The Back Room - Fabulous Fall Books
Now that autumn has arrived, new books are being released for the season. September’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 Lyn Liao Butler, Lisa Gardner, Eliza Reid, and Francesca Serritella. I was particularly excited to meet Francesca Serritella, as I’m a huge fan of her mother, Lisa Scottoline. I also recently purchased a signed copy of Francesca’s latest book, Full Bloom, during my visit to The Poisoned Pen in Arizona. You can read more about my visit to The Poisoned Pen on my blog here. I was also eager to meet Lisa Gardner. I’ve read a few of her books, but I haven’t yet had the chance to read the Frankie Elkin series that she discussed during the event.
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:
Lyn Liao Butler: The American Circus by Allison Larkin
Lisa Gardner: Ask for Andrea by Noelle W. Ihli
Eliza Reid: The Grave in the Ice by Satu Ramo (or I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Ian Reid)
Francesca Serritella: The View from Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani
Next, the breakout rooms were set up, providing an opportunity for each author to delve into their latest book. Hank 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 Francesca Serritella and Eliza Reid. Francesca shared her latest book, Full Bloom, and her fascinating journey to France to learn about the art of perfume creation. She even concocted her own perfume recipe and gave away small samples to preorder customers. She plans to do the same for the trade paperback release. Francesca’s captivating storytelling left me thoroughly impressed.
Eliza, a new author to me, captivated me with her tale of becoming the First Lady of Iceland. Her book, Death on the Island, blends Agatha Christie’s classic style with Icelandic noir, promising an intriguing read. She also has a memoir coming out next year about her time as First Lady, which I eagerly anticipate.
During the second breakout room session, I met Lyn Liao Butler, while Lisa Gardner concluded the delightful evening. Lyn discussed her book, The Fourth Daughter, which sheds light on a peculiar Taiwanese cultural practice. In this practice, a child, often a girl, is taken from her mother to be raised by a family with a son she will later marry. It’s a strange and unsettling form of arranged marriage. The audience was eager to ask Lyn questions about her courageous book, which has limited her travel to Taiwan and China due to concerns about potential government reactions.
This was my first time interacting with Lisa, and it was a delightful experience. While I’ve read some of her books, I haven’t delved into the Frankie Elkin series. She spoke about the latest book in the series, Kiss Her Goodbye, and the relatable and entertaining character of Frankie. I’m glad to know that the series can be read in any order. Lisa shared her research process, which involved interviewing several Afghan people who voluntarily relocated to the United States. She uncovered some deeply tragic stories about their experiences during the relocation process and leaving their families behind.
I leave every Back Room event thoroughly entertained, educated, and impressed by the authors. I am grateful to the authors and everyone involved for organizing these events. It is truly a pleasure to participate.
The Back Room shares the initial portion of each session on YouTube. Below, I have linked the Fabulous Fall Books video for your viewing pleasure.
You can read my blog posts about my previous experiences with The Back Room below.
The Back Room - Summer’s Best (2025)
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)
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