The Back Room - New Year, New Books!
Kicked off the new year with a fresh Back Room event! The Back Room: Cocktails and Conversations with Your Favorite Authors, hosted by authors Hank Phillippi Ryan and Karen Dionne, featured authors Alafair Burke, Joseph Finder, Rachel Howzell Hall, and Lisa Williamson Rosenberg. It was an absolute blast listening to these writers chat about books, puzzles, and even their other jobs.
The event started with a fun “get to know you” game where each author shared some interesting facts. The conversation quickly took a turn towards puzzles! All the authors were passionate about puzzles, from crosswords to jigsaw puzzles. I’m a big fan of jigsaw puzzles, and I’m curious about these wooden puzzles they talked about. This part of the event is awesome because it’s a great way to learn more about the writers and their interests.
The breakout rooms were where each author talked about their latest book, and participants could ask questions. Joseph succinctly explained his book, The Oligarch’s Daughter, and was eager to engage with readers. I just received an ARC of this book from Harper Collins through a Goodreads giveaway. It’s also the first giveaway I’ve ever won! Listening to Joe talk about this story of suspense and marriage confirmed its place at the top of my TBR. He also has a beautiful home library. Lisa talked about her book, Mirror Me, which has a unique plot and explores relevant questions about identity and self-perception. It was interesting to learn how much of herself she poured into this story. She’s also a psychotherapist and was a professional ballerina, which I find fascinating.
In the second breakout room, Alafair talked about her 15th suspense novel, The Note. It sounds captivating, and I can’t wait to read it. I was also fascinated by her journey from becoming a prosecuting attorney to a successful writer. She even teaches criminal law! I’ve always been a fan of her books, and this was the first time I got to learn about her. She’s down-to-earth and relatable. Rachel then shared about her new romantasy book, The Last One. She showed us the stunning special edition with amazing endpapers, hardcover, and sprayed edges. I’m not a reader of romantasy, but Rachel writes in a variety of genres. I have What Never Happened, a thriller, on my Kindle that I’m looking forward to reading. She was such a treat! I loved her humorous personality and her dedication to her writing career, even with her day job. I have great respect for her determination by starting her daily writing session at 4 a.m. Impressive!
I enjoyed yet another Back Room event and look forward to attending more!
You can read my blog posts about my previous experiences with The Back Room below.
The Back Room - Twisty Suspense (2024)
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