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Friends & Fiction Episodes

Friends & Fiction: Episode 163 – Colleen Oakley

Colleen Oakley

On tonight’s episode, we are so thrilled to have THREE authors joining us LIVE!

First we talk to the USA Today bestselling author of five novels, Colleen Oakley. Colleen’s books (including The Invisible Husband of Frick Island and Before I Go) have been translated into more than 21 languages, optioned for film, long-listed for the Southern Book Prize, and named best books by People, Us Weekly, Library Journal, and Real Simple. A former magazine editor, Colleen’s articles and essays have been featured in The New York Times and Ladies’ Home Journal among many other outlets. She joins us to discuss her brand-new book, THE MOSTLY TRUE STORY OF TANNER & LOUISE (coming from Berkley on March 28th), which Jodi Picoult called a “wildly surprising, entertaining ride,” and Taylor Jenkins Reid hails as “an absolute blast.”

Next up we meet novelist Julie Carrick Dalton. As a journalist, Julie has published more than a thousand articles in The Boston Globe, BusinessWeek and The Hollywood Reporter among other publications. A frequent speaker on the topic of writing fiction in the age of climate crisis, Julie is an avid skier, hiker, and kayaker, and a former beekeeper who farms a tract of land in rural New Hampshire. She joins us to discuss her new novel THE LAST BEEKEEPER, a post-apocalyptic meditation on the fragility of nature, that was released on March 7th by Forge Books.

On the After Show we are joined by Stephanie Marie Thornton to discuss her new work of historical fiction, HER LOST WORDS: A Novel of Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley, an homage to the legendary mother-daughter pair of writers, coming from Berkley on March 28th.

Make sure to join us every Wednesday night at 7pm EST on Facebook and YouTube for our latest episode!

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Friends & Fiction: Episode 162 – Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

On tonight’s episode, we have two amazing author guests — Sarah Penner and Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai.

Dr Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai is an award-winning Vietnamese writer and journalist and the author of eleven books of poetry, short fiction and non-fiction. Her debut novel and first book in English, THE MOUNTAINS SING, was an international bestseller, a finalist for the 2021 Dayton Literary Peace Prize, and the winner of many other literary awards. She will be joining us all the way from her current home in Kyrgyzstan in central Asia to discuss her new novel, DUST CHILD, a suspenseful and moving saga about family secrets, hidden trauma, and the overriding power of forgiveness, set during the Vietnam War and in present-day Vietnam.

Sarah Penner is the bestselling author of the enormously popular debut novel THE LOST APOTHECARY. Inspired by a moving lecture given by Elizabeth Gilbert in 2015, Sarah enrolled in an online creative writing class and hasn’t looked back since. Now, after more than a decade in corporate finance, she is thrilled to call herself a full-time writer. Sarah joins us to discuss her new novel, THE LONDON SEANCE SOCIETY. A spellbinding gothic whodunit introducing two enigmatic women out to solve a most unusual mystery, this book was just released on March 7th and the Book of the Month Club pick for March.

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Friends & Fiction: Episode 161 – Jennifer Rosner

Jennifer Rosner

On International Women’s Day and during Women’s History Month, we welcome two masters of historical fiction— Jennifer Rosner & Julia Kelly! Jennifer Rosner is the author of the novels Once We Were Home and The Yellow Bird Sings, a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award; the memoir If A Tree Falls: A Family’s Quest to Hear and Be Heard, about raising her deaf daughters; and a children’s book, The Mitten String, which is a Sydney Taylor Book Award Notable. Jennifer’s writing has appeared in the New York Times, The Massachusetts Review, The Forward, and Good Housekeeping. She joins us to discuss ONCE WE WERE HOME, a novel based on the true stories of children stolen in the wake of World War II, out March 14th from Flatiron Books. Julia Kelly is the award-winning and internationally bestselling author of books about ordinary women and their extraordinary stories. She pens historical fiction and historical mysteries under her real name as well as steamy, contemporary romance novels under the pen name Julia Blake. Her books have been translated into 13 languages. In addition to writing, she’s been an Emmy-nominated producer, journalist, marketing professional, and a tea waitress. Julia called Los Angeles, Iowa, and New York City home before settling in London. She joins us from across the pond to discuss her latest work of historical fiction, THE LOST ENGLISH GIRL, an epic saga of love, motherhood, and betrayal during World War II, out March 7th from Gallery Books.

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Friends & Fiction: Episode 160 – Hank Phillippi Ryan

Hank Phillippi Ryan

On this episode, we are so excited to welcome back our good friend, the USA Today bestselling author of 14 psychological thrillers, Hank Phillippi Ryan.

Hank has won the most prestigious awards in the genre: five Agathas, five Anthonys, and the coveted Mary Higgins Clark Award. She’s also an on-air investigative reporter for Boston’s WHDH-TV, with an astounding 37 EMMYs and dozens more journalism honors to her credit. A truly good literary citizen, Hank is a founder of Mystery Writers of America University, host of CRIME TIME on A Mighty Blaze, and co-host of First Chapter Fun and The Back Room. She joins us to discuss her newest page-turning, standalone thriller, THE HOUSE GUEST, just out from Forge Books. Described as “Gaslight” meets “Thelma & Louise,” The House Guest is a binge-worthy story of psychological manipulation that explores the dark heart of marriage and friendship.

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Friends & Fiction: Episode 159 – Sadeqa Johnson

Sadeqa Johnson

On this episode, we are lucky to have TWO incredible author guests joining us—Sadeqa Johnson and Lynn Cullen!

Sadeqa Johnson is the award-winning author of four novels, including Yellow Wife. A Kimbilio Fellow, former board member of the James River Writers, and a Tall Poppy Writer, Sadeqa’s accolades include the National Book Club Award, the Phillis Wheatley Book Award, and the USA Best Book Award for Best Fiction. Sadeqa joins us to discuss her latest “triumph of historical fiction” (The Washington Post), THE HOUSE OF EVE, which has just burst onto the literary scene as an instant NYT bestseller, a Reese’s Book Club pick, an IndieNext pick, and a LibraryReads pick.

We are so glad to introduce you to bestselling author Lynn Cullen, who has penned the historical novels The Sisters of Summit Avenue, Twain’s End, Mrs. Poe, Reign of Madness, and I Am Rembrandt’s Daughter. A Townsend Prize finalist whose novels have been translated into seventeen languages, Lynn’s books have been named as best-of picks by People magazine, Target, IndieNext, Costco, Oprah, Atlanta magazine, and the Georgia Center for the Book. Lynn joins us to discuss her riveting new novel THE WOMAN WITH THE CURE, coming 2/21 from Berkley Publishing. Based on the true story of the woman who stopped a pandemic, the book has gotten fabulous early reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal along with raves from authors like Pam Jenoff and Bonnie Garmus.

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Friends & Fiction: Episode 158 – JT Ellison

JT Ellison

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.

Make sure to join us every Wednesday night at 7pm EST on Facebook and YouTube for our latest episode!

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Friends & Fiction: Episode 157 – Elinor Lipman

Elinor Lipman

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.

Make sure to join us every Wednesday night at 7pm EST on Facebook and YouTube for our latest episode!

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Friends & Fiction: Episode 156 – Pam Jenoff

Pam Jenoff

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.

Make sure to join us every Wednesday night at 7pm EST on Facebook and YouTube for our latest episode!

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Friends & Fiction: Episode 155 – Marie Benedict

Marie Benedict

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.

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Friends & Fiction: Episode 154 – Laura Zigman

Laura Zigman

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.

Make sure to join us every Wednesday night at 7pm EST on Facebook and YouTube for our latest episode!

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