Rephonic
Artwork for Friends & Fiction
Independent Bookstores
Motherhood
Grief
Family Dynamics
Friendship
Writing Process
Historical Fiction
Publishing
World War II
Wayward Girls
Writing
The Girls Of Good Fortune
Catherine Newman
Rec
Brad Meltzer
Empathy
The Truth About the Devlins
The Paris Express
C.J. Box
The Stolen Life Of Colette Marceau

We're four bestselling novelists and friends whose common love of reading, writing, and independent bookstores bound us together. Now we want to share and celebrate stories—of the books we’ve written, the ones we’re reading now, and the art of writing—with each other and the guest authors we invite to join us. If you love books and are curious about the writing world, you’re in the right place.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes468Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
FictionBooksArts

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Artwork for Friends & Fiction

Latest Episodes

On tis episode, Patti Callahan Henry & Kristin Harmel welcome #1 New York Times bestselling author Ann Patchett to discuss her new Katie Couric and Good Housekeeping Book Club Pick, Whistler, a moving, luminous novel that reminds us of the sweetness ... more

On this episode, Kristy Woodson Harvey & Mary Kay Andrews welcome New York Times bestselling author Annabel Monaghan to discuss her brand-new novel, Dolly All the Time—the GMA Book Club pick for June—in which a hardworking single mom returns to her s... more

On this episode, the full F&F family gathers to celebrate the launch of our very own “undisputed queen of beach reads,” (Southern Living) NYT-bestselling author Mary Kay Andrews’s new book, Road Trip, which is, of course, our June Pick of the Month! ... more

On this episode, we are re-airing one of our favorite episodes from the vault! Join us as the Fab Four talk to Steven Rowley about his 2023 novel The Celebrants, and to Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke about their 2023 novel Forever Hold Your Peace. Steven ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Mary Kay Andrews
New York Times bestselling author, pen name under which Road Trip is published
Self-employed / Author
Episode: Friends & Fiction celebrates the launch ofRoad Trip by Mary Kay Andrews
Steven Rowley
New York Times bestselling author, author of The Celebrants
The Celebrants publisher/author
Episode: Friends & Fiction Steven Rowley and Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke
Liz Fenton
Co-author and novelist
Forever Hold Your Peace (co-authored)
Episode: Friends & Fiction Steven Rowley and Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke
Lisa Steinke
Co-author and novelist
Forever Hold Your Peace (co-authored)
Episode: Friends & Fiction Steven Rowley and Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke
Kathryn Stockett
Author of The Calamity Club and The Help
Author
Episode: Friends & Fiction with Kathryn Stockett
Christina Baker Kline
Author of The Foursome, NYT bestselling novelist
Author
Episode: Friends & Fiction with Christina Baker Kline
Ron Block
Celebrity librarian, mixologist of FIFOAM fame, and Friends & Fiction favorite
Friends & Fiction
Episode: Friends & Fiction celebrates the launch of Kristy Woodson Harvey's Summer State of Mind
Lynn Cullen
Author of When We Were Brilliant; biographical novelist
Author
Episode: Friends & Fiction with Lynn Cullen & Priya Parmar
Priya Parmar
Author of The Original; biographical novelist
Author
Episode: Friends & Fiction with Lynn Cullen & Priya Parmar

Hosts

Kristy Woodson Harvey
Co-host of Friends & Fiction; author
Mary Kay Andrews
Host of Friends & Fiction; bestselling author
Patti Callahan-Henry
Host of Friends & Fiction; author
Kristin Harmel
Co-host of Friends & Fiction; author

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 251 ratings
  • I love this show!

    Haha, I call it a show and not a podcast because hearing authors—beloved favorites and new wonders I get to explore—is so engaging! My precious novel reading time has been enriched by being able to hear authors divulge their process; a behind the curtain joy ride that usually leads me to a deeper reading immersion.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DinaRose27
    United States4 months ago
  • I love and look forward to this podcast above all the others I follow. I also love the laughs and conversations from all of you throughout your podcasts. You are all such gifted and talented authors. Thank you all for blessing your readers with such entertaining books.

