Barnard College, New York City, New York, United States
Hallie Ephron graduated from Barnard College in 1969.
Career
Gallery of Hallie Ephron
2006
Grand Hyatt Hotel, New York City, New York, United States
Hallie Ephron and Julie Smith attend The 60th Annual Edgar Awards Banquet at Grand Hyatt Hotel on April 27, 2006, in New York City. (Photo by Matt Carasella/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images).
Gallery of Hallie Ephron
2013
Hallie Ephron with her old friends Cara Black (author) and Rhys Bowen.
Gallery of Hallie Ephron
2015
Hallie Ephron, American novelist.
Gallery of Hallie Ephron
2017
Mysterious Bookshop, New York City, New York, United States
Hallie Ephron signed copies in New York City the Mysterious Bookshop.
Gallery of Hallie Ephron
2017
Hallie Ephron with the crime fiction author Lee Child at ThrillerFest 2017.
Gallery of Hallie Ephron
2017
Hallie Ephron, American novelist, book reviewer, journalist, and writing teacher. She is the author of mystery and suspense novels.
Gallery of Hallie Ephron
2017
Hallie Ephron with Christina Baker Kline and her editor Kate Nintzel at the Bea2017 HarperCollins party.
Gallery of Hallie Ephron
2018
Hallie Ephron with Ellen Byron and Daryl Wood Gerber aka Avery Aames Sisters in Crime Orange County.
Gallery of Hallie Ephron
2019
Hallie Ephron with Yrsa Sigurðardóttir and Ragnar Jonasson at the Scandinavian Cultural Center.
Gallery of Hallie Ephron
Hallie Ephron, American novelist.
Gallery of Hallie Ephron
Tulum, Mexico
Hallie Ephron is on the beach in Mexico.
Gallery of Hallie Ephron
Hallie Ephron
Gallery of Hallie Ephron
Hallie Ephron, American novelist.
Gallery of Hallie Ephron
Hallie Ephron, American novelist.
Achievements
Membership
Awards
Edgar Award
2006
Ephron's how-to book, Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel: How to Knock ‘Em Dead with Style, was nominated for a 2006 Edgar Award.
Lifetime Achievement Award
2019
Ephron won the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions and dedication to the New England Crime Bake, a conference for New England crime writers and readers.
Mary Higgins Clark Award
Ephron's novels Never Tell a Lie, There Was an Old Woman, and Come and Find Me that were finalists for the Mary Higgins Clark Award.
Grand Hyatt Hotel, New York City, New York, United States
Hallie Ephron and Julie Smith attend The 60th Annual Edgar Awards Banquet at Grand Hyatt Hotel on April 27, 2006, in New York City. (Photo by Matt Carasella/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images).
Ephron won the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions and dedication to the New England Crime Bake, a conference for New England crime writers and readers.
(If the only witness to murder has amnesia, how do you cat...)
If the only witness to murder has amnesia, how do you catch the killer? Instead of matching fingerprints or DNA, forensic psychologist Dr. Peter Zak solves cases by studying psychological clues and phenomena. Peter, whose specialty is the brain and behavior, consults for the Boston public defenders office, analyzing the thought processes and personalities of witnesses and defendants. Sylvia Jackson was shot in the head and left for dead, her boyfriend murdered. Waking from a coma after six weeks, she remembers nothing-until three months later, when she begins to recall details of the crime and the killer.
(Returning in Addiction, Peter is back in the thick of thi...)
Returning in Addiction, Peter is back in the thick of things at the Pearce Psychiatric Center, coping with patients as well as everyday average administrative nightmares at the hospital, like budgetary concerns, construction, and colleagues' drug trials. And then the worst nightmare of all-the murder of a colleague. Such an event, if it weren't devastating enough, rekindles Peter's memories of the murder of his wife, which left Peter emotionally shattered and isolated; he's only recently begun to emerge. But he can't retreat this time; he must use his expertise to help reconstruct this baffling and intensely personal killing.
(Forensic neuropsychologist at Boston's prestigious Pearce...)
Forensic neuropsychologist at Boston's prestigious Pearce Psychiatric Center and expert defense witness Peter Zak regularly testifies at murder trials on issues like a defendant's conception of right and wrong or the reliability of a witness's memory. This time a lawyer calls Peter to the scene of a crime-Nick Babikian has just found his wife brutally stabbed and floating in their backyard pool. The lawyer wants Peter to assess Nick's state of mind. A brilliant but paranoid man who's made millions inventing and marketing his own computer role-playing game, he was working in the house while his wife was stabbed, and he's certain to be accused of wielding the knife.
(Forensic neuropsychologist and expert defense witness Pet...)
