The Back Room - Summer’s Best
As summer progresses, the latest book releases continue to captivate readers. August’s The Back Room: Cocktails and Conversations with Your Favorite Authors, hosted by authors Hank Phillippi Ryan and Karen Dionne, brought together a talented group of authors, including Bianca Marais, Chris Pavone, Hank Phillippi Ryan, and Brendan Slocumb. I was particularly excited to meet Chris Pavone, a longtime fan of his work and a collector of his signed first editions. I had previously purchased a signed copy of “The Doorman” from the Poisoned Pen bookstore in Scottsdale, Arizona, but I haven’t had the chance to read it yet. It’s definitely on my list of ‘books to read soon.’
Hank Phillippi Ryan was a panelist this time instead of a co-host, so I eagerly anticipated learning about her latest book. Please don’t tell Hank, but I haven’t read any of her books yet. She’s definitely on my ‘read soon’ book list.
As with each event, the session began with an engaging “get to know you” game. Each author was presented with three questions to share some fascinating anecdotes about themselves. Additionally, each author enthusiastically recommended a book they had recently read. Attending The Back Room is a great way to expand your reading list!
In case you’re interested, here are each author’s book recommendations:
Bianca Marais: Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor
Chris Pavone: A Gorgeous Excitement by Cynthia Weiner (I added this one to my wishlist.)
Hank Phillippi Ryan: Full Bloom by Francesca Serritella (Already on my wish list. She is Lisa Scottoline’s daughter, so I’m definitely reading this one!)
Brandon Slocumb: All This and More by Peng Shepherd (I added this one to my wishlist.)
Next, the breakout rooms were set up, providing an opportunity for each author to delve into their latest book. Karen Dionne facilitated Q&A sessions with the participants, allowing them to ask questions and engage in meaningful discussions.
During the first breakout room session, I had the pleasure of meeting Bianca Marais and Brendan Slocumb. Bianca is a new author to me, and I was entertained by her energy and excitement as she discussed all of her books, primarily promoting her latest release, “A Most Puzzling Murder.” I admire that she intentionally transitions into various genres to flex her creative muscles. Her current book is great for fans of puzzles and closed-room mysteries. Bianca loves escape rooms and collects Tarot cards.
I was familiar with Brendan’s first book, “The Violin Conspiracy.” I haven’t read it yet, but it’s now on my list of ‘books to read soon.’ I was fascinated while he talked about the musical connection in all three of his books. “The Dark Maestro” is his most recent book, while “Symphony of Secrets” is his second novel. There’s also some character overlap in each of these stories, which I think is cool. He relayed that someone once coined his genre of writing as a musical thriller. While he was more than happy with that description, it certainly peaked my interest in his storytelling.
During the second breakout room session, I met Chris Pavone while Hank Phillippi Ryan closed out the lovely evening. This was my first time interacting with Chris, and I was extremely impressed. He spoke eloquently about his new book, “The Doorman,” and shared insightful, intelligent thoughts on his writing process. I was captivated by his stories of staying in various countries by himself for brief periods of time to work on his writing. His participation in this event simply validated my fandom of his books.
I’m certainly familiar with Hank through The Back Room events she co-hosts. It was a pleasure to observe her as a panelist, sharing insights into her latest book, “All This Could Be Yours.” She shared an interesting story about how she conceived the idea for the book. I appreciated her insights not only into storytelling but also into the lifestyle of being on a book tour.
All the authors were delightful to listen to and get to know through the initial icebreaker questions. I love attending author events, and my husband and I recently discussed the authors we’ve met and those we found extremely likable. During this event, I realized that I’m more drawn to reading a book when I find the author likable, as long as the genre aligns with my interests, of course. I’ve met many likable authors in The Back Room, and my TBR keeps growing!
The Back Room shares the initial portion of each session on YouTube. Below, I have linked the Summer’s Best video for your viewing pleasure.
You can read my blog posts about my previous experiences with The Back Room below.
The Back Room - Big Books of Summer (2025)
The Back Room - Must-Reads for March (2025)
The Back Room - New Year, New Books (2025)
The Back Room - Twisty Suspense (2024)
As a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, I earn from qualifying purchases linked back to Amazon. Every penny earned allows me to blog about books and keeps this site running.
