Lisa Unger's Blog, page 6

A BIG Giveaway for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America!

Last year, I organized a fundraiser for hurricane relief and thanks to my generous author and reader pals, it was a BIG success. With our combined effort, we raised around $3,000 and one lucky reader won a huge stack of books!

With the holidays approaching and the spirit of giving in the air, I wanted to do it again … this time for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA.) My close friend Pam Iorio is the president and CEO of the organization, and People Magazine just named her one of “25 Women Changing the World.” She is a true inspiration, so I’d love to support BBBSA with a BIG fundraiser and book giveaway.

Again, with no hesitation, my wonderful author pals said “of course” they would  love to be involved and donate books. So, in addition to supporting BBBSA, one lucky reader will win a BIG tower of the latest novels from some of the most acclaimed and bestselling authors in the world, including Mary Higgins Clark, Karin Slaughter, Alafair Burke, Harlan Coben, Mary Kubica, Carol Goodman, Hank Phillippi Ryan, Heather Gudenkauf, Lori Roy, Kate White, Sara Blaedel, Ace Atkins, Cara Black, Christina Alger, Bryan Reardon, K.J. Howe and more! 

It’s a win, win. To enter:

1) Donate any amount to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

2) Send your receipt to lisa@lisaunger.com

3) Done. You are entered to win! *Then if you post about it on social media, and tag me in your post, you’ll be entered a second time.

I am hoping to raise $5000 this year to support this stellar organization. With your help, I believe it’s possible. I’ll be drawing a winner at random on Dec. 15th.

Thanks for being a part of this! And best of luck to you!

Lisa Unger

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2019 Spotlight Guest at Thrillerfest!

I am honored and excited to be invited to Thrillerfest XIV as 2019 Spotlight Guest by International Thriller Writers! It is a favorite conference of mine, from a favorite organization. And the 2019 blockbuster lineup includes John Sandford, Harlan Coben, Margaret Marbury (Harlequin), James Rollins – not to mention all of the stellar authors and fans attending.

Hope you will join us in New York City next July for this great event! See Thrillerfest.com.

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The Sleep Tight Motel

Just a few more days until the release of UNDER MY SKIN!

Is the suspense killing you?

Need something to hold you over until then?

THE SLEEP TIGHT MOTEL is available today! This is my original new short story in the Dark Corners collection, which features haunting stories from Joyce Carol Oates, Jennifer McMahon, and other stellar writers, just in time for Halloween.

READ IT NOW

And I am also happy to share an excerpt from UNDER MY SKIN with you. Click below to start reading!

READ IT NOW

That should keep you going until next Tuesday, October 2, when UNDER MY SKIN goes on sale. Happy reading!

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Bouchercon – It’s No Mystery

It’s no mystery why crime fiction writers gather each year for Bouchercon! Colette Bancroft, book editor of the Tampa Bay Times just wrote this terrific article on the 2018 Bouchercon World Mystery Convention, a 100% volunteer run conference held in a different city each year. This year it was held right here in St. Petersburg, Florida, and I had the pleasure of being a guest of honor as Toastmaster.

Writing is necessarily a solitary enterprise, so conferences like this offer us a rare opportunity to connect with our tribe. I loved every minute of this — lively discussions, parties, charity auctions, time with old friends, meeting new ones, connecting with people I’ve only known online. There’s something special about being with people who are as crazy — about story, about character, about writing — as I am! I always suggest this conference to aspiring and newly published writers because it’s one of the few places to feel a part of a community that is spread out across the world. Next year, Bouchercon will be held in Dallas — and it’s never to early to sign up! Hope to see you there!

2018 Bouchercon Guests of Honor – Mark Billingham and Lisa Unger

 

Lisa Unger with Lee Child, Karin Slaughter, Sara Blaedel, Alafair Burke, Kate White, Meg Gardiner, Linwood Barclay, Daniel Palmer, Hilary Davidson

 

Lisa Unger with Alison Gaylin, Cara Black, Twist Phelan, Lou Berney, Greg Herren, Wendi Corsi Staub, KJ Howe, Lisa Scottoline

 

Lisa Scottoline and Lisa Unger

 

2018 Bouchercon Guests of Honor – Ian Rankin and Lisa Unger

 

2018 Bouchercon Guests of Honor – Sara Blaedel and Lisa Unger

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Ace Atkins and Lisa Unger, in Conversation

With a name like Ace, is there any chance you’re NOT going to be famous? A college football star, Pulitzer-Prize nominated journalist, New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of twenty-three novels including THE SINNERS, which just released. Ace Atkins is as down-to-earth, funny, and smart as he is talented. I caught up with him as he was about to head out on the road to visit stores and readers across the country on a whirlwind book tour. And then it took us a month to finish this latest chat!

 

 

Lisa Unger: So, we’ve been actual pen pals for — a long time. When I got my first publishing contract, back in the olden days (2001), I was over the moon — absolutely goofy with excitement. I went through the St. Martin’s catalog and saw that you were local to the Tampa Bay area, not to mention a Pulitzer Prize nominated journalist for The Tampa Tribune. Your critically acclaimed first novels CROSSROAD BLUES and LEAVIN’ TRUNK BLUES were hugely successful, and THE DARK END OF THE STREET was just about to come out. So, cheeky girl that I am, I wrote you a note introducing myself and asking if you might like to get together! Do you have any memory of this encounter? Can you speak a little to your journey to that place, and where you were in your career at that time?

