Tune in LIVE at 7pm ET for TONIGHT’s episode! Join us Wednesday, August 21st LIVE at 7pm Eastern on the F&F Facebook page and YouTube channel as the Fab Four gather to welcome this month’s F&F Featured Author, Jessa Maxwell, to discuss her new book, our August 2024 Pick of the Month, I NEED YOU TO READ THIS, a sly and addictive new mystery about an advice columnist searching for answers about her predecessor’s murder.
Jessa Maxwell is the author and illustrator of five picture books for children whose comics and cartoons have been published in The New Yorker and The New York Times, and whose writing has been published in Slate, Marie Claire, and many other publications. She previously joined us on our podcast in March 2023 to discuss her debut adult novel, the darkly beguiling locked-room mystery The Golden Spoon, which is now in production as a limited series for Hulu. We are excited to welcome Jessa back to discuss her clever new cat-and-mouse murder mystery, I NEED YOU TO READ THIS (Atria Books, Aug 13), which Booklist called a “palm-sweat-inducing psychological thriller,” and which Publishers Weekly praised for its “scintillating tension.” Watch the LIVE video broadcast of this show as it airs Wed 8/21 at 7pm ET on the F&F Facebook group page & YouTube channel. Catch the audio version on our podcast Fri 8/23. Order Jessa’s book on Bookshop.org! Upgrade to our PAID Subscription for bonus Q&A’s with our guest authors which include a writing tip, book recommendation, and information about their works-in-progress, plus other great material not covered on the show! Latest News from the Fab Four!
KRISTY WOODSON HARVEY is having a great time visiting her parents on this last week before school starts! It has been a great summer and she can’t believe it is over! She is also having the giveaway with Simon and Schuster audio for a copy of A HAPPIER LIFE and a really fun summer prize pack, so check that out on Instagram if you would like to enter! PATTI CALLAHAN HENRY traveled to Charleston to see some old friends and meet new ones when she interviewed Frances Mayes – she loved being reminded of the way stories bring us together. She then drove up to the NC mountains for some writing time and is trying to wrestle a new story into something that makes sense while also working on the book club kit for THE STORY SHE LEFT BEHIND. She is so excited about interviewing Jessa Maxwell tonight! KRISTIN HARMEL turned in line edits for her 2025 novel and is excited to see some cover options soon…. She can’t wait to share it with you once the publisher has settled on a title and cover. Her son, Noah, started third grade last week, so her family is getting back into a routine (including basketball practice!) MARY KAY ANDREWS had a blast doing an “in conversation” before a packed house for FoxTale Bookshoppe with the always wildly unpredictable and entertaining Karin Slaughter last Sunday for the launch of her newest Will Trent novel This Is Why We Lied. Over the weekend her son Andrew and his fiancè Meghan began plotting the details of their spring wedding–which will be held at Squirrel Hollow! Upgrade to our PAID Subscription for an ongoing series of roundtable discussions and personal essays by the Fab Four about their careers, writing processes, and all things book and publishing related! Upcoming Events
Friday, September 27, 4pm ET — Join us for an F&F Live “Toast to the Ta-Tas” event at the beautiful High Point Country Club in High Point, NC to benefit Earlier.org. The Fab Four will be sharing fascinating insider talk about publishing and writing and discussing their newest releases, all to raise funding for critical research to identify an earlier biological detection test for breast cancer. Books will be available for purchase care of The Country Bookshop with each author signing select books and proceeds benefiting Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Test®! Get details & tickets HERE. Sunday, September 29, 10am ET — An F&F Live brunch event at the 19th Annual Bookmarks Festival of Books & Authors in Winston-Salem, NC. Close out the book festival with us at this super fun event to be held at the Benton Convention Center. There are two ticket options. The 10am Meet & Greet + Brunch Event is $80 (plus taxes & fees) will include a mimosa and the chance to mingle, meet the authors, and take photos, plus a wristband to get to the front of the signing line following the brunch. The 11am Brunch Event only is $50 (plus taxes & fees) and includes a seated program and book signing. Note that there will not be an opportunity for posed photos during this portion of the event. Get tickets HERE. Wednesday, November 6, 6pm ET — Join all four founders and hosts of Friends & Fiction—along with Meg Walker & Ron Block—together in-person at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Orlando, FL for a unique fundraising event benefiting the Florida Cancer Specialists (FCS) Foundation which will include a reception over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, an intimate presentation, book sales, and an autograph session. Get tickets HERE. Thursday, November 7, 12:30pm ET — An F&F Live luncheon event hosted by the Amelia Island Book Festival at The Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, FL. Ticket price will include tea fare: light lunch, snacks, and refreshments. For members of book clubs who are interested in reserving an entire table, the Book Club Pre-Sale will open on August 15th. If interested, email bookclubs@ameliaislandbookfestival.org identifying yourself and providing a main point of contact. Ticket sales will open up to the public on September 1st. Details HERE. Ticketing link to come! Want to know what these F&F Live events are all about? Watch this video compilation! Did not find video In Case You Missed It
On last week’s episode of The Friends & Fiction Show, Kristy Woodson Harvey and Mary Kay Andrews welcomed bestselling author Greer Macallister to discuss THE THIRTEENTH HUSBAND, the story of scandalous heiress Aimee Crocker, who lit up the Gilded Age tabloids with her devil-may-care attitude and worldwide adventures. Order Greer’s book from the F&F Shop on Bookshop.org, where you’ll also find books by all our hosts and guests, all at a discount—and where all your purchases support our show and our beloved indie bookstores nationwide! You can WATCH that episode on Facebook or YouTube, or LISTEN to it on our podcast. Coming Up on The Friends & Fiction Show
All shows can be watched on Facebook & YouTube each Wednesday evening at 7pm ET, and listened to on our podcast each Friday, all year long.Already aired: Killer Author Club (Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf & Kaira Rouda) Already aired: Christina Dodd, A Daughter of Fair Verona Already aired: F&F Pick of the Month: Jamie Brenner, A Novel Summer Already aired: Emily Giffin, The Summer Pact Already aired: Marjan Kamali, The Lion Women of Tehran Already aired: Rhys Bowen, The Rose Arbor Already aired: Greer Macallister, The Thirteenth Husband F&F Pick of the Month: Jessa Maxwell, I Need You to Read This Madeline Martin, The Booklover's Library TJ Klune, Somewhere Beyond the Sea Laura Dave, The Night We Lost Him F&F Pick of the Month: Jodi Picoult, By Any Other Name Liane Moriarty, Here One Moment Bonus Episodes!