Forensic neuropsychologist and expert defense witness Peter Zak is trying to help a coworker, Dr. Emily Ryan, who is being tormented by a stalker. She doesn't have any idea who it could be, and his acts have been escalating, to the point where he's breaking into her car and leaving sick messages. Peter is increasingly worried about where the violence will end. And there is no lack of suspects, as the naive Emily seems to attract admirers blindly; from her colleagues at the Neuropsychiatric Unit where she is studying the brain and its disorders to the other doctors at the Pearce Psychiatric Institute, even Peter notices himself responding to her blond good looks and puppy dog eyes.
(When a bomb detonates outside a Harvard law school buildi...)
When a bomb detonates outside a Harvard law school building, killing several including a law student who was counseling Jackie Kelvinski, a woman trying to get out of an abusive marriage, Jackie is afraid that the bomb was set off by her unstable husband. Annie Squires, an investigator helping her out, tries to convince her that's unlikely, but Jackie's not listening. And before the Cambridge police get very far in their investigation to determine who could have committed such a crime, a second deadly bomb explodes, this time at a Cambridge courthouse. The bomb narrowly misses forensic neuropsychologist, Dr. Peter Zak, late for a meeting inside.
(A descent into gripping suburban terror, this stunner by ...)
A descent into gripping suburban terror, this stunner by the Ellen Nehr Award-winning mystery reviewer for the Boston Globe has been called “a snaky, unsettling tale of psychological suspense” by the Seattle Times. Fans of Mary Higgins Clark, Harlan Coben, and classic gothic mystery will adore this supremely suspenseful and consistently surprising story of a yard sale gone terribly wrong.
The Bibliophile's Devotional: 365 Days of Literary Classics
(What better way to start a day than with inspiration from...)
What better way to start a day than with inspiration from a literary classic? Now you can do just that. In this book, praised author and critic Hallie Ephron delivers a daily dose of literary knowledge. A brilliant companion to the canon of great literature, it's perfect for anyone who wants a novel way to energize each day.
(For an aspiring novelist, nothing is more intimidating th...)
For an aspiring novelist, nothing is more intimidating than a blank page or computer screen. This step-by-step guide helps you get past that hurdle, start writing, and cross the finish line to the first draft in only twenty-six weeks. This guide covers the entire novel-writing process - from polishing an idea to finding an agent and submitting to publishers.
(When Evie Ferrante learns that her mother has been hospit...)
When Evie Ferrante learns that her mother has been hospitalized, she finds her mother’s house in chaos. Sorting through her mother’s belongings, Evie discovers objects that don’t quite belong there and begins to raise questions. Evie renews a friendship with Mina, an elderly neighbor who might know more about her mother’s recent activities, but Mina is having her own set of problems. Her nephew Brian is trying to persuade her to move to a senior care community. As Evie investigates her mother’s actions, a darker story of deception and madness involving Mina emerges.
(Duane Foley thought shooting movie star Bunny Nichol's gl...)
Duane Foley thought shooting movie star Bunny Nichol's glamorous Hollywood party was going to be just another job. All the A-listers will be there, of course: Rock Hudson and Doris Day, not to mention Bunny herself and her current Argentine playboy, Tito Acevedo. And Duane's being paid upfront, not working on spec like he usually does. He's still smarting over having gotten that shot of Jack Kennedy and Marilyn all lovey-dovey over dinner, only to have a pair of goons tackle him in the parking lot and smash his camera.
Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel Revised and Expanded
(New York Times best-selling author Hallie Ephron shows yo...)
New York Times best-selling author Hallie Ephron shows you how to create a compelling sleuth and a worthy villain. Construct a plot rich in twists, red herrings, and misdirection bring the story to a satisfying conclusion. Sharpen characters and optimize pace during revision. Seek publication through both traditional and indie paths filled with helpful worksheets and exercises for every step of the process.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1440347166/
2017
You'll Never Know, Dear
(Seven-year-old Lissie Woodham and her four-year-old siste...)
Seven-year-old Lissie Woodham and her four-year-old sister Janey were playing with their porcelain dolls in the front yard when an adorable puppy scampered by. Eager to pet the pretty dog, Lissie chased after the pup as it ran down the street. When she returned to the yard, Janey’s precious doll was gone and so was Janey. Forty years after Janey went missing, Lis - now a mother with a college-age daughter of her own - still blames herself for what happened. Every year on the anniversary of her sister’s disappearance, their mother, Miss Sorrel, places a classified ad in the local paper with a picture of the toy Janey had with her that day - a one-of-a-kind porcelain doll - offering a generous cash reward for its return.
(Emily Harlow is a professional organizer who helps people...)
