Friends & Fiction

WRITERS' BLOCK What do you do when a song gets stuck in your head and you want to figure out the backstory of the lyrics? Why, write a book imagining how real life influenced the song. Rochelle Weinstein is captivating talking to Kristy Woodson Harvey and Ron Block about how she created a powerful and emotional novel based on "Hey There Delilah" by the Plain White T's who also gave Rochelle their...

On tonight’s live episode, we are excited to talk to Thrity Umrigar about her highly anticipated new novel, THE MUSEUM OF FAILURES . Thrity is the award-winning and bestselling author of nine previous novels, including HONOR , which was a Reese's Book Club Pick, as well as three picture books and a memoir. Her books have been published in more than 15 countries and in several languages. A former j...

WRITERS' BLOCK Ashley Winstead is the guest on this week's episode, discussing her departure thriller, Midnight is the Darkest Hour. She joins Patti Callahan Henry and Ron Block for a deep discussion about how this Louisiana Swamp set tale explores the effect a fundamentalist focus can have on it's small town gothic town. The murder mystery begins with Ruth, whose world was changed when she discov...

On this episode, we introduce you to Jessica Knoll and her incredible new book, BRIGHT YOUNG WOMEN . Jessica Knoll is the New York Times bestselling author of LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE and THE FAVORITE SISTER . She also adapted and executive produced the film Luckiest Girl Alive , starring Mila Kunis, which was released on Netflix in 2022. A former editor at SELF and Cosmopolitan, Jessica’s books have b...

WRITERS' BLOCK Revisiting a classic with a twist! Ron Block and Kristy Woodson Harvey are joined for a fabulous conversation with Melinda Taub about her new book that honors Pride and Prejudice (with a twist) in her new book, The Scanadalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch . Melinda talks about creating a new angle on the classic Bennet sisters story, infusing it with magic and insight into the...

This episode of our Wed night web show is the launch celebration for our own Mary Kay Andrews ’s BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CHRISTMAS ! Who’s ready to join in the reindeer games? Put on your Santa (er, thinking) caps and get ready for some holiday themed trivia! We’ve got lots of cheer and merriment in store as emcee Meg and referee Ron oversee the Fab Four in a rousing Christmas-themed game show. We foll...

WRITERS' BLOCK Patti Callahan Henry and Ron Block have an inspiring and touching conversation with Author Ruth Watson about her recent historical fiction novel, A Right Worthy Woman, which tells the story of Maggie Lena Walker, the first Black woman to establish and preside over an American Bank (which still exists today!). Ruth's journey to get this story told is fascinating and showcases her per...

On tonight’s LIVE episode of our Wednesday night web show, we are excited to host two incredible bestselling authors, Sarah Pekkanen and Etaf Rum ! Sarah Pekkanen is the #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of four novels of suspense including THE GOLDEN COUPLE and THE WIFE BETWEEN US . A passionate volunteer for rescue animals, she serves as an Ambassador for RRSA India, and works hands-on in...

WRITERS' BLOCK Ron Block and Kristy Woodson Harvey knew there was somethng special about Mother Daughter Murder Night by debut author, Nina Simon. This sparkling, lively and heartwarming conversation will give listeners a glimpse into why this book was named the September 2023 Reese's Book Club pick! From the origin story, to the natual setting and the relationships between the grandmother, Lana,...

On tonight’s LIVE episode of our Wed night web show, we have two incredible author guests in store for you! J.R. Ward is the author of more than 60 novels, including those in her #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling series, The Black Dagger Brotherhood . There are more than 20-million copies of her novels in print worldwide and they have been published in 27 countries. After law school, War...

WRITERS' BLOCK Join Mary Kay Andrews and Ron Block in a fantastic episdoe with the one and only Craig Johnson about his newest in the Longmire Series, Longmire Defense. Craig never ceases to amaze readers, and is very generous, hilarious and even touching sharing stories about his characters, the hugely popular Netflix show and his tours. Such a heartfelft and funny episode!  See omnystudio.com/li...

On this live episode of our Wed night web show, we are thrilled to introduce you to the National Book Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author, Elizabeth Acevedo ! Elizabeth Acevedo is the author of THE POET X , which, among other honors, won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature and the Carnegie medal. She is also the author of WITH THE FIRE ON HIGH , named a best book...

WRITERS' BLOCK Ready for a Laugh? Helen Ellis is the best-selling author of American Housewife and Southern Lady Code. She joins Patti Callahan Henry and Kristy Woodson Harvey for a hysterical conversation about her newest essay collection, Kiss Me in the Coral Lounge, which was written when she and her husband were on lockdown in their New York City apartment. Helen brings her incredible wit and...

On tonight’s LIVE episode, we’ve got two great authors in store for you! We first met New York Times bestselling author Tracey Lange in 2021 when she joined us on our podcast to discuss her debut novel WE ARE THE BRENNANS . Born and raised in New York City, Tracey earned a degree in psychology from the University of New Mexico and owned a behavioral healthcare company for fifteen years. She comple...

On this episode we’ve got two fabulous and super fun authors in store for you! Ann Garvin is the USA Today bestselling author of five funny and sad novels about people who do too much in a world that asks too much from them. A nurse with her Ph. D., Anne taught for thirty years in the University of Wisconsin system and currently teaches creative writing at Drexel University. The founder of Tall Po...

WRITERS' BLOCK Patti Callahan Henry is joined by David Katz, Director and Chief Organizer of the Kauai Writer's Conference. Listeners are treated to a history of the conference, along with a deep discussion about why writing communities and conferences are so important to the writers, teachers and members of the publishing industry. This episode is sure to make you think about a trip to Hawaii!  S...

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...

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 Asp...

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...

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 h...

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...

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...

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 storytel...

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...

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 tensio...