Ace Atkins: I do recall that famous first meeting! They really should put up a plaque. My only problem is I don’t remember where we ate? I know it was somewhere in Clearwater I remember us talking a lot about writing and promotion. You’d just left publishing PR and I warned you not to get into the writing side. It will make you nuts! Lots of good that did.

Hmm. Where was I back then? Not very far. I had a lot of energy and enthusiasm but didn’t really have a clue on where I was headed as a writer. Like you, I’d just decided to a make a huge leap to leave my job as a reporter — not a bad choice at the dawn of online journalism — and jump head first into writing books. I had only published two novels with SMP and was about to publish my third with HarperCollins.

At the time, I thought I had it all figured out. Did I come across that way? Because let’s be honest here, I didn’t know shit. I had an editor, at the time, giving me broad and fuzzy advice. And an agent who tried to give notes on subject matter they didn’t understand. It would be another three years before I was fortunate enough to come under the guidance of legendary editor Neil Nyren. If I had any advice to a young me, it would be to quote Han Solo: “Don’t get cocky, kid.” It sometimes takes years to develop the right team to help you and your work.

It’s one thing to write a book. It’s another thing altogether to make a career of writing fiction. That’s a tough road. Aren’t you glad no one told us the odds?

Lisa Unger: I think you’re right; there should definitely be a plaque! I don’t remember where we ate either, though. Somewhere near The Tampa Bay Times Festival of Reading (stay tuned for more about our Books & Bourbon tradition!) — which has become our yearly meeting place since then. But, yes, of course you seemed to have it all together. And, yes, you were pretty much like — are you sure you know what you’re doing? This writing thing — how do you know you can hack it?

I can’t even claim ignorance, because I’d spent the last ten years working in publishing, doing publicity. My advance from St. Martin’s Press was essentially a nickel and a cheese sandwich, so I had an inkling as to how much they were going to do for the book. I was also aware that it was WAY harder to succeed as a published writer than it was to get published in the first place — which was pretty damn hard. So, I figured that it was time to check my ego at the door, roll up my sleeves, and get to work if I wanted to survive. And that’s what I did. The good thing about starting at the bottom is that unless you have a jackhammer there is only one way to go — hopefully.

I think most debut writers (not all!) are pretty shocked by how hard it all is. They think that publishing is the end of something, a windfall, after which only accolades and successes follow. But most of us who have made a career out of writing know that there are dizzying highs and crushing lows, and in between we get up in the morning and do the thing we do because there’s nothing else we want to do as much. We live with the characters and the stories in our heads, and — for me — there’s nothing quite as exciting as the blank page. So yeah, “Never tell me the odds, kid!” Because if you’re writing for any other reason than the sheer love of it, you might not have what it takes for the long game. It takes years of writing, trying to get better, digging deeper, finding the right team and never, ever, giving up — even and especially when it hurts.

Your new novel, THE SINNERS, is the eighth novel featuring Army Ranger Quinn Colson. I have strong relationships with my characters, especially those that continue on from book to book. They grow and evolve, often feel utterly separate from me. Do you have that experience with your long-running characters? What is your relationship to Quinn? And how has it changed over the years?

Ace Atkins: You got a nickel and a cheese sandwich? Damn. You did better than me!

You are so spot on about this business. I agree. New writers think they’ve made it but don’t understand this is actually only the beginning. Now it’s time to get serious and down to work. That never ends. And the reason you and I get to share a bourbon every year and talk about what we’ve done! We love the work.

The blank page? Yep, that’s the best part. I’ve seen a lot of people try — and occasionally succeed — in this business who want to be authors but aren’t serious about the writing. You really have to love it. I mean let’s get serious. There are a lot of better ways to make money. Writing isn’t something that you and I want to do, it’s something we have to do. It’s really an obsession, a compulsion, to tell a story.

And yes, when you revisit characters through several stories, you do grow very close to them. That’s the part of the work that is a little crazy. But true. I have spent nearly a decade with Quinn and the Colson family. With each book, characters get older, some die, and people grow and change for either the good or the bad. You must have empathy for your people. If you only look at them as chess pieces then it’s not really writing. It’s just making people walk and talk and anyone can do that. Writing is about true immersion of you into the world you create.

Something you do so damn well! Claudia and Zoey in The Red Hunter were so fantastic. I never doubted them or their motivation for a second! Where did they come from? What was the genesis of that novel?

Lisa Unger: The germ for THE RED HUNTER took hold a weirdly long time ago — like almost twenty years. I was in a pretty dark place in my life — bad relationship, wrong job, all my writing dreams laying fallow. And I started studying the martial arts. Kung Fu introduced me to a whole new version of myself — someone more able, more powerful than I had previously imagined myself to be. I studied it for the next eight years — during that time I finished my first novel, met my husband, quit my big corporate job, published my first novel, and got married!

Fast forward five years … enter Ocean, my daughter, and exit Kung Fu!

