Meet Allison Pataki TONIGHT!
Weekly News from Friends & Fiction—March 27, 2024
Tune in at 7pm ET for TONIGHT’s episode!
Join us Wednesday, March 27th at 7pm Eastern on the F&F Facebook page and YouTube channel as Kristin Harmel & Ron Block welcome New York Times bestselling author Allison Pataki to discuss her novel Finding Margaret Fuller a sweeping story about America’s forgotten leading lady, an inspiring trailblazer and fierce adventurer who transcended the rigid roles ascribed to women and changed history, all on her own terms.
Allison Pataki is the NYT bestselling author of The Traitor’s Wife, The Accidental Empress, Sisi, The Queen’s Fortune, and The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post, as well as the nonfiction memoir Beauty in the Broken Places. Her novels have been translated into more than twenty languages. A former news writer and producer, Pataki has written for The New York Times, USA Today, and other outlets. She has appeared on Today, Good Morning America, Good Day New York, and MSNBC’s Morning Joe. She joins us to discuss her high-anticipated latest novel Finding Margaret Fuller which has been featured on the Today Show and gotten starred reviews in Publishers Weekly and Booklist.
Watch the video broadcast of this interview Wed 3/27 at 7pm ET on the F&F Facebook group page & YouTube channel. Catch the audio version on our podcast Fri 3/29.
Order Allison’s book on Bookshop.org!
Shop all of our guests’ & hosts’ books in our F&F Shop on Bookshop.org!
Upgrade to our PAID Subscription for a bonus Q&A with Allison which includes a writing tip, book recommendation, and information about his work-in-progress, plus other great material not covered on the show!
Latest News from the Fab Four!
MARY KAY ANDREWS finished the second draft of a little secret project–now onto the third, because writing is revising–or at least in her world. She’s also zhushing up her house for spring (blue and white is always right) and starting to think about the upcoming book tour for SUMMERS AT THE SAINT.
What MKA is reading and why she’s loving it: Sandwich by Catherine Newman. One messy, life-altering week at a beach rental on Cape Cod, when protagonist Rocky finds herself sandwiched between her half-grown kids and aging parents. Catherine Newman is a joy to read, except when she’s making you cry, but then, you’ll laugh through the tears.
KRISTY WOODSON HARVEY is so excited that the tour for A HAPPIER LIFE is live! Check out her tour schedule and come see her! (Pretty please!) Also, THE SUMMER OF SONGBIRDS—her instant New York Times Bestseller, GMA Buzz Pick, and Joanna Garcia Swisher’s The Happy Place Read is out now in paperback. If you’d like a signed, personalized copy, order from Dee Gee’s Gifts and Books to get a free Camp KWH visor!
What Kristy is reading and why she’s loving it: The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh and I loved this book because it was full of heart, humor, and, oh yes, a happy ending. It is a beach read everyone will be talking about this summer!
PATTI CALLAHAN HENRY has spent the last week in the Lake District of England doing research for her next novel. It has been an overwhelming week of dramatic beauty, an overload of information and inspiration, long hikes along stunning lakes and lots and lots of tea. You can see some of the scenery on her instagram. And as soon as she gets home she’ll be headed off on PAPERBACK BOOK TOUR and hopes to see some of you!
What Patti is reading and why she’s loving it: The Shepherd’s Life by James Rebank and I'm loving it because it is a memoir about the landscape and life where I am right now in England.
KRISTIN HARMEL and her husband, Jason, celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary over the weekend–and they also got to spend a few days at Disney World as a family during their son Noah’s spring break last week. It was the first week off that Kristin has had in ages, and she loved the little break from work with her family. She’s looking forward to Easter this weekend and to an Orlando Magic game next week! Monday (April Fool’s Day) marks 20 years since she sold her first book back in 2004, so she might raise a glass of champagne to that anniversary, too! So much to celebrate! She also hopes to announce her paperback tour for THE PARIS DAUGHTER in the next few days!
What Kristin is reading and why she’s loving it: A Happier Life by our very own Kristy Woodson Harvey: I brought Kristy’s latest (coming this June!) to read poolside at Disney’s Polynesian this weekend, and you guys, IT WAS SO GOOD. I absolutely cannot wait for you all to get your hands on it this summer. This is Kristy’s best yet (and I’ve loved all her books).... I was full-out sobbing at the pool, and I didn’t even care! Pre-order it now if you haven’t already!
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
Click HERE to see Patti Callahan Henry’s full book tour for the April 2nd release of the trade paperback edition of The Secret Book of Flora Lea.
