WRITERS' BLOCK One of the most revered voices in audiobook narration, Julia Whelan joins Mary Kay Andrews and Ron Block to discuss her second novel, Thank You For Listening. This fascinating conversation explores Julia's early work in television, her entry into narration and her rise to vocal stardom. Her newest novel is a delightful Rom-Com about a narrator, a former child actor, who left voicing romance novels behind, and is pulled back into a project that pairs her with a mystery voice actor ...
Aug 18, 2023•38 min•Ep. 304
Tonight’s episode is our Fall season premiere! We’ve got two amazing authors in store for you! Adrienne Brodeur is the author of the memoir WILD GAME , which was selected as a Best Book of the Year by NPR and The Washington Post and is in development as a Netflix film. She founded the literary magazine Zoetrope: All-Story with Francis Ford Coppola, and currently serves as executive director of Aspen Words, a literary nonprofit and program of The Aspen Institute. She joins us from her home on Cap...
Aug 17, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 303
WRITERS' BLOCK Meg Walker and Ron Block are joined by literal Rockstar Susanna Hoffs, lead singer of the 80s suprgroup The Bangles. She has recently published her first novel, This Bird Has Flown, to huge acclaim. In this episode, she talks about where her idea for the book originated, how she took the leap to writing fiction, and charts her path to publication. Throughout this fun and engrossing conversation, Susanna shares highlights of her career, her musical and literary influences and the m...
Aug 11, 2023•46 min•Ep. 302
WRITERS' BLOCK Author Daniel Kraus joins Meg Walker and Ron Block for a fascinating conversation about his highly anticipated new book, Whalefall, hailed by Gillian Flynn as “Astoundingly great...quite simply, a beautiful novel—a must-read story of the sea, the nature of awe, and the briny relationships between fathers and sons.” Kraus shares how the book idea came to life, his deep research and how family relationships are woven into this terrifying tale of a young man who is swallowed by a 60 ...
Aug 04, 2023•44 min•Ep. 301
WRITERS' BLOCK Join Patti Callahan Henry and Ron Block as they are joined by debut novelist, Emily Habeck, author of Shark Heart, a beautifully told story of grief and change. Wren and Lewis are a newly married couple. Lewis finds out that he will slowly change into a great white shark within a year, causing them to face the unthinkable. This deeply felt love story will grab readers from the first page. Emily talks about her own pursuit of her creative dream and offers deep insight into the writ...
Jul 28, 2023•39 min•Ep. 300
Welcome to our Summer Season Finale! Who better to spend it with than beach-reads royalty, Queen of Nantucket Island, total rockstar author, and dear friend of the show, Elin Hilderbrand?! After publishing her first work in Seventeen Magazine in 1991 while a senior at Johns Hopkins University, Elin worked in publishing for a bit, attended the Iowa Writers Workshop, earned her MFA, and never looked back, publishing her first novel, THE BEACH CLUB, in 2000. Her 2019 novel, SUMMER OF '69 was her fi...
Jul 27, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 299
WRITERS' BLOCK Reteling of Mythology is having a moment! Ron Block and Patti Callahan Henry host a deep conversation about re-imagining ancient myths in the new book, Horses of Fire with authors Ashlee Cowles & Danielle Stinson, who write as A.D. Rhine. Their own friendship history and their deep passion for myths and storytelling combine in this fascinating episode for everyone who loves storytelling. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jul 21, 2023•40 min•Ep. 298
What a summer treat we have in store on this episode! First, we welcome author Steven Rowley , the author of one of the F&F community’s most buzzed about books of all time. For a double-dip of summer fun, we will also meet up with the best-friend writing pair, Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke ! Steven Rowley is the New York Times bestselling author of LILY AND THE OCTOPUS , a Washington Post Notable Book of 2016, THE EDITOR , an NPR Best Book of 2019, and THE GUNCLE , winner of 2021’s Thurber P...
Jul 20, 2023•57 min•Ep. 297
WRITERS' BLOCK Ron Block is joined by Mary Kay Andrews to talk with author Christopher Swann about his newest release in the Faulkner Family series, Never Back Down. This stand-alone focuses on Suzie Faulkner, continuing her high-powered and thrilling cat and mouse game with Finn, her family's arch enemy. It was great to hear about the origin stories, the research, how Christopher keeps the tension high, and how scenes are choreographed for the page!!! A must-hear episode! See omnystudio.com/lis...
Jul 14, 2023•42 min•Ep. 296
Are you ready to play the Feud? Survey says…YES! We are all in for big summer-camp-style family fun on this episode as the Fab Four gather to celebrate the launch of Kristy Woodson Harvey’s THE SUMMER OF SONGBIRDS. F&F’s Managing Director Meg Walker steps in to play game show host, leading Kristy, Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel & Patti Callahan Henry in a rousing game of Family Feud featuring all questions about summer camp in an homage to Kristy’s fictional Camp Holly Springs, the set...
