Hank Phillippi's Profile

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Launch week for TRUST ME! And I have been essentially on a plane every day. Femmes and friends, I really love it. It's exciting, it's amazing, and I am counting blessings like mad. Here are some snapshots... Continue reading

Posted Sep 4, 2018 at My Weblog

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Hank Discovers A Law of the Writing Universe

I think I have discovered the theory of book relativity. Here’s how it goes. The amount of craziness is inversely proportional to the number of days left before launch day. Trust me, this is true. Of course, the joy is... Continue reading

Posted Aug 27, 2018 at My Weblog

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The Book She Didn't Expect

HANK PHILLIPPPI RYAN: Listen. Hear that applause? It’s every single one of us Femmes, giving an absolute standing ovation to the amazing wonderful talented (and determined) debut author, Liz Milliron! Nothing makes me happier than when a friend and colleague... Continue reading

Posted Aug 6, 2018 at My Weblog

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You Probably Think This Song Is About You

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Oh, yes, yes, indeed. I know they say every first book is autobiographical, and yeah, sure, you're going to draw on the low-hanging emotional fruit a bit. But we write who we are, and that's a good... Continue reading

Posted Jul 30, 2018 at My Weblog

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TRUST ME

This is the 11th time this has happened, and I’m not sure if it ever changes. The fear, excitement, the terror, the panic, the joy. The absolute knowledge that anything could happen, for better or worse, and that there is... Continue reading

Posted Jul 3, 2018 at My Weblog

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John Keats, Mrs. Pollifax & Me

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: I have never set eyes on Annie Hogsett. And yet, I am a huge fan. And I know, when I do meet her, and I will make sure it happens, that she and I will be pals.... Continue reading

Posted Jun 4, 2018 at My Weblog

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Reading Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: I call her my fairy godsister. Every time she’s around and everything she touches turns into something wonderful. She’s an amazing writer, and a brilliant author (she looks at everything I write, thank goodness) and a complete... Continue reading

Posted May 29, 2018 at My Weblog

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A Letter to Catriona

Hi Catriona, it's Hank. As you well know, I went to Malice Domestic this weekend. I've been to that amazing convention, many times, and adore it. The community of writers, and readers, and mystery lovers, and truly educated and curious... Continue reading

Posted Apr 30, 2018 at My Weblog

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Be Very Afraid

ALEXIA GORDON: My cat brought me a mouse this evening. A live mouse. She held it in her mouth as gently as she holds her toys. I though it was one of her toys until it wiggled. Then I screamed... Continue reading

Posted Apr 17, 2018 at My Weblog

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Does the Shoe Fit? You Decide.

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: The fabulously wonderful and talented Annette Dashofy has a wonderful problem! And sisters, she needs our advice. Her book is nominated for the Agatha Award for Best Novel for her NO WAY HOME--big hurray! Now, just one... Continue reading

Posted Apr 11, 2018 at My Weblog

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Character: It's All in the Details

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Jean Rabe had me (see below) at "when I switched from fantasy to mystery writing." How does an author even do that? The rules are so different, right? The worlds coalesce. The actions are constrained, and the... Continue reading

Posted Apr 2, 2018 at My Weblog

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The Number One Rule of Writing Fiction

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: You know Jeffery Deaver? Of course you do. He’s the amazingly talented and incredibly successful thriller author, who has the creepiest characters ever. (And some of the most wonderful.) This weekend he gave a terrific seminar for... Continue reading

Posted Mar 27, 2018 at My Weblog

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Guess Who Came to Dinner?

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Wow. Just skip his introduction. And read this AMAZING story from Leslie Karst. Justice Is Served My hearty thanks go out to Hank, who extended the invitation to recount my adventure with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader... Continue reading

Posted Mar 5, 2018 at My Weblog

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Sometimes We Make it Up

Are you writing? Reading? (Procrastinating?) Today the Tuesday Femmes are talking about what we know, and how we know it. And then, what we do with it. Research I mean. Or no research? Research or invent? ALEXIA GORDON: I invent.... Continue reading

Posted Feb 26, 2018 at My Weblog

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Seven Sinister Sisters

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: What a terrific group of guests we have today! Only at a place called Femmes Fatales would we be delighted to welcome Seven Sister Sisters, right? But they are on tour, together--how cool is that?--and today are... Continue reading

Posted Feb 5, 2018 at My Weblog

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Trees vs Forests?

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: If you're writing, do you use a beta reader? If you're reading--how would you like to be one? The fab Linda Lovely is today's expert--and she might just change your life! (And reading her new book from... Continue reading

Posted Jan 30, 2018 at My Weblog

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Busybody or Brilliant?

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Hurray hurray hurray for Keenan Powell! Is there anything that compares in wonderfulness than a pal who has a debut novel? We all know the craziness and angst and second-guessing and crossed fingers and flat-out longing that... Continue reading

Posted Jan 23, 2018 at My Weblog

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To Card? Or Not To Card...

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Are you sending hol... Continue reading

Posted Dec 4, 2017 at My Weblog

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Yeah, Got to Love The Writing Life

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Back to work, right? After the Thanksgiving festivities (or whatever you all did.) I am sitting at the computer, yes indeedy, getting ready to do my words for the day. Oh. But first--better check Facebook. Just for... Continue reading

Posted Nov 27, 2017 at My Weblog

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How to Buy A --What? Adventures in Research

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: We all know research can be fun. It can also be—all consuming, obsessive, and a bottomless rabbit hole of fascination. This time, a story about research made me laugh. There’s no one who does research as thoroughly... Continue reading

Posted Nov 6, 2017 at My Weblog

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Who's a Femme Fatale?

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Happy Saturday! And we have a special treat for you. A virtual panel on--what else—femmes fatales! The participants in this discussion are the authors of some of the stories in Where Crime Never Sleeps: Murder New York... Continue reading

Posted Oct 6, 2017 at My Weblog

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Great --I Hope--Beginnings

by Hank Phillippi Ryan So this is the moment. I’m endlessly grateful for it, but that doesn’t make it any less terrifying. My dear Forge has contracted with me for another book (my eleventh!), another standalone. (And a group of... Continue reading

Posted Oct 3, 2017 at My Weblog

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Welcome New Femme Alexia Gordon!

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Welcome to our new Femme! We’re so pleased to have the wonderful Alexia Gordon join us—she’ll be here on third Tuesdays! She’s the author of the Gethsemane Brown Mysteries from Henery Press—and the first one, Murder in... Continue reading

Posted Sep 25, 2017 at My Weblog

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What's Your Favorite Place?

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: I saw on Facebook (of course) that a pal of mine is taking a road trip. The Three Pines, the village in Louise Penny’s luminous Inspector Gamache novels. Thing is, Three Pines doesn’t really exist. (Yes, I... Continue reading

Posted Sep 5, 2017 at My Weblog

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Career Answers for Career Authors

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: When I think about all the things I didn’t know when I started writing fiction eleven years ago, it truly makes me laugh. And now it makes me, well, understanding—and jealous-- when a new newbie has the... Continue reading

Posted Sep 4, 2017 at My Weblog

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