Rhys is Juggling

 RHYS BOWEN: To say I've been busy is an understatement. I know Jenn has probably written three more books over the Christmas holiday but normal people take time off. Instead I have been working frantically with Clare to finish the next Molly book, called  SILENT AS THE GRAVE when I was actually in the middle of the next Royal Spyness book called WE THREE QUEENS. And then, right before the holiday, I got the copy edits for THE ROSE ARBOR (my next big historical stand alone) and a note to say they wanted them back by January 2.

January 2? Does nobody at that publishing house take the holidays off? Did they expect me to work on copy edits as I wrapped the presents, made beds for visiting family, and cooked the turkey? I left them until everyone had gone home and peace reigned again and just finished in time. Phew. Deep breath.

So now all I have to do is final polish on Silent as the Grave before it goes to publisher and then finish the Royal Spyness book by March 1 when I start on next big stand-alone.  Time to relax? What is that? Sometimes it feels like juggling three balls in the air all the time.  If I'm in the middle of one story, one environment, it's really hard to switch my mind to copy edits for another.

Sorry. I don't have any covers to share yet. We're working on a final cover for the Rose Arbor. More soon.

So I wasn't sure which of my current endeavors to share with you today, but decided on the new Molly story, because it's so interesting. It takes place in the world of silent movies. Clare has done so much brilliant research so that everything we write about is authentic for the time. We're seeing the birth of real motion pictures with a story and special effects. One thing we learned was the amount of risks they took to get realism--like filming scenes on real train tracks, not having warned real locomotive engineers what they were doing. And yes, quite a few people got killed during these risky scenes.

Here is one from our story:

Ryan and Bridie acted out a scene in front of the backdrop. Bridie ran away and Ryan followed. As he grabbed her arm she fainted, he dragged her across the tracks and tied her down tightly. She woke up and cried out in horror.

                “Make sure you get her face, Billy. Sweetheart, you have to look more scared. O’Hare tighten those ropes” DW kept up a running commentary.

                “If I can’t have you, no one will,” Ryan twirled his mustache as he gazed down at Bridie. “But I will inherit all you own.” He threw back his head with an evil laugh.

                “Train!” I heard the far-off cry. Ryan looked up and laughed again. My heart started to thump loudly. “Train,” I heard the cry nearer this time. The train was coming, and Bridie was tied to the tracks!

 “Bridie!” I screamed. I set Liam down and leapt up ready to run and untie her, but before I could take a step Bridie raised both arms, two crew members leaped from behind the backdrop, each took a hand and pulled her clear. The ropes that looked so tightly bound had been just draped around her body and released her instantly.  I scooped up Liam and sat back down, my heart beating out of my chest. As soon as Bridie had cleared the track one crew member helped her down the embankment while the other was putting the identically dressed mannequin onto it. He ducked back under the canvas backdrop.

                A Pacific engine came around a bend, puffing out steam. This train was not coming slowly like the one before it. It thundered down the track. The engineer must not have been told that a dummy would be on the track because suddenly the train whistle sounded again and again. The shrieking sound of brakes filled the air. What’s more, Billy was now lying on the track itself behind the mannequin with the camera pointing at the oncoming train. Was he mad? I wanted to stand up again and shout for them to stop this right now.

“Flag,” DW called, and the red flag went up. The police wagon now came thundering toward the train at full speed. The train slowed but it seemed impossible that it would not run over the mannequin or Billy. At the last moment Johnny darted up to the track and grabbed the mannequin by the arms. He dove out of the way of the train, pulling the mannequin with him. Billy rolled off the track, holding his camera, as the train missed him by inches. It took about twenty more yards for the train to stop. Passengers in the front car were screaming. The engineer peered out amid the smoke. He flung open the door of the cab and jumped out, white-faced, running back to where he expected to find a body.

“What the hell are you playing at?” he yelled at Billy who was checking his camera for damage.

It seems we were lucky that time, but what if they had to re-shoot that scene? Or one in a water tank? And the studio's main rival, Thomas Edison, was not happy... you'll have wait over a year to read the rest!

In the meantime the next Molly book, IN SUNSHINE OR IN SHADOW, comes out in March. It's set in the Catskills and does have a fabulous cover:

Who has family memories of the Catskills? So many people have shared with us.

And a reminder to join our Facebook group if you haven't already done so: Reds and Readers! Come on over and join now. I'm having a little contest.... See you there.

Oh and many congrats to our own Grace Koshida who has been named fan guest of honor at Left Coast Crime 2025!

What's Hank's Writing--and thinking, and packing, and smashing the bots

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN:  Getting ready for book tour. It always seemed so far away, for the past, oh, six months, when I knew my book ONE WRONG WORD was all finished, and happily printed in galley  versions, and I was well into my next book, which (don’t tell) is not quite finished but I have until January 15. Plenty of time.