The Fab Four (along with Meg & Ron) are taking turns interviewing some additional authors in short video segments we are calling “Behind the Book.” Check out a few recent bonus interviews that we’ve run on the F&F YouTube channel! WATCH Kristy’s interview with Gilmore Girls star Devon Sorvari, who is also the voice of Keaton in the audiobook version of A HAPPIER LIFE. F&F Merch Store
We have a Friends & Fiction merch store with t-shirts, sweatshirts, coffee mugs and a book bag on Bonfire. We also have other items like wine tumblers, reading journals, and our original white v-neck logo tees available through Oxford Exchange.
NEW ITEM! We’ve just added long-sleeve t-shirts in our fun “Name List Wear” line to our Bonfire shop. These are perfect for the cooler weather F&F Live events coming up this fall. So, if you're coming to hang out with the Fab Four in NC this September or in Florida in November—or even if you’re just tuning in weekly from home—we've got your wardrobe on lock! These are available in 5 colors (black, grey, navy, army green & red) in sizes S-2XL. This current campaign is open NOW until 8/28 with orders shipping to arrive by mid-September. Let's go! Let's show our F&F pride! F&F Official Book Club & 2024 Reading Challenge
Join Brenda Gardner & Lisa Harrison for monthly book club picks and live online author chats on the Facebook page for the F&F Official Book Club with Brenda & Lisa, where they’ve amassed more than 30k of their own members. You can also follow the Book Club on Instagram and subscribe to their YouTube channel where you can catch past discussions, including their most recent chat with Kristy Woodson Harvey about her novel, A Happier Life. Mark your calendars for September 16th for their next author guest, Wanda Morris, when they’ll discuss her novel, What You Leave Behind. With the help of Annissa Armstrong, the Book Club is also hosting the 2024 F&F Reading Challenge. Join them for a different category prompt each month to read outside your comfort zone. The August prompt is to read a book that inspired a TV show or movie and the September prompt is to read a true crime book. Stay in Touch!Subscribe to our PODCAST. Upgrade to our PAID Subscription for bonus content from our hosts and guests. You're currently a free subscriber to Friends & Fiction Endless Stories. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription.
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Greer Macallister
Tune in at 7pm ET for TONIGHT’s episode! Join us Wednesday, August 14th at 7pm Eastern on the F&F Facebook page and YouTube channel as Kristy Woodson Harvey and Mary Kay Andrews welcome bestselling author Greer Macallister to discuss THE THIRTEENTH HUSBAND, the story of scandalous heiress Aimee Crocker, who lit up the Gilded Age tabloids with her devil-may-care attitude and worldwide adventures.
Greer Macallister’s historical novels, including THE MAGICIAN'S LIE, GIRL IN DISGUISE, WOMAN 99, and THE ARCTIC FURY, have been named Book of the Month, Indie Next, LibraryReads, Target Book Club, and Amazon Best Book of the Month picks and optioned for film and television. As G. R. Macallister, she is the author of the Five Queendoms series, which Paste Magazine called “the best feminist fantasy series you probably haven't read yet.” She joins us to discuss her latest work of historical fiction, THE THIRTEENTH HUSBAND (Sourcebooks, Aug 6), which Fiona Davis has dubbed, “a whirlwind...a truly wonderful read,” and Marie Benedict has called, “utterly gripping.” This fictional tell-all has been described as THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO meets THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE and we can’t wait to talk to Greer all about it. Watch the video broadcast of this show as it airs Wed 8/14 at 7pm ET on the F&F Facebook group page & YouTube channel. Catch the audio version on our podcast Fri 8/16. Order Greer’s book on Bookshop.org! Upgrade to our PAID Subscription for bonus Q&A’s with our guest authors which include a writing tip, book recommendation, and information about their works-in-progress, plus other great material not covered on the show! Latest News from the Fab Four!
