Friends & Fiction

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 al...

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 t...

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...

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...

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...

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 rel...

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 W...

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...

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 o...

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 o...

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...

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. Hosted by Simplec...

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 (Wil...

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...

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 CLOCKMA...

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See...

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...

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. Hosted by Simplecast, a...

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 histor...

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. Hosted by Simplecas...

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 alway...

WRITERS' BLOCK Meg Walker and Ron Block host a fascinating conversation with Julie Gerstenblatt, author of the recent release Daughters of Nantucket and Andrea Dunlop, author of Women are the Fiercest Creatures. Both works are set in different times, but are connected through how their 3 main protagonists are affected and relate to events and circumstances that test their relationships and lives....

On tonight’s show, we are excited to welcome back our good friend Joshilyn Jackson ! Joshilyn is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of several novels, including NEVER HAVE I EVER and MOTHER MAY I . Her books have been translated into a dozen languages, won SIBA’s Novel of the Year award, twice been the #1 Indie Next Pick, and twice won Georgia Author of the Year among many other a...

WRITERS' BLOCK Patti Callahan Henry and Ron Block are joined by Zoe Fishman, author of the deeply personal novel The Fun Widow's Book Tour. Her novel was inspired by the tragic loss of her own husband and it's impact on her life and the lives of her children. Zoe's book is injected with honesty, authenticity and humor, all of which is reflected in this warm and meaningful conversation about love,...

On this season premiere episode we welcome two incredible author guests — Brenda Novak and Alka Joshi . New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak has written 75 novels and is an eight-time Rita nominee, among many other awards. She runs Brenda Novak for the Cure , a charity that has raised more than $2.5 million for diabetes research — as well as the warm and enthusiastic Brenda Novak’s Book...