• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
  • Meet the Authors
  • About Us
  • The Show
  • The Podcast
  • Tour
  • Merchandise
  • Shop Books
  • Merchandise
  • Book Club

Friends and Fiction

Podcast

  • Home
  • Meet the Authors
  • About Us
  • The Show
  • The Podcast
  • Tour
  • Shop Books
  • Merchandise
  • Book Club
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

Meet the Authors

LEARN MORE

Mary Kay Andrews

MARY KAY ANDREWS is the New York Times bestselling author of 30 novels (including The Homewreckers; The Santa Suit; The Newcomer; Hello, Summer; Sunset Beach; The High Tide Club; The Weekenders; Beach Town; Save the Date; Ladies’ Night; Christmas Bliss; Spring Fever; Summer Rental; The Fixer Upper; Deep Dish; Blue Christmas; Savannah Breeze; Hissy Fit; Little Bitty Lies; and Savannah Blues), and one cookbook, The Beach House Cookbook.

A native of St. Petersburg, Florida, she earned a B.A. in journalism from The University of Georgia. After a 14-year career working as a reporter at newspapers including The Savannah Morning News, The Marietta Journal, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where she spent the final ten years of her career, she left journalism in 1991 to write fiction. Her first novel, Every Crooked Nanny, was published in 1992 by HarperCollins. She went on to write ten critically acclaimed mysteries under her real name, Kathy Hogan Trocheck. In 2002, she assumed the pen name Mary Kay Andrews with the publication of Savannah Blues.

To date, her novels have been published in German, Italian, Polish, Slovenian, Hungarian, Dutch, Czech and Japanese. She and her family divide their time between Atlanta and Tybee Island, GA, where they cook up new recipes in three restored beach homes, The Breeze Inn, Ebbtide, and Coquina Cottage—all named after fictional places in Mary Kay’s novels, and all available to rent through Tybee Vacation Rentals. In between cooking, spoiling her grandkids, and plotting her next novel, Mary Kay is an intrepid treasure hunter whose favorite pastime is junking and fixing up old houses.

LEARN MORE

Kristin Harmel

KRISTIN HARMEL is the New York Times bestselling, USA Today bestselling, and #1 international bestselling author of The Paris Daughter, The Forest of Vanishing Stars, The Book of Lost Names, The Winemaker’s Wife, and a dozen other novels that have been translated into more than 30 languages and are sold all over the world.

Kristin has been writing professionally since the age of 16, when she began her career as a sportswriter, covering Major League Baseball and NHL hockey for a local magazine in Tampa Bay, Florida in the late 1990s. In addition to a long magazine writing career, Kristin was also a frequent contributor to the national television morning show The Daily Buzz. Her first novel was published in 2006, and her books have been finalists for the Goodreads Choice Award and the Jewish Book Award.

Kristin was born just outside Boston, Massachusetts and spent her childhood there, as well as in Worthington, Ohio, and St. Petersburg, Florida. After graduating from the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications, she spent time living in Paris and Los Angeles and now lives in Orlando, with her husband and son. She is also a breast cancer survivor and the co-founder and co-host of the popular weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction.

LEARN MORE

Kristy Woodson Harvey

KRISTY WOODSON HARVEY is the New York Times, USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author of eleven novels including Under the Southern Sky, The Peachtree Bluff series, The Wedding Veil and The Summer of Songbirds. Her Peachtree Bluff series is currently in development with NBC with Kristy as co-writer and co-executive producer.

Kristy blogs with her mom Beth Woodson on Design Chic about how creating a beautiful home can be the catalyst for creating a beautiful life. Design Chic is the inaugural member of the design blogger hall of fame, sponsored by Traditional Home, and winner of Amara’s Best Luxury Blog, as chosen by Roberto Cavalli.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s school of journalism, she also holds a master’s in English from East Carolina University, with a concentration in multicultural and transnational literature.  She is a proud member of the Tall Poppy Writers, serves on the board of The University of North Carolina’s Library Board and the Beaufort Historical Association, and is a member of the University of North Carolina’s Women’s Leadership Council.

Kristy is the winner of the Lucy Bramlette Patterson Award for Excellence in Creative Writing and a finalist for the Southern Book Prize, and her books have received numerous accolades including Southern Living’s Most Anticipated Beach Reads, Entertainment Weekly’s Spring Reading Picks, and Katie Couric’s Most Anticipated Reads.

She lives in North Carolina with her husband and son.

