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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes462Founded6 years ago
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Artwork for Friends & Fiction

Latest Episodes

On this episode, the full F&F family gathers to celebrate the launch of our very own “queen of the beach read” (Cosmopolitan), NYT-bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey’s new book Summer State of Mind, which is, of course, our May Pick of the Mont... more

On this episode, Ron Block & Patti Callahan Henry welcome two authors both with new novels about Hollywood icons—Lynn Cullen with hers about Marilyn Monroe, When We Were Brilliant, and Priya Parmar with hers about Katharine Hepburn, The Original. Pri... more

On this episode, Mary Kay Andrews & Kristy Woodson Harvey welcome iconic NYT-bestselling crime writer Tana French to discuss the third and final book in her million-copy-bestselling Cal Hooper trilogy, The Keeper, which just debuted at #4 on the NYT ... more

On this episode, Kristin Harmel, Patti Callahan Henry & Mary Kay Andrews welcome this month’s F&F Featured Authors, #1 NYT-bestselling novelist V.E. Schwab and screenwriter and YA author Cat Clarke to discuss their new locked-room thriller (co-writte... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

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
Tana French
New York Times bestselling author; The Keeper author
Cal Hooper series / The Keeper
Episode: Friends & Fiction with Tana French
Victoria Schwab
Author of Shades of Magic series and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRoue; writes as VE. Schwab
Author
Episode: Friends & Fiction with V.E. Schwab & Cat Clarke
Cat Clarke
Author and co-writer of Evelyn Clarke project
Author
Episode: Friends & Fiction with V.E. Schwab & Cat Clarke
Virginia Evans
The Correspondent author; Masters of Philosophy and Creative Writing from Trinity College Dublin
Author
Episode: Friends & Fiction with Virginia Evans & Allen Levi
Allen Levi
Author of Theo of Golden; attorney, judge, singer-songwriter; Scottish fiction scholar
Author
Episode: Friends & Fiction with Virginia Evans & Allen Levi
Janine Cummins
New York Times bestselling author of American Dirt
Author
Episode: Friends & Fiction with Virginia Evans & Allen Levi
Shaun Hettinger
Best-selling author, musician and producer; guest on episode
Self/Guest musician
Episode: Friends & Fiction "Just Us" with the Fab Four + Shaun & Meg

Hosts

Mary Kay Andrews
Co-host of Friends & Fiction, frequent guest on show with a focus on publishing and storytelling
Kristin Harmel
Co-host of Friends & Fiction, experienced author and industry voice
Patti Callahan Henry
Co-host of Friends & Fiction, prominent voice in contemporary fiction
Christy Woodson Harvey
Host/participant on multiple episodes, prominent novelist
Ron Block
Co-host and industry insider, regular on Writers' Block segment

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 249 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 States2 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 Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Mixed sound quality and pacing cited by some critics.
Engaging discussions with top authors and insiders.
Lively, friendly hosts with strong author guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#88
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#248
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#238
United Kingdom/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Friends & Fiction with Lynn Cullen & Priya Parmar
Q: What tips would you give about researching and sourcing authentic material?
Priya Parmar highlights chasing letters, handwriting, and primary sources, and explains how these concrete details shape cadence and authenticity in the narrative voice.
Friends & Fiction with Lynn Cullen & Priya Parmar
Q: What was the hardest part about portraying real women and making a cohesive book?
Lynn Cullen says there wasn't a single hard part; immersion and magic in the process allowed the voices to come to her, guided by deep research and a sense of the characters rather than rigid planning.
Friends & Fiction with Tana French
Q: What inspired you to place Cal Hooper in the West of Ireland?
The author explains Westerns' influence and the fit between harsh landscapes and tough moral choices, which naturally aligns with the West of Ireland's atmosphere and the dynamic of a small town with strong local loyalties.
Friends & Fiction with V.E. Schwab & Cat Clarke
Q: How did the idea of using Evelyn Clarke as a joint pseudonym and sharing the cover come about, and what did you fight for or negotiate in that process?
They discuss negotiating to have Evelyn Clarke on the cover while maintaining the authors' freedom to play, including the decision to reveal both names on the cover later and the marketing considerations that influenced label and branding decisions.
Friends & Fiction with V.E. Schwab & Cat Clarke
Q: What tempted you to walk into this genre and collaborate on a mystery-thriller together?
They describe it as a natural fit for cross-genre storytelling, acknowledging the allure of mystery while using the publishing industry as a satirical lens; collaboration arose from a shared curiosity and the opportunity to explore new ground beyond their usual genres.

Audience Metrics

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Friends & Fiction

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

A conversational book-focused show hosted by four bestselling authors who frequently invite fellow writers and industry guests to discuss craft, publishing, and the literary world. Episodes mix author interviews with behind-the-scenes storytelling, publishing dynamics, and reader communities, often highlighting indie bookstores, writing processes, and theme exploration across genres from romance to historical fiction. A standout is the collaborative, friendly dynamic among the female hosts, plus occasional male co-hosts, which creates an intimate, reader-friendly atmosphere that appeals to devoted book lovers and aspiring authors alike.

Where can I find podcast stats for Friends & Fiction?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Friends & Fiction. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Friends & Fiction and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Friends & Fiction get?

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What are the audience demographics for Friends & Fiction?

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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. Open Book with Jenna
2. Sarah's Bookshelves Live
3. From the Front Porch
4. Adriana Trigiani's You Are What You Read
5. Totally Booked with Zibby

How many episodes of Friends & Fiction are there?

Friends & Fiction launched 6 years ago and published 462 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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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Friends & Fiction?

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What guests have appeared on Friends & Fiction?

Recent guests on Friends & Fiction include:

1. Lynn Cullen
2. Priya Parmar
3. Tana French
4. Victoria Schwab
5. Cat Clarke
6. Virginia Evans
7. Allen Levi
8. Janine Cummins

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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