Beach Reads and More!
Paperback release, sweepstakes reminder, and more!
Dear Reader:
I returned from Thrillerfest on Sunday, revitalized and excited to dive back into writing. With One Last Warning (Quinn & Costa #8) done, I’m turning back to my untitled stand alone set in the Bob Marshall Wilderness of Montana.
I have news! First and foremost: Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds is now out in paperback. If you missed it last summer, pick it up today for your vacation read. There is of course a murder to solve, but it’s a bit lighter than what I usually write.
One of the things I did at Thrillerfest was take an advanced writing workshop. When I told people about it, they looked at me oddly. Yes, I have 51 published books under my belt and dozens of short stories. Yet, I am always striving to make my next book better. I never want to “phone it in.” And because I spend so much time writing, I sometimes forget to re-group, to contemplate ways to level-up my stories. This does not mean I’m changing genres. What it does mean is I want to be more conscious of the layers in my stories, creating deeper, more relatable characters and richer storylines, while maintaining the pacing, plot, and characters readers expect from me.
Continuing education is common in virtually every profession. My oldest daughter, a law enforcement officer, takes advanced classes as well as has to re-certify on her weapons and EMT license. My youngest daughter, a teacher, takes continuing education to make sure she has the tools she needs to teach young children. So why not authors? Sometimes, we need to look at stories in a different way, to find ways to maximize our strengths and improve our weaknesses. To ask ourselves questions as we dive back into our fictional worlds.
And hopefully, you all will be the beneficiaries of great stories well told.
Thanks for reading!
Allison
Out in Paperback: Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds
In this sun-dappled mystery from New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan, a risk-averse bibliophile gets in over her head when strange notes in a book draw her into a real-life investigation.
Check it out wherever books are sold, or visit my website for more information!
Last year, when Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds first came out, my daughter made this video for me … we had so much fun with this! (And I owe her a lot more than a margarita.)
WHISPER CREEK coming June 23!
The storm is coming in six weeks …
After the sudden death of her husband, Ellen McKenna is doing everything she can to keep her Texas farm afloat. She and her family hope to expand their operation, but times are tough and making ends meet is more expensive than she imagined, much less trying to grow. Many of their neighbors in Cooke County have thrown in the towel and agreed to sell their farms to a local businessman, but despite similar pressure, Ellen refuses to let her dreams die.
On top of the usual hardships, a series of recent storms has left the region partly flooded, and as the heavy rain begins again one morning, all the members of the McKenna family jump into action to protect their land and animals. Ellen’s oldest son discovers an injured dog—and the dog leads him to a man barely clinging to life, the apparent victim of a brutal home invasion. Then, Ellen’s younger kids go to check on a nearby neighbor and walk into a threat none of them saw coming.
Before anyone can figure out what’s really going on in their idyllic rural valley, the storm picks up again in intensity, and the McKenna kids find themselves in over their heads with no way to call for help. To protect her farm--and her family—Ellen must face down all the forces trying to tear them apart.
For more information, check out my website!
And remember: signed copies are available through the Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Scottsdale, Arizona. They ship everywhere!
WHISPER CREEK Sweepstakes!
Don’t forget to enter this sweepstakes which includes naming rights to the Great Pyrenees that co-stars in my 2027 thriller! (I’m calling the big, fluffy white working dog “Dog” for now, which is hardly original.) For more information, rules, and to enter click here.
Mark Your Calendar: Whisper Creek Signings
Tuesday, June 23, 6:30 p.m.
E. Shaver Booksellers
Savannah, GA
More information here
Saturday, June 27, 3:00 p.m.
Murder By The Book
Houston, TX
More information here
There may be more signings … I’ll let you know when I know!
More About Thrillerfest
Thrillerfest is my go-to conference. I’ve been to almost every conference since the beginning, in 2006.
Writers are generally solitary people because writing is a solitary profession. So when we can get together, we break out of our self-imposed shell and have fun.
But Thrillerfest is more than just writers talking to writers. There are panels for all levels of writers and readers. There are interviews and chats. It’s the place for people who love thrillers and suspense. This year there were interviews with Lisa Scottoline, Harlan Coben, Lisa Unger, and more. Next year the Thrillermasters are Michael Connelly and Karin Slaughter!
And my favorite book of 2025 — THE BIG EMPTY by Robert Crais — won Best Series Thriller.
My week was super busy and I didn’t take many photos, but here are some highlights:
My daughter Mary (who joins me every year and works for Thrillerfest) and I arrived on Sunday in time to check in to the hotel and walk to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. We loved going to this historic church; we didn’t love the troves of people walking around the sides and behind the altar during Mass.
We had burgers at P. McDaid’s, our favorite pub walking distance from our hotel. On Monday, I had lunch with my former editors from Ballantine, and it was great catching up. Then Mary and I headed over to my daughter Kelly’s new gigs — she recently changed jobs and now works for Paramount as a designer.
This is the view from her desk:
On Tuesday, I taught a MasterClass, which is one of my favorite things to do — eight hours of an intensive workshop with ten serious, aspiring writers. Some have been published, and they all want to improve their storytelling.
Wednesday, I gave a talk on “Secondary Characters and Sidekicks” as part of CraftFest, then went to lunch with my agent. That evening, I went with the amazing and talented Tosca Lee to a party. Last year we took a rickshaw, and had so much fun Tosca insisted we do it again. And she negotiated the price WAY down from what they wanted to charge us!
After the cocktail party we went to dinner with another group of writers. We get together every year. We call it the “Story Guru” dinner because we talk about stories.
Thursday was my continuing education class, MasterClass 2.0, taught by Donald Maass. There were only eight of us in this intensive class, and I took 30 pages of notes. It was well worth the 4+ hours.
And then, because writers have to write even when we’re at conferences, I spent all afternoon working on revisions for One Last Warning.
Thursday is also the Thrillerfest Opening Reception. It’s very loud but also fun and a great place to catch up with people. I turned down dinner invitations because honestly, I was beat. In previous years I would be up late, hanging in the bar, talking and drinking … but I think my 56 years caught up with me this time! LOL.
On Friday I started the morning moderating a panel with agents, editors, and authors — including my agent, my editor. It was a great way for Thrillerfest attendees to learn how a book goes from acquisition to publication, the ups and downs of the business, and hear funny stories.
Then … lunch with my editor, “connectfest” where I sit down and talk to whoever wants to ask me questions, then another panel I moderated (this one on “The Last Chapter”), the cocktail party, dinner.
Saturday I started the day being on a panel about plotting (sort of), more connectfest chats, then I spent the afternoon finishing my revisions. Whew! I turned them in Monday morning and am so happy … even though I completely rewrote the ending. 100 pages. All changed.
Every year, I wish I went to more panels and talked to more people, but I can only do what I can do. Next year! (I tell myself every time …)
On Sunday, Mary and I went to Mass at St. Paul the Apostle, close to Columbus Circle. It was a wonderful little church and we’ll probably go there again next year.
Now I’m home. And writing. While I love Thrillerfest, I am certainly happy to be home.
So are my cats.
Thank you for being loyal readers!
Allison
Allison, thanks so much for your sage advice at ConnectFest! I didn't realize I was already following your Substack!