Interview with Award Winning Author and October guest Hank Phillipi Ryan- The Other Woman

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Interview with Hank Phillipi Ryan
The Other WomanDebbie- Hank, first welcome back to the General Fictionforum at B&N.com. It’s been a lonely year without your smiling face andwitty remarks and I know I speak for all of the visitors here when I say, it’sabout time you came back. J

As many of you know Hank is no stranger to the forum. Last year we read anddiscussed her very first Novel “Prime Time”, where her protagonist was a TVreporter of a certain age Charlotte McNally. This month we’ll be talking aboutanother debut novel for Hank as she introduces us to Jane Ryland and beginsthus another series with yet another reporter.

Howdid the Jane story begin?
HANK: It beganin the dentist's office. (How about that?)Yup. I went in for a root canal, and read in a waiting room magazine about thegovernor of South Carolina who'd told his wife and staff he was hiking theAppalachian trail--when he was really off with his Argentinean mistress. Whywould someone choose to be the other woman, I wondered? It's such a terribleidea on every level. And then I thought--maybe there's a twist, maybe there's asecret, maybe there's a big juicy story behind it. Maybe it's a story I couldtell! 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 getgoose bumps when I tell you--I thought: "my book!" And that becameTHE OTHER WOMAN--a thriller about love, loss, and the lust for power. A bookabout consequences.But Isoon 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 ofthem. She couldn’t just be—not-Charlie, you know? So I had to create a wholenew person…and she grew and developed as the story progressed. She protected asource. She had a big story. Her station was sued. It lost. She got fired. Itwas unfair. She needed to get back her good name and her reputation. It alljust—blossomed.  It was veryexciting. 
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 smartand ambitious, she’s honorable and funny and devoted to her job as areporter-even if it’s at a newspaper and not on TV anymore. What’s her nextblockbuster? Would she consider going back to broadcast news? (What do youthink 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? Andwhat happened to the children she was caring for? Meanwhile, Jane begins tosuspect 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 whileshe 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 lovemeeting readers, and talking about books and stories and television andmysteries and the mystery of television. And I met Fricka in AZ and Elaine inHouston, how cool was that? So it’s a constant joy. Even though my husbandsometimes thinks it’s out of control. JKeepingup? 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 husbandand I leave home at 8:30 am or so and drive into Boston. I read the newspaperout loud to him, so its not as if I’m being chauffeured. (Sometimes I makestuff up to see if he’ll notice.)We worka regular day (he’s a lawyer) and then get home at 6:30 or so. When I’m inwriting mode, I write from maybe 7 until 10, then we have dinner! (Yup, Iknow.) I workon weekend and on vacation days. Happily, my husband is very enthusiastic andsupportive. And doesn’t mind carry-out grilled salmon.Bottomline, I try to be organized. I don’t multi-task if I can help it—I think doingone thing at a time is most productive. And I make a LOT of lists. It’s sogratifying to cross things off!    Are you a reader, who are your favoriteauthors?
Oh, yes, of course. My reading life hasbeen full and rich since I was a kid. I started with Nancy Drew, of course, andTrixie Belden and Vicki Barr and Cherry Ames. (Anyone remember?)  I loved the Edward Eager books, andJane Langton and Madeleine L’Engle.Andthen—life changingly—all the Sherlock Holmes stories. I still have my big orangecompilation of all the short stories, its all battered and rumpled andwonderful. I went on to all the British women authors—Ngaio Marsh, and Josephine Tey and MarjorieAllingham and Dorothy Sayers…and Agatha Christie, of course.  (Which made it especially wonderfulwhen I won two Agatha Awards!)I alsofell 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 notjust mystery. Right now I’m adoring Edith Wharton, and Tom Wolfe and ThomasWolfe, and Mark Helprin. Stephen King’s The Stand. I focused on Shakespeare incollege, (anyone notice that each of the TIME books has a specificShakespearean play as a theme?) and though it feels like I’ve forgotten somuch, still love to read the plays. But incontemporary mystery? My recent faves are Bill Landay’s DEFENDING JACOB (ask meabout 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, EdwardR Murrow’s having to compete with the Agatha’s, Rita’s, Top Picks andbestseller lists.
Is there one award in particular that means more than the others in either ofyour very successful careers?
HANK: Oh, what a nice question, but howcould I choose?  The Agatha,certainly, I still get teary when I look at it.( As for my dear Emmys, I’llsend you a photo, if you like, it’s pretty funny and  I’m so proud of them! I could happily tell you the story ofeach and every one , individually, with much delight! But I will spare you…) I mustsay when I got the email that THE OTHER WOMAN hit the Boston Globe bestsellerlist at number 2, (whoa!)  I was bymyself, on the quiet car of the Acela train. You know how that works—in thequiet 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 Ican’t even make a squeak or call my husband! It was still fun to celebrate,just very very silently. When itstayed on the list another week, I was just getting off an airplane! So again,no one to celebrate with.And whenthe new issue of Mystery Scene Magazine came out—did you see it, with me on thecover? Wow.  I was in Phoenix at abookstore, and the proprietor brought it to me to sign. I was so surprised—Ihad no idea that was going to happen. Poor bookseller—I was so thrilled, I gavehim 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’veinterviewed Prince Charles. Caroline Kennedy was my intern. I’m know Lee Childand 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’dlove to see…Michelle Obama? Stephen King? Bruce Springsteen, up close? TomWolfe.  JK Rowling.  Yikes. I’ll have to think about this!Whatabout 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 lookHank, 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

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