Kathy Ryan on Location

I am so excited because I am headed out today to Hilary Davidson's Mystery Lovers Bookshop event. I wasn't able to attend her launch party, but my super wonderful friend, Kathy Ryan, graciously agreed to cover the event and be my guest blogger. So, while I go meet Hilary in person, you can enjoy this magnificent recap of Hilary's launch, which also was the launch of Joelle Charbonneau's SKATING AROUND THE LAW and Joshua Corin's WHILE GALILEO PRAYS. So you get triple the fun from Kathy. She did a fantastic job and I'm so honored to share with you her experience and photos:

A Trifecta of Book Launches
by Kathleen A. Ryan

On September 28, a standing-room only crowd of Who’s Who packed Partners & Crime, the New York City mystery bookseller store, to listen to the readings of debut authors Hilary Davidson, Joelle Charbonneau, and award-winning author Joshua Corin. Afterward, the crowd milled about, gathered signatures for their books, sipped wine and chilled bottled water, and enjoyed snacks from Trader Joe’s.

The authors made an an impromptu decision to have Joshua read first, since While Galileo Preys is his second novel and he’s done this before. The novel, the first in a two-part series, features a Long Island housewife-crimefighter named Esme Stuart. The praise of bestselling author J.T. Ellison appears on the back cover of the original paperback.

In addition to many friends, Joshua’s supporters in the audience included editor Adam Wilson of MIRA books, and childhood friends Nancy Scheraga and Aviva Fink.

Joelle read from her debut comedic mystery, Skating Around The Law, which has been praised by reviewers as being in the same vein of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. Joelle’s agent, Stacia Decker, of the Donald Maass Literary Agency, was in attendance, along with colleague Amy Boggs. Fellow “Team Decker” authors, John Hornor and Barna Donovan, were in the audience, as well as Joelle’s “Do Some Damage” blog mate, crime novelist Dave White. She was pleasantly surprised to see several high school and college friends among the crowd.

(John, Hilary & Kathy)

Hilary read from The Damage Done, which has received praise from Meg Abbott, Ken Bruen, Linda Fairstein, Ed Gorman, Jane Stanton Hitchcock, Allison Glasgow Robinson, and Dennis Tafoya.

Speaking of Dennis, he traveled from Philadelphia to attend this fabulous event. Also in attendance was thriller writer Jason Pinter and literary agent Janet Reid.

(Hilary and Dennis)

The book launch attendees also included Hilary's husband, Dan; friends from Hilary’s writing groups; the New York Sisters in Crime chapter; the local MWA chapter; folks from Forge; neighbors from her apartment building; and several people who’ve recently heard Hilary speak at library panels around New York.

Some Q & A highlights:

Regarding their book releases: “How does it feel?”

Hilary: “It feels unreal.”

Joelle: “I haven’t decided yet. It’s exciting; it felt like forever in the making.”

Joshua: “The day it stops feeling amazing -- I hope that day never comes. Writing happens in a vacuum, and this [the book launch party] is one of the best parts of it.”

“What are you working on?”

Joshua: “A YA novel; I’m 10,000 words away from finishing it. It should be in stores — once it’s finished and sold.” The crowd howled.

Joshua’s next novel, Before Cain Strikes, will be available in April 2011 from MIRA books.

Hilary: “I spent the entire summer trapped inside my apartment. I have a two-book deal with Forge. The next novel involves the same main character, Lily, and picks up three months after the ending in The Damage Done.” During revisions, Hilary likes to focus on dialogue.

Joelle: “Working on the next two novels, Skating Over The Line, and Skating On The Edge.”

Upcoming Events?

Hilary: “Bouchercon in two weeks. On October 11th, a joint event with Joshua Sobol (author of Cut Throat Dog) at McNally Jackson in NYC. On October 12th, at the NYU bookstore: ‘How to Get a Book Deal’ panel that includes authors, editors and agents. Upcoming events in Pittsburgh, Boston, Los Angeles, Houston and Scottsdale.”

Joelle held up the T-shirt she was giving away with the purchase of her novel. The back resembles a rock concert T-shirt — which says, “World Tour 2010.” It lists dates and locations, including an event at a roller rink in Chicago, and Bouchercon in San Francisco. Joelle’s husband, Andy, who helped design the T-shirt, proudly attended the book launch party and took photos.

Joshua said he had upcoming events at Bouchercon and Los Angeles. After hearing the whirlwind events planned for Hilary and Joelle, Joshua quipped, “I feel lazy!” He advised the ladies to have M&Ms and Reeses at book signings.

Joshua explained that during a book signing of his first novel, Nuclear Winter Wonderland, a potential customer picked up the novel and looked at it. As they chatted, Joshua mentioned that it was optioned to be a movie. The customer put the novel down and said, “I’ll wait to see the movie.”

Early influences; favorite writers?

Hilary: “My grandmother turned me onto noir; she always gave me mystery novels. When I was seven, we watched “Double Indemnity” together. She was a huge influence.” As a twelve-year-old, Hilary read William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. She admires the writing talent of Ken Bruen, Megan Abbott, and Dennis Tafoya. Hilary is also a fan of Jim Thompson, and is amazed at “what he achieves in a few pages.”

Joshua: “I was introduced to literature at a young age. At age eight, I saw The Shining, and it scarred me. It had an emotional effect.” Stephen King was a huge influence. He also mentioned The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler, “a human story that makes a personal connection with the reader.”

Joelle, a member of the Romance Writers of America, enjoys reading Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Alison Weir, Agatha Christie, and Janet Evanovich.

Spontaneously, Hilary was assigned a roller derby name: Hellacious Hilary. It will come in handy, says Hilary, when she learns how to skate!

Speaking of this amazing night, Hilary said, “I’m grateful to everyone who turned out for it, and to everyone who sent good wishes. I’m really looking forward to my book tour for The Damage Done. Next stop: Pittsburgh, where I will finally get to meet Jen Forbus!”

(Hilary and Kathy)

Congratulations to all three authors on the release of their novels and an extremely successful book launch party.

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