Book Club: Questions for PRIME TIME
Prime Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin NEXT
Category: Romantic Suspense
Interview on Single Titles
The first book for the Aspiring Romance Author Book Club is Prime Time by Hank Philipi Ryan. If you would like to join us, please read the book by May 4th. We will be interviewing Hank and discussing the techniques she used to create a RITA Best First Book Finalist! Here are some questions to keep in mind while you read and annotate! (Oh, Doctor Lightfoot would be so proud).
Setting
- Is a compelling atmosphere created and sustained? What was unique about the setting of the book and how did it enhance or take away from the story?
- Is the setting a character? Does it come to life?
- How does the setting relate to the plot? Does it help increase the tension? Does it contribute to the transformation?
- What techniques did the author use in world-building? Did the author follow her own rules? (mostly for paranormal books)
Theme
- What specific themes did the author emphasize throughout the novel?
- What do you think he or she is trying to get across to the reader?
- Are the book’s themes treated in an original or unusual way?
Plot
- What devices does the author use to create tension in the external conflict?
- What devices does she create tension in the internal conflict?
- How do the external and internal conflicts relate to each other?
- How does the plot follow the Hero’s Journey or Blake Snyder’s 15 beats?
- How does the author increase dramatic tension during the climax?
- Are there plot twists?
- Is the scene or chapter goal evident? Is it working toward the story’s overall goal?
- What were the secondary plots, and how did they contribute to the main story?
Character
- How does the author make them sympathetic? (Save the Cat)
- What are the characters’ motivations? Strengths? Weaknesses?
- What archetypes do the characters fit?
- How do characters change or evolve throughout the course of the story?
- What events trigger such changes?
- How do secondary characters add to the narrative? Are the secondary characters complete or one-dimensional “talking heads.”
- Problems: were the characters held accountable? Did they act according to their personalities?
Style
- How does the author’s style contribute to (or detract from) the impact of the book?
- What did the author do to achieve emotional impact?
- How did the author use Non-Verbal Communication to increase the tension or communicate emotion?
- Do any phrases, characters, or plot devices jump out as cliché?
- Subtext / Whitespace: Is the reader allowed to fill in the blanks occasionally?
- Does the author establish any patterns (repetitions of imagery, words or events) to communicate the mood/emotion/theme?
- Does the author use symbolism effectively?
Dialog
- Was it believable?
- Does each character have a unique speaking style? Ie, if you covered the tags could you tell who was speaking?
Other
- Why was this book chosen as a RITA finalist?
Tags: "romance novels", 2008 RITA, book club, Hank Phillippi Ryan, Prime Time, writing
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April 13, 2008 at 2:18 pm
What insightful and compelling questions! I’m printing them out–and will use them for guidance as I begin writing Drive Time. (the 4th Charlotte McNally Mystery.)
Thanks, Ciara–your book club is already helping me!
Talk to you all soon.
Best
Hank
April 15, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Wow, I love that you are having a book club that looks “under the hood” at how books are written. If I can get my act together, I’m coming in. I may have to wait until the next round though, so I hope you keep doing it.