Then a couple of years ago, when Ocean turned ten, I took up kickboxing with a trainer. All the fighting spirit came back to me. That’s when I started thinking about Zoey — who turns to the martial arts to repair her broken spirit, after a tragedy, and finds a power there that she uses to a darker purpose. Claudia is almost her opposite, light where she is dark, white knuckling her way toward forgiveness, where Zoey wants revenge. From those seeds, the relationship evolved with each of them on the page. That’s how it happens with all of my characters; I get to know them day to day, almost in the same way my readers will. And, oh yes, empathy is key. If you don’t have it, your characters don’t reveal themselves fully, or at all. Then you’re just making it up, and that’s not the same thing as full immersion in the story world.

I always have this very clear picture in my head of my characters; they’re very nearly alive. So, it’s been so fascinating to work with Marco Magallanes, brilliant graphic novel artist, on CRAZY LOVE YOU. His interpretation of my story and characters is totally blowing my mind! And this is a relationship that you facilitated after I gushed over the amazing graphic novel that you two created together for CROSSROAD BLUES. Thank you! Tell me about your experience with Marco. How did you two being working together? What was the process like? And how was it for you to watch his vision evolve from your story?

Ace Atkins: You know, we all complain about social media. Sometimes it can be a real time suck. But other times, it can really pay off like when I met Marco. Marco reached out to me on twitter as a fan and brought up us possibly working on a project together. He ended up putting together an amazing proposal for my 1920s opus Devil’s Garden that ultimately didn’t work because of rights, agents, etc. But I was so fascinated by what he’d done, I was able to clear the way easier with my first creation, Nick Travers. For those who don’t know the Nick Travers books, they are hardboiled detective novels set in the world of blues music and New Orleans. Marco took the first short story I ever wrote for Nick — Last Fair Deal Gone Down — and absolutely brought it to life. He captured Nick’s look and the stark feel of New Orleans and the French Quarter. I didn’t really have much involvement other than sitting back and enjoying this incredible black-and-white world. He ended up following up with my first novel, Crossroad Blues, and we hope that we’ll work on some more Nick stories soon. The last was picked up by comic powerhouse, Image, for distribution. So, I hear Marco is working CRAZY LOVE YOU now … where do you guys stand with that? Can’t wait to see that on the page!

Lisa Unger: Ha, it’s funny you should say that! Because I’m usually pretty down on social media — time suck, the death of creativity, unstitching the fabric of society, etc. But it was because I was gushing online (when I probably should have been writing) about the fantastic graphic novel work that you and Marco did together that he and I connected. I asked him about your project, and he said that he basically stalked you until you agreed to work with him! He’s not proud of the stalking, but immensely proud of the work you did together. So, I guess social media has its place! And now, yes, Marco and I are developing CRAZY LOVE YOU. I’m just blown away by his talent, about how much work goes into each moment and frame. It’s so magical to see the art develop, to watch the story I wrote inspire Marco to create something totally unique. It’s one of my favorite projects! We’re still in the early stages of development, but I’m super excited.

I’m also super excited for our upcoming events! I know you’ll be down for Bouchercon World Mystery Convention on September 6-9 at the Vinoy Hotel in St. Pete, and, of course, we’ll have our appearance together at The Tampa Bay Festival of Reading. I think the only question now is Bourbon or Tequila? “Books and Bourbon” or “Tequila and Tomes?”

Ace Atkins is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-two novels, including THE SINNERS. For more about Ace Atkins and his stellar crime fiction, visit aceatkins.com. And read what Colette Bancroft of  the Tampa Bay Times has to say about THE SINNERS in her review.

Lisa Unger is the critically acclaimed and New York Times bestselling author of sixteen novels, including the new psychological thriller UNDER MY SKIN (coming Oct. 2). Learn more at lisaunger.com.

 

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A Book and Its Cover

We all know that we’re not meant to “judge a book by its cover.” But we often do. We’re judgement machines, aren’t we? Encounter a person, a place, or pick up a book and we’re immediately forming opinions. In the book publishing world—back in the olden days—the common wisdom is that we have seven seconds to sell a book.  A reader connects with the image on the cover, picks up the book, looks at the back, and reads the copy on the inside flap. Does she take it up to the counter? Or does she put it back down and move onto the next book?

Of course, books are sold in all kinds of ways, places, and formats. And many people are reading electronically, so that experience of shopping or browsing for a book has changed. But one thing hasn’t changed. The all-important cover image.

UNDER MY SKIN is my sixteenth novel, so I’ve had the experience of seeing the cover image for the first time, well, sixteen times. It’s always exciting, the anticipation of how the art department has chosen to express the essence of the novel.  But it hasn’t always been pretty.  When the cover of The Darkness Gathers first arrived, it was splashed with bright neon colors. My editor took pains to let me know how happy they were with this departure, and how the book would really stand out on the shelf. I’ll say. Luckily, that cover changed before publication. So … you never know what to expect.

When I first saw the US cover for UNDER MY SKIN, I loved it immediately — edgy, atmospheric, with some bold colors popping in the dark, the shadow of a woman’s form.  I just assumed the UK would use the same image or some variation. But they had their own unique vision, and it’s equally stellar. Australia followed soon after, a gorgeous variation on the UK image.  I’m loving these glittery, ephemeral packages, the color, the lashes of a sleeping eye.

I’m excited to share them with you here:

   

Even if you were to judge this book by its various gorgeous covers, I think we’ll be okay. Happy reading!

