And if you’d like to listen to a free excerpt of the book read by Xe, go here…. http://xesands.com/

 (On the right side of Xe’s homepage, you’ll see an audio box. Look under Fiction and you’ll find Water Witch. )

And more great news— all of my books are now available in every ebook format on the planet. Depending on your e-reader,  you can download the books from–

For the Nook lovers-

http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?store=EBOOK&WRD=deborah+leblanc&box=deborah%20leblanc&pos=-1&ugrp=2

For the Kindle lovers–

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=deborah+leblanc

And for all other e-reader lovers everywhere– http://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=deborah+leblanc

Oh, for those of you who’ve been asking about getting my books in paperback– The Wolven, my latest release, is available at any bookstore. My backlist, however, is having to take a different route for distribution due to some MAJOR issues going on with Dorchester Publishing.  Fortunately,  I was able to get the rights to my books back and the majority of the stock they were holding hostage in a warehouse. That said, we’ll be adding a shopping cart page on my website so anyone interested in getting a paperback version of the books can. In fact, my website as a whole is getting a much needed facelift and upgrade, and I’m told that all the new bells and whistles should be up and ready to go on the site in a couple of weeks. So stay tuned!

RT Review

THE WOLVEN
by Deborah LeBlanc

Genre: Current Series Imprints, Harlequin Nocturne, Series

2010 Harlequin Nocturne Nominee

RT Rating

THE WOLVEN (4.5) by Deborah LeBlanc: After several New Orleans werewolves are murdered and left in their were state, Shauna MacDonald, keeper of the New Orleans wolven, and Danyon Stone, alpha of one of the city’s packs, must work together to find out who’s killing the wolves. They soon learn wolves are being murdered for the inherent power in their claws and fangs: once plucked, the claws and fangs can be ground into a powder that gives the taker the strength, speed, agility and heightened senses of a werewolf without the shifting. In tracking down the killer, Shauna and Danyon realize they work well together on a personal level as well. The Wolven seamlessly weaves a remarkably well-detailed mythology into the recent history of New Orleans. LeBlanc’s dialogue sparkles and the sexual chemistry between Shauna and Danyon is delicious.

Reviewed By: Alexandra Kay

Nocturne Romance Reads

Enlighten your world…

Reviews

« Back to Reviews « Older Entry | Newer Entry »

The Wolven-Deborah Leblanc

Summary-

Someone–or something–is systematically murdering the members of Danyon Stone’s werewolf pack. As Alpha, he knows that finding and punishing the murderous entity is his responsibility, and he’s not about to rest until he sees justice done. But to stop the slayings he has to accept help from the most unlikely source–a wickedly sensual mortal woman.

Mystic-shop owner Shauna MacDonald has a special interest in the recent string of otherworldly deaths. As the Keeper of the werewolves, it’s her duty to guard and protect the packs. Working by Danyon’s side to stop an unknown killer–and trying to deny the potency of their illicit attraction–poses a threat to her heart unlike any she’s ever known, ;and if she becomes the killer’s next target, it could be the death of her…(Goodreads)

Review-

“The Wolven” book 3 in “The Keepers” series by Deborah Leblanc is a sizzling paranormal romantic suspense steeping with unexplained murders and steamy sexual encounters that is sure to leave its readers wishing for more.

The novel begins with a palm reading scene between Shauna MacDonald and Lurnell Franklin, a fellow proprietor of a semi-mystic shop that is just downright hilarious. As the scenes dialog unfolds, there are clear indications that the introduction of Lurnell is no coincidence and that her presents will be felt as the novel progress.

Ms. LeBlanc makes point of providing a brief summary of past events in the series that really helps to establish a connection with the previous installments and adds credibility to the New Orleans paranormal community. One of the things that I really enjoyed about the series is how although each installment centers on a particular sister/ keeper, the others are always present in the story-line providing moral and physical support to the main characters. I love how Ms. LeBlanc stretches the boundaries of the French Quarter’s community to encompass neighboring factions that could potentially be featured in future installments of the series.  

Shauna is the youngest of three MacDonald sisters charge with the responsibilities of acting as “The Keepers” to the paranormal races of the vampires, shifters and werewolves. Although she is “The Keeper” of the werewolf community, Shauna has yet to really prove herself worthy of the title. As sibling rivalries and feelings of inadequacy go, Shauna has her share of issues; a fact that she is determined to overcome. I loved how when faced with this new threat to the communities, Shauna holds her ground concerning her involvement in the investigation and refuses to shuck her responsibilities. Her brazen displays of foolhardiness were comical in their delivery and her subsequent acquiesce of said foolishness made me fall in love with her. 

