The Fresh Fiction Podcast

This week, we're chatting with Pippa Grant , author of THE GOSSIP AND THE GRUMP . Join us for a lively conversation about romance and laughter. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Pippa Grant is a USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling author who writes romantic comedies that will make tears run down your leg. When she's not reading, writing or sleeping, she's being crowned employee of the month as a stay-at-home mom...

Listen in to our interview with Tammy L. Grace as she talks about her series, Sisters of the Heart, set in Lavender Valley.

Interview with mystery writer Matt Coyle, author of the Rick Cahill series.

Vibe Check Gwen has finally moved, and she is traveling for work for the next two weeks!! Danielle is enjoying this blip of springtime in Chicagoland!  * Julia Quinn/Shondaland The Netflix show, QUEEN CHARLOTTE, goes up on May 4th! Gwen’s favorite Julia Quinn novel is ROMANCING MR. BRIDGERTON (Bridgerton #4). Danielle’s favorite is WHEN HE WAS WICKED (Bridgerton #6) Gwen loves two of Shonda Rhimes...

Vibe Check We’re joined this week by entertainment critic and first repeat FF Pod guest, Susan Kamyab! Coming off of a busy awards season, Susan is enjoying just watching movies as a fan and not a critic. She fulfilled a lifelong dream of doing an hour-long segment about the Oscars on WFAA! It’s almost Spring Break for Danielle and her family and they are READY. This week, Danielle crossed 80,000...

Vibe Check Gwen has a lot of upcoming travel and is moving! She is glad to have gotten over her recent cold. Danielle had a lot of things to do over the last week and wonders why everything happens at the same time. She also finished reading all 20+ trade volumes of the Lumberjanes series with her daughter!  * Main Discussion Let’s talk fantasy! The differences between Paranormal and Fantasy are v...

Vibe Check Yr girls are busy this week with work, writing, and life. But we are getting prepped for Rihanna (and the Super Bowl). Gwen made Death by Chocolate Trifle from scratch, including this Chocolate Pudding and these Outrageous Brownies . Danielle has a plan in place for the next few months of her author newsletter . * ESCAPISM WITH INTENT Danielle’s Recs: Movies: Under the Tuscan Sun, How S...

Vibe Check Gwen and Danielle have both had sort of rough weeks, but we’re getting through it! Gwen has been going to bed early and Danielle successfully revealed the cover of ACCIDENTALLY IN LOVE . * Truth in Fiction Gwen likes when real figures pop up in fiction works, to see how people reimagine them. Danielle struggles with real historical figures in fiction, unless under very specific circumst...

Vibe Check Happy 2023, Everyone! Danielle and Gwen are both getting over colds, and catching up after the holidays. But Danielle got to meet her best friend’s brand-new baby girl and Gwen went to the doctor! * How did we ring in New Year’s? Gwen and her husband got massages and had a quiet night at home. Then they spent time prepping meals and seeing friends for lunch on New Year’s Day. Danielle s...

Vibe Check We’re ready for the holidays! Also, it’s COLD. Danielle has finished her Christmas shopping and Gwen attended TWO Christmas markets.  * Faves of 2022 Both of your girls are dealing with feelings about media consumption—being okay with being behind and not being the target audience for everything anymore. TV Danielle: The Bear on FX/Hulu, Heartstopper on Netflix, Ms. Marvel on Disney+, A...

Vibe Check It’s cold in Chicagoland and Seattle, but Danielle and Gwen are staying cozy. Danielle hosted a couple of great bookstore events this week, while Gwen co-hosted Readers & ‘ritas in Texas. * Gift Guide 2022 For Your Fancy Friend Danielle: Voluspa Mokara Candle Gwen: A spa gift card. My local recommendation is Yaun Spa For the Sports Fiend Gwen: Gritty plush Danielle: Lewis Hamilton Funko...

Vibe Check Gwen is prepping for more travel, but is excited to go back to Texas for Readers & ‘Ritas. She also scheduled a haircut while she’s there! Danielle is fighting off a cold that will not decide what it’s going to be... She and her family had an awesome Halloween in their neighborhood! * BORN IN FIRE by Nora Roberts The first of the Irish Born Trilogy. We LOVED this book. This was also Gwe...

Vibe Check After all of her recent traveling, Gwen got sick last week! But she is recovered and was able to finalize the program for Fresh Fiction’s Readers & ‘ritas event on November 12th! Danielle had two book events with Anderson’s Bookshop: Courageous Discomfort by Shanterra McBride and Rosalind Wiseman and The Book of Boundaries by Melissa Urban. She also got her COVID booster and flu shot! *...

