How can television reporter Lily Atwood keep a secret private when she's in the public's eye? Find out in Her Perfect Life.

Hank Phillippi Ryan speaks from personal experience as an investigative reporter about always being on when out in public, exploring standalone books versus series books, and her pandemic-inspired platform for authors, The Back Room.

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN is the USA Today bestselling author of 13 psychological thrillers, winning the genre's most prestigious awards: five Agathas, four Anthonys, and the coveted Mary Higgins Clark Award. She is also an investigative reporter for Boston's WHDH-TV, winning 37 EMMYs. Book reviewers call her “a master of suspense” and a “superb and gifted storyteller.” THE FIRST TO LIE garnered a Publishers Weekly starred review and is nominated for the Anthony Award for Best Novel and Mary Higgins Clark Award. Watch for HER PERFECT LIFE on September 14, 2021, which received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly, which called it "A superlative thriller."

Visit Hank at her website www.hankphillippiryan.com and at The Back Room for virtual author events.

Get to know Hank - The Tart Words Baker's Dozen:

1. Plotter or Pantser? Combo? Pantser yearning to be Plotter.
2. Tea or Coffee? Coffee! Until 5pm. Then tea.
3. Beer, Wine, or Cocktails? Red wine.
4. Snacks: Sweet or Savory? Savory, any day. Pizza, chips, pretzels, almonds.
5. Indie Published, Traditionally Published, or Hybrid? Traditionally
6. Strict Writing Schedule: Yes or No: Has schedule, yes. Keeps schedule, no.
7. Strictly Computer or Mix It Up? Computer.
8. Daily Goal: Yes or No: Yes.
9. Formal Track Progress: Yes or No: Yes. On a pencil-lined legal pad.
10. Special Writing Spot? This desk. In my study. Where I used to look out at a stand of sugar maples, but now my windows are blacked out for Zoom.
11. Writer’s Block? No such thing. For me, writer's block is a fancy name for fear.
12. File of Ideas: Yes or No: Yes. However--it is empty.
13. Favorite Author(s)? Edith Wharton. Shakespeare. Hunter S. Thompson. Tom Wolfe. Contemporary authors? WAY too hard to list.

But debuts to watch? I've recently loved the first novels of Wanda Morris, Yasmin Angoe, Ashley Winstead, Vera Kurian, Amanda Jayatissa, Scott Shepherd.

What is a set piece and where can I get one? How do I use it in a story?

Linda Hengerer talks with author Barbara Barrett.

To avoid a midlife crisis, Barbara Barrett wrote fiction at night while still employed in human resources for Iowa State Government. After releasing eleven full-length romance novels and two novellas, she turned to the cozy mystery genre, having discovered it years before when pregnant with her first child. She used one of her retirement pastimes, the game of mah jongg, as her inspiration. Her next book, Courtesy Call, to be released August 31, 2021, is the ninth in the Mah Jongg Mysteries series and is available now. Barbara spends her winters in Florida and summers in her home state of Iowa.

Subscribe to her newsletter subscription at www.subscribepage.com/BBCozies or check out her website at www.barbarabarrettbooks.com to find out more about her books and upcoming releases.

Courtesy Call - available now!

Get to know Barbara - The Tart Words Baker's Dozen:

1. Plotter or Pantser? Combo? Combo

2. Tea or Coffee? Coffee (More like Diet Coke or Water)

3. Beer, Wine, or Cocktails? Wine

4. Snacks: Sweet or Savory? Sweet

5. Indie Published, Traditionally Published, or Hybrid? Hybrid

6. Strict Writing Schedule: Yes or No No

7. Strictly Computer or Mix It Up? Strictly computer

8. Daily Goal: Yes or No No

9. Formal Track Progress: Yes or no No

10. Special Writing Spot? Yes

11. Writer’s Block? Not often

12. File of Ideas: Yes or No Just in my head

13. Favorite Author(s)? Lucy Lakestone, Mary Lee Ashford, Sparkle Abbey, Ellery Adams

What are the two ingredients for a tasty treat?

What do writers need to consider about Setting for their story?

What jobs has Hannah Dennison had that inspired cozy mystery series?

British-born, Hannah Dennison originally moved to Los Angeles to pursue screenwriting. She has been an obituary reporter, antique dealer, private jet flight attendant, and Hollywood story analyst. Hannah has served on numerous judging committees for Mystery Writers of America and teaches mystery writing workshops for the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program now on Zoom. After twenty-five years living on the West Coast, Hannah returned to the UK where she shares her life with two high-spirited Hungarian Vizslas.

Hannah writes the Island Sisters Mysteries (Minotaur), the Honeychurch Hall Mysteries (Constable), and the Vicky Hill Mysteries (Constable).

Visit Hannah’s website www.hannahdennison.com to find out more about Hannah’s books and where to buy them. You can also sign up for her very rare newsletter on her website’s home page.

Her latest book, Danger at the Cove: An Island Sisters Mystery (The Island Sisters Book 2) is available now and releases August 17, 2021. Listeners can buy it here for US and here for UK.

Get to know Hannah - The Tart Words Baker's Dozen:

1. Plotter or Pantser? Combo? Combo - plot until the midpoint and then fly by my pants to the ending (which I know)

2. Tea or Coffee? Coffee - from my Keurig machine

3. Beer, Wine, or Cocktails? Pinot Noir (I'm very specific!)

4. Snacks: Sweet or Savory? I'm a chocoholic

5. Indie Published, Traditionally Published, or Hybrid? Traditionally published by Minotaur and Constable

6. Strict Writing Schedule: Yes or No Yes - every morning

7. Strictly Computer or Mix It Up? Computer now - my handwriting is illegible these days

8. Daily Goal: Yes or No Yes - between and 2 and 3 hours a day when not on deadline.

9. Formal Track Progress: Yes or no Yes - I keep charts!

10. Special Writing Spot? I can write anywhere - even in the departure lounge

11. Writer’s Block? No - if I am stuck it means I don't know my characters well enough

12. File of Ideas: Yes or No Yes. It's huge.

13. Favorite Author(s)? M.M. Kaye (rediscovered), Mary Stewart, Anthony Horowitz, Barbara Pym, Rhys Bowen, Kate Carlisle - I could keep going.

Sweet cherries and a cherry liqueur-infused custard make a summery dish.

What makes the eggy custard climb the sides of the baking dish? Can it be...magic?