The Back Room
Ever wish you could chat with your favorite authors, even if you’re 1,000 miles away from their nearest event? That’s the inspiration behind The Back Room, created by Karen Dionne and Hank Phillippi Ryan in 2020, when the pandemic cut book tours short.
“We brainstormed the concept,” Ryan recalls, “of an online event where attendees could chat with their favorite, or new favorite, authors. A connection, a communication, a real-life, real-time exchange of ideas and questions and thoughts.”
For Dionne, promoting other authors is a vital part of being a member of the writing community. She shares, “I’ve been helped so much by other authors throughout my publishing journey that I love paying it forward by helping to shine a spotlight on other authors and their books.”
First Chapter Fun
The Back Room isn’t Ryan’s only outlet for elevating colleagues. She and Hannah Mary McKinnon run a live show aptly called First Chapter Fun. Every Tuesday at 12:30 PM ET, they read the first chapter of a book aloud on their Facebook and Instagram pages.
Ryan shares, “We call it our special lunch-hour story-time, and our legions of Funsters come and hear the opening chapter of a brand-new book, as well as the synopsis, and learn about the author. And, author alert: First Chapter Fun is an absolute master class in what makes a good first chapter.”
Mystery and Thriller Mavens
Every Monday, host Sara DiVello offers readers front-row access to a fellow author in her Mystery and Thriller Mavens series. DiVello says, “My goal is to connect readers to their favorite writers and introduce them to their next favorite, which is why I always support debuts. I also drive sales to a female-owned, independent bookstore, the legendary Murder by the Book.”
As with many online activities, her show began in the early days of the pandemic. DiVello thought it would be temporary (didn’t we all?), but as time passed, she realized she was building a community.
“I love my Mavens—the readers and book-loving folks who gather every #MysteryMonday with me,” DiVello says. “I also unexpectedly learned that I LOVE doing interviews and nerding out about the craft of writing—what authors have learned throughout their careers, what keeps the pages turning and why, what is the secret to creating characters that people care about.”
Authors on the Air
Ever wonder where your favorite thriller authors get ideas—or which characters they secretly wanted to kill off? The Authors on the Air podcast pulls back the curtain.
Host James L’Etoile took over from creator Pam Stack last year. He shares, “Readers enjoy listening to authors, hearing about their latest books, but also getting to know them. They want to learn about their dogs, where they get story inspiration from. You notice a little sparkle in authors’ eyes when they talk about their process, or how characters come together. Sometimes there’s a surprise about killing off a fan favorite character.”
L’Etoile did more than 50 interviews last year alone, including bestsellers Gregg Hurwitz, C.J. Box, Mark Greaney, Peter James, Wanda Morris, Robert Crais, and Elly Griffiths. He has also shone the limelight on debut and emerging authors like Audrey Lee, Margot Douaihy, Meredith Lyons, Aaron Philip Clark, and Jon Lindstrom.
“I’m a reader too, and I enjoy connecting with my author colleagues,” L’Etoile reveals. “We create in isolation, and outside of conferences, sometimes a podcast is the next best thing.”
Whether you tune in live, catch a replay, or scroll through the archives, there’s a treasure trove of stories waiting to be discovered. So go ahead—click, listen, sample. You never know when and where you’ll find your next favorite read.
