The Back Room - Chills and Thrills

Written By Natalie

I thoroughly enjoyed another delightful evening at The Back Room: Cocktails and Conversations with Your Favorite Authors, hosted by authors Hank Phillippi Ryan and Karen Dionne. This October session featured authors Lou Berney, Kristen L. Berry, Kelly Mustian, and Chevy Stevens. I was particularly excited to meet Chevy Stevens, as I’ve been a fan of her books for quite some time now.

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:

Lou Berney: El Dorado Drive by Megan Abbott (I’ve already got it on my wishlist!)

Kristen L. Berry: Loved One by Aisha Muharrar

Kelly Mustian: Clear by Carys Davies (I’ve already got it on my wishlist!)

Chevy Stevens: Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher

Unfortunately, Karen couldn’t host the event due to a flat tire. However, Hank took over and managed to organize a seamless TBR event. All 90 attendees and the four authors stayed in the same group, and each author had a chance to share their book.

Chevy Stevens was the first author to present her new book, ‘The Hitchhikers.’ The story, set in 1976, revolves around a couple who embark on a road trip in their RV and encounter a couple of hitchhikers. Chevy hinted at the numerous complications that arise from this encounter. It was an absolute delight to listen to her discuss her writing process, research methods, and the genres of books she enjoys reading.

Next, Lou Berney introduced his latest book, titled ‘Crooks,’ which delves into the lives of a family of mobsters and the distinct roles each member plays within their criminal enterprise. It’s surprising that I hadn’t come across Lou Berney’s work before. He mentioned having known author Joseph Finder, whom I’m a reader of. Additionally, I noticed a blurb by Don Winslow, another author I highly admire, on the book’s cover. Based on his engaging conversation with the attendees, Lou appears to be a versatile writer, as each of his books explores a completely different theme. I eagerly anticipate reading ‘Crooks.’

Kristen L. Berry, a debut author, has written the book titled ‘We Don’t Talk About Carol.’ Her book sheds light on the lack of public attention given to the cases of missing African American women. The story revolves around six North Carolina Black girls who went missing in the 1960s. Kristen shared her personal connection to the story, drawing parallels between her main character, Sydney, and herself.

Kelly Mustian concluded the evening with her latest book, titled ‘The River Knows Your Name.’ Before this TBR event, I had no idea I was familiar with Kelly’s first novel, ‘The Girls in the Stilt House.’ I had heard a lot of positive reviews about that book, but I hadn’t had the chance to read it yet. Kelly described her writing style as Southern Gothic and expressed her appreciation for well-crafted passages. Interestingly, she is from Natchez and mentioned author Greg Iles, another author I admire.

During these captivating TBR events, a recurring theme naturally emerges during author discussions. This time, the conversation centered around the craft of writing, which was particularly intriguing. Authors delved into their research processes, the role of editor input and support, their knowledge of the book’s ending, the significance of multiple narrative perspectives, and the sources of their story ideas.

The Back Room shares the initial portion of each session on YouTube. Below, I have linked the Chills and Thrills video for your viewing pleasure.

You can read my blog posts about my previous experiences with The Back Room below.

 

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Natalie
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The Back Room - Fabulous Fall Books