LEARN MORE

Patti Callahan Henry

PATTI CALLAHAN HENRY is a New York Times, Globe and Mail, and USA Today bestselling author of seventeen novels, including her newest, The Secret Book of Flora Lea. She’s also a podcast host of original content for her novels, Surviving Savannah and Becoming Mrs. Lewis. ​

She is the recipient of The Christy Award “Book of the Year”; The Harper Lee Distinguished Writer of the Year and the Alabama Library Association Book of the Year for Becoming Mrs. Lewis. She is the co-host and co-creator of the popular weekly online Friends & Fiction live web show and podcast. She’s published in numerous anthologies, articles, and short story collections, including an Audible Original about Florence Nightingale, titled Wild Swan narrated by the Tony Award winner, Cynthia Erivo. ​

A full-time author, mother of three, and grandmother of two, she lives in Mountain Brook, Alabama with her husband, Pat Henry. Her newest novel, The Secret Book of Flora Lea, is set outside Oxford in the hamlet of Binsey and is available now.

Meg Walker

Meg Walker is a 30-year veteran of the publishing industry and the co-founder, president, and director of marketing at Tandem Literary, a publicity and marketing firm for authors and publishers. As the managing director of Friends & Fiction, Meg is in charge of guest booking, promotion, and general cat herding. She often co-hosts F&F podcast episodes and joins Mary Kay, Kristin, Kristy, and Patti on the weekly web show.

Ron Block

Ron Block works as a manager at the Cuyahoga County Public Library in Cleveland, Ohio. His passion for libraries, reading and cooking have fueled non-traditional library programs and community collaborations. During the pandemic, he pivoted to hosting virtual author visits and cooking demonstrations and joined the Friends & Fiction team co-hosting the Friends & Fiction Writers’ Block Podcast.

FOUNDER EMERITUS

LEARN MORE

Founder Emeritus

Mary Alice Monroe

Mary Alice Monroe was one of the five founding authors of Friends & Fiction in 2020, but she left the group in the summer of 2021 to concentrate on her writing. She still joins Mary Kay, Kristin, Kristy, and Patti for occasional special events, including 2023’s Friends & Fiction LIVE event in Charleston.

Mary Alice Monroe is the New York Times bestselling author of 27 books, including her latest instant bestseller, The Summer of Lost and Found. She has also published children’s books which complement the environmental themes she is known for in her adult novels. Monroe’s middle grade series, written with Angela May, The Islanders, debuted #2 on the New York Times in 2021. Her bestselling novel The Beach House is a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. Nearly 8 million copies of Mary Alice’s books have been published worldwide, and she’s earned numerous accolades and awards, including induction into the South Carolina Academy of Authors’ Hall of Fame. She was one of the five founding authors of Friends & Fiction and lives with her husband in South Carolina.

Footer

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
We hope you will grab #brightyoungwomen by @jes We hope you will grab #brightyoungwomen by @jessicaknollauthor at a discount from the Friends & Fiction Fall 2023 Guests List in the F&F Shop on @bookshop_org at the link in our bio! Jessica is our guest coming up this week on our Wed 10/4 episode. You can find Jessica’s new book, plus those by every F&F host and guest, in our Shop! Portions of all sales placed in our Shop help fund F&F and support our guests! Proceeds from every sale made anywhere across Bookshop go straight into the pockets of indie booksellers nationwide. Since its inception, Bookshop.org has raised nearly $28-million for indie bookstores! #shopnow  #shopsmall #shoplocal #stockupandsave
COMING UP ON OCTOBER 4th! On the next episode of COMING UP ON OCTOBER 4th!

On the next episode of the #friendsandfiction Wed night web show, we cannot wait to introduce you to @jessicaknollauthor and her incredible new book, #brightyoungwomen.

Jessica Knoll is the New York Times bestselling author of #luckiestgirlalive and #thefavoritesister. She also adapted and executive produced the film LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE, starring Mila Kunis, which was released on Netflix in 2022. A former editor at SELF magazine and Cosmopolitan, Jessica’s books have been published in more than forty languages. She joins us from her home in Los Angeles to discuss her third novel, BRIGHT YOUNG WOMEN—the instant New York Times bestseller with starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Library Journal, and Kirkus—which was just published by @simonandschuster / @marysueruccibooks on September 19th. 

