Friends & Fiction

WRITERS' BLOCK Patti Callahan Henry is joined by David Katz, Director and Chief Organizer of the Kauai Writer's Conference. Listeners are treated to a history of the conference, along with a deep discussion about why writing communities and conferences are so important to the writers, teachers and members of the publishing industry. This episode is sure to make you think about a trip to Hawaii! 

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WRITERS' BLOCK One of the most revered voices in audiobook narration, Julia Whelan joins Mary Kay Andrews and Ron Block to discuss her second novel, Thank You For Listening. This fascinating conversation explores Julia's early work in television, her entry into narration and her rise to vocal stardom. Her newest novel is a delightful Rom-Com about a narrator, a former child actor, who left voicing romance novels behind, and is pulled back into a project that pairs her with a mystery voice actor who awakens her heart. Filled with colorful and adored characters, Julia shares how her own career and life influenced her transfer to acclaimed novelist. 

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Tonight’s episode is our Fall season premiere! We’ve got two amazing authors in store for you!

Adrienne Brodeur is the author of the memoir WILD GAME, which was selected as a Best Book of the Year by NPR and The Washington Post and is in development as a Netflix film. She founded the literary magazine Zoetrope: All-Story with Francis Ford Coppola, and currently serves as executive director of Aspen Words, a literary nonprofit and program of The Aspen Institute. She joins us from her home on Cape Cod to discuss her debut novel LITTLE MONSTERS (Simon & Schuster, June 27) which was an Amazon Best Book of July 2023, the July Barnes & Noble Book Club Pick, and called “an absolutely captivating read” by Elin Hilderbrand.

Melanie Benjamin is a prize-winning author of nine books, including the New York Times and USA Today bestselling historical novels THE SWANS OF FIFTH AVENUE, about Truman Capote and his society swans, THE AVIATOR’S WIFE, about Anne Morrow Lindbergh, and MISTRESS OF THE RITZ, based on the true story of the American woman who ran the Ritz during WWII. Her novels have been translated in over fifteen languages and optioned for film. She joins us from her home in Chicago amidst her ongoing book tour to discuss her latest novel CALIFORNIA GOLDEN (Delacorte Press, Aug 8) which has been named a Best Book of the Summer by Entertainment Weekly, called “a breath of bracing salt air” by Beatriz Williams, and about which Shelby Van Pelt said it “left me breathless….will stay with you long after the last page.”

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WRITERS' BLOCK Meg Walker and Ron Block are joined by literal Rockstar Susanna Hoffs, lead singer of the 80s suprgroup The Bangles. She has recently published her first novel, This Bird Has Flown, to huge acclaim. In this episode, she talks about where her idea for the book originated, how she took the leap to writing fiction, and charts her path to publication. Throughout this fun and engrossing conversation, Susanna shares highlights of her career, her musical and literary influences and the many projects she is working on. A totally delightful and charming guest. 

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WRITERS' BLOCK Author Daniel Kraus joins Meg Walker and Ron Block for a fascinating conversation about his highly anticipated new book, Whalefall, hailed by Gillian Flynn as “Astoundingly great...quite simply, a beautiful novel—a must-read story of the sea, the nature of awe, and the briny relationships between fathers and sons.” Kraus shares how the book idea came to life, his deep research and how family relationships are woven into this terrifying tale of a young man who is swallowed by a 60 ton sperm whale during a grief fueled dive following his estranged father's suicide. Their rocky relationship is examined in flashbacks as young Jay struggles to find a way out. A compelling episode that perfectly matches a compelling and hugely satisfying read. 

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WRITERS' BLOCK Join Patti Callahan Henry and Ron Block as they are joined by debut novelist, Emily Habeck, author of Shark Heart, a beautifully told story of grief and change. Wren and Lewis are a newly married couple. Lewis finds out that he will slowly change into a great white shark within a year, causing them to face the unthinkable. This deeply felt love story will grab readers from the first page. Emily talks about her own pursuit of her creative dream and offers deep insight into the writing of this gorgeous story of marriage, motherhood and letting go. 

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Welcome to our Summer Season Finale! Who better to spend it with than beach-reads royalty, Queen of Nantucket Island, total rockstar author, and dear friend of the show, Elin Hilderbrand?!

After publishing her first work in Seventeen Magazine in 1991 while a senior at Johns Hopkins University, Elin worked in publishing for a bit, attended the Iowa Writers Workshop, earned her MFA, and never looked back, publishing her first novel, THE BEACH CLUB, in 2000. Her 2019 novel, SUMMER OF '69 was her first novel to debut at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. She has said that her Summer 2024 book will be her swan song. We are eager to hear what comes next, and to talk to her all about her new podcast Books Beach and Beyond with Tim Ehrenberg, as well as her latest instant #1 NYT bestselling phenomenon, her 29th novel, THE FIVE-STAR WEEKEND which Little, Brown published on June 13th.

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WRITERS' BLOCK Reteling of Mythology is having a moment! Ron Block and Patti Callahan Henry host a deep conversation about re-imagining ancient myths in the new book, Horses of Fire with authors Ashlee Cowles & Danielle Stinson, who write as A.D. Rhine. Their own friendship history and their deep passion for myths and storytelling combine in this fascinating episode for everyone who loves storytelling.

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What a summer treat we have in store on this episode! First, we welcome author Steven Rowley, the author of one of the F&F community’s most buzzed about books of all time. For a double-dip of summer fun, we will also meet up with the best-friend writing pair, Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke!

Steven Rowley is the New York Times bestselling author of LILY AND THE OCTOPUS, a Washington Post Notable Book of 2016, THE EDITOR, an NPR Best Book of 2019, and THE GUNCLE, winner of 2021’s Thurber Prize for American Humor. His fiction has been published in twenty languages and all of his books are in development for feature film or television adaptation. He joins us from his home in Palm Springs to discuss his latest instant NYT bestseller, June’s TODAY Show Read With Jenna Book Club pick, THE CELEBRANTS (Putnam, May 30).

Liz & Lisa have been best friends for more than three decades. They’ve co-authored eight novels, including the Amazon Charts bestseller, THE GOOD WIDOW. In addition to writing books, they created the podcast, We Fight So You Don’t Have to: Lessons from a Thirty-Year Friendship, and appear monthly on a San Diego news station to share their favorite book club picks. They join us from their homes in San Diego to discuss their latest book, FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE (Alcove Press, July 11).

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WRITERS' BLOCK Ron Block is joined by Mary Kay Andrews to talk with author Christopher Swann about his newest release in the Faulkner Family series, Never Back Down. This stand-alone focuses on Suzie Faulkner, continuing her high-powered and thrilling cat and mouse game with Finn, her family's arch enemy. It was great to hear about the origin stories, the research, how Christopher keeps the tension high, and how scenes are choreographed for the page!!! A must-hear episode! 

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