KRISTY WOODSON HARVEY is enjoying the last bit of summer break with little Will. She is excited to be visiting her parents this weekend and is working away on her 2026 novel. She hopes to have a cover to share with you soon on her 2025 novel! Kristy was so excited to see THE SUMMER OF SONGBIRDS included in this Woman’s World article, Books About Summer Camp! PATTI CALLAHAN HENRY was so inspired by the independent booksellers gathering in Arlington, Virginia. It was the first time she’s spoken about The Story She Left Behind, and it made her so excited for the upcoming release (6 ½ months!!!). She also attended the wedding of a dear friend and was able to spend loads of time with her son, who lives in DC. She walked miles and miles around the capital and was awed by both the Natural History Museum and the American History Museum. (Her favorites: the Hope Diamond, the First Ladies’ Dress exhibit, and always the gems and minerals). Now she is back to work (including a fascinating discussion Thursday night with Frances Mayes of Under the Tuscan Sun fame about her new novel, A Great Marriage.) KRISTIN HARMEL can’t believe that her son, Noah, started third grade this week. How is the summer over? How is he so old? Where are the days and weeks and months going? Now that her family is getting back into a school-year routine, she’s looking forward to diving in to an early outline for her next novel, as she waits for edits to come in on her 2025 book. MARY KAY ANDREWS is slowly getting back into the groove of writing. Her next book is a dual timeline novel set partly in Ireland, and she’s mentally packing for her research trip in early September. In the meantime, you can catch her in Atlanta, this Sunday, in conversation with the irrepressible Karin Slaughter, for the release of Karin’s latest Will Trent/Sara Linton thriller, This Is Why We Lied. Go here for tickets, which include a signed copy of Karin’s book. (You can also purchase MKA’s latest.) Upgrade to our PAID Subscription for an ongoing series of roundtable discussions and personal essays by the Fab Four about their careers, writing processes, and all things book and publishing related! Upcoming Events
Thursday, August 15th at 6 PM – Patti will be in conversation with Frances Mayes of Under the Tuscan Sun fame with her new one – A Great Marriage – at the Charleston Library Society. INFORMATION HERE Friday, September 27, 4pm ET — Join us for an F&F Live “Toast to the Ta-Tas” event at the beautiful High Point Country Club in High Point, NC to benefit Earlier.org. We will be sharing fascinating insider talk about publishing and writing and discussing their newest releases, all to raise funding for critical research to identify an earlier biological detection test for breast cancer. Books will be available for purchase care of The Country Bookshop with each author signing select books and proceeds benefitting Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Test®! Get details & tickets HERE. Sunday, September 29, 10am ET — An F&F Live brunch event at the 19th Annual Bookmarks Festival of Books & Authors in Winston-Salem, NC. Close out the book festival with us at this super fun event to be held at the Benton Convention Center. There are two ticket options. The 10am Meet & Greet + Brunch Event is $80 (plus taxes & fees) will include a mimosa and the chance to mingle, meet the authors, and take photos, plus a wristband to get to the front of the signing line following the brunch. The 11am Brunch Event only is $50 (plus taxes & fees) and includes a seated program and book signing. Note that there will not be an opportunity for posed photos during this portion of the event. Get tickets HERE. Wednesday, November 6, 6pm ET — Join all four founders and hosts of Friends & Fiction—along with Meg Walker & Ron Block—together in-person at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Orlando, FL for a unique fundraising event benefiting the Florida Cancer Specialists (FCS) Foundation which will include a reception over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, an intimate presentation, book sales, and an autograph session. Get tickets HERE. Thursday, November 7, 12:30pm ET — An F&F Live luncheon event hosted by the Amelia Island Book Festival at The Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, FL. Ticket price will include tea fare of a light lunch, snacks, and refreshments. For members of book clubs who are interested in reserving an entire table, the Book Club Pre-Sale will open on August 15th. If interested, email bookclubs@ameliaislandbookfestival.org identifying yourself and providing a main point of contact. Ticket sales will open up to the public on September 1st. Details HERE. Ticketing link to come! Want to know what these F&F Live events are all about? Watch this video compilation! Did not find video In Case You Missed It
On last week’s episode of The Friends & Fiction Show, Mary Kay Andrews and Patti Callahan Henry welcomed New York Times bestselling author Rhys Bowen to discuss THE ROSE ARBOR, her haunting new novel of suspense which follows an investigation into a girl’s disappearance that uncovers a mystery dating back to World War II. Order Rhys’s book from the F&F Shop on Bookshop.org, where you’ll also find books by all our hosts and guests, all at a discount—and where all your purchases support our show and our beloved indie bookstores nationwide! You can WATCH that episode on Facebook or YouTube, or LISTEN to it on our podcast. Coming Up on The Friends & Fiction Show
All shows can be watched on Facebook & YouTube each Wednesday evening at 7pm ET, and listened to on our podcast each Friday, all year long.Already aired: Killer Author Club (Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf & Kaira Rouda) Already aired: Christina Dodd, A Daughter of Fair Verona Already aired: F&F Pick of the Month: Jamie Brenner, A Novel Summer Already aired: Emily Giffin, The Summer Pact Already aired: Marjan Kamali, The Lion Women of Tehran Already aired: Rhys Bowen, The Rose Arbor Greer Macallister, The Thirteenth Husband F&F Pick of the Month: Jessa Maxwell, I Need You to Read This Madeline Martin, The Booklover's Library TJ Klune, Somewhere Beyond the Sea Laura Dave, The Night We Lost Him F&F Pick of the Month: Jodi Picoult, By Any Other Name Liane Moriarty, Here One Moment Bonus Episodes!