Danyon Stone is the ultimate alpha male; I love although he is used to doing things in his own way, he is able to put aside his pride during the investigation of the murders. His gentle administrations of the less powerful of his pack, his need to protect and his overwhelming desire for justice for his people really personifies his alpha status.  

Shauna and Danyon’s chemistry is immediately evident and extreme in its display. The sexual tension and desire that the two shares for each other is a constant beast prowling just below the surface. Every time they came together I kept expecting Shauna to turn into a beast to match Danyon’s feral sexual desire. Theirs is definitely a viscerally primitive courtship.  

“The Wolven” is a well rounded addition to the “The Keepers” series that traverse the political structure of the New Orleans‘s paranormal community, exposes some ingenious plots and twist and delivers a steamy romance in a nice package. I highly recommend it.

5 HOOTS!

Reviewed by~Victoria

CONTEST 1 — The Wolven Photo Op

            The winners will receive:

·         A $50 gift certificate to the bookstore of your choice!

·         A “Don’t Be Stupid . . . Read!!” t-shirt from Literacy Inc.!

·         An autographed copy of Water Witch, A House Divided, and Grave Intent!

 All you have to do to enter the contest is take a picture of yourself with a copy of The Wolven in a setting or pose that fits one or more of the following five categories:

Funny

Cool

Sexy (Keep it clean, folks!)

Weird

Scary

Then send your picture via email (either in the body of the email or as a jpg attachment) to contest@deborahleblanc.com, along with your name and email address. Please put the category you’re entering in the subject line–I.E. Wolven Photo Op Contest-Funny. If you’re entering more than one category, send each picture in a separate email with the applicable category noted in the subject line.

The best picture in each category will be the winner of that category! So whether you enter one or enter them all, have fun with it!

Winners will be announced on December 10, 2010, which will be here before we know it.

So go on, get your camera out of the closet, grab a copy of The Wolven, and show us just how creative you can be! 

CONTEST 2 —Tap-A-Friend

            The winner of this contest will receive:

·         A $500 gift certificate to the bookstore of their choice!

·         A main character will be named after the winner in an upcoming book!

·         A “Don’t Be Stupid . . . Read!!” t-shirt from Literacy Inc!

·         An autographed copy of Water Witch, A House Divided, and Grave Intent!

Here’s how the contest works:

Tap a friend by suggesting they buy a copy of The Wolven, then have that friend email a copy of the book receipt (If it’s an online purchase, they need to send the shipping confirmation as the receipt.), along with their name listed as the tappee, YOUR name as the tapper, and both of your email addresses to:  tapafriend@deborahleblanc.com.

Here’s an example:

Let’s say Sue Blue, the tapper, taps Joe Black, the tappee, suggesting he buy a copy of The Wolven. Joe orders a copy of The Wolven from an online store. He then sends an email to tapafriend@deborahleblanc.com, and in that email he includes–

EMAIL SUBJECT LINE: TAP A FRIEND CONTEST

BODY OF EMAIL: A copy of the shipping confirmation for The Wolven

                                  Tappee name: Joe Black  Tappee’s Email Address: joe@joeblack.com

                                  Tapper name: Sue Blue   Tapper’s Email Address: Sue1190@gmail.com

And that’s all there is to it!

Even better, since Christmas is right around the corner, and the book makes for a wonderful stocking stuffer, the more copies of The Wolven Joe buys, the more tap points Sue earns. And, yes, Joe can be part of the fun, as well, by tapping his own group of friends!

The person with the most tap points wins the Tap-A-Friend Contest, and the winner will be announced on December 10, 2010, which will be here before we know it.

So go get your address book and start tapping friends!

Good luck, everyone!

In case the reference to crawfish and Breaux Bridge in the blog title confused you, let me take a sec to clarify… Breaux Bridge is a small town located a few miles outside of Lafayette, and each year it hosts the largest Crawfish Festival in the state… http://www.bbcrawfest.com/  )

Anyway, the bottom line is I’m nervous as all get out because The Wolven gets released this month!

This is my first paranormal romance, so I have no idea what kind of reaction it will prompt from readers. It’s definitely different than anything I’ve written before, that’s for sure! If you’ve read any of my other works, you know that I’m very comfortable writing anything that has to do with the supernatural or paranormal. Heck, I can write about things that go bump in the night in my sleep. But romance—all I can say is a LOT of mental adjustments had to be made! lol

Ah, well, it will be what it will be. I’ll keep you posted on the reviews, be they good, bad, or indifferent. Pooyi !

