Interview with Hank Phillipi Ryan
The Other Woman
The Other Woman
Debbie
- Hank, first welcome back to the General Fiction
forum at B&N.com. It’s been a lonely year without your smiling face and
witty remarks and I know I speak for all of the visitors here when I say, it’s
about time you came back. J
As many of you know Hank is no stranger to the forum. Last year we read and discussed her very first Novel “Prime Time”, where her protagonist was a TV reporter of a certain age Charlotte McNally. This month we’ll be talking about another debut novel for Hank as she introduces us to Jane Ryland and begins thus another series with yet another reporter.
How did the Jane story begin?
HANK: It began in the dentist's office. (How about that?) Yup. I went in for a root canal, and read in a waiting room magazine about the governor of South Carolina who'd told his wife and staff he was hiking the Appalachian trail--when he was really off with his Argentinean mistress. Why would someone choose to be the other woman, I wondered? It's such a terrible idea on every level. And then I thought--maybe there's a twist, maybe there's a secret, maybe there's a big juicy story behind it. Maybe it's a story I could tell! At the end of the article, the governor's wife was quoted. She said: "You can choose your sin, but you cannot choose your consequences."
As many of you know Hank is no stranger to the forum. Last year we read and discussed her very first Novel “Prime Time”, where her protagonist was a TV reporter of a certain age Charlotte McNally. This month we’ll be talking about another debut novel for Hank as she introduces us to Jane Ryland and begins thus another series with yet another reporter.
How did the Jane story begin?
HANK: It began in the dentist's office. (How about that?) Yup. I went in for a root canal, and read in a waiting room magazine about the governor of South Carolina who'd told his wife and staff he was hiking the Appalachian trail--when he was really off with his Argentinean mistress. Why would someone choose to be the other woman, I wondered? It's such a terrible idea on every level. And then I thought--maybe there's a twist, maybe there's a secret, maybe there's a big juicy story behind it. Maybe it's a story I could tell! At the end of the article, the governor's wife was quoted. She said: "You can choose your sin, but you cannot choose your consequences."
At that moment --I get
goose bumps when I tell you--I thought: "my book!" And that became
THE OTHER WOMAN--a thriller about love, loss, and the lust for power. A book
about consequences.
But I
soon realized it couldn’t be a Charlie story—it was too big and too complex,
and it needed multiple points of view. But I knew a reporter should be one of
them. She couldn’t just be—not-Charlie, you know? So I had to create a whole
new person…and she grew and developed as the story progressed. She protected a
source. She had a big story. Her station was sued. It lost. She got fired. It
was unfair. She needed to get back her good name and her reputation. It all
just—blossomed. It was very
exciting.
Is there a planned number of novels for Jane or is she a work in progress?
HANK: I can think of a million stories for Jane—she’s smart and ambitious, she’s honorable and funny and devoted to her job as a reporter-even if it’s at a newspaper and not on TV anymore. What’s her next blockbuster? Would she consider going back to broadcast news? (What do you think she should do?) And what will happen to Jake? And Alex? And Tuck?
What’s coming next and when can we expect it?
HANK: Well, THE WRONG GIRL comes out this time next year! In it, Jake’s working to solve a tragic murder case—who killed a foster mother? And what happened to the children she was caring for? Meanwhile, Jane begins to suspect a respected adoption agency I reuniting birth parents with the wrong children. Scary, huh? But like all my stories, it could happen.
HANK: Well, THE WRONG GIRL comes out this time next year! In it, Jake’s working to solve a tragic murder case—who killed a foster mother? And what happened to the children she was caring for? Meanwhile, Jane begins to suspect a respected adoption agency I reuniting birth parents with the wrong children. Scary, huh? But like all my stories, it could happen.
I was lucky enough to meet Hank in person last year at a library event while she was in town for Bouchercon. It was one of the great highlights of my life, which brings up another subject.
Hank you have a very active life how do you keep up with it all.?
(be sure and check out Hank’s events page, http://www.hankphillippiryan.com/events.php
She may be coming to a venue near you)
HANK: Yes, it’s crazy, huh? But I love meeting readers, and talking about books and stories and television and mysteries and the mystery of television. And I met Fricka in AZ and Elaine in Houston, how cool was that? So it’s a constant joy. Even though my husband sometimes thinks it’s out of control. J
Keeping
up? Is sometimes like those people on Ed Sullivan who spun plates on sticks.
Remember? Never a dull moment. I work at Channel 7 during the day—my husband
and I leave home at 8:30 am or so and drive into Boston. I read the newspaper
out loud to him, so its not as if I’m being chauffeured. (Sometimes I make
stuff up to see if he’ll notice.)