(A new excerpt of OWW below!)

Anyway.  There is a massive raft of things to do before publication date, and my fabulous list has been almost derailed by an unexpected and ridiculous thing. More on that’s in a minute.

But quickly, first, so you know. I’m about to make fancy graphics to announce my schedule for February, and it’s going to be amazing. If you are in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, maybe we can see each other! I’ll let you know. I will be gone for two weeks, then home for three days, then out for two weeks again. Fantastic, but how do I pack? How how how? I refuse to check a bag. So this should be interesting. 

There are two launch parties! And you are invited! The pre-launch gala party, at Brookline Booksmith on February 2, and I’ll be in conversation with Tess Gerritsen! I am still absolutely floating, and hope you can come. 

Then the official launch day event party—February 6– at An Unlikely Story in Plainville Massachusetts. Have you ever been there? It is absolutely magical, and I am so honored to be able to launch OWW there. 

And I cannot wait to show you all the bookfaces some fabulous people are making with the cover. Can you guess who THIS is?

So. What is driving me batty during this pre-launch month? 

Bots. Or something. I am planning to do a lot of giveaways and promos on my Facebook Author page, but suddenly it is beset and besieged by I don’t even know what. I think they are bots. Or people who I don’t recognize who often post in other languages and other alphabets, and often are selling somewhat annoying, if not disgusting  products, or urging me and other real people to follow them. As if we would. 

Reds and Readers, I do not understand this. It's not like one or two, it is honestly, literally, thousands. Thousands. I try to block and delete and report, but it’s like whack-a-bot, and they just come back. I honestly don’t know what to do.

I suppose I could ignore it, and just let the vaguely intimidating and constantly irritating comments sprinkle through my Facebook posts, but they are so unpleasant, and attach themselves like parasites to the comments of my dear friends, and treasured readers.

It is such a thankless task to block and delete and report, and it takes three clicks at least to do one “name.” Does anyone have a better system ?

And also, does anyone know what these actually are? I cannot believe they are real people, and I don’t understand how bots work, and I certainly don’t understand the point! No one, right, is going to follow them, or believe that they are interested in the real us, and certainly they are not going to read my books. Or yours. Or anyone’s.

Has anyone done research on what these are? Hang on a second. I’m going to do that. 

((tum tee tum, looking this up.))

Well, a Google search was not helpful. Everybody has no idea. And certainly no one knows the point.

So. Two things. One, keep reading for a tiny excerpt of  ONE WRONG WORD.  One lucky reader today will win one of the few advance review copies I have left! 

To find out how to win,  sign up for our  brand spanking new Reds and Readers page on Facebook.  I will make sure you are admitted to the private group. 

And then:  I will be LIVE on the page AT NOON ET  to tell you more.

And yes, I will be doing that for my own page, too, because a private group keeps out the bots! And I will be sure to let you know how you can join Hank's Inside Scoop.  Or it might be called Hanks VIP Room. Which one do you think is better? 

Can you tell from this post that it’s a chaotic time? Writing book 16, figuring out my elevator pitch for ONE WRONG WORD,  pretending not to look at reviews, (they’re fabulous,) and smashing  the bots. 

Never a dull moment, but that’s how we like it. 

So Reds and Readers, here’s a tiny bit of ONE WRONG WORD. On the book's  back cover, you’ll see fantastic endorsements from David Baldacci, Shari Lapena, Mary Kubica and James Patterson!  And more! And I hope you love it, too. Let me know – – you know those reviews are beyond essential.

And let me ask--are you battling the bots?

One Wrong Word stars crisis management expert Arden Ward. And here, in chapter one, in her beloved office, she is about to get a surprise from her boss, Warren Carmichael. This scene picks up in the middle of the chapter.

      Warren actually gulped. She’d never seen his face so ashen.

      “Listen, Arden. I don’t like this any more than you will. But understand. The Swansons are major clients. Lucrative clients. Company-supporting clients.”

      “Well, I know. I brought them to you. When we met at my Saving Calico childhood leukemia fundraiser. Remember?”

      “Oh. Right.” Warren picked up his glass, rattled the ice. “I didn’t think anything could make this more difficult.”

     “Make what?”

      “So Patience Swanson thinks you and her husband have a . . . thing. That he gave you the Joy perfume.”

       Arden clapped a palm to her chest. “She’s insane.”

       “Possibly. Probably. But that doesn’t change anything. She demands that we let you go.”

      “She? Demands? You let me go?” Every nerve cell in Arden’s brain had burst into flames.

       “I have no choice.”

       “Choice? Of course you do.” Arden took a step toward him, arms spread in exasperation and disbelief. “Who does she think put her husband where he is today?”

        “I’m sorry, Arden. It’s a situation. I don’t know what to say.”

