The Bitches of Brooklyn have arrived!

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Well, I know I'm a writer, but this is impossible. How do I begin to tell you..well, I'll start with a tiny story.

Two newbie writers, strangers, show up at the same house at the same time for a Sisters in Crime meeting. One is a master gardener working on her first novel, one in a TV report working on her first novel. they're both wearing black, both happily married, both hard workers, and both basically clueless about the publishing world. Well, wait, the reporter was clueless, the gardener wasn't. Anyway.  They're thrown together on an impromptu panel when the scheduled speaker doesn't show up...and they've been talking together--constantly--ever since.

Rosemary, Jan, Roberta,Hank, Hallie--the original Reds!

That was--gosh, maybe eight years go? And Rosemary Harris and I have been though the trenches since then. You know our stories-- our successes and our adventures, and our travels and even a few escapades.  That encounter grew into..Jungle Red. And here's a photo of us from around that time...

And now, dear RO is embarking on yet another new adventure. Her new book--NOT a mystery but a chic, sleek, funny, wry, witty, clever, emotional and hilarious novel called--well--let Ro tell you.


And let me admit, this brings tears to my eyes. Ro, I love you.

ROSEMARY HARRIS: You...you're amazing! And too kind.  Right back to ya. That day was prophetic. We fell into it as if we'd been giving talks together forever! This book is a new adventure for me. And it's been fun.

Ever felt like you were sitting in the middle of a scene from a book or movie? One that's already been written or one you could see yourself writing?

I had that feeling about three years ago and it was the inspiration for my new book, The Bitches of Brooklyn.

Four friends and I had planned an all-girls weekend in Sedona. We had discussed and agonized over the location for months (we'd be coming from all parts of the country and wanted to be fair in terms of time and expense.) One of us even created a spreadsheet so we could compare the various choices. (She's an accountant.) And then, at the eleventh hour, one of us had to cancel. If I'm not mistaken she had lobbied hardest for the place we finally decided on. That first night - without her - was interesting.

We didn't trash her (hint about the book?) But I did start to think, hmmmm what if she DIDN'T have a last-minute work obligation?

Happily she didn't suffer the grisly fate my missing character did in the first draft. And she didn't do what my character ultimately did - send a note saying that she'd run off with one of their men.

That was the genesis of The Bitches of Brooklyn and in it the four women at the heart of the story, childhood friends named Jane (a bakery owner), Rachel (a vet), Clare (an unemployed producer) and Tina (a teacher and fledgling novelist) spend the weekend eating, drinking and reevaluating their friendships, their marriages, their jobs and their memories. But when Monday comes, these babes want answers. And they go to vastly different lengths to get them.

For me, it was a lot of fun not to feel obliged to have bodies dropping all over the place and to have a non law enforcement professional irrationally inserting herself into a crime scene. Think Paula Holliday with misdemeanors instead of felonies! And...hallelujah...unlike most cozy heroines, they get to have sex.

There's a fair amount of humor - because I can see the humor in practically anything. And if you liked Paula, Babe and Lucy, I think you'll have fun with The Bitches of Brooklyn.

Available as an Amazon download for only $1.99. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E3XMPN0

(Don't have a Kindle? I just learned Amazon offers free Kindle apps so you can read a Kindle book on virtually any computer or device. Who knew? http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=pe_390220_30905230_sa_menu_karl?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

HANK: Rosemary! You are brave and fabulous. ANd I know this will instantly be picked up on Lifetime TV! (Would that be fun or what?)  I have a question for you--was it difficult/fun/challenging to write a that's not a "mystery"?  

ANd how about you, Reds--do you have a good friend--who, one day, surprised you? I do--but--hilariously--I can't tell you about it. SInce I promised to keep it secret. But you--you can tell us! But first, go download THE BITCHES OF BROOKLYN.  And toast to our dear RO--who has done something wonderful!