I had a major bon temp the other weekend at Festival Acadiens et Creoles! If you’ve ever wondered what real joie de vivre looked like, check out these short vids. J You’ll see Belton Richard, a traditional Cajun musician in action, then Roddie Romero and Steve Riley, both of whom play ZydeCajun–music that’s a mixture of Creole Zydeco and Traditional Cajun–and are jamming like there’s no tomorrow. And best of all, you’ll see a regular Joe Cajun having one hell of a good time, as he dances in the dust and plays the scrub board along with the band!   

Please follow the link to view the videos!

http://deborahleblanc.tv/festival.cfm

Enjoy!

Deb

I know I usually post only one author guest blog every month or so, but this guest’s latest release received such great reviews that I couldn’t wait to tell you about it! Our guest is Tony Hays, and his new release is THE DIVINE SACRIFICE. Check out the star review it received from PW–you’ve gotta get this one!

The Divine Sacrifice Tony Hays. Forge, $24.99 (304p) ISBN 978-0-7653-1946-3
Hays’s brilliant second mystery set in fifth-century Britain delivers on the promise of its predecessor, The Killing Way (2009). Much of the novel’s strength derives from its complex lead, Malgwyn ap Cuneglas, a soldier who lost a limb in combat and is now a trusted counselor to Arthur, ?the High King of all Britannia.? When a monk, Brother Elafius, dies in mysterious circumstances, the abbot calls for Malgwyn, who has previously displayed a talent for detection, to investigate. Malgwyn can’t immediately identify the cause of death, but eventually finds evidence that Elafius’s neck was broken. A theological struggle centered on the Pelagian heresy (i.e., that man can achieve eternal life through good works alone) as well as threats to Arthur’s rule cloud the inquiry. Hays does a superb job of making the legendary king a convincing historical figure. Already, this series rivals the work of such proven masters of the subgenre as Steven Saylor and Laura Joh Rowland. (Apr.)
To find out more about Tony and his fabulous books, go to www.tonyhays.com

This week my author guest is Sheila Curran, and man-oh-man I can’t wait to get my hands on her latest novel, EVERYONE SHE LOVED. This one got a rave review from Jodi Picoult, one of my favorite authors. Go ahead, ask me if I’m green . . .

EVERYONE SHE LOVED
by
Sheila Curran
Author of Diana Lively Is Falling Down
Praise for Diana Lively Is Falling Down…
“A gem.” -Booklist (starred review)
“Filled with characters who make you laugh out loud even as they break your heart, this is a funny, warm, inventive, original book.”
–Jodi Picoult, author of Change of Heart
Books are born in strange places. Sheila Curran’s latest was conceived in the front seat of a car while her friend drove and their daughters chatted in the backseat. The women were discussing an article Curran had written about two young girls whose parents had died within months of each other.
While talking about the tragedy, Curran realized that choosing the perfect guardian for her kids–one that would raise them as she would–would be next to impossible. Even tougher to swallow would be the possibility that if she died first, her husband might marry someone awful, and then she’d have no control at all. Unless, she mused, she could get him to agree that if he remarried, her sisters and friends would have to agree to his choice of bride, just to prevent some wicked stepmother from moving in.
And thus was hatched the idea for EVERYONE SHE LOVED: A Novel (Atria Books; June 2009; Price: $25.00; ISBN: 978-1-4165-9066-8), an utterly engaging tale that explores the faith one woman placed in her dearest friends, the care she took to protect her family, and the many ways in which romantic entanglements can confound and confuse even the most determined of planners.
With wit and wisdom, EVERYONE SHE LOVED weaves a poignant tale about the abiding strength of friendship and the profound effect one person can have on another’s life. Most important, it delivers a message about growing up and moving on while still embracing a transcendent legacy of love.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
The author of Diana Lively Is Falling Down, Sheila Curran lives in Tallahassee, Florida, with her husband and children.

You know me, always trying to hook you up with a good read, right? Well, here’s another to put on your wish list. . . Jenny Gardiner’s latest release, WINGING IT. It’s scheduled to be released next week, and I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy. Check this out, and you’ll see what I mean . . .

