We are thrilled to welcome back award-winning and USA Today bestselling author Sonali Dev. Dubbed by Shelf Awareness as “not only one of the best but one of the bravest romance novelists working today,” Sonali writes Bollywood-style love stories that explore universal issues. She joins us to discuss the hilarious and heartfelt THE VIBRANT YEARS, which was the first novel to be published by Mindy’s Book Studio, the new Amazon Publishing imprint of Emmy-nominated actress, comedian, writer, and pro...
Jan 12, 2023•45 min•Ep. 244
WRITERS' BLOCK On our first episode of 2023, Ron and Kristy Woodson Harvey welcome Maghon Taylor Entepreneur, Best-Selling Author and founder of All She Wrote Notes. Maghon's infectious mission to spread happiness is so bright and inspiring- it's the perfect conversation to start the New Year! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 06, 2023•42 min•Ep. 243
On the premiere episode of our Winter 2023 season, the Fab Four welcome the amazing Mary Kubica ! Mary Kubica is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of many suspense novels, including THE GOOD GIRL, WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT, THE OTHER MRS. and LOCAL WOMAN MISSING. She joins us to talk about her highly anticipated new thriller, JUST THE NICEST COUPLE (coming January 10th from Park Row Books) which has been called “unputdownable” by Sally Hepworth and “riveting” by Laura Dave. Stick ...
Jan 05, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 242
WRITERS' BLOCK- Our year-end episode features Brenda Gardner & Llsa Harrison, hosts of the beloved and Zibby Award winning Friends and Fiction Official Book Club with Brenda and Lisa. This dynamic duo, affectionately known as P.B. & J, talk about their backgrounds, how the book club began and a glimpse behind the curtain of how it's run along with what to look forward to in 2023!! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Dec 30, 2022•37 min•Ep. 241
WRITERS' BLOCK- Ron is joined by the Fab 4, along with Meg Walker and Shaun Hettinger for a special holiday edition of the popular "Ask Us Anything" Hilarity ensues..... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 23, 2022•51 min•Ep. 240
WRITERS' BLOCK Paige Crutcher joins Ron and Patti Callahan Henry to talk about her upcoming book, The Lost Witch. This deep dive into her writing process is a wonderful exploration of storytelling development of ideas. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 16, 2022•42 min•Ep. 239
Tune in for a festive show as we welcome two of the F&F community's most beloved authors — Debbie Macomber & Viola Shipman — for our season finale and our holiday special. We are always happy to spend time with our dear friend, the #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber who is one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide and who has spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. The crew talks with Debb...
Dec 15, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 238
WRITERS' BLOCK Listeners will be re-introduced to this interview Ron conducted earlier in the year with this year's winner of the Barnes and Noble Book of the Year, Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. Enjoy the discussion of how Bonnie became a best-selling debut author in her 60's and created this book that is showing up on Best of the Year lists world wide! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 09, 2022•24 min•Ep. 237
On this episode, we're thrilled and honored to welcome the incomparable Louise Penny ! As a bonus treat we are joined by Rae Meadows on the After Show. Louise Penny is the author of the #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Globe and Mail bestselling series of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels, and coauthor with Hillary Rodham Clinton of the #1 New York Times bestselling thriller, State of Terror. Louise joins us to discuss her latest novel, A WORLD OF CURIOSITIES , the 18th book in her Gamache ...
Dec 08, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 236
WRITERS' BLOCK Ron, along with Patti Callahan Henry and Mary Kay Andrews welcomes one of the world’s most respected and sought-after story consultants and writing teachers, John Truby, whose legendary The Anatomy of Story is indispensable to novelists and screenwriters alike. John joins us to discuss his brand-new book, The Anatomy of Genres, a guide to understanding the major genres of the story world—and to do a deep dive into Patti’s and Mary Kay’s latest works in each of their respective gen...
Dec 02, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 235
On tonight’s episode, we welcome New York Times bestselling author, Kevin Wilson —plus Sheila Roberts on the After Show! Kevin Wilson is the author of three novels including NOTHING TO SEE HERE , which was a New York Times bestseller and a Read with Jenna book club selection in 2019. Kevin joins us to discuss his latest novel, NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO PANIC , which has been named an Amazon Best Book of November 2022 and a Most Anticipated Book of the season from the Associated Press, Vogue, Esquir...
Dec 01, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 234
WRITERS' BLOCK Ron Block and Patti Callahan Henry speak with Reyna Grande about her sweeping and powerful historical fiction novel, A Ballad of Love and Glory. This conversation delves into Reyna's beginnings as a writer and her path to becoming a a strong immigrant voice in literature. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nov 25, 2022•40 min•Ep. 233
Join us on Thanksgiving Eve as we welcome some of our favorite indie bookseller pals for a very special holiday episode of Friends & Fiction! The Fab Four are joined by Tim from Nantucket Book Partners in Nantucket, MA; Peter from Booktowne in Manasquan, NJ; Susan from Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, DE; Cathy & Serena from Copperfish Books in Punta Gorda, FL; Rebecca from Macintosh Books on Sanibel Island, FL; and Laura from Oxford Exchange in Tampa, FL.We hear from each of them ab...
Nov 24, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 232
WRITERS' BLOCK Ron Block and Kristy Woodson Harvey talk with Tori Whitaker about her fascinating historical fiction novel that connects two women across decades. The 1920's and the present day come alive across generations with this story of strength, connection, and the power to find one's own path. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nov 18, 2022•37 min•Ep. 231
On this show, we welcome back our dear friend, award-winning author Lisa Unger ! Lisa is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of twenty novels, including THE STRANGER INSIDE, LAST GIRL GHOSTED, and CONFESSIONS ON THE 7:45 — now in development at Netflix, starring Jessica Alba. A co-President of the International Thriller Writers Organization with books published in thirty-two languages and millions of copies sold worldwide, Lisa is regarded as a master of suspense. She joins...