Emily Harlow is a professional organizer who helps people declutter their lives; she’s married to a man who can’t drive past a yard sale without stopping. He’s filled their basement, attic, and garage with his finds. Like other professionals who make a living decluttering peoples’ lives, Emily has devised a set of ironclad rules. When working with couples, she makes clear that the client is only allowed to declutter his or her own stuff. That stipulation has kept Emily’s own marriage together these past few years. She’d love nothing better than to toss out all her husband’s crap. He says he’s a collector. Emily knows better - he’s a hoarder. The larger his “collection” becomes, the deeper the distance grows between Emily and the man she married.
(Los Angeles 1986: When Deirdre Unger arrived in Beverly H...)
Los Angeles 1986: When Deirdre Unger arrived in Beverly Hills to help her bitter, disappointed father sell his dilapidated house, she discovers his lifeless body floating face down in the swimming pool. At first, Deirdre assumes her father’s death was a tragic accident. But the longer she stays in town, the more she suspects that it is merely the third act in a story that has long been in the making.
Hallie Elizabeth Ephron is an American novelist, book reviewer, journalist, and writing teacher. She is the author of mystery and suspense novels, New York Times bestselling author, Edgar Award finalist, and a five-time finalist for the Mary Higgins Clark Award.
Background
Hallie Elizabeth Ephron was born on March 9, 1948, in Los Angeles, California. Ephron came from a famous writing family (sisters Norah, Delia, and Amy are noted screenplay writers) and her parents were screenwriters Henry and Phoebe Ephron, who wrote classic movies as The Desk Set and Carousel.
Education
Hallie Ephron graduated from Barnard College in 1969.
Before Ephron started her writing career, she worked as a teacher, a technical writer, and education consultant ensued. But when she teamed up with Donald Davidoff, a neuropsychologist at Harvard’s McLean Hospital, to create fictional forensic neuropsychologist Doctor Peter Zak and investigator Annie Squires, she found her love of fiction. Under the shared pseudonym G. H. Ephron, they published five series mystery novels.
As of today, she is the author of over a dozen novels. In 2011, Never Tell a Lie was made into a Lifetime television movie entitled And Baby Will Fall, starring Anastasia Griffith, Brendan Fehr, and Clea DuVall. Ephron's newest publication, Night Night, Sleep Tight, was released in April 2015 by William Morrow and Company.
Her latest suspense novel, You’ll Never Know, Dear (Wm. Morrow) is set in South Carolina. It tells the story of a little girl’s disappearance and the porcelain doll that may hold the key to her fate. It was named a finalist for the Mary Higgins Clark Award, an Earphones Award winner, and was named one of the “Top 10 Mystery and Suspense” audiobooks of 2017 by Audiofile.
She is also the award-winning crime fiction book reviewer for the Boston Globe and teaches fiction writing at writing conferences. Ephron reviews crime fiction for the Boston Globe.
Hallie is a gifted teacher who gives workshops at writing conferences across the country.
Hallie combines teaching with writing. She loves going to groups and conferences and teaching about writing, meeting writers, helping other writers get a leg up - and along the way getting her name out there and building readership. Here is what she stated about her style of writing in her own words: "I’m suspense writer, and I’m always going for what I call the “lightbulb in the glass of milk” moment. Think of the scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s Suspicion. The Joan Fontaine character believes that her charming, wastrel husband, played by Cary Grant, is an embezzler and a murderer. As Grant mounts the stairs, the camera zooms in on what he’s carrying: a tray with his wife’s nightly glass of warm milk. That milk seems to glow, and we’re wondering: Is it poison?"
Quotations:
"My tips for a successful partnership: First and foremost, keep your sense of humor. And when you have to split the proceeds, remember that you also got to split the expenses and share the work."
"Every time I finish a manuscript. I’m not one of those authors who have ideas buzzing in their heads like planes stacked up for landing. Ideas come to me piecemeal, in shards that I have to piece together and make cohere over the 300 or so pages of a novel. Writing is a process of vacillating between hope and despair. It’s a glorious moment when it all comes together at the end."
"A famous writer once told me that being a writer is like flying - there’s always someone in a class ahead of you. So I try to grab every milestone and embrace it as “success,” drink a toast, and savor the moment."
"It’s too darned hard and takes too darned long to write a book, so I’m always writing about themes and characters that I really really care about."
Personality
Hallie Ephron grew up being read to, reading, reciting poetry, and generally cherishing the written word. Knowing that she came from that amazing gene pool gave her the courage to write.
Quotes from others about the person
“Hallie is fearless as an author,” says Hank Phillippi Ryan. “She gives herself permission to mine the deepest experiences she’s had. She opens her heart and soul to it. She’s an incredible communicator of a not only story but character and motivation and emotion.”