Vibe Check Gwen has been all over the country, and she survived almost a full month of constant travel. Danielle is doing well, but is tired! Our family’s fall routine is finally getting into the groove, and she attended a book signing for her friend, Hanna Earnest and her new book, END OF THE DAY. * Host Check-In Gwen traveled for most of the month of September: NYC, Chicago, OKC, and back to NYC...

Vibe Check Gwen is doing a lot of reflecting, and successfully booked a hotel for her upcoming trip to NYC. Danielle is getting used to back to school and turned in Book 2.  * MESSY CHARACTERS! This discussion came about purely so we could talk about Carmy from THE BEAR again. Danielle’s TV and Movie Picks: How to Get Away with Murder, Fleabag, Starstruck, Lovesick, New Girl, Insecure, Eternal Sun...

Hi, It’s future Gwen. Danielle and I planned to take the month of September off, but leave you with a few episodes before the hiatus. Life got in the way of our plans, and due to hectic travel and writing schedules, and attempting to spend time with family before the end of the summer – we had to take a longer break than we originally expected. We’re back with three brand-new episodes this month,...

Vibe Check THE ACCIDENTAL PINUP by Danielle Jackson has finally arrived! It has been a whirlwind week; Danielle’s Instagram has all the details: https://www.instagram.com/djacksonbooks/ Gwen has taken the bus to work and got to spend time at a farewell dinner for her friend who is moving to France! Ooh la la!  * Main Discussion Pop Culture Baking! Gwen’s Recs Movies: Ratatouille, any studio Gibli...

Vibe Check We took a break and feel great! But we’re so happy to be back!! Danielle is attempting to go on vacation and release a book and work at the bookshop all at the same time. But she actually updated the News and Events sections of her website—go look at them! Gwen got a NEW PUPPY (who is noisily chewing/playing with her bone throughout this episode)! That is both her vibe and her achieveme...

Vibe Check We’re both doing our best to deal with the news, but Gwen has a very clean apartment after getting a new Dyson cordless vacuum, and Danielle has been reading a TON!  * Main Discussion Welcome to the first FF Podcast Book Club! We read A CARIBBEAN HEIRESS IN PARIS by Adriana Herrera . We really loved it! Gilded Age Recs: Mr. Selfridge, The Paradise, The Buccaneers, The Age of Innocence,...

Vibe Check Danielle has a cold but finished book 2! Gwen is nervous and excited to go on a work retreat and outlining her schedule in her journal has helped with her mood!  * Host Check-In + Summer Rapid Fire We are ready for summer! Some highlights from this rambling discussion: Gwen enjoyed her vacations to Puerto Rico and Pennsylvania, but enjoyed being home most (to watch *Nsync videos and wal...

Vibe Check Gwen is feeling cozy! Danielle is tired! Gwen washed and put away all of her clothes after her big move; Danielle made her family pound cake for Easter.  * Main Discussion Let’s face it—we love a book adaptation, whether it’s on TV or a movie! Gwen:  You, Trainspotting, The Princess Diaries, Atonement, Virgin Suicides, Normal People Danielle: Shakespeare remakes—Romeo & Juliet, Romeo +...

Vibe Check It’s Spring Break and Danielle is in the thick of book 2 revisions! Also, everyone should check out ALL MY RAGE by Sabaa Tahir. Gwen is MOVING and by the time this episode airs, she will be in her new place!  * WEDDINGS! Danielle got married at the height of Pinterest weddings and made all of her flowers out of paper and book pages. Gwen was 40 minutes late to her outdoor wedding in the...

Vibe Check Gwen has been traveling and booked movers! Danielle has been going outside and started working on more book 2 revisions! * Main Discussion Self-care has changed so much and is incredibly personal. We’re discussing our own self-care practices and how we approach taking care of ourselves. * Our interview with KATE SPENCER IN A NEW YORK MINUTE Kate’s Website Kate’s Instagram Kate’s memoir:...

Vibe Check It’s cold and dreary in both Washington and Illinois. Gwen has found a new apartment and Danielle hosted two events: a virtual event with Lauren Kate and a sold-out in-person event with Bob Odenkirk .  * Main Discussion In just a few short weeks, this year’s Academy Awards will be handed out. Gwen and Danielle discuss if the Oscaras “matter” anymore, what goes into Oscar campaigns, and...

Vibe Check It has been... a week, LOL! Gwen is going to her first concert in a while—Eddie Vedder! Danielle did a virtual event with friend of the pod Jessica P. Pryde with Books are Magic last week. Follow her on social media for the link the replay!  * Main Discussion Some of the cool girls we discussed: Gone Girl, and the Salon article Everyone on Euphoria Julia Gardner/Anna from Inventing Anna...