ABOUT THE BOOK
Like many new bird owners, Jenny and Scott Gardiner hoped for a smart, talkative, friendly companion. Instead, as they took on the unexpected task of raising a curmudgeonly wild African grey parrot and a newborn, they learned an important lesson: parrothood is way harder than parenthood. WINGING IT: A Memoir of Caring for a Vengeful Parrot Who’s Determined to Kill Me (Gallery Books; on sale March 16, 2010; Hardcover; $23.00), is a hilarious and poignant cautionary tale about two very different types of creatures, thrown together by fate, who learn to make the best of a challenging situation.
A gift from Scott’s brother who was living in Zaire, Graycie arrived scrawny, pissed – off, and missing a lot of her feathers. Every day became a constant game of chicken with a bird that would do anything to ruffle their feathers.
The old adage about not biting the hand that feeds you–literally–never applied to Graycie.
But Jenny and Scott learned to adapt as the family grew to three children, a menagerie of dogs and cats, and, of course, Graycie. WINGING IT is a laugh-out- loud funny and touching memoir, Jenny vividly shares many hazards of parrot ownership, from the endless avian latrine duty and the joyful day the bird learned to mimic the sound of the smoke detector, to multiple ways a beak can pierce human flesh.
Graycie is a court jester, a karaoke partner, an unusual audio record of their family history, and at times, a nemesis. But most of all, she has taught the family volumes about tolerance, going with the flow, and realizing that you can no sooner make your child fit into a mold than you can turn a wild parrot into a docile house pet.
WINGING IT reminds us of the importance of patience, loyalty, and humor when it comes to dealing with even the most unpleasant members of the family.
________________________________________
” …Graycie is as much a part of us as we are of her. Sure, she might be feisty at times. But who isn’t? Whether she’s yelling at the dog or answering the phone or bobbing to the beat of the kids clapping for her amusement, she’s one of us. Our parrot, petulant or not, is a member of our family for the long haul.” -Jenny Gardiner
BOOK RAVES
“Jenny Gardiner’s hilarious memoir will have you alternately laughing and crying, and watching the skies for winged pets out for your blood.”
- Kristy Keirnan, award-winning author of Catching Genius
“Gardiner’s memoir proves that the hope of having a model pet (or child) is usually not realistic. It will speak to animal lovers and offer fair warning to anyone considering the 40-year-plus commitment of owning a parrot”.
–Library Journal
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jenny Gardiner is also the author of the award – winning novel Sleeping with Ward Cleaver. Her work has appeared in Ladies Home Journal, and the Washington Post. She writes a column of humorous essays for Charlottesville, Virginia’s newspaper, the Daily Progress. She lives in central Virginia with her family.

