HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Well, wow. Earlier this week we asked you to think of some good questions for our new Reds Jenn McKinlay and Ingrid Thoft. We got SO MANY great ones, we can’t even fit
them all. So here are, oh, twelve?
And we’ll bring you the others someday soon--you all are brilliant!
(And wow--again--their answers are fascinating: Nutter Butters and the kitchen counter?)
From Grace Koshida
Ingrid, were you a PI in a former life? If yes,
do you have a story to tell about a former case/investigation?
INGRID: I earned a certificate in private
investigation in a year-long program offered by the University of
Washington. I’m not licensed to practice, so I never did any on-the-job
work. I do have stories, however, from the class itself! I think
I’ll save those for a future blog post!
JENN--How
do you juggle writing the three series?
I try to work on one book at
a time and maintain full immersion in that world. Plus, I write 10 pages per
day every day.
(HANK: All together now: TEN
PAGES A DAY??? Okay, fine. )
From Hallie Ephron
Where are we more likely to find you--in your kitchen or garden?
INGRID: Wait—what? What’s a
kitchen? What’s a garden? I prefer spending time in neither
place! I would much rather be outside in the water or taking a
hike. If the hike brings me to a restaurant, it’s a win-win!
JENN:
Garden.
From Karen in
Ohio
Before you started writing your mystery series,
did you do any other kind of writing, and was it professionally or as a hobby?
INGRID: I’ve always
loved to write. My first publication was a “newspaper” with a circulation
of five: my parents and three sisters. Much of the coverage focused on Jimmy
Carter. My jobs after college entailed a lot of writing—at a non-profit,
in corporate communications and in higher-ed. All of it good training in
fiction writing!
JENN: I
wrote some rom-coms for Harlequin - very educational right up until I was fired.
From Sheila
K.
What fiction book do you love so much that you
re-read it over and over again?
INGRID: I’m not a re-reader, truth be told. That said,
I did pick up “Rebecca” this week after hearing Jenn’s recommendation. I
read it a long time ago, so I imagine it will seem quite new.
JENN: There
are several but I do love to revisit Anne of Green Gables every few years.
From Ladybear
I
always worry that the protagonist will get killed. I would like to know—do you
enjoy putting them in danger & how do you decide on how much danger.
INGRID: I think your protagonist has to
be in some danger—either physical or emotional—because you want the reader to
be engaged. It’s fun to create danger and suspense from my the comfort of
my desk. I can’t think of many books where the protagonist dies. I
think that would result in a lot of unhappy readers. Can you guys think
of any?
JENN:
The level of danger depends on the scene and the plot. I don't enjoy
torturing the characters but I love the challenge of writing a scene that
elicits strong emotions for the reader.
From Victoria
Smith
Do
you have any special food that you must have close-by when writing?
INGRID:
Fina eats everything I would like to: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Nutter
Butter cookies, and a lot of take-out. I used to share her diet soda
habit, but I’ve cut way back, and she keeps on chugging. I actually try
to keep water nearby, which sounds very boring, but it’s important to stay
hydrated!
JENN: Chocolate - lots of chocolate!
From J Cochran
If
you could have lunch with any three authors- past or present, who would they
be? Present company excluded, of course. Or, which three characters?
INGRID: Only three? The late Robert
Parker, the late Maya Angelou, and Leah Remini. That would make for an
entertaining meal!
JENN: Three authors who set me on my current path
would be my pick for lunch dates - Robert Crais, Janet Evanovich, and Harlan
Coben, accordingly lunch with Stephanie Plum, Myron Bolitar, and Joe Pike would
be a hoot!
From William Mackela
Do
any of you have a program that lets your fans become characters in your books?
INGRID:
No, but I love the idea!
JENN: Not a program but I have done
charity events where I auction off being written into a book.
(HANK: The first time I did
this, I got Urszula Maszny-Latos.)
From Lala
So
cool to discover this blog at the beginning of the year. My question: would you
ever be tempted to take on the Kennedy assassination or the lost Anastasia or
other major real life messy story?
INGRID: I would not. I think there
are other people who would do it better, and I don’t like to be constrained by
reality (when writing)!
JENN: I haven't been tempted as yet but
I never say never.
From Kathy Reel
Was there a murder case while you were growing
up or in your young adult life that captured your attention and made
crime/mystery writing even more alluring to you?
INGRID: YES! Hank, you’ll remember this one:
The Charles Stuart case had the whole city of Boston enthralled. Charles
Stuart and his wife were ambushed one night in their car, and his wife and
unborn child were murdered. Stuart claimed a black man perpetrated the
crime, and the Boston Police Department banged down every door in certain
neighborhoods to find the man. It turns out that Stuart killed his pregnant
wife, and when the facts began to emerge, he killed himself by jumping off the
Tobin Bridge. It was a tragic, fascinating case, the stuff of “Dateline.”
((Hank: yes, I covered
this forTV! And I cannot tell you haw hilarious it is to hear that this
happened in your “young adult life.” Ahhhh.
JENN: None that I can think of but perhaps on a subconscious
level?
Where
do you write?
INGRID:
At a desk in my home office with a lovely view. I’m very close to
Pike Place Market where I do my errands and pop out for fresh air and a dose of
humanity.
JENN: Where do I write?
Standing up at my kitchen counter. Weird, I know.
(Hank—really? I think that
calls for a follow up question…uh, how did that start? Tell us in the
comments…)
From Daniele K
What's
next for you both?
INGRID:
Next week, I go on tour for DUPLICITY and then I’m coming home and
sleeping! After that, I need to get cracking on a stand alone that I have
in the works.
JENN: I have five
books coming out this year, so three mysteries - ASSAULT AND BERET, CARAMEL
CRUSH, and DEATH IN THE STACKS and two romantic comedies - ABOUT A DOG and
BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE. 2017 is looking to be a whirlwind and we're only on day
six!
HANK: WOW! Such fun to hear these—you all had
terrific questions! Now we have one for
you: What are you reading this weekend?
PS:
Tonight I will be at MURDER ON THE BEACH bookstore in Delray Beach Florida with
Andrew Gross, Charles Todd and PJ Parrish!
Come say hello—Joanne is promising food, drinks and free books!
Any
other Reds or writers appearing at events we should know about?