The Fab Four (along with Meg & Ron) are taking turns interviewing some additional authors in short video segments we are calling “Behind the Book.” Check out a few recent bonus interviews that we’ve run on the F&F YouTube channel! WATCH Kristy’s interview with Gilmore Girls star Devon Sorvari, who is also the voice of Keaton in the audiobook version of A HAPPIER LIFE. WATCH Kristin’s interview with Erika Robuck about her new highly-anticipated WWII historical novel, The Last Twelve Miles. WATCH Kristin & Kristy’s interview with Lisa Barr about her new highly-anticipated WWII historical novel, The Goddess of Warsaw. WATCH Kristin’s conversation with Christina Lauren about their brand-new instant NYT-bestselling hit The Paradise Problem. WATCH MKA’s conversation with the award-winning voice artist Kathleen McInerney who narrates the Summers at the Saint audiobook. WATCH Patti & MKA’s interview with Sheila Roberts about her newest The Best Life Book Club. F&F Merch Store
We have a Friends & Fiction merch store with t-shirts, sweatshirts, coffee mugs and a book bag on Bonfire. We also have other items like wine tumblers, reading journals, and our original white v-neck logo tees available through Oxford Exchange. F&F Official Book Club & 2024 Reading Challenge
Join Brenda Gardner & Lisa Harrison for monthly book club picks and live online author chats on the Facebook page for the F&F Official Book Club with Brenda & Lisa, where they’ve amassed more than 30k of their own members. You can also follow the Book Club on Instagram and subscribe to their YouTube channel where you can catch past discussions, including their most recent chat with Katherine Center about her novel, The Rom-Commers. Mark your calendars for August 19th for their next author guest, Kristy Woodson Harvey, when they’ll discuss her novel, A Happier Life. With the help of Annissa Armstrong, the Book Club is also hosting the 2024 F&F Reading Challenge. Join them for a different category prompt each month to read outside your comfort zone. The July prompt is to read a book from a Little Free Library (bonus if you take a book and leave one!) and the August prompt is to read a book that inspired a TV show or movie. Stay in Touch!Subscribe to our PODCAST. Upgrade to our PAID Subscription for bonus content from our hosts and guests. You're currently a free subscriber to Friends & Fiction Endless Stories. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription.
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Rhys Bowen
On this episode, Mary Kay Andrews and Patti Callahan Henry welcome New York Times bestselling author Rhys Bowen to discuss THE ROSE ARBOR, her haunting new novel of suspense which follows an investigation into a girl’s disappearance that uncovers a mystery dating back to World War II. Rhys Bowen has authored two historical mystery series, the #1 Kindle bestseller In Farleigh Field, and numerous other international bestsellers. Her work has sold 10-million copies in more than 30 languages. She’s been nominated for every major mystery award and has won multiple Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Awards. Her childhood experiences with relatives in Wales colored her first mystery series about Constable Evans in the mountains of Snowdonia. She went on to write ten books in that series including the Edgar nominee Evan’s Gate. We are eager to hear from her about THE ROSE ARBOR which The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell author Robert Dugoni has called “a complex and intriguing mystery…with smart, exquisite prose.”
Tune in at 7pm ET for TONIGHT’s episode! Join us Wednesday, August 7th at 7pm Eastern on the F&F Facebook page and YouTube channel as Mary Kay Andrews and Patti Callahan Henry welcome New York Times bestselling author Rhys Bowen to discuss THE ROSE ARBOR, her haunting new novel of suspense which follows an investigation into a girl’s disappearance that uncovers a mystery dating back to World War II.
Rhys Bowen has authored two historical mystery series, the #1 Kindle bestseller In Farleigh Field, and numerous other international bestsellers. Her work has sold close to 10-million copies in more than 30 languages. She’s been nominated for every major mystery award and has won multiple Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Awards. Her childhood experiences with relatives in Wales colored her first mystery series about Constable Evans in the mountains of Snowdonia. She went on to write ten books in that series including the Edgar nominee Evan’s Gate. We are eager to hear from her about THE ROSE ARBOR which The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell author Robert Dugoni has called “a complex and intriguing mystery…with smart, exquisite prose.” Watch the video broadcast of this show as it airs Wed 8/7 at 7pm ET on the F&F Facebook group page & YouTube channel. Catch the audio version on our podcast Fri 8/9. Pre-order Rhys’s book on Bookshop.org! Upgrade to our PAID Subscription for bonus Q&A’s with our guest authors which include a writing tip, book recommendation, and information about their works-in-progress, plus other great material not covered on the show! Latest News from the Fab Four!
KRISTY WOODSON HARVEY is so, so, so excited because A HAPPIER LIFE is the August The Happy Place read! The Happy Place is Sweet Magnolias and Reba star Joanna Garcia Swisher’s beautiful corner of the internet. If you haven’t checked it out yet, don’t miss it! She is catching up on work during a lot of inside time from this storm this week and beginning her 2026 book. Yay! PATTI CALLAHAN HENRY is catching up on work and trying to stay out of the heat! Today she leaves for her first Pre-Pub event for The Story She Left Behind in Washington, DC for our beloved southern independent bookseller’s trade show. She’ll see her son, visit museums, and go to a dear friend’s wedding. Meanwhile, she is writing a photo journal for The Story She Left Behind and can’t wait to share it all with you. KRISTIN HARMEL had an unintentionally whirlwind weekend; she spent Saturday in Jacksonville (Florida) with her husband, son, and in-laws, and then they all drove up to Savannah on Sunday for a family reunion. She had a great dinner with 20 family members on Sunday night, and then she woke up early Monday to the realization that there were multiple flood warnings in place (as well as a curfew for the city implemented later in the day), due to the approaching Tropical Storm Debby. So Kristin, her husband and son, and her in-laws, packed up in about ten minutes flat and drove several hours home in the pounding rain and whistling winds of the storm’s feeder bands…and they all felt so, so sad to miss the remainder of family reunion. On the upside, she also went to Buc-ee’s for the first time (WHAT EVEN IS THAT PLACE????) and turned in the revised manuscript for her 2025 book, so she hopes to be able to tell you more about that (including