Nov 17, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 230
WRITERS' BLOCK Ron Block speaks with Jennifer Coburn about her thoroughly researched and fascinating first historical fiction novel, Cradles of the Reich and about her path to change genres in her writing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nov 11, 2022•32 min•Ep. 229
On this episode we introduce you to one of the world’s foremost historical novelists, Philippa Gregory ! Philippa is the acclaimed author of many New York Times bestselling novels, including THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL (which was a 2008 major motion picture starring Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson) and THE WHITE QUEEN (which became a StarzOriginals 10-part series in 2013). Philippa has won numerous awards including Outstanding Contribution to Historical Fiction by the Historical Writers’ Associ...
Nov 10, 2022•55 min•Ep. 228
WRITERS' BLOCK Ron Block and Patti Callahan Henry dive into How to Write A Novel in 20 Pies with author and teacher, Amy Wallen. Sure to be a delicious treat for writers and aspiring writers alike! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nov 04, 2022•43 min•Ep. 227
On this episode we spend some quality time with our friend Wanda Morris ! The acclaimed author of 2021’s #1 Library Reads Pick ALL HER LITTLE SECRETS (which is being adapted by Uzo Aduba as a limited series for Showtime!), joins us to talk about her brand-new gripping, suspenseful novel, ANYWHERE YOU RUN (just released on 10/25/22 by William Morrow Books). Wanda tells us about her gut-wrenching research into Jim Crow-era Mississippi, the difficult decision to keep the language of the time authen...
Nov 03, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 226
WRITERS' BLOCK Ron Block and Patti Callahan Henry speak with literary superstar Bethanne Patrick about her hit Podcast, Missing Pages, her upcoming memoir and about keeping her finger on the pulse of the publshing industry! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 28, 2022•46 min•Ep. 225
On this episode we have FOUR amazing author guests! On the first half of the show, meet the author trio of Ariel Lawhon , Susan Meissner & Kristina McMorris who join us to discuss the historical novel they team-wrote together, WHEN WE HAD WINGS , about three WWII nurses who wage their own battle for freedom and survival in the South Pacific. We find out their inspiration for this book, their research and process for writing together, and which of them wrote which character. On the second hal...
Oct 27, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 224
WRITERS' BLOCK Ron Block and Patti Callahan Henry celebrate the release of Marple: Twelve New Stories with contributers Alyssa Cole and Jean Kwok, discussing their short stories, the enduring popularity of Agatha Christie and how the project came together. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 21, 2022•50 min•Ep. 223
On this episode we speak with Lisa Jewell , the #1 New York Times bestselling author of novels such as The Family Upstairs, Then She Was Gone, The Girls, and The Night She Disappeared whose work has been translated into 29 languages and has sold more than 10 million copies internationally. She joins us to discuss her standalone sequel, THE FAMILY REMAINS , published earlier this year. Listen in as the ladies discuss her career shift from rom-com to psychological thriller, her inspiration for her...
Oct 20, 2022•59 min•Ep. 222
WRITERS' BLOCK Ron Block and Kristin Harmel speak with international and NYT Bestselling author Fredrik Backman about his latest, THE WINNERS which concludes his hugely popular BEARTOWN series. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 14, 2022•46 min•Ep. 221
Meet two incredible, mega-bestselling author guests on this show— Veronica Roth and Gabrielle Zevin . Veronica is the New York Times bestselling author of the phenomenally popular series of books and movies, Divergent, who has also penned The End and Other Beginnings, Chosen Ones, and the Carve the Mark duology. She joins us to discuss her brand-new dystopian mystery novel POSTER GIRL , pushing her boundaries as a writer, and exploring big themes through science fiction. Gabrielle Zevin is the i...
Oct 13, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 220
WRITERS' BLOCK Ron Block is joined by Friends and Fiction Founder Kristin Harmel to celebrate and discuss the 10th Anniversary Edition release of her International Bestselling Book, The Sweetness of Forgetting See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 07, 2022•46 min•Ep. 219
The four Friends & Fiction host authors gather to catch up on what’s going on with their writing and their lives, and to give you a sneak peek at what they each have coming out. Hear from Kristin Harmel all about the 10th anniversary re-packaged trade paperback edition of her novel, THE SWEETNESS OF FORGETTING (in stores October 4th from Gallery Books). Hear from Mary Kay Andrews about the forthcoming paperback release of THE SANTA SUIT (October 11th, St. Martin’s Press). And each of the Fab...
Oct 06, 2022•59 min•Ep. 218
WRITERS' BLOCK Ron Block and Kristin Harmel have a conversation with thriller writer, Ruth Ware about her lastes book, The It Girl, and explore her writing process, life in England, and how she puts it all together! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 30, 2022•49 min•Ep. 217
On this very special episode of Friends & Fiction we gather with our good friend Jennifer Robson for a show all about the British monarchy. Jennifer is the USA Today bestselling author of seven novels, including THE GOWN and her forthcoming CORONATION YEAR (coming April 2023) which feature Queen Elizabeth II. If you love The Crown, are obsessed with the royals, and have been drawn to recent coverage of Queen Elizabeth’s passing, you'll love this lively conversation and royal bookish chatter ...
Sep 29, 2022•56 min•Ep. 216
WRITERS' BLOCK Ron Block and Kristy Woodson Harvey talk with Pulitzer Prize winning author Andrew Sean Greer about his newest book, Less Is Lost which is a follow-up to his hugely popular Less. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 23, 2022•37 min•Ep. 215
