Friends & Fiction

On this episode, we are so excited to introduce you to the award-winning, bestselling contemporary novelist Elinor Lipman.Known for her keen wit, Elinor Lipman is a master of social satire and has written sixteen books, including The Inn at Lake Devine, Rachel to the Rescue, Good Riddance, and one of Mary Kay Andrews’s all-time favorite books, The Family Man. Her debut novel, Then She Found Me, was made into a movie starring Helen Hunt, Bette Midler, Colin Firth, and Matthew Broderick. A writing professor who has taught at Simmons, Smith, and Hampshire colleges, Elinor has been a fiction judge for the National Book Awards and been on the literature panel for the National Endowment for the Arts. She joins us to discuss her latest novel, MS. DEMEANOR, just released in late December by Harper Perennial. Chosen as the Barnes & Noble Fiction Pick for the month of January, Ms. Demeanor has been called “a complete and utter delight” by Richard Russo, and “sexy and fun,” “breezy and engrossing” by Tom Perrotta. We can’t wait to talk to Elinor all about it.Stick around for the After Show when we will welcome Nina de Gramont to feature her novel THE CHRISTIE AFFAIR, which was an instant NYT bestseller and a Reese’s Book Club pick in hardcover and is just being released in paperback by St. Martin’s Press.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 welcome Natasha Lester, author of the recently released historical fiction novel, The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre, which is a fascinating look at fashion and espionage before, during, and after WWII in Paris. A terrific conversation about her process, her background and how it all came together.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.

We are thrilled to welcome back our dear friend, New York Times bestselling author Pam Jenoff!Pam Jenoff is a Rutgers University law professor and the author of several works of historical fiction, including the New York Times bestseller The Orphan's Tale. With degrees in international affairs from George Washington University, in history from Cambridge, and law from UPenn, her novels are inspired by her experiences working at the Pentagon and as a diplomat for the State Department handling Holocaust issues in Poland. She joins us to discuss her latest WW2 novel CODE NAME SAPPHIRE. Join the convo as we discuss her research, inspiration, how she chooses her subject matter, and the process of writing about courageous women who embark on incredible journeys and are forced to make difficult choices.Stick around for the AfterShow when the Fab Four, our Writers Block podcast host Ron Block, and Managign Deirector Meg Walker will highlight some deserving books they want you to know about, some upcoming podcast guests they are excited about, and a few movie/TV adaptations they are enjoying or looking forward to.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 Patti Callahan Henry welcome thriller writer, Kaira Rouda about her newest page-turner, The Widow. This taut and twisty book sheds light on the inner workings of life in the U.S. Congress, while exploring the inner workings of families and ambition and the lengths some will go to to achieve and keep power and wealth.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.

We are so excited to welcome back New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict!A former lawyer with more than ten years’ experience as a litigator at some of the country’s premier law firms and Fortune500 companies, Marie views herself as an archaeologist of sorts, excavating the untold stories of real women from history. Marie is the author of ten novels including The Other Einstein, Carnegie’s Maid, The Only Woman in the Room, The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, and The Personal Librarian which she co-wrote with Victoria Christopher Murray. Marie joins us to discuss her latest work of historical fiction, the much buzzed-about THE MITFORD AFFAIR, which Sourcebooks just published this month to rave reviews.On the After Show we meet British mixed-race writer and granddaughter of Windrush generation immigrants, Eleanor Shearer, who joins us to discuss her remarkable debut novel, RIVER SING ME HOME (out Jan 31st from Berkley Publishing Group). Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2023 by Goodreads, AARP, Boston.com, and BookRiot, this is a page-turning and redemptive story of a mother’s gripping journey across the Caribbean to find her stolen children in the aftermath of slavery.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 Meg Walker are joined by author Susan Stokes-Chapman to take a deep dive into her debut Novel, Pandora, just out this week in the U.S. The book takes influence from the Pandora Myth and creates a captivating tale set in Georgian, London where the discovery of a mysterious ancient Greek vase sets in motion conspiracies, revelations, and romance.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.

On this episode we bring you TWO amazing novelists—Elle Cosimano and Laura Zigman.Elle Cosimano is a USA Today bestselling author, an International Thriller Award winner, a Bram Stoker Award finalist, and an Edgar Award nominee. Also an acclaimed young adult author, Elle’s debut novel for adults, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, was a People Magazine Pick, named one of New York Public Library's Best Books of 2021, and kicked off a witty, fast-paced contemporary mystery series. She joins us to discuss the hilarious and heart-pounding third installment in the series, FINLAY DONOVAN JUMPS THE GUN, out January 31st from Minotaur Books.Laura Zigman is the author of five novels, including Separation Anxiety (optioned by Julianne Nicholson and the production team behind Mare of Easttown for a limited television series); Animal Husbandry (made into the movie “Someone Like You,” starring Hugh Jackman and Ashley Judd), Dating Big Bird, Her, and Piece of Work. The recipient of a Yaddo residency, she has ghostwritten/collaborated on several works of non-fiction, been a contributor to the New York Times and Washington Post, and produced a popular online series of animated videos called Annoying Conversations. She joins us to discuss her sixth novel, SMALL WORLD, released on January 10th by Ecco Books.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 Patti Callahan Henry are joined in a luminous conversation with novelist Armando Lucas Correa about his atmospheric new novel, The Night TravelersSee 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.

We are thrilled to welcome back award-winning and USA Today bestselling author Sonali Dev. Dubbed by Shelf Awareness as “not only one of the best but one of the bravest romance novelists working today,” Sonali writes Bollywood-style love stories that explore universal issues. She joins us to discuss the hilarious and heartfelt THE VIBRANT YEARS, which was the first novel to be published by Mindy’s Book Studio, the new Amazon Publishing imprint of Emmy-nominated actress, comedian, writer, and producer, Mindy Kaling. We talk to Sonali all about how she manifested her working relationship with Mindy using a vision board to realize her biggest professional dream. We also discuss her choice to focus on a mother-in-law relationship over a standard mother/daughter dynamic, how she imbues her older characters with joy and vibrancy, and her shift with this book away from writing re-tellings of classics. The full crew also discusses books of theirs and favorites by other authors that offer up the perfect escape without leaving your armchair. Tune in for lots of laughs, warmth and honest insights.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 On our first episode of 2023, Ron and Kristy Woodson Harvey welcome Maghon Taylor Entepreneur, Best-Selling Author and founder of All She Wrote Notes. Maghon's infectious mission to spread happiness is so bright and inspiring- it's the perfect conversation to start the New Year!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.