Friends & Fiction

On this episode, we welcome TWO journalist-turned-author guests as we commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Meet Daryn Kagan who spent more than 12 years as an anchor on CNN, reporting live from several major events around the world, including the war in Iraq, the September 11th terrorist attacks, and numerous presidential elections. Today, Daryn is a syndicated newspaper columnist, and the au...

WRITERS' BLOCK: Ron Block and Kristin Harmel Interview S.A. Cosby about his deeply felt, award winning book, Razorblade Tears 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 Mary Kay Andrews kickoff Library Card Sign-up Month with Nancy Pearl, America's Favorite Librarian and Virginia Stanley, Head of Library Marketing at Harper Collins. 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.

Back by popular demand, is the one, the only Karin Slaughter. The wonderfully witty and wildly talented New York Times bestselling, Edgar-nominated author of 21 novels with 35-million copies of her books sold around the globe joins us to talk about her latest up-all-night thriller, FALSE WITNESS. This is a can't-miss episode! Karin is always full of surprises. This time, we have lots of fun surpri...

Join F&F for a special Sunday Bonus episode focused on the craft of writing. F&F welcomes the writing instructor, essayist and prize-winning author of seven books, including this year’s A Boob’s Life (which is in development for HBO Max by producer Salma Hayek), Leslie Lehr. Joining Leslie is her husband—screenwriting guru, director, highly sought-after writing consultant, and The Anatomy of Story...

WRITERS' BLOCK: Ron Block and Patti Callahan in conversation with Tracey Lange about her debut novel, We are the Brennans, and its journey to publication. Also, Ron and Kristy Woodson Harvey interview Allison Larkin about the origin story of her novel, The People We Keep See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for informati...

This episode is all about debut authors! F&F welcomes to the show four first-time novelists—all with new or recent books out—to learn all about their journey to publication. Meet acclaimed actor Lou Diamond Phillips (Young Guns, La Bamba, Prodigal Son) as we hear all about his debut YA science fiction fantasy novel The Tinderbox (released 8/3/21 by Blackstone), inspired by Hans Christian Andersen'...

WRITERS' BLOCK: Ron Block talks with Monica West, Author of Revival Season & Wanda M. Morris, Author of All Her LIttle Secrets. Both are debutnovels and stunning examples of imortant Diverse Voices. 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.

Meet New York Times bestselling author, Taylor Jenkins Reid, whose books have been chosen by Reese’s Book Club, Read with Jenna, Indie Next, Best of Amazon, and Book of the Month. Taylor is the author of seven novels, including DAISY JONES AND THE SIX, which is currently being adapted by Hello Sunshine into a limited series for Amazon. She joins us to discuss her most recent book, the instant New...

WRITERS' BLOCK: Ron Block in conversation with acclaimed Memoirists Lisa Donovan (Our Lady of Perpetual Hunger) and Wayetu Moore (The Dragons, The Giant, The Women) 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.

New York Times bestselling author Lauren Willig joins the show to chat about her latest work of historical fiction, Band of Sisters, which just came out a few months ago. Hear about the book, about her fabulous, frequent collaborations with Karen White and Beatriz Williams, her hugely popular Pink Carnation series, and how she so adeptly balances work and life. https://laurenwillig.com/ See omnyst...

WRITERS' BLOCK: Ron Block and Mary Kay Andrews talk with Jean Hanff Korelitz about her hugely popular novel, The Plot. 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.

Meet the #1 bestselling author of ORPAHN TRAIN, Christina Baker Kline and learn all about her new novel, the instant bestseller THE EXILES, her research and writing process, and the challenge of blending fact and fiction. http://christinabakerkline.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collec...

Join Kristy, Patti & Mary Kay as they sit down with USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award winning author Susan M. Boyer to chat about her Liz Talbot Lowcountry Mystery series (now 10 titles strong!) and her wildly popular Lowcountry Book Club group on Facebook. https://www.susanmboyer.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswiz...

WRITERS' Block: Ron Block & Kristy Woodson Harvey celebreate National Grilling Month with famed chef, entrepeneur and restaurateur Vivian Howard 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.

Meet Vanessa Riley, author of regency romance and the brand new historical novel ISLAND QUEEN which was just optioned for film by the team behind Bridgerton. Vanessa discusses her extensive research into the life and times of Dorothy Kirwan Thomas, who was a free woman of color who rose from slavery to become one of the wealthiest and most powerful landowners in the colonial West Indies. https://v...

The Fab Five were guests at the Nantucket Book Festival in this special live event hosted by Tim Ehrenberg of Nantucket Book Partners. Tim turned the tables on MKA, Kristin, Kristy, Patti & MAM, introducing them individually with little-known bits of trivia, asking them each questions about their new books, and engaging in a fun and surprising lightning round. The show culminated in a live reading...

WRITERS' BLOCK: MJ Rose talks about her journey to publishing and her expertise in marketing, while Pauline Hubert discusses the growing importance and influence of Book Clubs. They both also explore the involvement of publishers and authors to the community of book lovers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for inform...

New York Times bestselling author Paula McLain joins the show to discuss her new novel WHEN THE STARS GO DARK, her writing career, and influences. http://paulamclain.com/ 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: Susan Cushman and Lisa Patton tell the story behind their books, John and Mary Margaret and RUSH, very different stories set in college life at Ole' Miss at very different times, yet exploring very relevant themes. 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 person...

The Fab Five celebrate the launch of Kristin Harmel's The Forest of Vanishing Stars by putting on a short, stirring, and emotional Broadway-style mini-musical (with a gravitas that honors the subject matter) written and composed by the uber-talented Kristin Harmel. Special musical guests include Broadway actress Christina Sivrich Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Stephen Kellogg, and F&F’s behind...

Mary Kay Andrews interviews Cindy Spiegel & Julie Grau about their journeys in publishing culminating in the opening of their independant publishing company Spiegel & Grau 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 Five welcome two guests—Colleen Oakley and Kristan Higgins. Colleen Oakley is the USA Today bestselling author of four novels which have twice been longlisted for the Southern Book Prize, have been translated into 21 languages, and optioned for film. Her latest is this summer’s hot sensationTHE INVISIBLE HUSBAND OF FRICK ISLAND. Kristan Higgins is the New York Times bestselling author of 1...

WRITER'S BLOCK: Origin Stories- Chris Whitaker (We Begin at the End) and Amy Jo Burns (Shiner) join hosts Patti Callahan and Ron Block to discuss the ideas that sparked their most recent novels. 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 Five welcomes Victoria Christopher Murray co-authored The Personal Librarian with Marie Benedict. Coming June 29th, this is the remarkable story of J. P. Morgan’s personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, the Black American woman who was forced to hide her true identity and pass as white to leave a lasting legacy that enriched our nation. Victoria Christopher Murray is one of the country'...