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Mary Kubica and Lisa Unger, in Conversation

The delightful, talented and bestselling Mary Kubica was an overnight success with her stellar first novel The Good Girl … or was she? Mary agreed to be my pen pal and we discussed what it takes to get published, the highs and lows of the writing life, our upcoming new novels and more. Lots of great stuff in this interview for both readers and aspiring writers. If there was a recurring theme to our chat, it would be “don’t ever give up!”

Lisa Unger: Often, when we hear successful, published authors speak – we don’t get the full picture. About how challenging it is to get published – and to stay published. I heard an interview where you talked about your journey from aspiring to published author. And it struck me how inspiring your story would be to a writer working on a first novel, wondering whether it’s good enough, whether the dream can come true. I think it’s important to remind aspiring authors that every working published writer, every award-winner and bestseller, was at one point someone, writing alone, not sure if his or her book would ever see the light of day. Can you talk a little bit about your own path? And what advice you would you give to your past self, knowing what you know today?

Mary Kubica: Since I was a little girl, Lisa, I loved writing. But it was a part of my life that I kept hidden from the rest of the world because I didn’t know if my work was any good, and I was too scared to find out. I pursued other passions of mine – becoming a high school teacher, starting my family – while writing privately on the side. When I began The Good Girl, I knew there was something special about it right away. I fell in love with the story and characters in a way that I never had before. Though it took five years to write, it was the first manuscript I ever completed. I felt a need to try and do something with this book, to see if it could be published. I’d never felt that urge before. Knowing no one in the publishing industry, I sent my manuscript out far and wide to just about any literary agent who represented my kind of work. Rejections ensued, and ultimately every agent I sent The Good Girl to passed on the project. I gave up hope of it ever being published – until two years later when one of these agents reached back out to me to see if it was still available. She’d been working as an assistant literary agent the first time the book landed on her desk. Though she loved it, she wasn’t in a position to take it on herself and others in her agency decided to pass. Two years later, she’d been promoted and remembered my little book for all that time. It was truly a dream come true. Within a few months, I had a two-book deal with a major publisher. My advice to aspiring authors? You only need one person to love your book as much as you do, and to be as passionate about it as you are. Keep looking until you find that person.

I’m about to publish my fifth book and am writing my sixth, all with the same publisher as I’ve had from the start. There’s a tremendous comfort in this. As my husband will tell you – based on any time a new TV remote control enters our home – I’m not good with change. You’ve recently joined the team at Park Row Books, and you and I now share the same amazing editor. I’m so happy to have you as part of our team! What is it like to make these changes at this point in your career?

Lisa Unger: I love that, and often tell aspiring writers that very same thing. It’s just like dating, but for your novel. You only need one person to fall in love with you! I also believe that tenacity makes up for almost any shortfall. A lot of people give up – they don’t finish the book. Or once they’ve had a few rejections, they just assume the work isn’t good enough. But that moment when an agent or editor falls in love with a manuscript, it’s as subjective as any love connection. So, aspiring writers, keep at it, keep writing and keep trying. Your story, Mary, is really a perfect illustration of how challenging the road can be even when you have a great book.

Under My Skin which will come out from Park Row in October will by my sixteenth novel. And though I would have loved to stay in the same place with the same editor for most of my career, that just didn’t happen. During the course of my career as an author, the publishing business has undergone major changes. In my case, editors have left, imprints have dissolved, creative differences have arisen. My wonderful agent of thirteen years was forced to retire due to health reasons. So, over the years – my first novel Angel Fire published in 2002 – I have navigated a great deal of shifting waters. The flip side of that is that I have worked with many wonderful people, learned so much, and have had such talented editors – each of whom taught me something. Though most people don’t welcome change, it often comes on us without warning. Learning to adapt is critical to survival.

I’m thrilled to have joined Park Row. From my first conversations with Erika Imranyi, the wonderful editor we both share, I sensed her passion, her dedication, and her talent. I am honored to be at a place where so many great writers are being so well published – like you, Pam Jenoff and Heather Gudenkauf to name just a few. Thank you for the warm welcome to the team!

I have also been writing since I was a young girl, and began my first novel when I was nineteen. But after college, I became a book publicist and worked at Penguin Putnam for many years. So, I had exposure to the business of publishing and learned certain truths early on. Many aspiring writers think that a book contract is a windfall, a happy ending to the story. In reality, it’s just an open door, a new beginning. I knew that there would be a lot of hard work ahead. And I wanted a long career, one where I could grow, change and become a better writer with each book. So, as with any career, that means you roll up your sleeves and get to work.

Was there anything that surprised you about the writing life when you published your first novel The Good Girl?

Mary Kubica: I love your enthusiasm toward change, Lisa. That’s something I need to work on – being more adaptable and open to new adventures! I have learned a great deal about writing and myself as a writer from working with Erika, and can imagine the wealth of knowledge and insight that comes from working with a variety of editors. What a wonderful experience!

I don’t come from a publishing background. Before I sold The Good Girl to Mira Books, I didn’t know a single person in the publishing industry. I went into this blind and have learned an infinite amount during the last handful of years. I had no idea how extensive the editorial process would be, or the great lag time that happens from the time I finish a manuscript until it publishes, or how absolutely vital good marketing and publicity is to the success of a book. That said, the part of publishing that surprised me most was how welcoming and supportive other authors can be. I had envisioned a much more competitive, self-seeking environment, but what I’ve found instead is a bounty of wonderful new friends who will bend over backwards to support me and my books. Writing can be a lonely task at times, but by connecting with authors both in the real world and in the world of social media, I’ve gained a network of people I can rely on for brainstorming, for emotional support, for accountability, for celebrating successes and lamenting the woes of book publishing. It’s been one of the highlights of my career!

