember how the topic even came up, but we were joking about how so many cozies followed basic rom-com tropes: girl from a small town moves to the big city and can’t hack it so has to return home and pick up the pieces in some way. They then get roped into the family’s small business (often having to save it) and become more involved with the townspeople, eventually falling in love, if not romantically then with the town itself. Or a similar variation on those themes.

 

“Omg, cozies are just rom-coms with dead bodies!” I remember saying.

 

Dear Readers, that’s where it all began for me. Soon after that conversation, I was riding the train to work when this line popped into my head fully formed:

 

“My name is Lila Macapagal and my life has become a rom-com cliche.”

 

I had no idea who Lila was or what her story was going to be, but I knew I wanted to find out. I whipped out my phone and started writing that line down in my Notes app (can’t trust myself to actually remember these things) and as I was typing, the second line came to me:

 

“Not many romantic comedies feature Asian-American leads (or dead bodies, but more on that later), but the trademarks are all there.”

 

And that was it. I immediately knew what my story was and what my protagonist’s general backstory was going to be.

 

I’m not gonna lie: I love a good trope. That’s one of the reasons I love cozies so much. They’re familiar. They’re comforting. I greatly enjoy opening a book and getting exactly what I expected.

 

Genre is a tricky beast though. Many people have VERY set expectations on what should and shouldn’t happen in certain (sub)genres.

 

For example, Romance = Happily Ever After or at least, Happy For Now. If the main couple doesn’t get together in the end, readers get upset. I can understand why. I specifically picked up a romance novel to get swept away in an idyllic love affair. If I wanted to be reminded that dating sucks, I could’ve looked back on a decade of disappointing experiences. I don’t need a book for that.

 

The same goes for cozies, in my opinion. We see real-life villains get away with terrible things every day—at least in fiction they get their just desserts.

 

But when do these elements become too predictable? Too unbelievable?

 

People often say there is no such thing as an original idea—it’s all in the execution. I agree. I would also add: have a little fun with it. For my debut, ARSENIC AND ADOBO, I acknowledged every cozy trope I threw in there and had a blast with it. Some people take themselves too seriously and miss out on half the fun of writing.

 

That being said, are there any mystery genre tropes that you love? Hate? I personally can’t stand protagonists that make ridiculous decisions solely meant to introduce more danger to the plot. I’m already giving you the benefit of the doubt that this cookie baker is also a world class sleuth—my suspension of disbelief can only go so far.

 

Please share your thoughts on this to be entered in a drawing for a signed copy of ARSENIC AND ADOBO!

 

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Isn’t that brilliant?  I am not fond of...twins.:-) In books, I mean. Or when a character ignores OBVIOUS danger. Even if it turns out not to be dangerous, a real person would at least notice that the Uber driver does not look like the person on the visor-flap license.

How about you, Reds and readers? And  Mia will pick a winner after midnight EST!

And yay Mia!

 

Mia P. Manansala (she/her) is a writer and certified book coach from Chicago who loves books, baking, and bad-ass women. She uses humor (and murder) to explore  aspects of the Filipino diaspora, queerness, and her millennial love for pop culture. Her debut novel, ARSENIC AND ADOBO, comes out May 4, 2021 with Berkley/Penguin Random House.

 Find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @MPMtheWriter 

Or check out her website: www.miapmanansala.com

 

ARSENIC AND ADOBO

 

The first book in a new culinary cozy series full of sharp humor and delectable dishes—one that might just be killer....

When Lila Macapagal moves back home to recover from a horrible breakup, her life seems to be following all the typical rom-com tropes. She's tasked with saving her Tita Rosie's failing restaurant, and she has to deal with a group of matchmaking aunties who shower her with love and judgment. But when a notoriously nasty food critic (who happens to be her ex-boyfriend) drops dead moments after a confrontation with Lila, her life quickly swerves from a Nora Ephron romp to an Agatha Christie case.

With the cops treating her like she's the one and only suspect, and the shady landlord looking to finally kick the Macapagal family out and resell the storefront, Lila's left with no choice but to conduct her own investigation. Armed with the nosy auntie network, her barista best bud, and her trusted Dachshund, Longanisa, Lila takes on this tasty, twisted case and soon finds her own neck on the chopping block…