The Back Room - Twisty Suspense
This was The Back Room event I have been looking forward to! Jessica Strawser, the author of the new book Catch You Later, caught my attention when she posted on social media about being a participating author. For anyone unfamiliar, The Back Room: Cocktails and Conversations with Your Favorite Authors, is hosted by Hank Phillippi Ryan and Karen Dionne, and it’s a fun event where four authors chat about their books. The event starts with introductions from the hosts and authors, followed by a “get to know you” game where each author is asked questions. Then, everyone is divided into breakout rooms where they can chat with each author for about 15 minutes. t’s a great way to meet your favorite authors and learn more about their books.
This week’s authors were Tracy Clark, J.T. Ellison, Jessica Strawser, and Stephanie Wrobel. As I mentioned before, I’m a big fan of Jessica’s novels. I’ve also read J.T. Ellison’s books. By the way, she has a fantastic monthly newsletter. I highly recommend checking out her website and signing up. Stephanie Wrobel’s Hitchcock-themed book is already on my wishlist. Tracy Clark is the only new-to-me author from this session. Hank led the back room session this time, and I was in the breakout room she moderated. Once again, the event started with friendly greetings in the chat box while Hank and Karen warmly welcomed everyone.
The event started with Hank reading the bios of each author and then playing a fun 20-question game. It was great to learn a bit more about the authors through these questions that covered a wide range of topics. It was the perfect icebreaker that ended with each author sharing a book they recommend. I couldn’t resist adding these recommendations to my wishlist on my iPhone!
The break-out rooms were next. There was a moment of suspense as I eagerly awaited to see which authors I was going to meet first. Ta-da! J.T. Ellison and Jessica Strawser with Hank facilitating, appeared on my screen! I was glued to my screen while J.T. described her new thriller, A Very Bad Thing. I loved that she explained the significance of the book cover. It was also fascinating to learn J.T. Ellison’s writing process. It sounds quite organized, yet extremely complex. I admit, I got a bit confused and had difficulty comphrending her style. This just increases the respect I have for writers! J.T. is intelligent and witty. I loved her portion of the session. Next up, Jessica was discussing her new book, Catch You Later. I’m a long-time fan of hers, so I had a blast listening to her describe the storyline. She relayed she got the idea for the book while on a road trip, people-watching at a remote travel stop. I related to Jessica, as I easily get caught up people-watching and imagining what their lives are like. Her book sounds entralling and deep. I can’t wait to read it!
The final break-out room included Stephanie Wrobel and Tracy Clark. I already have Stephanie’s new book, The Hitchcock Hotel, on my wish list, so I enjoyed hearing more about the plot. She told a fascinating story about how she got the idea for this book. I share her love of Hitchcock movies so I know this book will be a perfect fit for my interests. I enjoyed Stephanie’s portion of the back room; she has a lot of energy and engaged well with participants. Tracy is a new-to-me author, and I enjoyed meeting her. Her police procedural series sounds super intriguing. The latest installment is Echo. Tracy shared some really cool insights into her research - talking to law enforcement and exploring different neighborhoods in Chicago. She was super engaging and friendly, and it was awesome to learn more about her books.
Wow, this Back Room event was absolutely fantastic! Over 100 people joined in, and it was incredible to see everyone engaged and asking thoughtful questions. The discussions with the authors were super interesting, and they’re so smart, funny, and entertaining. I will be a Back Room regular before I know it!
The Back Room shares the initial portion of each session on YouTube. Below, I have linked the Twisty Suspense video for your viewing pleasure.
You can read my blog posts about my previous experiences with The Back Room below.
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