Happy Release Day: Lucy Burdette and Hank Phillippi Ryan

Lucy Burdette and Hank Phillippi Ryan both have books out—this week!!! And fitting in with the girlfriends theme, they both involve big transitions.  We’re so excited about this...we cannot wait to tell you. First----Lucy. And tomorrow Hank!

And a lucky commenter will win a signed copy of DEATH IN FOUR COURSES  today—or THE OTHER WOMAN tomorrow!

Hank: After eight books written as Roberta Isleib, you've got a new name and a new series. Talk about transition! Tell us about that!

Lucy: My publisher was looking for a cozy mystery proposal with a food critic as the protagonist. And I was looking for something new to write! And at the time, my husband and I were lucky enough to be spending the winter in Key West, which is a foodie paradise and chock full of interesting characters. And thus the series was born! I love food, so it’s been a delicious adventure to write these books—and a great excuse for “research.” DEATH IN FOUR COURSES, released yesterday, is the second book in the new series. 

Food critic Hayley Snow is attending a conference of prestigious food writers. After finding the keynote speaker's body bobbing in a dipping pool, she has to turn sleuth--or come to her own bitter finish.

As for the name, the publisher asked if I'd be willing to change it. My grandmother's name, Lucille Burdette, immediately sprang to mind. I love having that bit of family history in my life--and it's so much fun to be LUCY!

Hank: Tell us about the new character, food critic Hayley Snow.

Lucy: She’s young—I can’t even bear to tell you how much younger than I—so she’s insecure and anxious about finding herself and succeeding, as I was in my 20’s. However, she’s much braver than I am—more foolhardy too. It’s a little odd to be writing about an amateur sleuth, as I certainly would never try to solve a mystery myself! Dial 911—and run as far from the body as possible—that’s how I would handle a murder…

We are alike in a few ways—she’s devoted to her family and friends and loves a good meal. My husband feels that he’s been eating better than ever since I started to write about a food critic. He’s a little disappointed now if I don’t take a picture of his dinner before he tackles it…

Hank: SO. Back to Key West! Your books are such a treat on so many levels—was it fun to be in Key West as a writer, not just as a visitor?  

Lucy: As I hope you’ll be able to tell in the books, I’m mad for Key West. The food, the tropical setting, the interesting characters, the energy! But the island also has a long literary history. Ernest Hemingway lived here (you can tour his home and see the descendants of his polydactyl cats), and Tennessee Williams, and Judy Blume, and Annie Dillard, and Alison Lurie, and Jimmy Buffett…I can’t tell you how much I love feeling like a tiny part of this!

I had a major thrill when I received my first-ever (in ten books!) review from Publishers Weekly. Here's my favorite little snippet: "Anyone who's ever overpaid for a pretentious restaurant meal will relish this witty cozy." 

Hank: Congratulations Lucy! And readers, there are lots of ways to order the book—you can pick your poison:

Barnes and Noble
Amazon
Indiebound
Or for a signed copy, RJ Julia Booksellers
 

 
And don't forget to leave a comment to be entered in our double-barreled drawing--for a copy of DEATH IN FOUR COURSES today, and THE OTHER WOMAN tomorrow!

 

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