Speaking of highlights – you mentioned that you are about the publish your sixteenth book, Under My Skin, which I’ve gotten a sneak peek of and absolutely loved. Not only is it a twisty, page-turner that I physically couldn’t put down, but your writing is beautiful and visceral, and your characters have a tendency to stay with me for a long time after I’ve finished your books. You have celebrated many successes during your publishing career, but I’d love to know if there’s one memorable moment that sticks out more than the rest.

Lisa Unger: That’s definitely one of the best things about the writing and publishing community. It’s a business of relationships. Over the years, your fellow writers, the people you work with, they become some of your closest friends. The suspense/mystery/thriller community especially is so warm, welcoming, and helpful. It’s been such a blessing to be a part of this wonderful world of people in love with story, so willing to show kindness and support to each other.

Thank you for your very kind words about Under My Skin. And thank you so much for reading. That early feedback from fellow writers means so much. We write alone, pour all of ourselves into our work. Then we send it out into the world to publish – a wonderful gift to be able to do so, but always (even 16 books in) so scary. Having early praise from writers I admire always helps so much. It makes me braver!

Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to celebrate many successes – and strong enough to weather a few storms. I am very grateful. I’m also glad you asked about my most memorable moment. Because it’s probably not what you think. While I was working as a book publicist in the publishing industry, I was a closet writer; writing in the early or late hours, during my commute, whenever or however I could get my time in. At that same time, I was trying to get published in my local paper The Riverdale Press. I was literally stalking the editor – calling every week, sending him my work. Finally, I think he just felt sorry for me and gave me my first assignment. I covered the first Seder Dinner for a group of Russian Jewish immigrants at a local community center! A couple of days later my article wound up as the lead feature in the paper. I was on my way to work and I stopped at the local newsstand. There it was – my byline, in a real newspaper! On the road from an aspiring to published writer, you hear the word “no” so many times. This was my first real “Yes!” And that was the moment I knew that I could do what I had set out to do.

So, I’m right in the middle of Every Last Lie, which comes out in paperback in May. It’s a gripping, moving, and beautifully written novel; I was hooked on the first page. Even now, I have to hurry up and finish writing this question so that I can get back to it! For me, every book starts with a germ – it might be a news story, a poem, a photograph, in the case of Beautiful Lies it was a piece of junk mail. Then I start to hear a voice or voices that lead me through my narrative. Was there a germ for Every Last Lie? Or how does your process differ?

Mary Kubica: I adore the story about your first piece in The Riverdale Press, Lisa. Writing requires so much perseverance! The number of authors I’ve met who worked for years and endured much rejection before receiving that first Yes is huge; the number who found success after their first try is far more rare. It’s something for aspiring authors to always remember. But that initial struggle and rejection only makes it all the more worth it when you finally see your own name on a published piece, whether a book or a newspaper article. I’m so glad you never gave up!

Thank you for your wonderful words about Every Last Lie. I’m thrilled you’re enjoying it, and am so looking forward to the trade paperback release in May, which has had a cover makeover since the hardcover came out last year. I couldn’t be happier with the new design. The origins of Every Last Lie are a bit different than my other books, which usually begin with some concept my mind makes up that builds bit by bit on the page. But with this book, I was completely captivated by a newspaper headline I read, which said something to the effect of how a child’s dreams helped solve the mystery of her father’s death. I knew at once that I had to do something with it, and just like that, the story of Nick and Clara was born. I’m not a plotter, but prefer the spontaneity that comes from making my stories up as I go. There’s something very organic to me in writing this way; I need to get to know my characters before I can have a better understanding of where their story will go. This novel begins when Nick, a father of two, is killed in a car crash with his four-year-old daughter in the backseat. She’s remarkably fine, and the crash is simply ruled an accident, until four-year-old Maisie begins to have nightmares about a bad man in a car, following her father and her. Nick’s widow, Clara, sets off in search of his killer. It’s a whodunit as much as it is a story of grief, and coming to terms with how little we can ever know about those we’re closest to. I can’t wait to hear what you think of the rest of it!

Plotting or pantsing (aka flying by the seat of one’s pants) is a point of contention among authors. Some plot every detail out in advance, and others, like me, prefer to wing it. I’d love to know where you fall in this dichotomy, Lisa.

Lisa Unger: Story is life. I might be able to tell you what I plan to do with my day. But I can’t tell you what I did until after the sun has set. So it is with the writing of a novel. Each novel begins with a germ, then I’ll start to hear a character voice – or maybe multiple voices. And I follow those voices through my narrative. I don’t have an outline, just a nebulous sense of what the story is. I have no idea who will show up day to day, or what they will do. But I don’t think of it as “flying by the seat of my pants,” however. It’s more like – the story is there, and I just have to find it. It is utterly organic, with lots of ebbs and flows, but I’ve written every novel this way and can’t imagine doing it any other way. There’s no real debate here, of course, no right or wrong way (though some folks do seem intent on that type of thinking). Each writer has his or her own path into story; it’s a personal journey. It’s okay to do it your own way.

