Book Beat Babes

Book Beat Babes

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Special Guest Hank Phillippi Ryan Was Ready, Are You?


I'm thrilled to present today's guest, the multi-talented, award winning Hank Phillippi Ryan.  - Morgan Mandel

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN is the on-air investigative reporter for Boston’s NBC affiliate. She’s won 30 EMMYs, 12 Edward R. Murrow awards and dozens of other honors for her ground-breaking journalism. A bestselling author of six mystery novels, Ryan has won multiple prestigious awards for her crime fiction: the Agatha, Anthony, Macavity, and most recently, for THE OTHER WOMAN, the coveted Mary Higgins Clark Award. National reviews call her a "master at crafting suspenseful mysteries" and "a superb and gifted storyteller." 

Her newest thriller, THE WRONG GIRL, is a Boston Globe bestseller and was dubbed "Another winner" in a Booklist starred review. She’s on the national board of Mystery Writers of America and 2013 president of national Sisters in Crime.

Visit her online at HankPhillippiRyan.com
on Twitter @hank_phillippi

And now, some words of advice from Hank:

ASK THE UNIVERSE  By Hank Phillippi Ryan

Ask the universe. My darling and tough agent told me that, a few years ago, when I was having some kind of a wishing/hoping/yearning conversation with her. She stopped me, polite but firm, and said listen: there are many elements of the writing world we cannot control. All we can do, she said, is do the very best we can, put ourselves out there, and be ready. Ask the universe. And trust the universe.


I wrote that-- “Ask the Universe” “Trust the Universe”-- on a piece of paper, and posted it on my bulletin board, exactly where I would see it every morning and be reminded.



Now if there is any eye-rolling going on out there among you writers, hang on a minute. Here’s an example.  



The fabulous best-selling Meg Gardiner tells the story about her first US publishing contract.  She was a big deal in Europe (still is, of course) but could not crack the US Market. She could not get anything but rejected.

Her UK publisher also handled Stephen King. And that publisher sent King every book they published. One day, King needed a book to read on a trans-Atlantic flight. As the story goes, King stuck his hand into a box of those books, pulled out Meg’s paperback, and checked—the font size. Yes, he told her later, the words were large enough that it’d be comfortable reading on the plane. A random choice, one of many books he might have touched...but it was Meg’s, by the chance of the universe, that went into his hand.

Stephen King loved her book. Loved it so much he wrote a blog about it, and mentioned it in an article. Within days, Meg said, she had offers from 14 us publishers.

That was the universe, tapping Meg on the shoulder and saying, “Kiddo, it’s your turn.” 

Now. Meg had a terrific book—if King hadn’t loved it, we wouldn’t be having this conversation, right? So your job as an author is to be ready for the universe. Ready for that moment when
the universe taps you.

And it will. At the moment you never expect.

My husband and I don’t celebrate the anniversary of the day we met. We celebrate the anniversary of the day before we met. And we call it  “You Never Know Day.” Because you never know what wonderful thing is around the next corner.

Right?

So yes, we all worry about promotion and number and sales. We whine and wonder—what can we do? 

What we can do is write a terrific book. And be ready. Trust the universe.  It will all work if YOU work—and most likely in a way you cannot predict.


THE WRONG GIRL
 Does a respected adoption agency have a frightening secret? Tipped off by a determined ex-colleague on a desperate quest to find her birth mother, Boston newspaper reporter Jane Ryland begins to suspect that the agency is engaging in the ultimate betrayal—reuniting birth parents with the wrong children.
It's a trail of twists and turns that takes them deep into the heart of a foster care system in crisis and threatens to blow the lid off an adoption agency scandal. With a killer at large and an infant missing, time is running out...
"...a crisp, fast-moving police procedural featuring reverberating illegalities, increasing danger and suspense and crackling sexual tension...Another winner from Ryan."    —Booklist, STARRED REVIEW 
Purchase at:
http://www.HankPhillippiRyan.com


Please leave a comment to welcome Hank Phillippi Ryan to Book Beat Babes, then stop by her Facebook Page at HankPhillippiRyanAuthorPage to learn more about her and her great books.


35 comments:

  1. Welcome to Book Beat Babes, Hank. I love the idea of the "You never know day."
    Also, I must say that I'm amazed by all you accomplish with your busy schedule. Your new book sounds fascinating!

    Morgan Mandel
    http://www.morganmandel.com

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  2. Great advice, Hank. This is just what I needed to read this morning. The Wrong Girl sounds fascinating.

