Peter Swanson Book Signing

[Carol/Bonadie]

I went to Peter Swanson’s book signing on Tuesday, for The Kind Worth Killing. It had been postponed from February because of one of our many snowstorms this winter. Even so, there was a good turnout. He was paired with another local author, Zachary Klein whose PI books I have not read.

Peter talked about where he got the idea for the book. A lot of his ideas come from observations of a situation and asking about them “What If?” As a child his parents would have dinner parties, and he remembered a guest telling a story about a long flight, and this led Peter to wonder “what if?” What if one passenger says he wants to murder his wife, and instead of running away the other passenger says “I’d like to help you.” He was aware of the similarity between the premise of the story/movie Strangers on a Train and The Kind Worth Killing, but he considers the first to be about one man stalking another, whereas his story is “a love story for murderers.” This started out as Ted’s story, but Lily took over, Peter found her to be the more interesting of the two.

Peter recently was on a flight to London for his first overseas book tour, and his wife and he were seated apart. He commented how most people on flights quickly open books or get themselves otherwise occupied so they don’t have to talk to their seat-mate, but then as the plane is about to land suddenly start engaging in small talk: “where are you going?” etc. In response to a question from his seatmate about what he does for a living, he started telling her the plot of his latest book. He could see her eyes start to glaze over as she wondered whether this was a very bizarre pickup line. He wanted to pull down his carry-on and drag out the book to show he was legit, LOL.

He read two sections of the book, one of the opening scenes where Ted and Lily meet in an airport bar, and another where Lily at 13 is swimming in a pond and is approached by one of her mother’s summer boarders. I was glad I’d already read the book because in talking about the plot he revealed a mild spoiler (view spoiler)[ that Lily had murdered before and that the creepy guy at the pool had an unhealthy interest in Lily (hide spoiler)]. Maybe the latter is not such a spoiler as that much is apparent pretty quickly.

Peter was asked if he found it hard to write a character of the opposite gender, and how he writes about characters who are not likeable. He didn’t find it hard as he met Lily at 13 and had sympathy for her. He gave her a reason for (view spoiler)[ her first murder, (hide spoiler)]. When writing he starts with a place that he can sympathize with, and has felt in himself, for example road rage, being so angry in a moment that he wants to lash out at someone, and then expands it beyond where he is likely to go.

It is fun seeing Peter grow as a writer and as a public speaker, as in real life he's a pretty quiet, shy guy.

[Ann]

How fun, Carol!
Thanks for sharing the details of the event. It sounds like Peter has quite a following in Boston (and elsewhere) Did Peter talk about what he is writing next?

I liked hearing how the story that was originally centered around Ted changed to be Lily's story as it seemed more interesting to him as he wrote. I remember when that shift took place in the novel and wondered about it.
I am with you on the spoilers he lightly revealed. While they might entice a few to pick up the book intrigued by the premise, they are something an avid reader would rather have revealed as they read rather than up front. That is a danger of attending a signing event. DD and I went to a Karen Slaughter event once and a major plot twist from a mid-series book was alluded to in cloaked terms that didn't keep her from guessing it, something that would be preferable to not know lest it spoil some of the build-up.

[Carol/Bonadie]

Ann, I don't think he did (say what he was working on now), I should have asked! I'm always stymied for questions when I get to an event, but that's an obvious one. I'll try to remember to ask the next time I see him.

Ann wrote: "How fun, Carol!
Thanks for sharing the details of the event. It sounds like Peter has quite a following in Boston (and elsewhere) Did Peter talk about what he is writing next?

I liked hearing how ..."

[Ann]

Carol: The perks of being an insider! I always am stumped for questions too. It's possibly partly related to our shared aversion to spoilers.
Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Ann, I don't think he did (say what he was working on now), I should have asked! I'm always stymied for questions when I get to an event, but that's an obvious one. I'll try to remember to ask th..."

[Sherry]

great summary, carol! wish he'd come to mystic again. he was really interesting to listen to.

[Carol/Bonadie]

Me too, Sherry, I would have liked to see him with you and Barry. Maybe next book.

Sherry wrote: "great summary, carol! wish he'd come to mystic again. he was really interesting to listen to."

[Carol/Bonadie]

I just ran into Peter in the hall, and for the life of me I couldn't remember what I was supposed to ask him! Then he said something about when his next book would be published and BINGO!!

Unfortunately for us, he doesn't talk about the content while he's writing, and he is in the middle of his third book, the last in his contract with the current publisher. He was apologetic that I wasn't going to be able to provide you guys with any tidbits, but I told him that was alright, we are supportive of the author's process. He thinks it is due to come out in the summer/fall of 2016. I was trying to talk him into coming to Bouchercon in New Orleans, (not that anyone needs to be talked into a work related reason to visit NO) and he thought it might work with the publication of his next book.

[Sherry]

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "I just ran into Peter in the hall, and for the life of me I couldn't remember what I was supposed to ask him! Then he said something about when his next book would be published and BINGO!!

Unfort..."

thanks for the update,carol.

[Ann]

Thanks, Carol! Good to know there is a third book coming, even if we have to wait.
Carol/Bonadie wrote: "I just ran into Peter in the hall, and for the life of me I couldn't remember what I was supposed to ask him! Then he said something about when his next book would be published and BINGO!!."

[Brakedrum]

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "I went to Peter Swanson’s book signing on Tuesday, for The Kind Worth Killing. It had been postponed from February because of one of our many snowstorms this winter. Even so, ther..."

Enjoyed your review, how interesting!