ABOUT THE BOOK – -
Investigative reporter Charlotte McNally is an expert at keeping things confidential, but suddenly everyone has a secret, and it turns out it may be possible to know too much. Charlie’s latest TV scoop–an expose of a dangerous recalled car scam complete with stakeouts, high-speed chases and hidden-camera footage–is ratings gold. But soon that leads her to a brand new and diabolical scheme (incredibly timely!) that could put every driver in danger.
Charlie’s personal and professional lives are on a collision course, too. Her fiancé is privy to information about threats at an elite private school that have suddenly turned deadly.
Charlie has never counted on happy endings. But now, just as she’s finally starting to believe in second chances, she realizes revenge, extortion and murder might leave her alone again. Or even dead. Emmy and Agatha award winning reporter Hank Phillippi Ryan proves that when everyone has a secret, the real mystery is knowing when to tell.
BOOK RAVES:
Library Journal *Starred review* Buckle up and prepare for a wild ride as Charlie McNally and Boston’s Channel 3 News investigate a nefarious car theft/forgery operation and race to get their story on the air before their lives are endangered. In the meantime, Charlie becomes consumed with secret sleuthing as blackmail and suspicious deaths threaten the private, prestigious Bexter Academy where her fiancé teaches. Amid late-night stakeouts and dangerous car chases, Charlie finds time for romance, wedding planning, and bonding with her future stepdaughter. In her fourth series entry (after Prime Time, Face Time, and Air Time), Ryan once again channels her Emmy-winning investigative reporting expertise to craft a realistic and compelling mystery, full of hairpin turns and dangerous intersections at breakneck speed.
Verdict Placing Ryan in the same league as Lisa Scottoline and Julie Kramer, her latest book catapults the reader into the fast lane and doesn’t relent until the story careens to a stop. New readers will speed to get her earlier books, and diehard fans will hope for another installment.
Romantic Times Book Reviews (4-1/2 stars!)
Don’t miss it!
A complex plot sprinkled generously with humor and Charlie’s wisecracking first-person narrative are the highlights of this extremely entertaining mystery.
“An exciting and complex plot makes this thrilling mystery a must-read.” If you’re looking for an exciting and complex plot, this is the book for you. Hank Phillippi Ryan has written another sexy thriller full of mystery. I found it to be very refreshing and written with a plot that has the reader grasping every word. DRIVE TIME is equally as exciting as the previous three novels about Charlie.
****Fresh Fiction
Lesa Holstine’s Book Reviews
How does Hank Phillippi Ryan do it? Her crime novels are ripped right from the headlines. Perhaps it’s because she is an investigative reporter, with her pulse on the news. But when her investigative reporter, Charlie McNally starts by investigating recalls of cars, and the cars that are not repaired, it seemed so timely with the Toyota recalls. But, Drive Time is about so much more than recalls.
Hank Phillippi Ryan’s Charlie McNally stories are exciting page-turners. Drive Time isn’t just about cars. It’s about one woman’s driven career, and the drive to uncover a shocking story. It’s about the passionate drive to know secrets, to have a successful life. It’s Hank Phillippi Ryan’s latest must-read crime novel, Drive Time.
**BLURBS FOR DRIVE TIME
“Loved it! Smart, funny, fresh, intriguing and thoroughly entertaining–I highly recommend this series.”
–Suzanne Brockmann
Drive Time may be Hank Phillippi Ryan’s best novel yet–a stunning and timely plot enhanced by the life-changing events in her investigative reporter’s personal and professional life. A realistic and endearing portrait of a woman trying to have it all. (And if any woman can, that woman is Charlotte McNally.)
–Margaret Maron, bestselling author of the Deborah Knott series
“Hank Phillippi Ryan knows the television business entirely; she understands plotting; and she writes beautifully. No wonder I loved DRIVE TIME. Anyone would.”
–Robert Parker, New York Times Bestselling Author of the Spenser for Hire mysteries
“DRIVE TIME is Hank Phillippi Ryan at her nonstop best. I loved it! The story grabbed me on the first page and didn’t let go until the very last page…and I can’t wait for more Charlotte McNally. Smart, witty and no one’s fool, Charlie is a heroine for today. Readers won’t be able to get enough of her.”
–Carla Neggers, New York Times Bestselling Author
HANK SHARES A FEW THOUGHTS WITH US . . .
Tell us about Drive Time.
