Tune in at 7pm ET for TONIGHT’s episode! Join us Wednesday, December 17th at 7pm Eastern on the F&F Facebook page and YouTube channel as Mary Kay Andrews & Ron Block welcome #1 New York Times bestselling author, Jacquelyn Mitchard, to discuss The Birdwatcher, her page-turning drama that explores the beauty of female friendship; the relationship between money, power, and sex; and the very human desire to protect the ones we love most.
Jacquelyn Mitchard is the award-winning, NYT-bestselling author of twelve novels for adults, seven novels for teenagers, and five children’s books. These include The Deep End of the Ocean, the inaugural selection of the Oprah Winfrey Book Club with more than 3-million copies in print in 34 languages. She is also a professor of creative writing whose short stories, articles, essays, and book reviews have been widely published. A native of Chicago, she joins us from her home on Cape Cod to discuss her new novel, The Birdwatcher, which was named a Zibby’s Most Anticipated Book of Fall 2025 and which Lisa Genova calls, “a suspenseful, twisty, and page-turning drama.” Watch the video broadcast of this interview as it airs on Wed 12/17 at 7pm ET on the F&F Facebook group page & YouTube channel. Catch the audio version on our podcast Fri 12/19. Order Jacquelyn’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!
MARY KAY ANDREWS turned in copy edits for ROAD TRIP (coming June 2) at midnight Friday and felt like she’d been released on parole. She celebrated by going to a family Christmas party and checking out her neighborhood’s Christmas home tour, followed by Sunday dinner with her family. This week–it’s having a new author photo taken and starting plans for the ROAD TRIP book tour. She’s also planning on vegging out in front of the fireplace with a glass of wine and some Christmas movies. KRISTIN HARMEL is working on page proofs for MEET ME IN PARIS (coming July 28, 2026), the upcoming reissue of her 2014 book THE LIFE INTENDED, and the upcoming paperback release of THE STOLEN LIFE OF COLETTE MARCEAU (coming March 31, 2026). She got to watch her son, Noah, compete in the playoffs with his basketball team (Go Noah!) and her niece, Chloe, compete in a big cheerleading competition in Orlando over the weekend (go Chloe!). She also got to hang out with her in-laws at the Macy’s parade at Universal Studios, and to celebrate her good friend Marcie’s 50th birthday with a big party on Saturday night. She’s looking forward to Noah’s class party at school this week and to winding down the school year and having a couple weeks of break. Happy holidays, everyone! KRISTY WOODSON HARVEY is so, so in the holiday spirit and hopes that you are too! She is looking forward to Will getting out of school and taking a few days off to celebrate the holidays with friends and family–and then heading to Jackson Hole for some great skiing. (Fingers crossed for snow!) During this season, she is so grateful for each and every one of you, and holding you all close, especially those for whom this season is difficult. She is wishing you each a wonderful holiday and nothing but wonderful things in 2026! PATTI CALLAHAN HENRY is finally there – in the holiday spirit! With a photo shoot at her home for an announcement early next year, she swathed the house in garland, glitter and she even polished the silver! Meanwhile, she sent out a newsletter this week (did you get it? If not, click here) where she talks about what is inspiring her now during this overwhelming season. She hopes that during this time you are with those you love and those who love you, and she is grateful for the entire F & F community. 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
See Kristin’s upcoming events HERE. Want to know what our F&F Live events are all about? Watch this video compilation!  In Case You Missed It
On last week’s episode of The Friends & Fiction Show, Mary Kay Andrews & Patti Callahan Henry welcomed New York Times bestselling author, Ace Atkins, to discuss his rollicking comedic thriller, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, set in 1985 in which a suburban teen suspects his mom’s new boyfriend is the ultimate bad guy—a KGB agent. 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: LIVE! September Pick of the Month: Elin Hilderbrand & Shelby Cunningham, The Academy Already aired: Hank Phillippi Ryan, All This Could Be Yours Already aired: Jane Hamilton, The Phoebe Variations Already aired: Meagan Church, The Mad Wife Already aired: Mitch Albom, Twice — October Pick of the Month! Already aired: Joe Hill, King Sorrow Already aired: Catherine Newman, Wreck Already aired: David Baldacci, Nash Falls — November Pick of the Month! Already aired: Brisa Carleton, Last Call at the Savoy Already aired: Lee & Andrew Child, Exit Strategy Already aired: John Irving, Queen Esther — December Pick of the Month! Already aired: Ace Atkins, Everybody Wants To Rule the World Jacquelyn Mitchard, The Birdwatcher F&F 2026 Subscription Box with Oxford Exchange
The 2026 FRIENDS AND FICTION Subscription Box is available for purchase now, exclusively from our friends at Oxford Exchange. This subscription includes three separate shipments: Get your subscription NOW from Oxford Exchange! 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. Tees in New Colors!We’ve added two fun, new colors (hot pink & turquoise!) to our Bonfire merch store in our signature Name List apparel line! F&F Official Book Club & 2025 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 nearly 40,000 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 Jenny Colgan about her novel, The Secret Christmas Library. Mark your calendars for January 26th for their next author guest, Rebecca Armitage, when they’ll discuss her debut novel, the December Reese’s Book Club Pick, The Heir Apparent. The Book Club is also hosting the 2026 F&F Reading Challenge. Join them for a different category prompt each month to read outside your comfort zone. December prompt is to read a holiday book with an animal on the cover and for January it’s to read a backlist book by a favorite author. Stay in Touch!Subscribe to our PODCAST. Upgrade to our PAID Subscription for bonus content from our hosts and guests.
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