My new favorite book is The Other Woman by Hank Phillippi Ryan.
It’s a tight, suspenseful read with well-wrought characters, a complex plot, and
writing that brings the world of Boston politics alive. It’s a book that kept
me turning the pages to find out what happened next and then had me opening it
from the beginning again because I didn’t want to leave her well-crafted people
and world.
The
Other Woman, comes out in hardcover September 4 from Forge. A starred
review from Library Journal says “a
dizzying labyrinth of twists, turns, and surprises. Readers who crave mystery
and political intrigue will be mesmerized by this first installment of her new
series.” It also received a starred review from Booklist.
Jane Ryland was a rising star in
television news—until she refused to reveal a source and lost everything. Now a
disgraced newspaper reporter, Jane isn’t content to work on her assigned puff
pieces, and finds herself tracking down a candidate’s secret mistress just days
before a pivotal Senate election.
Detective Jake Brogan is investigating
a possible serial killer. Twice, bodies of unidentified women have been found
by a bridge, and Jake is plagued by a media swarm beginning to buzz about a “bridge
killer” hurting the young women of Boston.
As the body count rises and election
day looms, it becomes clear to Jane and Jake that their investigations are
connected…and that they may be facing a ruthless killer who will stop at
nothing to silence a sandal.
With its dirty politics, dirty
tricks, and a barrage of final twists, The
Other Woman is the first in an explosive new series. Seduction, betrayal
and murder—it’ll take a lot more than votes to win this election!
Here’s a link to buy The Other Woman.
And here’s THE OTHER WOMAN video!
HANK
PHILLIPPI RYAN
Hank Phillippi Ryan is the
on-the-air investigative reporter for Boston’s NBC affiliate. Her work has
resulted in new laws, people sent to prison, homes removed from foreclosure,
and millions of dollars in restitution. Along with her 28 EMMYs, Hank’s won
dozens of other journalism honors. She’s been a radio reporter, a political
campaign staffer, a legislative aide in the United States Senate and an
editorial assistant at Rolling Stone Magazine working with Hunter S. Thompson.
Her first mystery, the best-selling
PRIME TIME, won the Agatha for Best First Novel. FACE TIME was a BookSense
Notable Book, and AIR TIME and DRIVE TIME were nominated for the AGATHA and
ANTHONY Awards. Hank’s short story “On the House” won the AGATHA, ANTHONY and
MACAVITY.
How
would you describe The Other Woman to
someone who has not read any of your previous novels?
I love that Julia Spencer-Fleming called it The Candidate meets
Basic Instinct. I’ve called it The Good Wife meets Law & Order. A Booklist
starred review (!) calls it “The perfect thriller for the election season.”
It’s a fast-paced page-turner about a reporter on the trail of a candidate’s
secret mistress. Who is the other woman? And if a candidate is having an
affair—should the reporter make that public?
And its the first in a new series, so readers are starting at the
beginning. Fans of Lisa Scottoline and Harlan Coben will love it, I hope!
Who were your literary influences growing up?
Are there any authors (living or dead) that you would name as influences?
Growing up? After I finished all
those little blue biographies (Dorothea Dix--Girl of the Streets, Mark
Twain--Boy of the Mississippi) I read all the horse books, Black Beauty and
King of the Wind and Misty of Chincoteague. Then the magic books, E. Nesbit and
Edward Eager and Jane Langton. Of course, Nancy Drew and Donna Parker and Vicki
Barr, girl stewardess. (Remember?) All the Arthur Conan Doyle Sherlock
Holmes stories. When our library had a who-can-read-the-most-books contest, you
know me. I was in it to win it. Then one day I sneaked MARJORIE
MORNINGSTAR from my parent’s shelves, and then TEN NORTH FREDERICK, and
then—FAILSAFE. Whoa. Thrillers! Then ALAS BABYLON. ON THE BEACH. SEVEN
DAYS IN MAY. And my life was never the same.
Influences now? I’m a huge
fan of Tom Wolfe, from The Right Stuff to Bonfire of the Vanities. I adore
Stephen King, and consider The Stand as a life-changing book for me. Edith
Wharton’s Custom of the Country and House of Mirth. Dennis Lehane.
Lisa Scottoline. Tess Gerritsen. Harlan
Coben.
What inspired you to write your first novel? Do you think your
background as an Emmy-Award-winning investigative reporter drew you into the
mystery field rather than another genre?
Oh, I’ve always wanted to write mysteries, from my
first Sherlock Holmes! But I just never had a good idea for a plot. (Problem,
huh?) But when I finally did—at age 55!—I became obsessed with writing fiction.
And I do love how similar it all is—in investigative
reporting and crime fiction, you’re tracking down clues, following leads, looking
for compelling characters with a wonderful and important story to tell—hoping
the bad guys get what’s coming to them, and the good guys win. You’re searching
for justice and to change the world a bit.
So crime fiction and investigative reporting connect
in a very essential way.
Someone asked me once if I could write a romance
novel without a mystery—and I asked--what would the characters DO? I guess I’m
a suspense writer at heart.
What's
your writing process? What is a typical writing day like for you? Do you keep
to a set schedule? What are your writing habits? How do you juggle writing
books and your demanding television job?
There’s no typical, there really isn’t. I work 9 to
6 as a reporter every weekday, and concentrate on that. Given that--it doesn’t
leave me to write my fiction. I have to be
very focused and very organized. NO excuses, no procrastination. No vacations.
