A different kind of thrill: Book signing and dinner with Tess Gerritsen and Lisa Gardner

It was truly a thrill to spend some of my Saturday with suspense authors Tess Gerritsen and Lisa Gardner who were in Dallas to promote their new books with a book signing at Borders and a radio interview. While in town, they made time for dinner with the DFW Tea Readers Group. The book signing was standing room only but I managed to snag a chair from the café so I could enjoy the event in relative comfort. Tess and Lisa spoke about their new books before a Q and A with the audience and book signing. Tess’s latest book, Ice Cold (the 8th book in the Rizzoli and Isles series) was inspired by two real life events: problems caused when GPS systems give incorrect and potentially dangerous instructions and the Dugway Incident in Utah involving the mysterious and sudden deaths of various birds and livestock. Moving the characters out of Boston, this book finds Rizzoli traveling to Wyoming to search for the missing Isles who has encountered a mystery of her own.

Anticipating questions from the audience, Tess discussed the new TNT series “Rizzoli and Isles” which is based on her characters. Tess visited the set during the filming of the pilot which was based primarily on The Apprentice, the 2nd book in the series and the one to introduce Isles. She believes that both Angie Harmon and Executive Produce/Screenwriter Janet Tamaro embody the essence of Rizolli. The character of Isles has been softened for TV and to take advantage of the chemistry between Harmon and Sasha Alexander. Tess indicated she was pleased to be associated with a TV show that has strong women both in front of and behind the camera. Other than the pilot, the TV show will primarily follow story lines different from those found in the books. The pilot of R&I was the highest commercial-supported cable premiere to date with an estimated 8 million viewers. I thought the premiere episode was great and enjoyed hearing the behind-the-scenes stories.

Having just read The Surgeon, the first book in the Rizzoli and Isles series, I was interested to hear that this book had been inspired by a reader who wanted Tess to write about something of interest to the reader. When Tess asked her what that was, the reader responded, “serial killers and twisted sex,” which I think sums up The Surgeon very neatly. According to Tess, Rizzoli was a secondary character who was supposed to die at the end of the first book but she grew on Tess so she kept Rizzoli around. Tess stated that many people don’t really like Rizzoli in the first book. I agree that she’s is prickly and has a chip on her shoulder, but I think it seems realistic for a woman trying to survive in a profession dominated by men and guns. Maura Isles, introduced briefly The Apprentice, also started as a minor character who took on a life of her own.

Lisa Gardner spoke about her latest book Live to Tell, and The Neighbor (just out in paperback) both of which are part of the D.D. Warren series. I just finished reading The Neighbor and thought it was brilliant. It features complex and flawed characters involved in a plot that kept me guessing until the very end. Gardner shared that The Neighbor was the winner of the 2010 Thriller Award for Best Hardback. I want to congratulate Lisa for this much deserved recognition and for being the first woman ever to receive this award.

Lisa discussed that her writing is often inspired by social issues. At 17, while writing her first book which featured a former hooker, she and a friend went “hooker shopping” in the red light district to find out about what it means to be a hooker (seeing as she had no personal experience). Needless to say, few of her questions were answered and her research methods have become a little less dangerous. Live to Tell, the latest book in her DD warren series, deals with the issue of mental illness in young children a topic inspired by the experiences of a friend.

The DFW Tea Readers Group met Tess and Lisa for dinner at Natalie’s off of Preston and Royal in Dallas. If you haven’t been there I would recommend a visit. I had the lasagna (awesome!) but must confess I was coveting the chicken fried steak (maybe next time). Tess and Lisa were wonderful dinner companions who switched places half-way through dinner to insure they spoke to everybody. I learned that in her free time, Tess likes to read non-fiction especially ancient texts and books about archeology. Lisa discussed her growing following among fans of car racing that has come from being a sponsor of her husband’s race car. Her books and name have been featured on various race cars and in car racing magazines.

All-in-all it was a great way to spend a Saturday. What did you think about the premiere of Rizzoli and Isles? What are your favorite Gardner and/or Gerritsen books?

Maria