a title – which is still being finalized) very soon! Also, saving the best news for last, Kristin–along with Patti, Kristy, Mary Kay, Meg, and Ron–is so excited for Lisa Harrison and Brenda Gardner of the Friends & Fiction Official Book Club with Brenda and Lisa, who won the award for Book Club of the Year (!!!!!) at this year’s AAMBC (African Americans on the Move Book Club) Literary Awards show over the weekend! We are so proud of Lisa (who accepted the award wearing the most gorgeous green dress) and Brenda (who was there in spirit!) for this wonderful (and well-deserved) honor. MARY KAY ANDREWS and her husband escaped the heat of Atlanta with a delightful week-long vacay on the coast of Maine. They stayed in inns and small hotels and loved visiting Bath, Bar Harbor, Portland and Kennebunkport. Mr. MKA enjoyed dining on lobster, clam chowder and haddock, while MKA binged on blueberry everything. They toured Acadia National Park, hiked around the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller botanical garden, and marveled at the beauty of summer in New England. Upgrade to our PAID Subscription for an ongoing series of roundtable discussions and personal essays by the Fab Four about their careers, writing processes, and all things book and publishing related! Upcoming Events
Friday, September 27 — An F&F Live event to benefit Earlier.org at High Point Country Club in High Point, NC. Details & ticketing info to come. Sunday, September 29 — An F&F Live brunch event at the Bookmarks Festival of Books & Authors in Winston-Salem, NC. Details & ticketing info to come. Wednesday, November 6, 6pm ET — Join all four founders and hosts of Friends & Fiction—along with Meg Walker & Ron Block—together in-person at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Orlando, FL for a unique fundraising event benefiting the Florida Cancer Specialists (FCS) Foundation which will include a reception over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, an intimate presentation, book sales, and an autograph session. Get tickets HERE. Thursday, November 7 — An F&F Live afternoon tea event hosted by the Amelia Island Book Festival at The Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, FL. Details & ticketing info to come. Want to know what these F&F Live events are all about? Watch this video compilation! Did not find video In Case You Missed It
On last week’s episode of The Friends & Fiction Show, Patti Callahan Henry and Kristin Harmel welcomed award-winning, internationally bestselling author Marjan Kamali to discuss her new national bestseller, THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN, a heartfelt, epic novel of friendship, betrayal, and redemption set against three transformative decades in Tehran, Iran. Order Marjan’s book from the F&F Shop on Bookshop.org, where you’ll also find books by all our hosts and guests, all at a discount—and where all your purchases support our show and our beloved indie bookstores nationwide! You can WATCH that episode on Facebook or YouTube, or LISTEN to it on our podcast. Coming Up on The Friends & Fiction Show
All shows can be watched on Facebook & YouTube each Wednesday evening at 7pm ET, and listened to on our podcast each Friday, all year long.Already aired: Killer Author Club (Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf & Kaira Rouda) Already aired: Christina Dodd, A Daughter of Fair Verona Already aired: F&F Pick of the Month: Jamie Brenner, A Novel Summer Already aired: Emily Giffin, The Summer Pact Already aired: Marjan Kamali, The Lion Women of Tehran Rhys Bowen, The Rose Arbor Greer Macallister, The Thirteenth Husband F&F Pick of the Month: Jessa Maxwell, I Need You to Read This Madeline Martin, The Booklover's Library TJ Klune, Somewhere Beyond the Sea Laura Dave, The Night We Lost Him F&F Pick of the Month: Jodi Picoult, By Any Other Name Liane Moriarty, Here One Moment Bonus Episodes!
The Fab Four (along with Meg & Ron) are taking turns interviewing some additional authors in short video segments we are calling “Behind the Book.” Check out a few recent bonus interviews that we’ve run on the F&F YouTube channel! WATCH Kristy’s interview with Gilmore Girls star Devon Sorvari, who is also the voice of Keaton in the audiobook version of A HAPPIER LIFE. WATCH Kristin’s interview with Erika Robuck about her new highly-anticipated WWII historical novel, The Last Twelve Miles. WATCH Kristin & Kristy’s interview with Lisa Barr about her new highly-anticipated WWII historical novel, The Goddess of Warsaw. WATCH Kristin’s conversation with Christina Lauren about their brand-new instant NYT-bestselling hit The Paradise Problem. WATCH MKA’s conversation with the award-winning voice artist Kathleen McInerney who narrates the Summers at the Saint audiobook. WATCH Patti & MKA’s interview with Sheila Roberts about her newest The Best Life Book Club. F&F Merch Store
We have a Friends & Fiction merch store with t-shirts, sweatshirts, coffee mugs and a book bag on Bonfire. We also have other items like wine tumblers, reading journals, and our original white v-neck logo tees available through Oxford Exchange. F&F Official Book Club & 2024 Reading ChallengeThe four hosts & founders of Friends & Fiction are thrilled to congratulate Brenda Gardner and Lisa Harrison, who run the Friends & Fiction Book Club with Brenda & Lisa, which was just named the Book Club of the Year by the AAMBC (African Americans on the Move Book Club)! Lisa accepted the award at the ceremony in Atlanta; you can see her acceptance speech (and join the book club if you're not already a member!) here. (Congratulations also to Annissa Armstrong, Amber Prater, and Molly Neville, who are very involved in running the book club alongside Brenda and Lisa!)
Join Brenda Gardner & Lisa Harrison for monthly book club picks and live online author chats on the Facebook page for the F&F Official Book Club with Brenda & Lisa, where they’ve amassed more than 30k of their own members. You can also follow the Book Club on Instagram and subscribe to their YouTube channel where you can catch past discussions, including their most recent chat with Katherine Center about her novel, The Rom-Commers. Mark your calendars for August 19th for their next author guest, Kristy Woodson Harvey, when they’ll discuss her novel, A Happier Life. With the help of Annissa Armstrong, the Book Club is also hosting the 2024 F&F Reading Challenge. Join them for a different category prompt each month to read outside your comfort zone. The July prompt is to read a book from a Little Free Library (bonus if you take a book and leave one!) and the August prompt is to read a book that inspired a TV show or movie. Stay in Touch!Subscribe to our PODCAST. Upgrade to our PAID Subscription for bonus content from our hosts and guests. You're currently a free subscriber to Friends & Fiction's Substack. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription.