DRIVE TIME is about secrets. TV reporter Charlie McNally’s working on a story about a dangerous scheme that could absolutely happen…and let me just say, if you own a car, or rent a car, you’ll never look at your vehicle the same way after reading DRIVE TIME. In fact, after writing the book, I now get a bit creeped out when I go into a parking garage. That’s all I’ll say.
Charlie’s also drawn into another frightening situation–this one at the prep school where her fiancé is an English professor. When Charlie learns a secret that might put her step-daughter-to-be in danger, and might also be an blockbuster investigative story–how does she balance her loyalty to her husband-to-be–with her need to protect the public?
So this is a tough one for Charlie. And she must make many life-changing decisions. Just when she begins to think she might be able to have it all–a terrific career and a new husband and a new life–revenge, extortion and murder may bring it all to a crashing halt.
DRIVE TIME just got a fabulous starred review from Library Journal. Just a snippet of the rave: “Placing Ryan in the same league as Lisa Scottoline…her latest book catapults the reader into the fast lane and doesn’t relent until the story careens to a stop. New readers will speed to get her earlier books, and diehard fans will hope for another installment.”
And dear Robert B. Parker’s quote is on the cover–he says “I loved DRIVE TIME!”
Growing up, did you ever think you’d be an investigative reporter?
Definitely–not. You know, I have a funny juxtaposition of desire to be in the spotlight–and sheer terror of being in the spotlight. I love my job in TV–and have to go live and unrehearsed al the time. Confession: I’m still terrified every time. I want to be perfect, and when you’re on live, you can’t possibly be. That’s one reason why I love investigative reporting–there’s more time to work, and dig, and polish, and produce, It’s like making a little movie, and I can make it as perfect as possible.
Anyway, my sisters and I used to create musical shows when we were all young, and perform for our parents in our back yard. I did acting in high school and college. I wanted to be a DJ on the radio for a long time! But I thought I would be an English teacher, or a lawyer for the Mine Workers union, or for awhile, a political activist.
(My mother, though, says she always knew I would be a television reporter–but I think that was just her way of rationalizing that all I did as a pre-teen and teenager was read books and watch TV.)
I knew from my first Nancy Drew that I loved mysteries. Nancy was my first best friend–I was a geeky unpopular kid, and it was such a relief to go home and hang out with Nancy. She was smart, and made it be okay to be smart. She was confident and inquisitive and resourceful. I loved that. But being a TV reporter was not in my sights. Little did I know!
How did you get started in that type of journalism?
I got into TV by chance. I had worked as a radio reporter (hired because, as I informed the radio station, they didn’t have any women working at the station! Hey. It was the seventies.) But after a few years working in Washington DC (on Capitol Hill as a legislative aide and then for Rolling Stone Magazine,) Rolling Stone closed its Washington office and I needed a new job.
I went back home to Indianapolis, and applied for a job as a TV reporter. It was 1975. I had covered politics in Washington, and the news director of the station figured he could teach me to be a TV reporter. (This was incredibly risky–I had never taken journalism and didn’t know one thing about TV. But I wasn’t afraid and I knew I could do it.)
Problem was, I should have been afraid! I quickly learned I had no idea what I was doing. I went home every night for the first two weeks, sobbing. Because I thought I would never understand it. Soon after–it hit me–oh, I get it! And I have adored it ever since. I took a chance, and found my calling.
I started as the political reporter (and was also the movie reviewer, of all things! At age 26.) At various times I’ve been the medical reporter, a weekend anchor, and an on the road feature reporter. When I came to Boston, I was the funny feature reporter–cat shows, sports features, poems, and anything quirky or funny. They used to call me “something out of nothing productions,” because I could find a story in anything.
But starting in 1988, I covered the presidential election, doing long elaborate think pieces. It was terrific. And then I told my news director I didn’t want to be the funny one anymore. I wanted to be the serious one. And from that day on, I’ve been the investigative reporter.
And I love it every day.