The germ for The Red Hunter, which comes out in paperback in May, settled in years ago. I was in my twenties and in a dark place in my life – I’d just come out of a terrible relationship, was in a job I didn’t love, and had let my dreams of being a writer lay fallow. During this time, I discovered the martial arts. I started studying Kung Fu, at a school in New York City. And over the course of a year, I was introduced to a whole new version of myself – someone stronger and more able than I would have believed myself to be.

Fast forward twenty years – I’m married to my wonderful husband, we have a beautiful child, I’ve published fourteen novels. I rediscover the martial arts (kickboxing this time) – and remember what it was like to be a fighter. That was the seed for Zoey, one of the women at the heart of The Red Hunter. She’s suffered a terrible trauma, and it’s the martial arts that introduces her to a stronger version of herself. She uses this new power to hunt down the people who wronged her. Meanwhile, Claudia is on a very different path after an event that shattered her perfect life. She’s a writer, a mother, struggling back to the light on a path of forgiveness. These two women, on two very different roads, find themselves in the same place – an isolated farmhouse, which has a dark past of its own. They’ll both have to face down their inner demons, and those banging down the door.

What a great chat, Mary! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wisdom, your process, and your thoughts. I’m going back to reading Every Last Lie now, loving every page. I know readers are going to love hearing about your journey and your writing life. And it’s been such a pleasure for me to get to know you in this way, too!

Lisa Unger is the critically acclaimed and bestselling author of sixteen novels, including the forthcoming UNDER MY SKIN to be published by Park Row/HarperCollins in October 2018. Her essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, and Travel + Leisure Magazine. Her novel IN THE BLOOD is now in development for television. Learn more about her at www.lisaunger.com.

Mary Kubica is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of four novels, including THE GOOD GIRL, PRETTY BABY, DON’T YOU CRY and EVERY LAST LIE. A former high school history teacher, Mary holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, in History and American Literature. She lives outside of Chicago with her husband and two children, where she enjoys photography, gardening and caring for the animals at a local shelter. For more about Mary, visit her at www.marykubica.com

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Sweet Sixteen – Cover Reveal for UNDER MY SKIN!

I’m over the moon to share the gorgeous, spectacular cover for my new novel UNDER MY SKIN (Oct 2, 2018.) This feels like an auspicious year, as it marks my “sweet sixteen” as a novelist. Sixteen books published over the past sixteen years!

In addition to the stellar cover, it’s always such a thrill when writers I admire have kind words to say about my work. Here’s some early praise for UNDER MY SKIN:

“UNDER MY SKIN is a twisting labyrinth of a book where nothing is as it seems, dreams bleed into reality, and the past is the future. Lisa Unger is one of my favorite writers. And in this tilt-a-whirl of a psychological thriller, she’s at the top of her game.”

—Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of LOOK FOR ME

“Lisa Unger’s deliciously intense and addictive thriller got under my skin. I picked it up, got drawn into this dark, tangled tale, and couldn’t pull away until it was done. Gripping suspense at it’s best, uniquely Unger.”

—Karin Slaughter, #1 Internationally bestselling author of THE GOOD DAUGHTER

“UNDER MY SKIN is a perfectly dark and unsettling, spellbinding thriller. Told with both eloquence and urgency, Unger knows just how to hook her readers and reel them in. This book is not to be missed.”

—Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of THE GOOD GIRL

Hmm…you may be saying to yourself: Don’t keep me in suspense! What’s the book about? To learn more and pre-order your copy today, CLICK HERE.  And stay tuned for more to come — including an excerpt, backstory, giveaways and tour dates.

I hope you are as excited about UNDER MY SKIN as I am. Thank you so much for your ongoing support and for reading! A writer is nothing without her readers.

Sara Blaedel and Lisa Unger, in Conversation

Sara Blaedel, Denmark’s Queen of Crime — sure. Super talented, internationally bestselling author of the crime series featuring the tough, smart, and all-too-human Louise Rick — yes! But more than any of that — she is a great spirit, a wonderful friend, and one of the people I am most happy to have in my life. Let’s hang out with her a little while, shall we, and learn all about her latest spine-tingling novel, THE UNDERTAKER’S DAUGHTER.

Lisa Unger: So, Ilka is living a modest, somewhat regimented life in Copenhagen when her orderly world is upended by some unexpected news. The father she never knew has died, and left her an inheritance. A funeral home. In Racine, Wisconsin, USA. Hmmm. For me, there’s almost always a germ, a moment when I get a little buzz of excitement — it might be something that I read or see, a line of poetry, even in one case, a piece of junk mail. If that seed finds fertile ground in my subconscious, I start hearing a voice, or voices and that is usually the beginning of a novel. Is that how it works for you? If so, what was the “germ” for THE UNDERTAKER’S DAUGHTER?

Sara Blaedel: Like yours, the seeds for my ideas, which grow and form and become the concepts for my books, are borne of everyday life. I hungrily read everything, and pay close, at times obsessive, attention to all aspects of the news, both local and international. Again, and again, I am struck by how much the truth is stranger than fiction. Sometimes I am particularly captivated by a story that is ripped from the headlines; sometimes it’s a socio-political issue (like assisted suicide) that gets under my skin and consumes me. In the case of THE UNDERTAKER’S DAUGHTER, it was a family matter that took root in my mind, wouldn’t let go, and demanded to be brought to life.