Jul 13, 2023•50 min•Ep. 295
WRITERS' BLOCK: We love highlighting debut novels, and this week's guest has written a fantastic one! Ron Block and Meg Walker are joined by Alex Hay, author of the much anticipated novel, The Housekeepers. Sarah Penner said: “Rollicking fun and entirely original... Anyone who relishes a good party gone wrong will devour this.” Alex is a delight to talk with and learning his process and his path to publication was the source of great laughter. A don't miss book and podcast episode! See omnystudi...
Jul 07, 2023•33 min•Ep. 294
Fresh on the heels of a hot holiday weekend we welcome Marie Bostwick and Terah Shelton Harris to the show to hear about two new books you just must stuff into your beach bags this summer. And we will have a special guest host — bestselling novelist John Searles — filling in for Kristin! Marie Bostwick is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nineteen uplifting works of historical and contemporary women’s fiction. Drawing on her lifelong love of quilting and her unshakable belie...
Jul 06, 2023•53 min•Ep. 293
WRITERS' BLOCK: Ron Block is joined by Meg Walker for a conversation with Christine Pride and Jo Piazza. This writing powerhouse duo are the authors of You Were Always Mine which is the follow-up to their best-selling GMA pick, We Are Not Like Them, We discussed so many interesting aspects of writing with a partner, how race and class are viewed in the world and how important books are to building empathy and understanding. A fascinating episode! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...
Jun 30, 2023•38 min•Ep. 292
This episode will have your beach bags overflowing with sparkling summer reads as we welcome FOUR authors to the show. Meet Annabel Monaghan and Megan Miranda on the main show and the writing duo of Mary Hollis Huddleston and Asher Fogle Paul on the After Show. Annabel Monaghan is the author of IndieNext and LibraryReads pick NORA GOES OFF SCRIPT as well as two young adult novels and a collection of humorous columns. She joins us from her home in Rye, NY, to discuss her highly anticipated follow...
Jun 29, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 291
WRITERS' BLOCK Mary Kay Andrews and Ron Block are joined by NYT Bestselling Autho, Curtis Sittenfeld about her newest, Romantic Comedy, which was the April 2023 Pick for Reese's Book Club! A fascinating look behind the scenes of a Saturday Night Live type show thorugh the eyes of a female comedy writer. Our conversation focuses on this Rom-Com but also the complicated assumptions within modern relationships. A great dive into a great book! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jun 23, 2023•46 min•Ep. 290
On this episode, we welcome Hazel Gaynor and Katherine Reay —and T.I. Lowe joins us for the After Show. Hazel Gaynor is the award-winning, New York Times, USA Today, Irish Times, and internationally bestselling author of seven historical novels including The Girl Who Came Home, When We Were Young and Brave, and The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter. Hazel has also co-written three novels with Heather Webb (Last Christmas in Paris, Meet Me In Monaco, and Three Words For Goodbye) with another (Christma...
Jun 22, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 289
Tonight’s episode features the star power of THREE amazing author guests whose novels deliver a night of mid-20th century glitz and glamor. Fiona Davis is the New York Times bestselling author of six historical novels set in iconic New York City buildings, including The Magnolia Palace, The Dollhouse, The Address, and The Lions of Fifth Avenue, which was a Good Morning America book club pick. Her novels have been translated into more than twenty languages and chosen as “One Book, One Community” ...
Jun 21, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 288
WRITERS' BLOCK Kristy Woodson Harvey and Ron Block have a fascinating conversation with Ashley Audrain, author of the mega-selling popular debut, The Push, about her followup book The Whispers, about 4 women who are neighbors and how one tragic event affects their relationships in different ways, making them question all their relationships, their lives and their roles as women and mothers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jun 16, 2023•40 min•Ep. 287
Tonight’s episode once again marks the triumphant return of “F&F Theater” as the Fab Four, podcast host Ron Block, and F&F’s Managing Director Meg Walker gather to celebrate the launch of Kristin Harmel ’s THE PARIS DAUGHTER in grand style! You won’t want to miss this show, complete with props and bad accents — but also with loads of moving insights about Kristin’s new novel and, as always, lots of laughs. THE PARIS DAUGHTER (Gallery Books, June 6, 2023) is a gripping historical novel ab...
