From the Booking Desk:

If you are part of the crime fiction writing community, you already know who Hank Phillippi Ryan is. What you likely don’t know is that she has been a loyal supporter of BOLO Books from just about day one. And frankly, Hank is a champion for everyone within our community, and beyond. She has won countless Emmy Awards and every major writing award within the crime genre; but she remains as down-to-earth and approachable as ever. Always willing to lend a hand, Hank’s influence on our tribe is impossible to measure. And she does it all while always looking stunning and professional. I am convinced that she has about nine clones running around, as I have no idea how she gets it all done. Each of her books is better than the previous and then along comes her latest – Trust Me – which I just might have called “a masterpiece.” Please tell me you know and have read Hank Phillippi Ryan! And yet, our composite sketch questions still uncover new facets of this fascinating woman. Enjoy.


Name: Hank Phillippi Ryan
Location: Boston, Massachusetts

This person from my personal life is such an inspiration:

I have to say my husband Jonathan. We met 22 years ago, August 19, but we celebrate the day before we met as “You Never Know Day.” Because you never know what wonderful thing is around the next corner. We have not been apart since the day we met! He is a genuinely great guy, believes in justice and truth and honor, always does the right thing, and is compassionate and brilliant. Truly brilliant. You will see that Trust Me is dedicated to him, “to Jonathan and justice” it says, and justice is what he thinks about every day. Plus, he is adorable, and reads every word of my books. You cannot believe what a good editor he is. And he has a secret weapon…he is an astonishing proofreader! His mother was an English teacher, and so she taught him well. Plus, he can beat me in Scrabble, to my endless chagrin.

One of the people I admire most in the crime fiction community is:

One of the people? One? One who is no longer with us, except every day in my mind, is Sue Grafton. She took me under her wing, gloriously and generously, and became a mentor, then, and now. But I cannot fail to mention the Lisas, Lisa Gardner and Lisa Scottoline, who were the first to believe, and have continued to be astonishingly brilliantly generous. And can I pick a group? The incredible Jungle Red Writers, who are my sisters every day, we’ve been together for 10 years, Hallie Ephron, Rhys Bowen, Deborah Crombie, Ingrid Thoft, Lucy Burdette, Jenn McKinlay, and Julia Spencer-Fleming. What a team, and we are a team in every way. Plus, Erin Mitchell. And Robin Agnew.

Impossible to pick one, darling Kristopher, cannot do it.

STALKER ALERT! If this fictional character were real, they would likely need to get a restraining order against me:

Inspector Morse. Absolutely. He is so smart, and so dour, but wise, and brilliant. I know he is a little cranky, and full of himself, but I could manage to deal with that. I love Morse. I also love Inspector Rutledge, but I know that would be a situation.

People are always surprised that I am a fan of this individual (singer, actor, or artist):

Oh gosh, I was just asked to write an essay about my teen idol crush, and that was Paul Simon. Who I still idolize, but that’s not a surprise, right? I can sing every word of dozens of, maybe, Broadway shows. I always wanted to be a singer on Broadway, the problem being that I am a ridiculously terrible singer. I am a big fan of folk music, and was also vice-president of the Midwest chapter of the national Beatles fan club. But is that a surprise?

My personal catch phrase is (or should be):

My personal catchphrase should be “Can’t you answer his questions more succinctly?”
Because apparently not. Truly, my personal catchphrase is you never know what wonderful thing is around the next corner. And maybe also: trust me.