Friends & Fiction

WRITERS' BLOCK: Ron Block talks with Jenna Blum about her memoir, Woodrow on the Bench about the life lessons her aging dog taught her.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.

This episode of F&F is all about the magic of Christmas! On the first half of the show Kristy Woodson Harvey hosts as we welcome #1 New York Times bestselling master of the holiday craft, Richard Paul Evans whose new book THE CHRISTMAS PROMISE will hit stores in November 2021. We’ll hear about his #1 bestselling phenomenon The Christmas Box and how that debut novel reshaped Richard’s life, leading to a string of 35 books, every single one of which has hit the NYT list. Then Mary Kay Andrews will take over Santa’s sleigh (holla!) as the Fab Four celebrate the launch of Kristy’s CHRISTMAS IN PEACHTREE BLUFF, which hit stores everywhere on October 26, 2021. We promise you’ll leave this show full of Christmas spirit, inspired to deck those halls and trim those trees—and to get a jump on your holiday shopping. Books make great gifts!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, Patti Callahan & Kristy Woodson Harvey celebrate the release of their winter books, Once Upon A Wardrobe & Christmas in Peachtree BluffSee 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.

F&F welcomes bestselling author Alice Hoffman. The crew discuss the brand new fourth installment in Alice's acclaimed and beloved Practical Magic series, THE BOOK OF MAGIC (an instant NYT bestseller). They also talk about magic and fairy tales and witches, about the different skills invloved in writing fiction, non-fiction, screenplays, and magical realism, and they talk about Alice's work for breast cancer resarch and treatment. Then they shitft gears to celebrate Patti Callahan's new book ONCE UPON A WARDROBE. Hear about Patti's research and inspration, her passion for all things CS Lewis and Narnia, and about the power of imagination and stories to bring us hope and a deeper understanding of our world.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 is joined by Library Rockstar, Sari Feldman, former president of the American Library Association on her historic career and the changing role of libraries.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.

F&F is pleased to welcome husband and wife thriller writers Tasha Alexander and Andrew Grant. They discuss their life on a wildlife preserve in Wyoming, Tasha's bestselling Lady Emily mystery series, their own "meet cute" at a hotel bar at a literary festival, and, of course, Andrew's role in co-writing and taking the mantle of the beloved and mega-bestselling Jack Reacher series from his brother, Lee Child. Hear about Tasha's latest book THE DARK HEART OF FLORENCE and Andrew's latest Jack Reacher novel, BETTER OFF DEAD.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 talk with Southern Writer, Ron Rash about his career and works as a poet, short story and novel writer. 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.

What an honor to welcome poet, educator, and New York Times bestselling author of 35 books, Kwame Alexander. Among many other accolades, Kwame has won a Caldecott Medal, the Newbery Medal, and the Coretta Scott King Award. A regular contributor and the poet ambassador for NPR’s Morning Edition and a highly sought-after speaker at schools and libraries across the globe, he joins us to talk about his many works of children's fiction andpoetry for kids and adults (including his Disney+ TV adaptation and writing collaboration with James Patterson), his activism, his influences and inspirations. 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 talks with Mary Kay Andrews about her newest Christmas book, The Santa Suit.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 former CIA analyst and bestselling thriller writer Karen Cleveland—who also happens to be F&F's own Kristin Harmel's sister. Karen joins us to talk about her new book YOU CAN RUN. We learn all about how her former career in the CIA informed her writing, the push/pull of conflicting obligations to country and career versus family, and how she came to make such a major career shift. We also get a few glimpses into growing up in the Harmel household and how their family dog got his name. https://karen-cleveland.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.