Jun 10, 2023•52 min•Ep. 286
WRITERS' BLOCK Kristin Harmel and Ron Block welcome literary power couple Ann Hood and MIchael Ruhlman to talk about their latest books, Fly Girl, Ann's memoir about her early days working for TWA as a stewardess, and The Book of Cocktail Ratios, Michael's newest must have Cocktail reference guide. We also talked about how the two met, how they have grown to be hugely supportive and complementary to each other and to readers. Listeners will get a full sense of the zest for life these two enjoy! ...
Jun 09, 2023•46 min•Ep. 285
WRITERS' BLOCK Kristin Harmel and Ron Block take a deep dive with author T.J. Newman about her new page-turning thriller- Drowning: The Rescue of Flight 1421. It's a fascinating conversation about lifelong dreams, changing careers from a Flight Attendant to being a huge bestselling author, and some surprising research methods. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 02, 2023•51 min•Ep. 284
This episode is a delicious confection of sweet summertime treats as we welcome four authors to the LIVE web show! Meg Mitchell Moore is a former journalist and the USA Today bestselling author of eight novels including The Islanders, Two Truths and a Lie, and Vacationland. She joins us from the beautiful coastal town of Newburyport, MA, to discuss her shimmering new page-turner, SUMMER STAGE (William Morrow, May 23), about a family of actors grappling with fame, scandal and ambition, which Publ...
Jun 01, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 283
WRITERS' BLOCK Mary Kay Andrews and Ron Block are joined by NYT Bestselling Author and form Head of the FBI, James Comey, to discuss is taut and authentic first book of fiction, Central Park West. Pulling from his own life experiences to develop this story of conflict between the Mafia and Federal Prosecutors. James shares how he switched to writing fiction, where his ideas come from and what may be coming next. A truly fun and fascinating conversation! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...
May 26, 2023•29 min•Ep. 282
On tonight’s episode, we are graced with the presence of two rockstar authors — Kate Morton and Lee Smith . As if that weren’t enough, F&F pal Susan Meissner joins us for the after show. Kate Morton is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of seven novels including THE HOUSE AT RIVERTON, THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN, THE DISTANT HOURS, THE SECRET KEEPER, THE LAKE HOUSE, and THE CLOCKMAKER'S DAUGHTER. Her books are published in 38 languages in 45 countries and have been #1 bestsellers ...
May 25, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 281
WRITERS' BLOCK Ron welcomes back Friends and Fiction co-founder Mary Alice Monroe to speak with debut author, Kristen Ness about her delightful book, At Loggerheads which combines murder, mystery and a deep look at the relationship between humans and the incredible creatures we share the world with. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 19, 2023•38 min•Ep. 280
On this episode, we are excited to welcome the authors of two wildly different but equally entertaining novels — Abby Jimenez and R.F. Kuang . Abby Jimenez is a winner of Food Network’s Cupcake Wars, a TikTok sensation with a half-million followers, and a New York Times bestselling romance author of five novels including The Happy Ever After Playlist and The Friend Zone . Abby founded Nadia Cakes out of her home kitchen back in 2007 and the bakery has since gone on to win numerous Food Network c...
May 18, 2023•43 min•Ep. 279
WRITERS' BLOCK Kristy Woodson Harvey and Ron Block speak with Laura Hankin about her new book, The Daydreams, which tells the story of a former 90s teen TV show, whose ensemble suffered a huge flameout that became legendary. In adulthood, fans want a followup. We explore her writing, her humor and lots of 90s pop culture! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 12, 2023•36 min•Ep. 278
On this episode we welcome two masters of historical fiction, Jennifer Robson and Martha Hall Kelly . Jennifer Robson is the Globe & Mail and Toronto Star number-one bestselling author of six novels, among them THE GOWN and SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE . She joins us to discuss her latest enthralling historical novel, CORONATION YEAR , in which the lives of three very different residents of London’s historic Blue Lion hotel converge in a potentially explosive climax on the day of Queen Elizabeth’s Co...
May 11, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 277
WRITERS' BLOCK In this special episode, Patti Callahan Henry talks about her new release, The Secret Book of Flora Lea, including some exclusive content; then Patti joins Ron to talk with Mary Beth Keane about her follow-up to Ask Again Yes. The Half Moon, an exploration of the multiple facets of marriage, family and longing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 05, 2023•46 min•Ep. 276
This very special episode marks the triumphant return of “F&F Theater” as the Fab Four, podcast host Ron Block, and F&F’s Managing Director Meg Walker gather to celebrate the launch of Patti Callahan Henry’s THE SECRET BOOK OF FLORA LEA in grand style! You won’t want to miss this show, complete with props and bad accents — but also with loads of great insights about Patti’s new novel and, as always, lots of laughs. With incredible blurbs from an amazing array of bestselling authors, fant...
May 04, 2023•57 min•Ep. 275