See you Wed 10/4 on the F&F Facebook page and YouTube channel. Meanwhile, shop for Jessica’s book and those by all F&F hosts and guests in the F&F Shop on @bookshop_org at the link in our bio. See you on the 4th!
Have you listened to our September episodes? Such Have you listened to our September episodes? Such a fantastic month of great authors, books, and conversations!!!!! Catch up at the link in bio!!!! @helenellisauthor @ucrosspop25 @ninaksimon @qpwatson @melindataub 📚📚📚🎙️🎙️🎙️
Did you enjoy last night’s #brightlightsbigchris Did you enjoy last night’s #brightlightsbigchristmas launch episode with @marykayandrews? If you haven’t gotten your copies of MKA’s latest yet, find it at a discount in the F&F Shop on @bookshop_org! Portions of all sales placed in our shop help fund F&F and support our guests! Proceeds from every sale made anywhere across Bookshop go straight into the pockets of indie booksellers nationwide. Since its inception, Bookshop.org has raised more than $27-million for indie bookstores! Shop now at the link in our bio! If you missed the 9/27 show when it aired, catch the recording anytime on the F&F Facebook page or YouTube channel. #shopsmall #shoplocal #stockupandsave
Cast your vote for #brightlightsbigchristmas to be Cast your vote for #brightlightsbigchristmas to be the next #clubcalvi #bookclubpick with @marycalvitv and @cbsnewyork! Our girl @marykayandrews is in the running and every vote counts! Everyone can vote, no matter where you live. Voting is open now thru 10/8. 
🗳️ #voteearlyvoteoften 

➡️ Link in our stories. Or copy/paste this link to cast your vote: 

https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/essentials/you-decide-what-should-the-cbs-new-york-book-read-next/
Tonight’s the night! It’s time for the long-aw Tonight’s the night! It’s time for the long-awaited launch episode celebrating our own @marykayandrews’s #brightlightsbigchristmas! 

Who’s ready to join in the reindeer games? Put on your Santa (er, thinking) caps and get ready for some holiday-themed trivia! We’ve got lots of cheer and merriment in store as emcee @megwalker1225 and referee @rsblockmtm oversee the Fab Four (MKA, @pattichenry, @kristywharvey & @kristinharmel) in a rousing Christmas-themed game show. We will follow that with an insightful interview with MKA about her fifth Christmas novel, which is hot off the presses, in stores everywhere, and ready for your early holiday shopping. 

See you Wed 9/27 at 7pm ET on the F&F Facebook page and YouTube channel. Meanwhile, support indies while shopping for all of our hosts’ and guests’ books at a discount in the F&F Shop on @bookshop_org at the link in our bio. See you TONIGHT!
This super fun event is coming up just ONE WEEK FR This super fun event is coming up just ONE WEEK FROM TODAY! Join the Fab Four all together live and in-person —@marykayandrews , @kristinharmel & @kristywharvey & @pattichenry — as they gather together to celebrate the launch of MKA’s #brightlightsbigchristmas! On Wed 10/4 they will be on-stage at the Carroll Community College Theatre hosted by @alikelystorybookstore & @libraryccpl. Each ticket includes a signed copy of MKA's book, swag bags, the authors' presentation, a Q&A, and time to mix & mingle and snap pics with the authors, and get your books signed. A Likely Story will be there with lots of copies of all four authors’ books. Join us for a great time. There aren't that many tickets left, so act fast! Get your tickets now at the link in our bio!
The #friendsandfiction love continues to flow on @ The #friendsandfiction love continues to flow on @marykayandrews’s book tour for #brightlightsbigchristmas. This community is 💞💕🔥🙌🏻👏🏻
We hope you will grab #brightlightsbigchristmas by We hope you will grab #brightlightsbigchristmas by @marykayandrews at a discount from the Friends & Fiction Fall 2023 Guests List in the F&F Shop on @bookshop_org at the link in our bio! MKA’s launch celebration is coming up this week on the Wed 9/27 episode! You can find her new book, plus those by every F&F host and guest, in our Shop! Portions of all sales placed in our Shop help fund F&F and support our guests! Proceeds from every sale made anywhere across Bookshop go straight into the pockets of indie booksellers nationwide. Since its inception, Bookshop.org has raised more than $27-million for indie bookstores! #shopnow  #shopsmall #shoplocal #stockupandsave
On the Wed 9/20 show, we asked our guests @sarahpe On the Wed 9/20 show, we asked our guests @sarahpekkanen and @etafrum about their views on the writing life. We so enjoyed these thoughtful insights! Thanks Sarah & Etaf for these #writingtips! If you missed the 9/20 live show, watch it anytime on our Facebook page or YouTube channel at the links in our bio.
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Friends and Fiction· Site Design by Little Blue Deer
Privacy Policy