In this episode, I sit down with Annie Hartnett, the bestselling author of The Road to Tender Hearts, to talk about finding humour in heartbreak and the power of storytelling to carry us through difficult times. Annie shares how moments of adversity have shaped her voice as a writer and how she balances grief, chaos, and laughter in her latest novel, a darkly funny, deeply tender story about family, loss, and connection.

We talk about her unforgettable characters, including PJ Halliday, his adult daughter Sophie, two orphaned children, and Pancakes, a clairvoyant cat who can predict death and how the book’s strange mix of tragedy and magic reveals what it means to love and keep going. Annie also opens up about her writing process, her love of storytelling, and offers thoughtful advice for anyone working on their own creative projects.

It’s an honest, warm, and funny conversation about the beauty in life’s messier moments. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:25 Meet Annie Hartnett & The Road to Tender Hearts02:04 Inspiration Behind the Book06:33 Writing Through Adversity07:39 Reading from Chapter One10:23 Character Inspirations & Family Ties21:43 Omniscient Voice & Magical Elements26:39 The Randomness of Road Stops28:56 Real-Life Inspirations41:25 Writing Tips & Support43:46 Upcoming Projects & Book Recommendations

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit elenabowes.substack.com