What
projects, literary or otherwise, are occupying you at the moment?
Ah! THE OTHER
WOMAN is out right now! I am crazy-busy, trying to type with crossed fingers as
I hope people love it and—gasp—actually buy it. The reviews are stellar, for which
I am relieved and incredibly grateful.
And I
just sent book two in the Jane Ryland/Jake Brogan series to the publisher—right
now, it’s called THE WRONG GIRL.
Do you
belong to a critique group of other authors. Do you find it helpful? In what
ways?
Nope. No groups, no partners, no nothing. I’ve written
for 30 years as a reporter with editors and producers, so I’m confident I know what
I’m doing on the first draft! After that, I have two professional editors read
my work. That’s it, before it goes to the publisher. My editor at Forge is brilliant,
so we also work on the books together. I
love to do tweaks and edits, it’s so wonderful to see the book emerge!
What is
your advice to aspiring writers? How important is it for a young writer to be a
reader? What would you recommend they read?
Write what you love. Write what you would read! That’s
so important. It’s very very difficult—and every truly successful author I’ve
ever talked to about this admits to days when they despair—when they really
think they stink. EVERYONE. So on a day you’re having a tough time, pat
yourself on the back. You’re a writer—because every writer feels that way. Then
just—go on.
What is
the most surprising thing you’ve learned in your writing career? What has been
the hardest part about being a writer?
Patience! Is the answer to both. Unlike day-to-day television reporting, writing
is a long haul. It takes a long time to write a good book! The most important thing
is to persist, get better, trust yourself, and be incredibly grateful to friends—like
you, dear Linda—who are enthusiastic and supportive along the way. Nothing happens
overnight. (Except sometimes…you get a good idea!)
You can connect with Hank Phillippi
Ryan on Facebook, Twitter, and Jungle Red Writers at the links below.
Twitter @hank_phillippi
Blogging at http://www.JungleRedWriters.com @junglereds
Oh, this is so terrific...off to tell everyone! Thank you..xoo
ReplyDeleteHank,
ReplyDeleteHow DO you find the time to write? During breaks? Nights? Weekends? In the middle of the night when the rest of us are sleeping? Do YOU sleep?! However you manage it, keep up the good work!
DebRo, truly! Hank is a kind of wonder woman, isn't she? I think you'll love the book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!
Great, interview, Linda! Glad you posted the interview on yesterday's Jungle Reds blog post. (Glad to get acquainted with your blog too.)
ReplyDeleteI have the same question as Deb: So, Hank, when do you write? How do you get it all in? Are you naturally high energy? That's an amazing amount of productivity. I have a day-job, but, my god, much of the time I'm just SO tired...
Lisa, I think Hank's traveling right now from one book event to another, but I've sent on your question. It is such a good one. My husband asked it, also.
ReplyDeleteI find myself wondering if DebRo doesn't have it right. Hank just doesn't sleep! But then why doesn't she have bags under eyes like mine? Myself, I think she has a clone that does the writing while she sleeps so she can look as beautiful as she does. ;-) I'll bet her clone looks all haggard and exhausted, don't you think? Sort of like Dorian Grey's painting.
Thanks for stopping by!
Oh, you all are too wonderful! Thank you! Because of course, its not only the book stuff, which I adore, but the day-job stuff, which I also love! (ANd of course, being a wife. AANd lsleeping.)
ReplyDeleteSo--high energy? Hmm. I'd say I'm more--high hopes. High dreams. My mother used to say "You will if you want to." And I have taken that to heart.
I'm organized. I'm focused. I do not try to multi-task--I;ve found I get more done if I just do one thing at a time, and not be distracted by--oh! shiny thing!
And I DO have bags. YSL Touche Eclat is good for that...and also good lighting!
xoxo
Thanks for passing on the question, Linda!
ReplyDeleteI like your answer, Hank (especially about Touche Eclat). It's so true, what your mother said, so true.
Sad, but sometime I wonder if I simply have less energy than other people...or perhaps all I need some kind of life coach or time management expert to whip me into shape. :-)
Ah well, I'll keep muddling along.
Thanks!
Lisa, I think Hank gave us her secret. Organized and focused and does one thing at a time. It is amazing what a good prioritized to-do list can do if I actually schedule each task in my calendar as if it were an appointment. One of the key things for me was learning to remind myself that no one ever gets it all together and when I die, there will be unfinished tasks on my to-do list. It's the nature of life.
ReplyDeleteHank, my skin has spent all these years with nothing but soap and water. I don't think it would know what to do if I fed it Yves St. Laurent anything. You're talking to the woman who meant to buy some make-up to wear on TV the other day(had to buy because I own none), but forgot. So I just went barefaced, as usual (other than lipstick and a little mascara). I'm afraid I'm pretty much a lost cause in the beauty department after 60-some years.
Oh, makeup. That's a whole other blog. I'm all for it.
ReplyDeleteAs for--tired. Seriously? Are you--overloaded? Fearful? Not drinking enough water? Too critical of yourself? I have a mtto on my bulletin board: "What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?"
I like that, Hank. I have something similar from Dorothea Brande's fabulous classic book, ON BECOMING A WRITER. "Act as if you already have the success you seek." Same thing. Skip past the fear. What would you do if you already were a bestseller?
ReplyDelete