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Authors! with Deborah Goodrich Royce

Deborah Goodrich Royce joins Authors! to discuss her latest psychological thriller, Best Boy.

About the author

Deborah Goodrich Royce began her career as an actress, starring as Silver Kane, sister of the legendary Erica Kane (played by Susan Lucci) on the ABC soap, All My Children. She went on to star in feature films such as April Fool’s Day and Just One of the Guys, TV movies such as Return to Peyton Place and The Deliberate Stranger, and series such as Beverly Hills 90210 and 21 Jump Street.

Her literary thrillers examine puzzles of identity. Reef Road, a Publishers Weekly’s Bestseller, was named one of the Best Books of 2023 by Kirkus Reviews, an Indie Next Pick by the American Bookseller’s Association, and one of Good Morning America’s Top 15 for January 2023. Ruby Falls won the Zibby Award for Best Plot Twist in 2021, and Finding Mrs. Ford was hailed by Forbes, Book Riot, and Good Morning America’s “best of” lists in 2019. Her newest, Best Boy, will be published on February 24, 2026.

The Ocean House Author Series—a salon style conversation that Deborah hosts in partnership with Martin House Books and WCRI Radio—brings world-class authors and readers together in the stunning seaside location of Watch Hill, RI. The series has featured a wide range of fiction and non-fiction writers including Chris Bohjalian, Katie Couric, Emma Straub, and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York. With fellow authors Luanne Rice and Amy Scheibe, she hosts the Deer Mountain Writers’ Retreat in the Catskills. Deborah writes a column for Hey Rhody and Providence Monthly Magazines, sharing her book recommendations and news with the Ocean State.

About the book

A gripping psychological thriller, Best Boy teeters on the knife-edge of memory and identity when the arrival of a shocking letter threatens the carefully constructed life of a woman desperate to outrun her past.

Viveca Stevenson has it all: a handsome and successful husband, an adorable ten-year-old son, and a coastal dream house in Greenwich, Connecticut. She has a solid group of girlfriends and is content with the afterglow of the film career she’s left behind. But when a threatening letter arrives—from a man she does not remember—it cracks open a part of her past she thought was buried for good.

A terrifying chain of events is set in motion, forcing Viveca to confront what happened on a shattering Halloween night in high school when she had a different name, a different face, a different voice. Who is the man contacting her now and was he really the best boy on her most famous film, Misty? Why can’t she remember him—or that night? A taut psychological thriller, Best Boy explores identity, memory, and the dangerous power of forgetting.

About the event

The presentation will be a 45-minute moderated conversation followed by a brief audience question and answer.

FAQs

Can tickets be purchased by phone? No, tickets can be purchased online through Eventbrite only.

What are my parking options at the event? The facility has a free parking garage. The garage entrance is located on Adams St.

What time do the doors open? General admission seating starts at 6:30 p.m.

Are there assigned seats? No. Seating is general admission, but the purchase of a ticket does guarantee you a seat.

Is handicapped seating available? Handicapped seating is available. For special seating arrangements, please call 419.259.5199 at least one week prior to the event.

Will an American Sign Language Interpreter be provided for the event? We are happy to provide an ASL Interpreter for the event - if you require this service, please contact us at 419.259.5199 at least two weeks before the event so arrangements can be made.

What can/can't I bring to the event? Please do not bring outside food/beverages. There is no video recording or flash photography allowed.

Will the author hold a book signing after the talk? Yes, the author will be available for a limited signing opportunity after the presentation.

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event? Yes, tickets will be scanned at the door. If you choose to utilize your mobile device, tickets can be scanned via your Eventbrite email receipt. Note: Screenshots/captures of the ticket receipt cannot be scanned. Please have your device with the ticket receipt open and available for scanning at entry.

Can I get my book if I don’t attend the event? Books may only be obtained at the event. If you are unable to attend, you may have someone else pick it up at the event, but they must have your ticket in hard copy or on their device.

What is the refund policy? Tickets will be refunded only if the event is canceled.

Where can I contact the organizer with any questions? Call the Library at 419.259.5200.