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    1. Thank you, Kathleen. Yes, THE WRONG GIRL is based on a true story, a news tip a viewer told me about. It turned out not to be a good tv story, but wow, what a lovely tidbit for a thriller! You never know, right?

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  3. I love You Never Know Day! Problem is I don't remember the date of when we met. Long story.

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    1. Oh, MAry Jo, YNK day can be ANY day! Like--today, right? oxo

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  4. Hank,
    Welcome to BBB.
    Here's to 'You never know day', a day filled with possibilities.
    Margot
    www.mjustes.com

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  5. Hank, it was wonderful, hearing you speak at Magna cum Murder. You're a true inspiration!

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    1. Marian, so lovely of you! That was my first time at Magna--and it was terrific. Thank you for the kind words...

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  6. Hi Hank,
    I met you briefly at the Pennwriters conference in Pittsburgh, back in May. Great advice about trusting the universe. Thanks for the shot of encouragement.

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    1. Hey Kathy..are you going to Pennwriters next year? ANd you know, it was encouraging to ME when I wrote the piece! SO thank you, it all works..xoo

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  7. Welcome Hank!!
    Great inspiration - thanks for sharing. I printed off a copy just as a reminder. I love the "never know day," concept.
    DL Larson

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    1. Thanks, Deb. yeah, it's interesting... the "don't quit five minutes before the miracle" thing is very powerful..

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  8. Love it - I'm reading Illusions (Bach) right now. Just a chapter before bed to keep that idea in my mind. Ask the Universe, Trust the Universe. Great mantra.

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    1. Oh, Lynn..I have not read that. Add to the pile. Do you know the Dani Shapiro book? She's terrific, too.

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  9. I loved The Other Woman and can't wait to read The Wrong Girl. I have recommended your books to quite a few people.

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    1. Julia! Thank you! Thank you thank you. Word of mouth is the MOST important thing in the world. The MOST. If you like book--tell a friend. xoxoo

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  10. Thanks for visiting with us today and sharing such great advice! As soon as I get home I'll be tacking a "Trust the Universe" sign to my writing desk.

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    1. Great, Debra! Can't hurt, right? And my pleasure..xoxo (Let me know what happens...)

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  11. Stopping by to say hello! You've worked hard for your success, Hank, and it shows. I love the idea of always doing your best and letting the universe kick you into high gear on its own schedule. You save a lot of angst that way!

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    1. Back at you, Maggie! ANd you are so right...xoxo You never know!

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  12. I met you at Midwest Writers this summer,and a few years back at a bookfest in Wisconsin. I'm so encouraged by your story! Also, my mom loves your books so we are fans too :)

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    1. Oh, yes, at the festival of the Book! A terrific time..and wasn;t Kent Krueger a great keynote speaker? And tell your mom hello from me. xooxo to you both! and thank you. Watch for Truth Be Told this fall!

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  13. Can't believe I forgot to tell you about the new book: TRUTH BE TOLD.. If all goes as planned--and sometimes it does!--the third Jane Ryland will e out next fall.

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  14. And hurray! THE WRONG GIRL was just nominated by RTBookreivews Reviewers Choice Award for Best Suspense/Thriller of 2013! Whoo hop!

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  15. Hank, this is such a good way to look at life and the world. I'm going to embrace it. Thank you.

    TRUTH BE TOLD is a terrific title. Jane Ryland is one of my favorite characters ever. I love the settings where she works and moves—where her experiences take her.

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    1. Thank you, dear Reine! ANd whew, about the title. I wondered..so that's lovely to hear! Thinking of you..xoxo

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  16. Welcome to Book Beat Babes!! I love your books! I couldn't put down The Other Woman!

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    1. Hurray, Joan! Hope you love THE WRONG GIRL, too. SO nice to hear! Keep in touch, okay?

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  17. Hank,

    I love your attitude. It's also very encouraging to fellow writers. The truth is, you never do know what life has in store. I look forward to reading THE WRONG GIRL. Congrats on all your successes.

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    1. Thanks, Jacqueline. And you know what? It's such fun to think about my "fellow writers." Who'd-a thought? xoxo

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  18. Excellent advice. Sometimes we fret and worry when we could be putting that energy to far better use--writing.

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    1. Exactly, Marilyn. (I'm not saying I've learned not to fret and worry! I am a PRO at it! But I try to temper it with reality..) xoo

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  19. Thanks again for being a guest here at Book Beat Babes, Hank. Much success with The Wrong Girl!

    Morgan Mandel

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