Dinner with Jenna Blum

[Amy]

So I’m having dinner with Jenna Blum, author of Those Who Save Us, and the Lost Family, and the Stormchasers, this Thursday night. After the author event where she and Hank Phillippi Ryan, local anchor and media personality and new author of Trust Me, give their author talks, we get to have dinner with them in the restaurant! One of my favorites, Italian food at Stellina’s restaurant in Watertown, MA. I will happily report back.

[Joanne]

How did you manage this? How wonderful and what fun. I have her book Those Who Save Us here on my real life shelf! (Also on GR TBR)-did you read that one? I keep forgetting about it, but want to read it soon.

P.S. your book is packed and ready to go, just have to get the P.Office tomorrow

[Amy]

💗💜😘

[Karin]

Amy wrote: "💗💜😘"

I notice you didn't answer how you managed this dinner ;). Have fun!!

[Booknblues]

Amy, that sounds like a super cool event!

[Tracy]

Oh, wow! Have fun!

[Amy]

So Jenna Blum actually hails from Boston, which I knew. There’s another fourth grade mom, who is a professor at BU, who as it turns out knows her very well as a friend. Her former husband was actually a writer, and she was his mentor. She teaches writing at a well known writers enclave called Grub Street writers. Anyway, she became such good friends with this couple, that she even drove out with them to be at their wedding and has traveled with them before. Anyway the ex was splitting from his wife when he mysteriously passed away, but apparently my friend still kept up with the friendship. When I discovered this recently, I told her I was reading the Lost Family next. Anyway, she got some kind of email opportunity about the evening, and send it to me. I am mediately signed up, and I guess the event is free but you have to pay for your meal or drinks. Which you don’t have to stay for, but you can stay and chat with the authors. So I figured why not! I really love this restaurant. So I’m picking up the fourth grade mom at 6 PM tomorrow and the event begins at 6:30. Which gives me enough time to swim and read in the sun and shower before the whole thing happens. Again, will keep you guys posted.

[Doughgirl5562]

Have fun! I live in Minneapolis, where Those Who Save Us is set. I think she lived here for a while. It was really really good. (Although I didn't like Stormchasers, but don't tell her that.)

[Amy]

I might have been alone in that. I loved stormchasers. Glad the thread reappeared. I realized I was remiss in not inviting Karin, or anyone else nearby to come. I left the details on the Sunday conversation thread.

[Karin]

Amy wrote: "So Jenna Blum actually hails from Boston, which I knew. There’s another fourth grade mom, who is a professor at BU, who as it turns out knows her very well as a friend. Her former husband was actua..."

That's cool--I mean the friend connection. I hope you have a fabulous time! I was NOT thinking you should have invited me because I figured it was a connection you had somewhere and was just interested in knowing the story :). I love knowing people's stories and how they meet people, etc, etc, etc. I usually hold back online, of course :)

BUT, it would be fun if a group of us from could go to an event like this some other time if it works out.

[Amy]

I even thought about texting you to invite you directly. I’m glad that my inadvertent mess wasn’t taken poorly.

[Amy]

Now… Have to tell you guys how wonderful and incredible this evening actually was. The two authors presenting were Jenna Blum and Hank Phillippi Ryan, and also in attendance was author Jane Healy. Just watching these others in conversation with each other and us was really a delight. Jenna is an adorable gorgeous little pixie of a thing. I just loved her. Like I mean I really grooved her. She was the kind of person you would want to kick back and go away for the weekend with. She was insightful and lovely and beautiful inside and out. And so willing to talk about her process with humility and appreciation and ambiguity. She was sweetness personified, which is interesting since her books are so dark. She was a little Spitfire of a thing. I adored her completely. She didn’t stay for the whole dinner because she wasn’t feeling well, because of her friendship with my companion, I got to ask her all the questions I wanted to ask her. For one thing she has synesthesia, which I thought really has something to do with the beautiful way in which she writes.

Hank Phillippi Ryan Was more of a surprise for me. And I loved her too. I have known her as a journalist and TV personality, and a speaker for organizations I have heard her speak from and I have known her as strong and funny and compassionate. I did not know she was a novelist and a true crime psychological thriller novelist. Do you hear her describe her book Trust Me, which I bought, sounds-so interesting, And that’s not even my genre. This question of what is the truth and who holds the truth and how these two women interact in this incredible way in a cat and mouse so deception game, well I was hooked and I bought the book.

Naturally both women want me to host them at my impromptu book club, and naturally Hank is sending me an ARC of her newest book. I bet you Jenna will do the same, when her newest comes out! What a fabulous and delicious evening!

[Karin]

Amy wrote: "I even thought about texting you to invite you directly. I’m glad that my inadvertent mess wasn’t taken poorly."

Thanks--another time :)! It sounds like a fantastic night!

[Joanne]

Sounds wonderful Amy, so glad you had such a lovely evening!

[annapi]

Glad you had a wonderful night - sounds like it was a great experience!

[Holly R W]

It sounds like an evening you will remember!