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Marjan Kamali
On this episode, Kristin Harmel and Patti Callahan Henry welcome award-winning, internationally bestselling author Marjan Kamali to discuss her new book, THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN, a heartfelt, epic novel of friendship, betrayal, and redemption set against three transformative decades in Tehran, Iran. Marjan Kamali is the author of several novels, including The Stationery Shop, a national and international bestseller, and Together Tea, a Massachusetts Book Award finalist. Born in Turkey to Iranian parents, Marjan was raised in Turkey, Iran, Germany, Kenya, and the U.S. The 2022 recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing Fellowship, her novels are published in translation in more than 25 languages, and her essays have appeared in The Wall Street Journal and The Los Angeles Review of Books. She joins us to discuss her brand-new national bestseller, THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN, which is an Amazon Editors’ Pick, a Book of the Month main selection, an IndieNext pick, and an Apple Best Book of the Month.
Tune in at 7pm ET for TONIGHT’s episode! Join us Wednesday, July 31st at 7pm Eastern on the F&F Facebook page and YouTube channel as Kristin Harmel and Patti Callahan Henry welcome award-winning, internationally bestselling author Marjan Kamali to discuss her new book, THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN, a heartfelt, epic novel of friendship, betrayal, and redemption set against three transformative decades in Tehran, Iran.
Marjan Kamali is the author of several novels, including The Stationery Shop, a national and international bestseller, and Together Tea, a Massachusetts Book Award finalist. Born in Turkey to Iranian parents, Marjan was raised in Turkey, Iran, Germany, Kenya, and the US. The 2022 recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing Fellowship, her novels are published in translation in more than 25 languages, and her essays have appeared in The Wall Street Journal and The Los Angeles Review of Books. She joins us to discuss her brand-new national bestseller, THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN, which is an Amazon Editors’ Pick, a Book of the Month main selection, an IndieNext pick, and an Apple Best Book of the Month. Watch the video broadcast of this show as it airs Wed 7/31 at 7pm ET on the F&F Facebook group page & YouTube channel. Catch the audio version on our podcast Fri 8/2. Pre-order Marjan’s book on Bookshop.org! Upgrade to our PAID Subscription for bonus Q&A’s with our guest authors which include a writing tip, book recommendation, and information about their works-in-progress, plus other great material not covered on the show! Latest News from the Fab Four!
KRISTY WOODSON HARVEY is a busy bee getting her copy edits finished on her 2025 novel, which she can’t wait to share with you and trying to soak up the remaining weeks of summer with her sweet son. Why does it always go so quickly?! She is also doing a fun giveaway the next couple weeks where she’s picking two reviewers of A HAPPIER LIFE randomly from Goodreads or Amazon to receive a “Coffee is the Secret to A Happier Life” tumbler and two books! And she’ll be putting the reviews in her newsletter too! So, if you haven’t reviewed and you’re planning on it, get those reviews in so you can win! PATTI CALLAHAN HENRY spent the week doing a deep dive into her newest, The Story She Left Behind. From page proofs (the book starting to look like a book instead of just pages), to back end research for essays and book club kits, to last minute edits, she’s starting to get excited about this novel coming into the world. She visited her parents over the weekend and spent some sweet down time hiking and swimming in the lake. KRISTIN HARMEL had a deliciously lazy weekend, which included watching the Olympic opening ceremony (has she mentioned lately how glorious and lovely she thinks Paris is?) and plenty of Olympic sports (especially swimming and gymnastics!). She and her family also spent an afternoon at Epcot, which was blazingly hot but delightful as always! She’s putting the finishing touches on her 2025 novel and hopes to submit the edited manuscript this week! MARY KAY ANDREWS wants to thank the F&F community for all their sweet birthday wishes. She enjoyed a lovely birthday dinner with friends and family before she and Mr. MKA departed for Maine, where they’ve already toured Acadia National Park on a refreshingly cool and misty day, and are hoping for a whale sighting on their tour out of Bar Harbor. Upgrade to our PAID Subscription for an ongoing series of roundtable discussions and personal essays by the Fab Four about their careers, writing processes, and all things book and publishing related! Upcoming Events
Friday, September 27 — An F&F Live event to benefit Earlier.org at High Point Country Club in High Point, NC. Details & ticketing info to come. Sunday, September 29 — An F&F Live brunch event at the Bookmarks Festival of Books & Authors in Winston-Salem, NC. Details & ticketing info to come. Wednesday, November 6, 6pm ET — Join all four founders and hosts of Friends & Fiction—along with Meg Walker & Ron Block—together in-person at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Orlando, FL for a unique fundraising event benefiting the Florida Cancer Specialists (FCS) Foundation which will include a reception over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, an intimate presentation, book sales, and an autograph session. Get tickets HERE. Thursday, November 7 — An F&F Live afternoon tea event hosted by the Amelia Island Book Festival at The Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, FL. Details & ticketing info to come. Want to know what these F&F Live events are all about? Watch this video compilation! Did not find video In Case You Missed It
On last week’s episode of The Friends & Fiction Show, Patti Callahan Henry and Kristy Woodson Harvey welcomed #1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin to discuss her new novel THE SUMMER PACT in which a group of friends, in the wake of tragedy, make a pact that will cause them to reunite a decade later and embark on a life-changing adventure together. Order Emily’s book from the F&F Shop on Bookshop.org, where you’ll also find books by all our hosts and guests, all at a discount—and where all your purchases support our show and our beloved indie bookstores nationwide! You can WATCH that episode on Facebook or YouTube, or LISTEN to it on our podcast. Coming Up on The Friends & Fiction Show
All shows can be watched on Facebook & YouTube each Wednesday evening at 7pm ET, and listened to on our podcast each Friday, all year long.Already aired: Killer Author Club (Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf & Kaira Rouda) Already aired: Christina Dodd, A Daughter of Fair Verona Already aired: F&F Pick of the Month: Jamie Brenner, A Novel Summer Already aired: Emily Giffin, The Summer Pact Marjan Kamali, The Lion Women of Tehran Rhys Bowen, The Rose Arbor Greer Macallister, The Thirteenth Husband F&F Pick of the Month: Jessa Maxwell, I Need You to Read This Madeline Martin, The Booklover's Library TJ Klune, Somewhere Beyond the Sea Laura Dave, The Night We Lost Him F&F Pick of the Month: Jodi Picoult, By Any Other Name Liane Moriarty, Here One Moment Bonus Episodes!