Click HERE to see Mary Kay Andrews’s full book tour for the May 7th release of her new hardcover, Summers at the Saint.
Click HERE to see Kristin Harmel’s full book tour for the May 14th release of the trade paperback edition of The Paris Daughter
Click HERE to see Kristy Woodson Harvey’s full book tour for the June 25th release of her new hardcover, A Happier Life.
Sunday, May 5, 3pm ET — See all four founders and hosts of Friends & Fiction—along with Managing Director Meg Walker, podcast host extraordinaire Ron Block & producer Shaun Hettinger—together in-person for a launch celebration for MKA’s Summers at the Saint hosted by The BookMark in Neptune Beach, FL. Get tickets HERE.
Friday, June 28, — Join all four founders and hosts of Friends & Fiction—along with Meg Walker & Ron Block—together in-person for a launch celebration and garden party for Kristy’s A Happier Life hosted by The Novel Neighbor at the St. Louis Library in St. Louis, MO. Get tickets HERE.
In Case You Missed It
Last week on The Friends & Fiction Show, MKA & Kristy interviewed #1 NYT bestselling author, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, and national treasure Anna Quindlen to discuss her latest instant bestseller AFTER ANNIE, a hopeful novel about how adversity can change us in profound ways. Order Anna’s book (out now!) 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: 2024 Sneak Preview with the Fab Four
WATCH now! | LISTEN now!
Already aired: Grady Hendrix, How to Sell a Haunted House
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Already aired: F&F January Pick of the Month: Kristin Hannah, The Women
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Already aired: Abbott Kahler, Where You End
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Already aired: Jennifer Moorman, The Magic All Around
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Already aired: Amy Jo Burns, Mercury
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Already aired: Kate Quinn & Janie Chang, The Phoenix Crown
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Already aired: F&F February Pick of the Month: Tia Williams, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde
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Already aired: Tommy Orange, Wandering Stars
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Already aired: Rebecca Serle, Expiration Dates
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Already aired: F&F March Pick of the Month: Chris Bohjalian, The Princess of Las Vegas
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Already aired: Anna Quindlen, After Annie
WATCH now! | LISTEN now!
Allison Pataki, Finding Margaret Fuller
Watch: Mar 27 | Listen: Mar 29
We have revealed the guest line-up for Spring 2024 season! We are so excited to host all of these fabulous authors—a new guest every single week, all season long! Who are you most excited about? Who’s new to you? As always—in true F&F style—we are ready for some incredible conversations and to broaden our reading horizons.
Bonus Episodes!
The Fab Four are taking turns interviewing some additional authors in short 10-minute video segments we are calling “Behind the Book.” Check out a few recent bonus interviews that our host authors have run on the F&F YouTube channel!
WATCH Patti and Kristin talk to two-time Emmy-award-winning journalist, Alisyn Camerota about her new memoir Combat Love. This is her story of growing up longing for stability and attachment as the foundation of her family crumbled. At times heartbreaking and pulse-pounding, Combat Love is an inspiration for anyone who’s ever searched for that elusive place called home.
WATCH Patti & MKA’s interview with Tamron Hall about her newest Jordan Manning novel, Watch Where They Hide!
WATCH MKA & Meg’s interview with Lisa Unger about The New Couple in 5B.
WATCH MKA & Meg’s interview with Susan Elizabeth Phillips about Simply the Best.
WATCH Patti’s interview with Karen Spears Zacharias about No Perfect Mothers.
WATCH MKA’s interview with author Ashley Elston and her editor Pam Dorman about First Lie Wins.
WATCH Patti & Ron’s interview with Roxana Robinson about Leaving.
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. You can also order the F&F 2024 SUBSCRIPTION BOX exclusively through our friends at Oxford Exchange. You get the two first-edition autographed hardcover books (and the adorable pouch!) shown below, plus the option to add Patti’s & Kristin’s 2024 paperback editions of last year’s books. All details HERE!
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 Tia Williams about her book, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde. Mark your calendars for their April 15th discussion with Zibby Owens about her novel, Blank. 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 March prompt is to read a book with some variation of “book club” or “bookstore” in the title, and for April it’s to read a book by an author who uses a pen name.
Stay in Touch!
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Shop our guests’ & hosts’ books in our shop on BOOKSHOP.
Join the F&F Official BOOK CLUB with Brenda & Lisa.
Upgrade to our PAID Subscription for bonus content from our hosts and guests.