    Audible
    5
    Kindle Customer
    United Statesa year ago
  • My #1 podcast of all

    I love and look forward to this podcast above all the others I follow. I also love the laughs and conversations from all of you throughout your podcasts. You are all such gifted and talented authors. Thank you all for blessing your readers with such entertaining books.

    Audible
    5
    Kindle Customer
    United Statesa year ago
  • Way too many spoilers!

    Listening to Michael Connelly episode while reading his new book” the waiting”. I’m halfway through the book and the podcast already gave away THREE big spoilers that haven’t been discussed yet! Not cool!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    El Gato SA
    United Statesa year ago
  • Enjoyable listening experience

    This is a great podcast, the energy that the hosts bring is exactly what you’d want for a show that highlights fiction books and their authors. Extremely well done and thankful to have found this podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Alex J Sanfilippo
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Production quality can be uneven; listeners seek smoother audio and clear moderator flow.
Fans enjoy the camaraderie and guest variety; episodes feel like catching up with friends.
Energetic, author-focused discussions and behind-the-scenes moments are a big draw.
Listeners appreciate the emphasis on indie bookstores and community.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#37
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#113
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#69
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#189
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#52
Saudi Arabia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#70
Saudi Arabia/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Friends & Fiction Steven Rowley and Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke
Q: How did you and your co-author(s) decide to write together, and what were the early challenges of turning friendship into a publishing collaboration?
Liz and Lisa describe meeting in high school, the long journey to writing together, and the evolution of their partnership through disagreements and eventually therapy and deliberate communication, which helped them develop a healthier, more productive collaboration that still feels like a family dynamic.
Friends & Fiction Steven Rowley and Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke
Q: What is the book really about at its core, and why do you think stories about messy friendships remain so appealing?
Liz and Lisa explain that Forever Hold Your Peace centers on a deep, complicated friendship and its impact on family dynamics, exploring mother-daughter relationships, exes, and the endurance of friendships amid life's challenges; they argue that readers connect because they see parts of themselves in relationships and enjoy the drama and emotional resonance of seen-and-heard narratives.
Friends & Fiction with Christina Baker Kline
Q: Why focus on Adelaide and Sarah's perspectives rather than the brothers?
The author emphasizes giving agency and voice to the women, showing how their choices and feelings shaped the family's dynamics, which had often been underrepresented in earlier accounts.
Friends & Fiction with Christina Baker Kline
Q: How did you balance historical accuracy with storytelling when depicting the Civil War era?
She discusses using a large roster of readers and historians, plus a fact checker, to ensure events and details were accurate, while still crafting a compelling, emotionally resonant narrative that centers the women's experiences.
Friends & Fiction with Christina Baker Kline
Q: What fascinated you most about the day-to-day domestic reality of the family in your book?
Christina explains that imagining the daily routines of the large family—ten to eleven children, multiple households, and the logistics of keeping everyone organized—was both logistically complex and deeply revealing about ordinary life within an extraordinary situation.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Friends & Fiction

What is Friends & Fiction about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A lively, author-forward show where four bestselling novelists invite writer guests to discuss new books, writing craft, indie bookstores, and the publishing world. Episodes combine warm camaraderie with deep-dive conversations about process, themes, and reader communities, often interleaving games, live events, and practical promotion notes. The format regularly features beloved bestsellers alongside up-and-coming voices, with a strong emphasis on supporting independent bookstores and fostering reader engagement. The show stands out for its collaborative vibe, approachable hosts, and a consistent focus on novels, writing careers, and book culture that can help listeners discover new reads and gain insight into the publishing journey.

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How many subscribers and views does Friends & Fiction have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Friends & Fiction has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Friends & Fiction?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Friends & Fiction:

1. Books, Beach, & Beyond
2. Open Book with Jenna
3. Sarah's Bookshelves Live
4. From the Front Porch
5. Adriana Trigiani's You Are What You Read

How many episodes of Friends & Fiction are there?

Friends & Fiction launched 6 years ago and published 468 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Friends & Fiction?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Friends & Fiction?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Friends & Fiction from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Friends & Fiction?

Recent guests on Friends & Fiction include:

1. Mary Kay Andrews
2. Steven Rowley
3. Liz Fenton
4. Lisa Steinke
5. Kathryn Stockett
6. Christina Baker Kline
7. Ron Block
8. Lynn Cullen

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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