The Fab Four (along with Meg & Ron) are taking turns interviewing some additional authors in short video segments we are calling “Behind the Book.” Check out a few recent bonus interviews that we’ve run on the F&F YouTube channel! WATCH Kristy’s interview with Gilmore Girls star Devon Sorvari, who is also the voice of Keaton in the audiobook version of A HAPPIER LIFE. F&F Merch Store
We have a Friends & Fiction merch store with t-shirts, sweatshirts, coffee mugs and a book bag on Bonfire. We also have other items like wine tumblers, reading journals, and our original white v-neck logo tees available through Oxford Exchange. F&F Official Book Club & 2024 Reading Challenge
Join Brenda Gardner & Lisa Harrison for monthly book club picks and live online author chats on the Facebook page for the F&F Official Book Club with Brenda & Lisa, where they’ve amassed more than 30k of their own members. You can also follow the Book Club on Instagram and subscribe to their YouTube channel where you can catch past discussions, including their most recent chat with Katherine Center about her novel, The Rom-Commers. Mark your calendars for August 19th for their next author guest, Kristy Woodson Harvey, when they’ll discuss her novel, A Happier Life. With the help of Annissa Armstrong, the Book Club is also hosting the 2024 F&F Reading Challenge. Join them for a different category prompt each month to read outside your comfort zone. The July prompt is to read a book from a Little Free Library (bonus if you take a book and leave one!) and the August prompt is to read a book that inspired a TV show or movie. Stay in Touch!Subscribe to our PODCAST. Upgrade to our PAID Subscription for bonus content from our hosts and guests. You're currently a free subscriber to Friends & Fiction's Substack. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription.
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Emily Giffin
On this episode, Patti Callahan Henry and Kristy Woodson Harvey welcome #1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin to discuss her new novel THE SUMMER PACT in which a group of friends, in the wake of tragedy, make a pact that will cause them to reunite a decade later and embark on a life-changing adventure together. Emily is the author of twelve internationally bestselling novels, including All We Ever Wanted, The Lies That Bind, and Meant to Be. A Chicago native, Emily is a graduate of Wake Forest University and the University of Virginia School of Law. She practiced litigation at a large Manhattan firm for several years while dreaming of becoming a writer. When her 2004 debut novel Something Borrowed (which was adapted as the 2011 feature film starring Kate Hudson & John Krasinski) became a sensation, Emily vowed never to practice law again. With books translated into 31 languages and more than 12-million copies sold worldwide, Emily has been dubbed a “modern-day Jane Austen” by Vanity Fair and a “dependly down-to-earth storyteller” by the New York Times. She joins us to discuss her latest instant NYT-bestseller, THE SUMMER PACT, which Booklist called “a triumph” in a starred review.
Tune in at 7pm ET for TONIGHT’s episode! Join us Wednesday, July 24th at 7pm Eastern on the F&F Facebook page and YouTube channel as Patti Callahan Henry and Kristy Woodson Harvey welcome #1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin to discuss her new novel THE SUMMER PACT in which a group of friends, in the wake of tragedy, make a pact that will cause them to reunite a decade later and embark on a life-changing adventure together.
Emily is the author of twelve internationally bestselling novels, including All We Ever Wanted, The Lies That Bind, and Meant to Be. A Chicago native, Emily is a graduate of Wake Forest University and the University of Virginia School of Law. She practiced litigation at a large Manhattan firm for several years while dreaming of becoming a writer. When her 2004 debut novel Something Borrowed (which was adapted as the 2011 feature film starring Kate Hudson, Ginnifer Goodwin, and John Krasinski) became a sensation, Emily vowed never to practice law again. With books translated into thirty-one languages and more than twelve-million copies sold worldwide, Emily has been dubbed a “modern-day Jane Austen” by Vanity Fair and a “dependably down-to-earth storyteller” by the New York Times. She joins us to discuss her latest instant NYT-bestseller, THE SUMMER PACT, which Booklist called “a triumph” in a starred review. Watch the video broadcast of this show as it airs Wed 7/24 at 7pm ET on the F&F Facebook group page & YouTube channel. Catch the audio version on our podcast Fri 7/26. Pre-order Emily’s book on Bookshop.org! Upgrade to our PAID Subscription for bonus Q&A’s with our guest authors which include a writing tip, book recommendation, and information about their works-in-progress, plus other great material not covered on the show! Latest News from the Fab Four!
