WHAT WE'RE WRITING--and New Ways to Connect!

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN:  I should be on book tour. I should be getting boarding passes, and fuming at the guy who put his carry-on above MY seat, and getting to have room service. But most important, I should be meeting with real people! Readers and authors and booksellers and librarians and everyone. YOU for instance.  

But no. I'm here, in Boston, adjusting my Zoom lighting.

Still, thank goodness for Zoom, and all the other platforms like that. At least we can SEE people, even though it's more like watching TV.

So you know Karen Dionne? The internationally best-selling author ofTHE MARSH KING'S DAUGHTER  and The WICKED SISTER? She and I were griping about how in some Zooms, we couldn't see the people who were participating, which is really frustrating when we're used to watching people's reactions.  And when we attended them, it was too difficult to ask the author a question, or even let them know we were there supporting them! So we cooked up a thing to help with that. 

We designed a new project that we called THE BACK ROOM, where you can chat with authors up close and personal--at least, as up close and personal as Zoom can be. And we are so enthusiastic. 

Here's how it works: Each online event starts with a short introduction to a panel of four authors. (Authors like Joe Finder, Heather Gudenkauf, Angie Kim, David Weiden, Hannah Mary McKinnon, Rachel Howzell Hall and many more are already scheduled.)  And then we play a quick game of almost-twenty questions.

Then it gets different.

 The audience is then divided into four breakout rooms where they remain for the rest of the program. Th the authors visit each room in turn, so everyone gets to connect with everyone. Everyone’s video is turned on (if you like!) and all mics are unmuted, allowing for informal, face-to-face discussion. What’s more, breakout sessions are never recorded. Because the authors will see you and your mics will be open, it's a great way to network!

Karen and I trade off hosting them. And it's free!

But space is limited, so everyone gets a chance to really connect. You can sign up HERE for as many events as you like. And just you Reds and Readers, put "VIP Pass-Jungle Reds" in the comments box to make sure you get a spot!

Check the schedule (it's amazing) then, as I said, sign up here: https://bksp.org/.   (Julia and Lucy and Jenn are already scheduled, but you can be sure the other Reds will be there, too!)

So--will it work? So far, we've had three events, and they've all been GREAT. We hired a tech person to handle all the zoom magic, so that takes care of a lot of the pressure. On us, at least.

Meanwhile, yes, indeed. THE MURDER LIST won the Anthony Award for Best Novel of the year! I am honestly still floating.

And, just so you know, I'm almost done with the first draft of my new book.

And tonight I am cooking dinner number 221.  

 (And Do you know about First Chapter Fun? If you don't--let me now! Today is EPISODE NUMBER 100!! And we are having a special celebration today at 12:30 PM EST! Take a lunch break, and go to @firstchapterfun on Insta, or FirstChapterFun in the groups on Facebook. My partner in fictional crime Hannah Mary McKinnon will be reading--out loud, and live!--the first chapter of Iona Whishaw's An Old Cold Grave.)

Have you been to The Back Room? To First Chapter Fun? Do you go to Zoom events? Or Facebook lives? Let me know, Reds and readers!