When I was reading about all the things you’ve done as a reporter… like being chased by criminals, confronting corrupt politicians, etc, it’s almost like immersing myself in a nail biting novel. Have any of these experiences found their way into your books?
There’s a huge been-there-done-that element to the books–I’ve wired myself with hidden cameras, confronted corrupt politicians, chased down criminals…been in disguise, been stalked, and threatened and had many a door slammed in my face. I’ve had people confess to murder, and others, from prison, insist they were innocent. So when that happens to Charlie, it’s fair to imagine me. Although the plots are completely from my imagination, those are real-life experiences!
How did the character of Charlotte ‘Charlie’ McNally come about?
What a great question. I have NO idea. She was born when I got a weird spam in my email. It was what looked like lines from a play by Shakespeare. I thought–why would someone send a spam like that? And it crossed my mind–maybe it’s a secret message.
I still get goose bumps telling you about it. And I knew, after all those years of wanting to write a mystery, that was my plot. And that turned out to be the Agatha-winning PRIME TIME. But Charlie? Well, I knew I had a good story, but who would tell it? A television reporter, of course. And she just instantly popped into my head. Named, fully formed. I knew her perfectly.
The other characters were more difficult to get to know. But now, Charlie surprises me a lot! And I love when that happens.
Is she anything like you? Has she ever done anything you wouldn’t do to get your story?
When my husband talks about Charlie, he calls her “you.” As in–when “you” are held at gunpoint, when you track down the bad guys, when you solve the mystery… and I have to remind him, “Sweetheart, it’s fiction. It didn’t really happen.”
But a couple of things: I’ve been a TV reporter for more than 30 years. (Yes, really.) And so it would be silly, in writing a mystery about TV, not to use my own experiences. Think about it–as a TV reporter, you can never be wrong! Never be one minute late. Never choose the wrong word or miscalculate. You can never have a bad hair day, because it’ll be seen by millions of people! It’s high-stakes and high-stress–literally, people’s lives at stake–and I really wanted to convey that in the books.
And everything that TV people do and say in the books is authentic and genuine. (Of course, Charlie can say things I can’t say, and reveal things I can’t reveal.) We’re both devoted journalists, and over-focused on our jobs.
But Charlotte McNally is different, too. She’s single–I’m happily married. She’s ten years younger than I am, and so is facing different choices and dilemmas. She’s braver than I am, certainly. Funnier. And a much better driver.
You’ve got four books under your belt, you’ve won an Agatha, and been compared to Lisa Scottoline. Will there come a time when you say goodbye to journalism to focus full time on your fiction?
Ain’t that the question! I still smile in delight every time I see my Agatha teapot. And when the starred review in Library Journal for DRIVE TIME compared me to Lisa Scottoline, well, I burst into tears. But I still love my job in TV. So–you could ask me that question every day, and every day I’d have a different answer. And I guess the bottom line is: who knows?
Any plans to write a non Charlotte McNally novel?
Yup. Absolutely. It’s in the works. You heard it here first.
Any other genre you want to tackle?
Yup. It’s in the works. You heard it here first.
Your husband’s a criminal defense attorney. Does he read your work or give you any tips or even ideas for plots?
He’s the most patient man on the planet. Yes, he’s really the only person who reads my pages while they’re in process. When I first started writing PRIME TIME, I’d give hi my five pages or so a day, and I’d hear him laughing and I was so delighted! And he would tell me every day how terrific it was. Then, about fifty pages in, I went in for my daily pat on the back. And he had a funny look on his face. “Honey?” he asked. “Is something going to happen soon?” So I knew I had some work to do.
Ideas for plots? Ah, no, not really. I’m always running ideas by him, to see if he thinks they’re plausible and believable. And sometimes he’ll come up with just the perfect little thing I need to pull something together. But we think very differently. He’s much more–wedded to reality.
You’ve won accolades from some of the top writers in the business including some of my favorite authors like Sara Paretsky and Sue Grafton. Any tips you can offer for writing top notch mysteries and creating a great character like Charlie?

