Hank Discovers A Law of the Writing Universe

I think I have discovered the theory of book relativity. Here’s how it goes. The amount of craziness is inversely proportional to the number of days left before launch day. Trust me, this is true.

Of course, the joy is increasingly wonderful too, as the rave reviews for Trust Me come in. (It’s not all cakes and ale. One person on the otherwise incredible Goodreads gave me a one star and called the book "extraordinarily dumb," but everyone is entitled to their opinion.) T

 

The Booklist starred review says “It’s Ryan’s first standalone, and it’s a knockout. First rate psychological suspense”. (So take that, guy.)

Launch day today! What to do, how to help, what to say? What to wear to Brookline Booksmith tonight. It is ONE THOUSAND DEGREES in Boston, gang. Thank goodness for air conditioning. And besides the chaos of launch day,

I’m writing my new book, and the deadline, is of course, today. La dee dah, and I am counting blessings that I am lucky enough to do that.

So here’s what else I’ve been doing for the past week or so: I wrote an article for CrimeReads about my Top Ten true crime narrative nonfiction books written by reporters. (Talk about a niche article!) Like In Cold Blood, and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and Zodiac, and Blood and Money. And more. And that’ll be published soon!

The reason for that particular article? In TRUST ME, main character Mercer is writing the true crime book about a terrible murder, and she realizes it’s difficult to do… How can you write a true crime novel if you don’t know the truth?

I wrote an upcoming article for Criminal Element about my top ten reporter movies. Because sometimes the best stories are not girl gets boy, but girl gets story. Broadcast News. All the President’s Men. His Girl Friday. The Big Clock. Spotlight. Why that article? The main character in Trust Me gives up a burgeoning career as a magazine reporter to stay home with her husband and young daughter…only to have them killed in a tragic accident. (Or was it?) That intense hunt for tracking down the truth is also the core of Trust Me. Who can you trust if you can’t trust yourself? And how can you write the true story of someone else’s life—if you can’t write your own life?

Lisa Gardner and I did a chat about psychological suspense—she interviewed me, can you believe it? And that will be out soon. I did a piece for Mystery Scene Magazine with Shari Lapena, B.A. Paris, Lisa Gardner and Mary Kubica about the challenges of writing psychological suspense. And that’ll be out soon!

My wonderful publisher, Forge, asked me to write an essay on the origin story of Trust Me for their blog. And that is so fascinating! You can read it here, https://www.torforgeblog.com/2018/08/09/three-sides-to-every-story/

but the very short version: Trust Me comes from two huge criminal trials that I was intimately involved in…and what happened during and after them. And the story I –somehow—created that’s a mix and meld and pursuit and rethinking of both of them and more. There are three sides to every story, I learned. Yours, mine, and the truth.

But the result is Trust Me: One obsessed journalist. One troubled mom. Two smart woman face off in a high-stakes cat and mouse game to prove their truth about a terrible crime. But which one is the cat and which one is the mouse? I dare you to find the liar.

Femmes, I am keeping the floor here, one more second, to thank you. We are together every single day. We’ve been here together for more than ten years, can you believe it? This is a big big day for me, and I am incredibly honored to share it with you.

So let’s talk true crime—what’s your favorite true crime book? Or your favorite reporter movie?

And I—let’s be honest here—want you to buy Trust Me. Right now, if possible!

So instead of a book giveaway, I’ll give some hilarious Trust Me loot—good stuff and some surprises!--- to three lucky commenters. (And isn't it nice to hear this from Larry David?) 

 

Love love love you. And thank you!

PS: If you want to copy any of these photos and put them on social media to celebrate launch day, that could be great! This is another one the publisher would love to see everywhere! With #TrustMe!

Comments

[M Rups]

Congratulations on your new book! Can't wait to read it -- fascinating premise.

As for favourite true crime book: I tend more towards the historical, e.g. Jack the Ripper, Burke & Hare, or Constance Kent. Of modern crimes, I'd say Ann Rule's The Stranger Beside Me, about Ted Bundy. Not often that a true crime writer actually knew the murderer personally. Not great writing, but it has an inside view of the topic that would have been impossible otherwise.

[Mark]

Congrats! I’m looking forward to reading your new book. Trust Me.

[Sally Schmidt]

Hank, Larry David is right! ;-). As everybody already knows, I loved Trust Me. I think In Cold Blood has been my favorite true crime novel. And I am sad that there won't be any more true crime books from Ann Rule, not quite sure what it was about her style but it didn't seem over sensationalized yet kept me engrossed just like a novel would.
Happy Pub Day! Enjoy, you deserve it. Off now to post my review - it's been on Goodreads and NetGalley for awhile but now I can post it everywhere else.

[Cheryl in STL]

Just started reading it and can't put it down!

[Hank PhilLippi ryan]

You all win the trust me loot! Hooray! Send me your mailing address at h ryan at whdh dot com — and loot is on the way!