         “You don’t? Well, I do.” She jabbed toward him with a forefinger. “You can say ‘she’s lost her freaking mind.’ You can tell that woman I’m a valuable employee who brings in big bucks, and new clients, and will continue to do so. And who, it goes without saying, is not having some sort of sordid affair with her vile entitled husband who clearly she has problems with. But the ‘problems’ are not me. A situation? It’s my life!”

      “I’m sorry, Arden. Unless you can prove he didn’t give you perfume. Unless you can prove he didn’t—”

     She rolled her eyes to the heavens, then harnessed her outrage. “I’m not going to prove one thing on this planet. Ask him, right? First of all, I can’t prove something that didn’t happen, that’s through the looking glass, and I cannot believe you’re even asking me that. Is that what you think of me? Let me ask you that. That this is true?”

     “No, of course not, no.” Warren lurched to his feet, turned away, not looking at her, looking at every place else but her. “He’ll deny it. So I can’t force him to—”

     “Ah. I see. Warren. Look at me. So you believe her, not me? Is that what you’re saying? Because if that is what you’re saying, Warren, I could file so many lawsuits it’d make your head spin. Hey. You’re a pro. Imagine the headlines. Blame the victim? Or wait, would you paint me the vixen, the temptress? Oh, yeah, do it. Please do that. I’d love that. Bring it.”

     Warren had to know this was bull. “Are you hearing me?” she persisted. “Are you ignoring me? Look at me. I know the rules. I know the deal. You cannot do this. I’ll go to HR so fast it’ll—”

     “Be careful, Arden.” Warren interrupted her. “Take a beat. If you sue me, well, that’s not gonna help you, is it? Suddenly you’re . . . a problem employee. A liability. On the defensive. It’s not a good look. You know that.”

     “What I know—and what you know—is that it’s not true.”

ONE WRONG WORD

Now available for pre-order.

Coming February 6 from Forge Books.

 

Happy New Year! What We're Writing - Jenn McKinlay

 HAPPY NEW YEAR, READERS!!!

We wish you all good things in the coming year! 

JENN McKINLAY: I love starting a new year. It's a clean slate, a new beginning, a fresh calendar. I love, love, love it! Of course, January always seems to send me spinning on my ear as soon as it starts and nothing ever goes quite right and by the end of the month, I usually ask the Hub if we can bump it out and  celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year instead. Incidentally, it's on February 10th and it's the year of the dragon for those of you who, like me, will need a do over.

But this is what we're writing week at the Jungle Reds, so I have to tell you that I am madly finishing a book that is due tomorrow. It's a Library Lover's mystery (#15) called A MERRY LITTLE MURDER PLOT and will be released in October of 2024. Here is a snippet of the victim being found: 

     “And here I thought we were going to have a quiet holiday season,” Emma muttered. She unclipped the Maglite from her belt and illuminated the scene. It was much more powerful than Lindsey’s puny phone flashlight and the entire gazebo was bathed in light.

     Emma ran the light over Jackie’s body, pausing on her bare hands. She jumped back and grabbed Helen by the arm and shoved her toward the steps and then did the same thing to Lindsey. “Get out of the gazebo. Now!”

     “Why? What’s happening?” Helen asked.

     “Go!” Emma shooed them down the steps. The urgency in her voice did not invite dawdling.

     They dashed down the steps, only stopping when Emma did. They were thirty feet from the bandstand and Emma was pulling her phone out of her jacket pocket. 

     “What is it, Emma?” Lindsey asked. “What’s wrong?”
     “I’m not positive but I think our victim up there was electrocuted,” Emma said. “If the current is still live one of you could have been next.”

That is all I can share with you at the moment because I am a sleep deprived zombie and barely coherent. The 14th Library Lover's mystery FATAL FIRST EDITION is out on February 13th (next month!) and the trade paperback edition of THE PLOT AND THE PENDULUM (which came out in 2022) will be released tomorrow! 

To celebrate, I am giving away FIVE signed copies of the trade paperback but the giveaway is happening on our new private Facebook group Reds and Readers. You can join by clicking on the name and get yourself in the drawing. To kick off this new venture, we're having giveaways every day! So head on over there and check it out. With giveaways, live chats, and our community of awesome readers, it is sure to be a good time!

So, what will I be writing after I finish this book? I have two romcom proposals to write as my publisher is looking for my next book after May's upcoming LOVE AT FIRST BOOK and then I have a brand new venture that I can't talk about yet. Suffice to say, I am pivoting into the fantasy genre with the plan of adding it to my mystery and romcom books - SO EXCITING!!! - with more details to follow!

Needless to say, 2024 looks to be full of mystery, romance, and fantasy for me. 

How about you, Reds and Readers, what are you looking forward to in the coming year?