It was after the deaths of my parents, one after the other tragically, that I first made contact and then connected with undertakers. I was a novice, and hadn’t the slightest understanding of what these heroic artisans and brilliant technicians really do. Whether preparing bodies for viewing and burials, helping loved ones to choose coffins and plan for the worst, most heart-wrenching days of their lives, or handling the arrangements for cremations, morticians carry heavy loads. Those who handled, with grace, sensitivity, and profound respect, my parents’ final send-off left me in awe and brimming with gratitude. I was moved and inspired, and it wasn’t long before I realized that undertakers would play a huge role in my next book. I was as surprised as my editor and publisher; I’d never seen this coming. It happened organically and with a great sense of urgency.

Have you founded any of your novels upon a deeply private and personal experience, and if so, did you find the writing process somehow different given your insular connection to the subject matter?

Lisa Unger: Ah, I’m so sorry, Sara. That must have been such a difficult time for you. I am always amazed by the people who stand on the portals of life — doctors, nurses, midwives, hospice workers, and undertakers. It’s so rarely discussed — but how important these people are, ushering us through the most difficult moments in our lives. Their work is so critical. I am glad that you found inspiration in the sad passing of your parents, even though it must have been so painful.

I completely understand, of course. I think that all of us who are writing authentically are drawing from the experiences of our lives. Even if it’s not an entire book, perhaps it’s a character, a scene, a setting. FRAGILE is probably my most personal novel, drawn from the dark inspiration that when I was 15 years old a girl I knew was abducted and murdered. This nightmare experience stayed with me but it was many, many years before I was ready to write about. It was as if I need to be a wife, a mother, a better writer to do the story justice. All my novels draw from an inner place; and there’s always a great sense of urgency, as you say. If I’m not connected to some element of the story — even if it’s just allegorically — I can’t write it.

I know your son is grown now. But how did motherhood affect your life as a writer? Do you feel like it made you a better writer? What where the challenges and how did you balance them early in your career?

Sara Blaedel: Oh my goodness, Lisa! What a nightmarish trauma for you to have lived through. All of the unthinkably dreadful things that happen, which permeate our news and both fictional and reality-based crime shows, they haunt and horrify us even as we don’t know the victims involved. It’s all so distressing and frightening, but sometimes it can seem surreal somehow; just too terrible to believe. I cannot imagine how terrorized you were- how unsafe you must have felt as a teen, when this person you knew vanished and was killed.

Your question is provocative and so insightful. Of course, when we write crime stories, which include so much loss and suffering and heinous and degraded acts committed, it is impossible not to personalize them. We live with these characters for so long (they reside in our heads and get under our skin). These are the children and friends and lovers of other characters; they are loved and matter, and when they are lost, they are missed and grieved for. As I wrote The Running Girl, my darkest fear became ever-present- losing Adam, my little boy. I tried to work through this anxiety, but returning to my writing each day made that a great challenge.

It was often difficult for me to leave the story behind after a day of working on it. Adam frequently asked me if I had killed anyone that day, and I knew the question was sparked by my moods. That he could sense I was affected or unable to shake things off. In general, when I execute a first draft, I tend to become so consumed that I am distracted from other, oftentimes important, things going on in my life. I am not proud to admit that I’ve forgotten things like appointments of events at school with Adam. Lisa, you are such a devoted and inspired mother; I cannot imagine you missing anything with your daughter.

That said, I do firmly believe that being a mother has made me a better writer. During this wonderful and enlightening journey of having a son, I have discovered new and deeper elements within myself- a greater capacity to love, and far more intense compassion and connectivity. All of which have informed the material I choose, and the way I explore and dive into it.

As a mother, are there subjects and details you won’t touch because they’re too sensitive, perhaps, or hit too close to home? Is there anything that you strictly relegate to an off-limits position because they’d cause panic within you, or a debilitating pain?

Lisa Unger: I know that you, too, are a wonderful and devoted mother. Your close relationship with your grown-up Adam is a testament to that. Of course, as a writer and a mother, there is always conflict within. Because the life of the writer and the life of the parent are both all-consuming creative enterprises. But I agree completely that motherhood can only make us more compassionate, more connected to the human condition, with a greater capacity to love. This must in turn take us to deeper places on the page.

Yours is such an interesting question, and it’s such an interesting time to be asking it. As the mother of a young girl, I must have so many conversations with her about dark and terrifying possibilities from which we’d all rather turn away. Maybe especially because of the things I experienced as a teenager, and what is happening in our culture right now, it’s important to me to have a dialogue with her. Teaching her how to protect her body, mind, and spirit from predators, from people who might wish to use or abuse her, is a painful but necessary thing. And I am a firm believer in open communication with our girls, in giving them the resources to defend and speak out, or yell and fight if necessary, to keep themselves safe. Monsters survive and thrive in the dark. It’s our duty as women to shine the light.