Well, thank you! Yes, it’s great, and Sara Paretsky and Sue Grafton are my idols. (They’re also wonderfully generous, and truly authentic. I have three little talismans on my desk that Sue Grafton gave me, and I look at them every day.)
Tips? Well, I read an interview with the poet Anne Sexton some time ago–and she was asked, “What, truly, can a creative writing teacher give her students?” And her answer was:” Courage.” I think that’s so wonderful. And I think my advice would be similar–just don’t be afraid. Fear is a waste of time. Write your book. One page at a time. You can do it.
Any mistakes you’ve made along the way, have you learned anything from them?
Hah. That’s another long blog for another day. Mistakes? Ah, on a huge level, people always yell at me for working all the time. ALL the time. Is that a mistake? None of this would have happened without that. Would I change it? I have to say no. So is that a mistake? I’m not sure. On a tiny level, I should have put together a mailing list of bookstores. Still haven’t done that. Wish I had.
What’s next for you?
Exactly what I’m trying to figure out. DRIVE TIME came out February 1, with fantastic blurbs from the much-missed and iconic Robert B. Parker and Suzanne Brockmann and Margaret Maron and Carla Neggers and a rave starred review from Library Journal. So I’m hoping people love it. (And I’ll be visiting lots of places across the US–hope some of our readers come visit!) And then…we’ll see. I can’t tell you how excited I am.
Hank, you’ve had an incredible career in broadcasting. What have you enjoyed most about your professional life?
Well, thanks! Over the past 30 years, I’ve wired myself with hidden cameras, chased down criminals and confronted corrupt politicians–and had many a door slammed in my face! But the idea that I can change lives and even change laws is so gratifying. It’s a big responsibility, which I take very seriously. But when a tough story comes through and changes are made as a result–the rewards are immense.
How did your TV show “Hank Investigates” come about?
It’s a segment on the news here in Boston, and airs on the NBC affiliate. I’ve been a reporter for a long time–starting out as the political reporter in Indianapolis in 1975–then assigned to other beats from the medical reporter (!) to movie critic (!!) to on-the-road feature reporter in Atlanta, Georgia, where every Monday morning I’d close my eyes and point to a map–and then go to wherever that finger point took me to see what I could come up with.
I came to Boston as a reporter in 1982, where for awhile I was the “funny one.” Whenever the newscast needed a clever feature–what we call a “kicker”–I was the one assigned to do it. They called me “Something out of nothing productions” since I could always find a story anywhere!
But in 1988, I was assigned to do the long-form “think pieces” for the presidential conventions. After that, my news director told me he’d realized I was wasting time being the funny one. He said–you’re the serious one. And he made me the investigative reporter. And that’s what I’ve done–with much delight–ever since.
Which of all your many awards do you cherish most, and why?
Oh, impossible. My Agatha for PRIME TIME as Best First Novel? Brings tears to my eyes every time I see it. What a joy! But I love each of the 26 Emmys and12 Murrows as if it were the only one. Each one of them represents a secret that we discovered and brought to light. I’m very proud of those, and what they represent.
Tell us briefly about your background.
I was born in Chicago, where my dad was the music critic for the old Chicago Daily News. We moved to Indianapolis (where some of my family still lives) when I was about 6. I went to public schools, where I was a geeky Beatle-loving misfit voted “most original” in high school…much to my chagrin at the time. Majored in English at Western College for Women in Oxford Ohio, when in to work in politics and then…radio.
I got my first job in broadcasting because–as I told the news director at the radio station–”Your license is up for renewal at the FCC, and you don’t have any women working here.” Well, it was 1970! I’m proud to be part of the group of women who began to break down the gender barriers back then.
I worked for almost 2 years in the US Senate, and then a couple of years at Rolling Stone Magazine in Washington, DC. And then, TV.
When did you decide to write novels? And how did you come up with your “Time” mystery series?
Well, I decided to write mystery novels when I was about 7–Nancy Drew was my first best friend. But for whatever reason, it took me about 48 more years to come up with a plot I thought was worthy!
That happened when I got a weird email one day at the station. It was clearly a spam, with the subject line “mortgage refinancing.” But inside, was what looked like lines from a play by Shakespeare. I thought–why would someone send lines form a play by Shakespeare in a spam about mortgage refinancing? And it crossed my mind–maybe it’s a secret message.
And ding ding ding! (I still get goosebumps telling this story.) I thought–my plot! And that’s how it all started. From that moment on, I was obsessed with writing the book. And that was the Agatha-winning PRIME TIME.
What’s your writing schedule like and how long does a novel take to write, from idea to finished manuscript? Do you outline?
Prime Time took maybe..two years. The others have taken maybe 6 months each.
Outline? Yes. No. When I started with PRIME TIME, I had no outline. Just one of the many things I didn’t understand about mystery writing. My first manuscript was 723 pages long! AH. I had to cut 400 pages!
When we sold PRIME TIME, the publisher initially wanted two books. And they wanted an outline for the second. So I did outline FACE TIME, and although I complained the entire time writing it–it was no fun at all–it turned out to be a terrific tool. Even though the final story was nothing like the outline!
So now, I outline. And then I write the real story–however it comes out.
Which do you prefer, investigative reporting or novel writing, and why?
No way I could decide that! I love them both.
Which novelist most influenced your own work? And which writer, past or present, would you like to spend some time with?
. I love Edith Wharton’s cynical take on the world, and the way she illustrates the social structure even while being dramatic and entertaining. Her stories have such with such depth and texture, and her characters are wonderful. Julia Spencer Fleming. Margaret Maron’s wonderfully authentic dialogue and settings. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle for clever plots. Lisa Scottoline for her contemporary and hip take on the world. John Lescroart for story story story. PD James. Who I’d love to spend time with? Shakespeare. I have many, many questions for him. Whoever he was. Oh! And Stephen King. What a genius, on so many levels.
ABOUT HANK:
Award-winning investigative reporter Hank Phillippi Ryan is on the air at 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 26 EMMYs, Hank’s won dozens of other journalism honors. She’s been a radio reporter, 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. It was also was a double RITA nominee for Best First Book and Best Romantic Suspense Novel, and a Reviewers’ Choice Award Winner. FACE TIME and the new AIR TIME are IMBA bestsellers. DRIVE TIME, February 2010 from MIRA Books, just earned a starred review from Library Journal. Hank is on the national board of Mystery Writers of America.
Her website and blog site URLS:

http://www.HankPhillippiRyan.com

http://www.JungleRedWriters.com

http://www.theLipstickChronicles.typepad.com

http://www.femmesfatales.typepad.com

BOOK BET gave students attending NEIA the opportunity to have next semester’s books paid for! And the prizes are . . .

1st place winner receives $300 towards next semester’s book purchases.

2nd place winner receives $150 towards next semester’s book purchases.

All NEIA students had to do to particiate was read WATER WITCH, then answer the following question:

In your opinion, what was the biggest obstacle Dunny Pollock had to overcome in Water Witch, and how did she overcome it?

And that they did! So with no further ado, I’m proud to announce that our first place winner is . . . KAYLA ROY! HUGE CONGRATS, KAYLA, ON A JOB WELL DONE!

Our second place winner . . . KAITLYNN HEGARTY! Way to go Kaitlaynn!!

A huge congratulations to both winners, and we wish them great success as they go off to tackle this new school semester.