Saturday, September 8, 2012

Your heart's desire by Hank Phillippi Ryan



Hank Phillippi Ryan is the on-the-air investigative reporter for Boston’s NBC affiliate. Her work has resulted in new laws, people sent to prison, homes removed from foreclosure, and millions of dollars in restitution. Along with her 28 EMMYs, Hank’s won dozens of other journalism honors. She’s been a radio reporter, a political campaign staffer, a legislative aide in the United States Senate and an editorial assistant at Rolling Stone Magazine working with Hunter S. Thompson.

Her first mystery, the best-selling PRIME TIME, won the Agatha for Best First Novel. FACE TIME was a BookSense Notable Book, and AIR TIME and DRIVE TIME were nominated for the AGATHA and ANTHONY Awards. Hank’s short story “On the House” won the AGATHA, ANTHONY and MACAVITY.

Her newest thriller, THE OTHER WOMAN, comes out in hardcover September 4 from Forge. A starred review from Library Journal says “a dizzying labyrinth of twists, turns, and surprises. Readers who crave mystery and political intrigue will be mesmerized by this first installment of her new series.” She is president-elect of national Sisters in Crime.
Links to website etc.



twitter @hank_phillippi



 Jane Ryland was a rising star in television news—until she refused to reveal a source and lost everything. Now a disgraced newspaper reporter, Jane isn’t content to work on her assigned puff pieces, and finds herself tracking down a candidate’s secret mistress just days before a pivotal Senate election.


Detective Jake Brogan is investigating a possible serial killer. Twice, bodies of unidentified women have been found by a bridge, and Jake is plagued by a media swarm beginning to buzz about a “bridge killer” hurting the young women of Boston.

As the body count rises and election day looms, it becomes clear to Jane and Jake that their investigations are connected…and that they may be facing a ruthless killer who will stop at nothing to silence a scandal.

With its dirty politics, dirty tricks, and a barrage of final twists, THE OTHER WOMAN is the first in an explosive new series. Seduction, betrayal and murder—it’ll take a lot more than votes to win this election!
 
 
Your Heart's Desire
by Hank Phillippi Ryan

 
 
 
What if your heart's desire is right around the corner?

 

I promise you—it is. And let me tell you why.

 

I’ve always wanted to write mysteries—ever since I read my first Sherlock Holmes short story back when I was eight or so. I was kind of a bookish girl, a loner, and Holmes and Watson were my best friends. (Well, my only friends.) And the idea that they could be clever and track down clues and solve mysteries and find the bad guy  became simply—my life’s ambition.

 

Fast forward—instead of becoming a mystery author, I became a television reporter, now an investigative reporter for Boston’s NBC affiliate.  It is, actually, kind of Holmes-like—I track down clues and follow leads and, I’ve wired myself with hidden cameras and confronted corrupt politicians and chased after criminals. And I did think I had made my life’s career decision. I’m a reporter—have been for the last thirty years!—and happily and successfully so.

 

But then, a few years ago, I got a great idea for a mystery novel. You know what it’s like to get a good idea, right? You know it to your core—and I even get goosebumps telling you about it.  From that moment, I was obsessed with writing my first novel.   And from that moment, my life changed.

 

And here’s the instructive part:  My little-girl dreams of being a mystery novelist had come true—years later, yes.  But I never could have predicted what was right around the corner for me.  But I’m the proof it’s never too late to follow your dreams.

 

So let me offer you a new holiday. My husband and I don’t celebrate the anniversary of the day we met. We celebrate the anniversary of the day before we met. And we call it “You Never Know Day.”

 

Think about it. On a random Thursday one summer, now fifteen years ago!--  Jonathan and I were going about our separate lives, having no idea the other existed.

 

The next day--on a random Friday--Jonathan and I met at a country house on the coast of Massachusetts.  I took one look at him—and he took one look at me—and we have not been apart since then. We are happy and thriving and delighted with what the universe has provided.
 

 

Think about that—on that Thursday, our lives were one way. The next day—our dreams had come true. You never know.

 

And now, my fifth novel—THE OTHER WOMAN--a page-turner of a suspense thriller about sex, secrets and duplicity—is about to be published. Have you ever wondered about THE OTHER WOMAN? Who would play that role? And why? And how do these illicit couples believe they’ll never get caught? And why don’t they care? Might there be a reason we’ve never imagined before?


Lee Child calls THE OTHER WOMAN “a big juicy story”—that “does everything a great suspense novel should.”
 





 

And that’s why if you’re feeling like true love will never arrive, that your life is a certain way that cannot be changed, that your dreams cannot come true—celebrate you never know day with me. Because you never know what’s around the next corner, do you?

 

And it might be everything you ever wished for.

 


 

8 comments:

Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Muses said...

Welcome back, Hank!!! Always makes me very happy to have you here, my friend. Lifting my glass to you for all the great things everyone's saying about THE OTHER WOMAN - all well deserved (it's great!!!).
and here's to your heart's desire.
xxoo
Hugs!
Kaye

lil Gluckstern said...

So nice to see you hear, and what a wonderful story about you and Jonathan. And, of course, your writings ;)

lil Gluckstern said...

See you here-should have previewed!

jenny milchman said...

I *love* You Never Know Day. I had one the day before I finally got an offer on my book...I just didn't know to celebrate it till now! You've had so many fine You Never Know Days, Hank. I believe one might've occurred on September 3rd, and can't wait to see where The Other Woman goes from here!

Anonymous said...

Hank and Kaye, a totally charming blog today! And I love the part about meeting your husband! As I said in my note to you re The Other Woman, I see Hollywood in this!!! Thelma Straw in cooler Manhattan

Lesa said...

What a beautiful thought, You Never Know Day. I love your attitude, Hank. I'm waiting for one of those days right now, because I sincerely believe my life is about to change, and I'm going in a different direction. Thank you for the thought! I hope I realize what happened afterwards, as you and your husband obviously did.

And, as Jenny said, maybe you had one of those days on Sept. 3.

Anonymous said...

Hank, are you and Jonathan being Lord Peter and Harriet in that photo? You make a lovely couple.

--Marjorie of Connecticut

Hank Phillippi Ryan said...

Ah..running in, waving to all...just arrived from Detroit, a whilrwind weeked at the Kerrytown BookFest --sponsored by Aunt Agatha's..fantastic ,but NO computer, and I missed the whole party..sigh...

And so lovely to see you all

..Lesa, I cannot wait to hear your news..and in person!

Lil-thank you thank you thank you xooxo

Jenny--hurray for YOU!! YOUr book is terrific..xoxo

Thelma, thank you! (Did you send me a note? have I missed it somehow?? xoxoo)

And MArjorie, yes, indeed!! We are Lord Peter and Harriet Vane! We had such fun...xo

And KAye, you are astonishing..xooo And your photos are truly wonderful.