KRISTY WOODSON HARVEY had the best week celebrating her birthday with friends and family and enjoying some time at home! Her copy edits for her 2025 novel are here, so she’s hard at work on those—and can’t wait to tell you all about it! AND, have you reviewed A HAPPIER LIFE on Goodreads, Amazon, and other review sites yet? (FYI: You don’t have to have bought a book on Amazon to review it there!) Kristy will be randomly picking two favorite reviews each week for the next three weeks and sending winners a “Coffee is the Secret to a Happier Life” tumbler and assorted summer reading prize pack! She will also be featuring those reviews in her newsletter and other places around social media. For more information visit her blog! PATTI CALLAHAN HENRY spent the week at home and loved every minute of it – summertime! Catching up on work, learning to play MahJong (brain melt), brainstorming a new book, and looking forward to a trip this weekend to see her mom and dad. She is working on some exciting plans for The Story She Left Behind, so keep your eyes and ears out! If you missed her newsletter this week with the things that are inspiring her now CLICK HERE. KRISTIN HARMEL spent a lovely few days at the beach, worked on edits for her 2025 book, and got to meet her new niece! MARY KAY ANDREWS managed to meet two old friends for lunch, worked on her next novel, read two books and started packing for next week’s Maine vacation with Mr. MKA. Upgrade to our PAID Subscription for an ongoing series of roundtable discussions and personal essays by the Fab Four about their careers, writing processes, and all things book and publishing related! Upcoming Events
Friday, September 27 — An F&F Live event to benefit Earlier.org at High Point Country Club in High Point, NC. Details & ticketing info to come. Sunday, September 29 — An F&F Live brunch event at the Bookmarks Festival of Books & Authors in Winston-Salem, NC. Details & ticketing info to come. Wednesday, November 6, 6pm ET — Join all four founders and hosts of Friends & Fiction—along with Meg Walker & Ron Block—together in-person at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Orlando, FL for a unique fundraising event benefiting the Florida Cancer Specialists (FCS) Foundation which will include a reception over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, an intimate presentation, book sales, and an autograph session. Get tickets HERE. Thursday, November 7 — An F&F Live afternoon tea event hosted by the Amelia Island Book Festival at The Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, FL. Details & ticketing info to come. Want to know what these F&F Live events are all about? Watch this video compilation! Did not find video In Case You Missed It
On last week’s episode of The Friends & Fiction Show, the Fab Four gathered to welcome this month’s F&F Featured Author, Jamie Brenner, to discuss her brand-new book, our July 2024 Pick of the Month, A NOVEL SUMMER, in which a bestselling author finds love and second chances in the stacks of a quaint beach town bookshop. Order Jamie’s book from the F&F Shop on Bookshop.org, where you’ll also find books by all our hosts and guests, all at a discount—and where all your purchases support our show and our beloved indie bookstores nationwide! You can WATCH that episode on Facebook or YouTube, or LISTEN to it on our podcast. Coming Up on The Friends & Fiction Show
All shows can be watched on Facebook & YouTube each Wednesday evening at 7pm ET, and listened to on our podcast each Friday, all year long.Already aired: Killer Author Club (Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf & Kaira Rouda) Already aired: Christina Dodd, A Daughter of Fair Verona Already aired: F&F Pick of the Month: Jamie Brenner, A Novel Summer Emily Giffin, The Summer Pact Marjan Kamali, The Lion Women of Tehran Rhys Bowen, The Rose Arbor Greer Macallister, The Thirteenth Husband F&F Pick of the Month: Jessa Maxwell, I Need You to Read This Madeline Martin, The Booklover's Library TJ Klune, Somewhere Beyond the Sea Laura Dave, The Night We Lost Him F&F Pick of the Month: Jodi Picoult, By Any Other Name Liane Moriarty, Here One Moment Bonus Episodes!
The Fab Four (along with Meg & Ron) are taking turns interviewing some additional authors in short video segments we are calling “Behind the Book.” Check out a few recent bonus interviews that we’ve run on the F&F YouTube channel! WATCH Kristy’s interview with Gilmore Girls star Devon Sorvari, who is also the voice of Keaton in the audiobook version of A HAPPIER LIFE. F&F Merch Store & 2024 Subscription Box
We have a Friends & Fiction merch store with t-shirts, sweatshirts, coffee mugs and a book bag on Bonfire. We also have other items like wine tumblers, reading journals, and our original white v-neck logo tees available through Oxford Exchange. F&F Official Book Club & 2024 Reading Challenge
Join Brenda Gardner & Lisa Harrison for monthly book club picks and live online author chats on the Facebook page for the F&F Official Book Club with Brenda & Lisa, where they’ve amassed more than 30k of their own members. You can also follow the Book Club on Instagram and subscribe to their YouTube channel where you can catch past discussions, including their most recent chat with Katherine Center about her novel, The Rom-Commers. Mark your calendars for August 19th for their next author guest, Kristy Woodson Harvey, when they’ll discuss her novel, A Happier Life. With the help of Annissa Armstrong, the Book Club is also hosting the 2024 F&F Reading Challenge. Join them for a different category prompt each month to read outside your comfort zone. The July prompt is to read a book from a Little Free Library (bonus if you take a book and leave one!) and the August prompt is to read a book that inspired a TV show or movie. Stay in Touch!Subscribe to our PODCAST. Upgrade to our PAID Subscription for bonus content from our hosts and guests. You're currently a free subscriber to Friends & Fiction's Substack. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription.
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