WRITERS' BLOCK Ashley Winstead is the guest on this week's episode, discussing her departure thriller, Midnight is the Darkest Hour. She joins Patti Callahan Henry and Ron Block for a deep discussion about how this Louisiana Swamp set tale explores the effect a fundamentalist focus can have on it's small town gothic town. The murder mystery begins with Ruth, whose world was changed when she discovered life in the pages of Twilight, who may have had a hand in the discivery of a skull in the swamp setting off a manhunt for killers in the town. Ashley talks about how religious fervor and greed can affect everyone in the town. She talks openly about her own background, the inspiration for this personal story and why she wanted to tell this particular tale about control, escape and ultimately good vs. evil. All wrapped in a pulse pounding thriller! A fantastic episode! 

WRITERS' BLOCK Ashley Winstead is the guest on this week's episode, discussing her departure thriller, Midnight is the Darkest Hour. She joins Patti Callahan Henry and Ron Block for a deep discussion about how this Louisiana Swamp set tale explores the effect a fundamentalist focus can have on it's small town gothic town. The murder mystery begins with Ruth, whose world was changed when she discovered life in the pages of Twilight, who may have had a hand in the discivery of a skull in the swamp setting off a manhunt for killers in the town. Ashley talks about how religious fervor and greed can affect everyone in the town. She talks openly about her own background, the inspiration for this personal story and why she wanted to tell this particular tale about control, escape and ultimately good vs. evil. All wrapped in a pulse pounding thriller! A fantastic episode!

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.

Friends & Fiction

WB_S3E40 Midnight is the Darkest Hour by Ashley Winstead

On this episode, the Fab Four — Patti Callahan Henry, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Kristin Harmel & Mary Kay Andrews — gather to welcome this month’s F&F Featured Author, the No.1 NYT bestselling novelist, screenwriter and playwright, Chris Bohjalian, to discuss his forthcoming novel, our March 2024 Pick of the Month, THE PRINCESS OF LAS VEGAS, in which a Princess Diana impersonator and her estranged sister find themselves drawn into a dangerous game of money and murder on the Las Vegas strip. Chris Bohjalian is the No.1 NYT bestselling author of 24 books, including THE LIONESS, HOUR OF THE WITCH, and THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT, which was made into a MAX limited series starring Kaley Cuoco. His novels SECRETS OF EDEN, MIDWIVES, and PAST THE BLEACHERS were made into movies, and his work has been translated into more than 35 languages. His new play, “The Club,” premiered at New Jersey's George Street Playhouse in February. He joins us from his home in Vermont to discuss his new twisting tale of organized crime and family secrets, THE PRINCESS OF LAS VEGAS (3/19, Doubleday), which has been called “a well-calibrated satire of cryptocurrency culture” by Publishers Weekly and a “lively romp” by Kirkus.

On this episode, the Fab Four — Patti Callahan Henry, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Kristin Harmel &amp; Mary Kay Andrews — gather to welcome this month’s F&amp;F Featured Author, the No.1 NYT bestselling novelist, screenwriter and playwright, <a href="https://chrisbohjalian.com/#">Chris Bohjalian</a>, to discuss his forthcoming novel, our March 2024 Pick of the Month, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/19399/9780385547581">THE PRINCESS OF LAS VEGAS</a>, in which a Princess Diana impersonator and her estranged sister find themselves drawn into a dangerous game of money and murder on the Las Vegas strip. Chris Bohjalian is the No.1 NYT bestselling author of 24 books, including THE LIONESS, HOUR OF THE WITCH, and THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT, which was made into a MAX limited series starring Kaley Cuoco. His novels SECRETS OF EDEN, MIDWIVES, and PAST THE BLEACHERS were made into movies, and his work has been translated into more than 35 languages. His new play, “The Club,” premiered at New Jersey's George Street Playhouse in February. He joins us from his home in Vermont to discuss his new twisting tale of organized crime and family secrets, THE PRINCESS OF LAS VEGAS (3/19, Doubleday), which has been called “a well-calibrated satire of cryptocurrency culture” by Publishers Weekly and a “lively romp” by Kirkus.

Friends & Fiction with Chris Bohjalian

On this episode, host Kristy Woodson Harvey interviews NYT bestselling author, producer and screenwriter, Rebecca Serle all about her forthcoming novel, EXPIRATION DATES. Told with Rebecca's signature warmth and insight into matters of the heart, this book has been called “a romantic gem” by Laura Dave, “sometimes heart-wrenching, often heartwarming” in a starred review by Publishers Weekly, and “compulsively readable” by Booklist. We will hear from Rebecca about her road to publication, her shift from writing YA to adult, hwe involvemewnt with her screen adaptations of her novels, and the uncanny real-life love story that happened in her own life after writin ghtis book.

On this episode, host Kristy Woodson Harvey interviews NYT bestselling author, producer and screenwriter, <a href="https://www.rebeccaserle.com/">Rebecca Serle</a> all about her forthcoming novel, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/19399/9781982166823">EXPIRATION DATES</a>. Told with Rebecca's signature warmth and insight into matters of the heart, this book has been called “a romantic gem” by Laura Dave, “sometimes heart-wrenching, often heartwarming” in a starred review by Publishers Weekly, and “compulsively readable” by Booklist. We will hear from Rebecca about her road to publication, her shift from writing YA to adult, hwe involvemewnt with her screen adaptations of her novels, and the uncanny real-life love story that happened in her own life after writin ghtis book.

Friends & Fiction with Rebecca Serle

On this episode, hosts Patti Callahan Henry & Kristin Harmel welcome this week’s guest, the Pulitzer Prize-finalist and author of the breakout bestseller THERE THERE, Tommy Orange, to discuss WANDERING STARS, his masterful follow-up to his already classic first novel. Tommy Orange is a graduate of the MFA program at the Institute of American Indian Arts. An enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, he was born and raised in Oakland, California. Tune in to hear about his highly-anticipated second novel, WANDERING STARS, which extends his constellation of narratives into the past and future, tracing the legacies of the Sand Creek Massacre of 1864 and the Carlisle Indian Industrial School through three generations. We are eager to introduce you to this “outstanding . . . dazzling work of literary fiction” (Boston Globe), which has been named to most-anticipated lists by TIME, Real Simple, Oprah Daily & NPR.

On this episode, hosts Patti Callahan Henry &amp; Kristin Harmel welcome this week’s guest, the Pulitzer Prize-finalist and author of the breakout bestseller THERE THERE, Tommy Orange, to discuss WANDERING STARS, his masterful follow-up to his already classic first novel. Tommy Orange is a graduate of the MFA program at the Institute of American Indian Arts. An enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, he was born and raised in Oakland, California. Tune in to hear about his highly-anticipated second novel, WANDERING STARS, which extends his constellation of narratives into the past and future, tracing the legacies of the Sand Creek Massacre of 1864 and the Carlisle Indian Industrial School through three generations. We are eager to introduce you to this “outstanding . . . dazzling work of literary fiction” (Boston Globe), which has been named to most-anticipated lists by TIME, Real Simple, Oprah Daily &amp; NPR.

WB_S3E40 Midnight is the Darkest Hour by Ashley Winstead

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