I used to think that there were places that I wouldn’t or couldn’t go with my fiction. But as I tend to write about the things that terrify me or confound me, things I’m trying to understand, I have found myself on some dark paths. The temptation is always to pull away – because some things, as you say, are too horrible to imagine. There’s been chatter online about an award The Guardian wants to give to crime fiction novels that don’t feature violence against women. And on the one hand, I understand this impulse; it’s a positive one. But on the other hand, I think: We’ll stop writing about these things when they stop happening. We’ll stop writing about violence, when we’re no longer terrified for ourselves and our girls. Fiction is where we metabolize the world, where we order chaos, where we dive into emotional truth. I’m not sure that silencing voices was ever the way to solve a problem. So, I suppose I’ll continue to follow my characters down dark paths, but always with the intention of bringing light there.

So, just like Ilka in THE UNDERTAKER’S DAUGHTER, you, too, have made a move to the US. Not to Racine, Wisconsin but to New York City. I know you are loving your new home away from home! What are the most striking differences between American and Danish culture? What do you miss most about home when you are here? And what do you miss about the US when you’re back in Denmark?

Sara Blaedel: I absolutely do love living in Manhattan, which is such an exciting, diverse, energetic, and fascinating city. It’s never dull here; that’s for sure. The idea that anything goes here just speaks to me. I’m drinking it all in, thrilling to every second of it. There are endless opportunities and varieties of nearly everything – fabulous museum exhibits, gallery showings, author readings and events, concerts, political demonstrations, women’s marches, shopping… This list goes on, but let’s not forget one that’s dear to my heart: the incredible food. I’m an eater, and an adventurous one at that. In New York City, right along with the fancy, highly reviewed, three, four, and five-star restaurants, are more modest-seeming places that serve up some of the most delectable ethnic dishes I’ve ever tasted. Then, of course, there are the scrumptious food trucks, where you can get lobster rolls on one corner, and empanadas on the next. I’ve only just begun testing my way through the treats here, but already have a few favorites: Asian-fusion and juicy, saucy chicken wings. Their counterparts in Denmark are small and dry.

I do miss my Danish favorites, most especially stegt flaesk, which is positively succulent roasted pork belly and potatoes, cooked in a creamy parsley sauce. Thinking about Danish smorrebred, an open sandwich on dark rye bread, makes my mouth water and leaves me ravenous. The very best dinner I’ve had in NYC so far was at the 2-star Michelin restaurant, Atera, which is the baby of Danish chef, Ronny Emborg. That tasty and satisfying meal transported me home.

I love living in the heart of publishing, which allows me to meet with my amazing team of superstars at Grand Central, as well as my incredible literary agent. I am overjoyed and profoundly grateful for the warm reception I’ve received from the crime fiction community. I find Americans to be more open and welcoming in general. In Denmark, people are more reserved at first, until they get to know you. Then, of course, they’re wonderful. But no one I’ve met on the street or in a shop in Denmark has ever called me “sweetheart,” “darling,” or “honey.” I love that! It’s so affectionate and intimate. It puts you at ease and brings a smile to your face.

On a socio-political note, the healthcare in Denmark is more protective and secure. People there don’t worry about the financial burdens of getting sick or medical emergencies. As I’ve dug into research for The Undertaker’s Daughter, which is set in Wisconsin, I’ve been intrigued by the vast differences in how the deceased are handled. In Denmark, there are no wakes or shivas; there are no ceremonies that are packed with mourners; no viewings of the late loved ones. I love how the Americans approach this aspect of death, which feels more sensitive and reverent for the grief-stricken survivors.

I miss my friends in Denmark, though it hasn’t been too difficult to convince them to come here to NYC to visit me. I do long for the quiet time spent in my Danish summer place, a beach house on the north coast. It is wonderful and lushly beautiful. I am crazy about my long walks along the shore. Walking up there, my very favorite place to start a new book, is what I miss the most about my homeland. So, as I dig in to begin writing now, that yearning is particularly intense.

When I am in Denmark, I miss the energy in New York City, and how everything is within walking distance. Whether you need dinner in a hurry, a late-night snack, or headache pills in the middle of the night, they’re all just around the corner. Everything has a close sensibility; I love that!

Lisa Unger: Wow — you just managed to make me hungry and homesick all at once! We’ve had a number of fabulous food experiences together, haven’t we? But my favorite with you has to be the jazz brunch at Mr. B’s Bistro in New Orleans! Gumbo, fried oysters, bloody marys! Yes! This must be why we’re such great friends – we love to talk, and eat, and talk about eating!

Time to do it again, I think. I’m going to book a flight and come up to visit. Get ready!

Thank you, Sara, for sharing yourself with me. I’m reading your fabulous book right now. Lucky readers, it goes on sale today. Rush to your favorite bookseller and grab your copy. And for more about Sara, visit SaraBlaedel.com.

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Hellbent

Lucky readers! HELLBENT by my bestie, New York Times bestselling author Gregg Hurwitz, is out today! Run, don’t walk to get your copy from your favorite bookseller. Gregg delivers an amazing thrill ride every single time he sits down and puts pen to paper. He’s one of the best! If you haven’t yet discovered his bestselling Orphan X novels, you’re missing out.

The publication of HELLBENT is the perfect time for me to repost the conversation Gregg and I had for Keir Graff (Executive Editor of Booklist.) It’s definitely one of my favorites! Especially since we were supposed to argue, but we couldn’t find ANY topic on which we disagreed! So, Booklist let us do it our way. Instead of “You’re Doing It Wrong” our chat became “You’re Doing It Right.” Enjoy! And happy pub day, Greg!