Friends & Fiction

WRITERS' BLOCK Ron Block and Patti Callahan Henry talk with Laura McKowen about her astounding book, We Are The Luckiest, and her hugely popular podcast, Tell Me Something True!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Fab Four are joined by blockbuster bestselling author and “the queen of fun, feisty summer reads” Jennifer Weiner. We hear about the origin story behind Jen's latest NYT bestselling novel THE SUMMER PLACE, the themes of motherhood and secrets in the book, and the Cape Cod setting. We also hear about how Jen found her own voice as a writer, her writing process, her activism on behald of body positivty and recognition for women authors, and her decision to travel her book tour by bicycle. On the after show we meet Mateo Askaripour who tells us all about his debut novel BLACK BUCK, his inspirations, the blend of fact and fiction in his work, how he devised the novel's structure, and what he's working on next.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

WRITERS' BLOCK Ron Block talks with Christina Geist about her newest book in her Growing with Buddy Series, Buddy's New Buddy- she shares how she created the characters and the importance of picture books in literary growth!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Get ready for a good time on this episode as we welcome two masters of heartwarming, feel-good fiction — Katherine Center and Linda Holmes! And we are treated to a visit from Leslie Hooton on the after show! The Fab Four discuss writing funny, crafting dialogue, and the meaning of home in Katherine's and Linda's novels. The group talks about their favorite masters and undiscovered gems in the rom-com genre—get ready to take notes with lots of reading recommendations. We get an inside look at Katherine's new novel THE BODYGUARD and Linda's new novel FLYING SOLO in a show that's laced with loads of super fun pop culture references and lots of laughs. On the after show we are joined by Leslie Hooton who tells the incredible story of learning she'd been born with a stroke and how she has overcome that in her life and writing career. And we hear all about her brand new book AFTER EVERYONE ELSE, a sequel to her 2020 deubt novel.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

WRITERS' BLOCK Ron Block and Kristy Woodson Harvey talk with Brooke Lea Foster about her new book, On Gin LaneSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Two rockstar authors of historical fiction join the show. Meet Alka Joshi author of the blockbuster bestseller THE HENNA ARTIST and Martha Hall Kelly, author of the 1.5-million copy bestseller LILAC GIRLS. As authors of historical fiction, of triliogies whose debuts exploded onto the literary scene, and as former advertising executives, Martha and Alka have so much in common. We talk to them all about their career shifts, their writing & research process, and the challenges of craftng their triliogies, particularly after each of their debuts were so successful. We hear all about Alka's latest, THE SECRET KEEPER OF JAIPUR, and Martha's latest, SUNFLOWER SISTERS, and even get a sneak pek at each of their forthcoming 2023 novels. Then on the after show we meet the charming and hilarious Canadian debut novelist Nita Prose whose #1 bestselling heartwarming whodunnit, THE MAID, has taken the world by storm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

WRITERS' BLOCK Ron Block interivews Jacinda Townsend about her powerful new book, Mother CountrySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's a star-studded episode as the gang welcomes #1 NYT blockbuster bestselling rockstar Elin Hilderbrand, nationally bestselling author and dear friend Jamie Brenner, and the 11-time #1 NYT bestselling author of more than 60 novels and the creator of the Virgin River series (now of Netflix fame) Robyn Carr. Join the fun as the ladies discuss themes of reinvention and chat about the challenges of setting books in familiar places. Hear all about Elin's brand new THE HOTEL NANTUCKET which debuted at #1 and her choice to dip her toe once again into the super natural, about Jamie's GILT and the fascinating world of a family jewelry empire, and about Robyn's latest work of womn's fiction A FAMIY AFFAIR for whcih she drew on her own family experiences. It's a great evening full of laughs and lots of heart.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

WRITERS' BLOCK Ron Block speaks with Thriller writer Kate White about her new book, The Second Husband as well as her former career as editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan Magazine.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s edge-of-your-seat time! We’re in for a thrilling episode as we talk to three female thriller writers—Julie Clark, Erica Ferencik, and Karen Cleveland.Julie Clark is the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of The Last Flight, which has been translated into more than 20 languages, and the 2018 debut novel, The Ones We Choose, which has been optioned for television by Lionsgate. She joins us to discuss THE LIES I TELL, a twisted con-woman thriller about two women out for revenge―or is it justice? Called "riveting" by Laura Dave and "a knockout" by Mary Kubica, the book is hot off the presses and we can’t wait to hear all about it. There is nowhere on earth award-winning author Erica Ferencik won’t go to take you out of your head and into the great wild world. Her adventure novels feature women who brave not only internal struggles but face extreme challenges in their environment: remote forests, steaming jungles, and desolated icescapes. She joins us to talk about this spring’s Arctic-set GIRL IN ICE, which was a New York Times Editors’ Choice, an Indie Next Pick, and an Amazon Editors’ Pick that got starred reviews in Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and Book Page.On the after show, we will give a warm F&F welcome to returning guest, former CIA counterterrorism analyst, New York Times bestselling author, and sister of our own Kristin Harmel, Karen Cleveland. Karen joins us to preview her forthcoming domestic thriller, THE NEW NEIGHBOR, which Ballantine will publish on July 26th.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.