The Back Room - Big Books of Summer
I’m excited for summer, which brings about new book releases and more Back Room author events. June’s The Back Room: Cocktails and Conversations with Your Favorite Authors, hosted by authors Hank Phillippi Ryan and Karen Dionne, brought together authors Liv Constantine, Tori Eldridge, Riley Sager, and Matthew Sullivan. I was drawn to this session for authors Liv (Lynne) and Riley. I was also excited to meet the additional authors who were new to me.
The event started with an engaging “get to know you” game, where 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 can quickly expand one’s reading list! Next, the breakout rooms were set up, providing an opportunity for each author to delve into their latest book, and Karen facilitated Q&A sessions with participants.
In case you’re interested, here are each author’s book recommendations:
Liv Constantine: Tell Me What You Did by Carter Wilson (I added this one to my wishlist.)
Tori Eldridge: A Very Bad Thing by J.T. Ellison (I already have this on my Kindle.)
Riley Sager: Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson
Matthew Sullivan: Elita by Kirsten Sundberg Lundstrum (Published by a university press that sounds intriguing.)
During the first breakout room session, I had the pleasure of meeting Liv Constantine and Matthew Sullivan. I recently read Liv Constantine’s book, The Last Time I Saw You, and I absolutely loved it. (You can read my review here.) Through that experience, I discovered that Liv Constantine is actually a sister duo of writers. During the The Back Room event, Liv (Lynne) shared the origin of her pen name and the writing relationship with her sister. Liv was there to promote her new book, Don’t Open Your Eyes, which she wrote independently of her sister. I’m definitely going to read this book and explore more of her previous works.
As soon as Karen reminded participants that Matthew Sullivan wrote Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore, I realized I had heard of him before. I had mistakenly assumed that book had a sci-fi element and had passed on reading it. Matt was promoting his new book, Midnight in Soap Lake. He has an incredibly kind and friendly personality that drew me in. As he spoke about his new book, I became intrigued by the history of the real-life Soap Lake in Washington state. His enthusiasm for the subject matter piqued my curiosity about his book, and it also made me reevaluate my thoughts about his first book.
During the second breakout room session, Tori Eldridge, a Native Hawaiian author, presented her new book, Kaua’i Storm. Her writing immerses readers in authentic Hawaiian culture, making it a compelling choice for the mystery and suspense genre. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to her discuss her cultural background and how it influences her writing.
Riley Sager was very cool and down-to-earth. His latest book, With a Vengeance, sounds amazing. I must admit, his books have been hit or miss for me, but I’m looking forward to this one. I’m particularly drawn to the setting in 1952 on a train, reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s style. During the Q&A, Riley shared his practice of not reading reviews or checking his Goodreads ratings. He expressed confidence in his writing and acknowledged that while he hopes readers enjoy his books, he can’t change what he’s written. This approach protects himself from the possibility that reading reviews could influence his future writing. I admire his perspective. Riley’s sense of humor was also evident, and I enjoyed meeting him. (You can read my review of Lock Every Door here.)
All the authors were a delight to listen to and get to know through the initial icebreaker questions. I eagerly anticipate reading their books and the ones they recommended.
The Back Room shares the initial portion of each session on YouTube. Below, I have linked the Big Books of Summer video for your viewing pleasure.
You can read my blog posts about my previous experiences with The Back Room below.
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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