We work
a regular day (he’s a lawyer) and then get home at 6:30 or so. When I’m in
writing mode, I write from maybe 7 until 10, then we have dinner! (Yup, I
know.)
I work
on weekend and on vacation days. Happily, my husband is very enthusiastic and
supportive. And doesn’t mind carry-out grilled salmon.
Bottom
line, I try to be organized. I don’t multi-task if I can help it—I think doing
one thing at a time is most productive. And I make a LOT of lists. It’s so
gratifying to cross things off!
Are you a reader, who are your favorite
authors?
Oh, yes, of course. My reading life has been full and rich since I was a kid. I started with Nancy Drew, of course, and Trixie Belden and Vicki Barr and Cherry Ames. (Anyone remember?) I loved the Edward Eager books, and Jane Langton and Madeleine L’Engle.
Oh, yes, of course. My reading life has been full and rich since I was a kid. I started with Nancy Drew, of course, and Trixie Belden and Vicki Barr and Cherry Ames. (Anyone remember?) I loved the Edward Eager books, and Jane Langton and Madeleine L’Engle.
And
then—life changingly—all the Sherlock Holmes stories. I still have my big orange
compilation of all the short stories, its all battered and rumpled and
wonderful. I went on to all the
British women authors—Ngaio Marsh, and Josephine Tey and Marjorie
Allingham and Dorothy Sayers…and Agatha Christie, of course. (Which made it especially wonderful
when I won two Agatha Awards!)
I also
fell in love with thrillers—Failsafe and Seven Days in May and On the Beach.
Advise and Consent. Then, years later, Winds of War. Remember?
It’s not
just mystery. Right now I’m adoring Edith Wharton, and Tom Wolfe and Thomas
Wolfe, and Mark Helprin. Stephen King’s The Stand. I focused on Shakespeare in
college, (anyone notice that each of the TIME books has a specific
Shakespearean play as a theme?) and though it feels like I’ve forgotten so
much, still love to read the plays.
But in
contemporary mystery? My recent faves are Bill Landay’s DEFENDING JACOB (ask me
about that) and Mo Hayder’s GONE and Linwood Barclay’s TRUST YOUR EYES. Oh,
there are a LOT more! And I will think of them and tell you.
Your shelves at home must be getting pretty crowded with all the Emmy’s, Edward R Murrow’s having to compete with the Agatha’s, Rita’s, Top Picks and bestseller lists.
Is there one award in particular that means more than the others in either of your very successful careers?
HANK: Oh, what a nice question, but how could I choose? The Agatha, certainly, I still get teary when I look at it.( As for my dear Emmys, I’ll send you a photo, if you like, it’s pretty funny and I’m so proud of them! I could happily tell you the story of each and every one , individually, with much delight! But I will spare you…)
I must
say when I got the email that THE OTHER WOMAN hit the Boston Globe bestseller
list at number 2, (whoa!) I was by
myself, on the quiet car of the Acela train. You know how that works—in the
quiet car, you have to be SILENT. NO talking, so noice, no cell phone calls.
Which is usually lovely and tranquil! So here I get his fabulous news..and I
can’t even make a squeak or call my husband! It was still fun to celebrate,
just very very silently.
When it
stayed on the list another week, I was just getting off an airplane! So again,
no one to celebrate with.
And when
the new issue of Mystery Scene Magazine came out—did you see it, with me on the
cover? Wow. I was in Phoenix at a
bookstore, and the proprietor brought it to me to sign. I was so surprised—I
had no idea that was going to happen. Poor bookseller—I was so thrilled, I gave
him a huge hug. A complete stranger!
Now for something a bit personal.
Is there someone you haven’t met that you would like to?
HANK: Whoa. Ah, terrific question. Meet? That’s hard, because it’s easier to choose someone I’d like to SEE. You know? And then not have to worry about having something cool to say.
I’ve
interviewed Prince Charles. Caroline Kennedy was my intern. I’m know Lee Child
and Lisa Scottoline and Lisa Gardner and Julia Spencer-Fleming and Sue Grafton.
Sue Grafton! Who I have to admit, bowled me over when me met.
So I’d
love to see…Michelle Obama? Stephen King? Bruce Springsteen, up close? Tom
Wolfe. JK Rowling. Yikes. I’ll have to think about this!
What
about you all? Who are your choices? I’d love to hear…
Thank you for taking the time to give as an up close and personal look Hank, I can’t wait for the discussion to begin.
HANK: Thanks! See you here soon. and I will send photos!
Thank you for taking the time to give as an up close and personal look Hank, I can’t wait for the discussion to begin.
HANK: Thanks! See you here soon. and I will send photos!
Be sure and check out Hank’s website http://www.hankphillippiryan.com
If you haven't seen the book trailer, here it is
buy the book here
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