The Best of Women's Fiction

In this episode, Louisa Treger talks about her latest historical novel, MADWOMAN, inspired by the true story of Nelly Bly, an investigative journalist who faked madness and got herself committed to an insane asylum in the late 1800s. Louisa talks about how her background as an orchestral performer helped her career as a writer, why she made the career transition, and how she first heard about Nelly Bly’s story. You won’t want to miss this episode. Find the books recommended, the author's social media links, and the video version of this episode at www.BestofWomensFiction.com All books featured on the podcast are listed in The Best of Women's Fiction List at www.bookshop.org and amazon.com Ashley’s author website: www.AshleyHasty.com

Noué Kirwan introduces us to the inspiration behind her debut novel, Long Past Summer. The novel looks at the delicate and powerful thread that binds and breaks friends and flames.  USA Today bestselling author bestselling author, Jamie Beck describes Kirwan as “a welcome, smart new voice in romantic women’s fiction.” “Long Past Summer delves into family, friendships, and romantic love, deftly examining how our childhood influences our perceptions, and how discrimination impacts women trying to strike a balance between their own ambitions and their personal relationships.”  Find the recommended books, the author's social media links, and the video version of this episode at www.BestofWomensFiction.com All books featured on the podcast are listed in The Best of Women's Fiction List at www.bookshop.org and amazon.com Lainey's author website: www.LaineyCameron.com

In this episode, Penny Haw talks about her debut historical novel, THE INVINCIBLE MISS CUST, inspired by the true story of Aleen Isabel Cust, Britain and Ireland's first female veterinary surgeon. Penny talks about her love of animals and how they inspire her writing, how she first heard about Aleen Cust’s story, and what it was in her own past that led her to write about a veterinary surgeon.  In addition, Penny shares great advice for writers and we chat about what her research looked like and her favorite books she’s read lately. You won’t want to miss this episode. Find the books recommended, the author's social media links, and the video version of this episode at www.BestofWomensFiction.com All books featured on the podcast are listed in The Best of Women's Fiction List at www.bookshop.org and amazon.com Ashley’s author website: www.AshleyHasty.com

Jeannée Sacken’s first novel, Behind the Lens won the 2022 American Writing Awards Hawthorne Prize and Book of the Year in fiction, women’s fiction and suspense, in addition to several other awards.  Her new novel, Double Exposure, is also set in Afghanistan featuring Annie Hawkins Greene, a war zone photojournalist. Find the recommended books, the author's social media links, and the video version of this episode at www.BestofWomensFiction.com Her new novel, Double Exposure, is also set in Afghanistan featuring Annie Hawkins Greene, a war zone photojournalist.All books featured on the podcast are listed in The Best of Women's Fiction List at www.bookshop.org and amazon.com Lainey's author website: www.LaineyCameron.com

In this episode, Erin Littenken talks about her debut novel, THE MEMORY KEEPER OF KYIV, a dual timeline story that follows Katya’s life beginning in the 1930s during the Holodomor, a man-made famine instigated by Stalin and 70 years later with Katya’s granddaughter facing her own struggles and learning of her grandmother’s past. Erin talks about the journey she took to becoming an author, the familial connection that inspired her to write about Ukraine, and what it was like to publish a book about Ukraine as they experience their current crisis with Russia. You won’t want to miss this episode. Find the books recommended, the author's social media links, and the video version of this episode at www.BestofWomensFiction.com All books featured on the podcast are listed in The Best of Women's Fiction List at www.bookshop.org and amazon.com Ashley’s author website: www.AshleyHasty.com

Soraya Lane, bestselling author of historical and contemporary women’s fiction, introduces us to her new series, The Lost Daughters. The Italian Daughter, first in the new series, is a dual timeline novel which takes the reader to Italy, both in 1946 and to a beautiful vineyard in present day.  Readers describe the novel as emotional, heart-breaking and “full of hope and love”.  Soraya chats about The Italian Daughter. She shares her writing process that has led to writing forty books, and explains how it’s changed over time. Find the recommended books, the author's social media links, and the video version of this episode at www.BestofWomensFiction.com All books featured on the podcast are listed in The Best of Women's Fiction List at www.bookshop.org and amazon.com Lainey's author website: www.LaineyCameron.com

In this episode, Lynda Cohen Loigman talks about her latest novel, THE MATCHMAKER’S GIFT, a dual timeline story set between 1910 and the 1960s. She talks about the real-life stories that served as the initial spark of inspiration for the plot, how each of her novels, though under the umbrella of historical fiction, has its own personality, and how her daughter coming home from college in the midst of a pandemic sparked this story. You won’t want to miss this episode. Find the books recommended, the author's social media links, and the video version of this episode at www.BestofWomensFiction.com All books featured on the podcast are listed in The Best of Women's Fiction List at www.bookshop.org and amazon.com Ashley’s author website: www.AshleyHasty.com

Jen Craven writes upmarket women’s fiction where one decision changes everything. Her latest novel, Best Years of Your Life, takes place on a college campus, following the path of three women with big secrets. Early reviews describe the novel as gripping and a fast and exciting read.  Jen explains how her decade as a college instructor inspired her love of campus settings. And she shares how she knew indie-publishing was the right path for her novels. Find the recommended books, the author's social media links, and the video version of this episode at www.BestofWomensFiction.com All books featured on the podcast are listed in The Best of Women's Fiction List at www.bookshop.org and amazon.com Lainey's author website: www.LaineyCameron.com

In this episode, Catherine Adel West talks about her sophomore novel, THE TWO LIVES OF SARA, which is set in the midst of the civils right movement in 1960s Memphis. She talks about how it is a companion novel to her debut, SAVING RUBY KING, and how her writing process differed between writing a contemporary book versus a historical book. In addition, she shares great advice for writers and we share lots of laughs. You won’t want to miss this episode. Find the books recommended, the author's social media links, and the video version of this episode at www.BestofWomensFiction.com All books featured on the podcast are listed in The Best of Women's Fiction List at www.bookshop.org and amazon.com Ashley’s author website: www.AshleyHasty.com

Pamela Stockwell joins us to chat about her debut novel, A Boundless Place, which has been described as heartfelt, touching, and a delightful "slice-of-life story".   In celebration of our 100th episode, we are doing a giveaway of this fabulous novel (Plus, for every entry, the Best of Women’s Fiction Podcast will donate to The National Kidney Foundation. Enter here!) Set in 1969, A Boundless Place follows the story of 24 year old Violet, who only wants one thing: to hide from life after her husband's death. But life has other ideas when a 7 year old neighbor pulls her into life where she's moved on Magnolia Avenue, a forgotten street in a forgotten neighborhood filled with forgotten mobile homes. Pamela was specially selected for our 100th episode, because she represents the best of what the women's fiction community can achieve when we uplift and support each other. In the episode she shares her experience of meeting another writer over WFWA's (Womens Fiction Writer's Association) online writing dates, and how she decided to donate a kidney to a writer she hopes to one day meet in real life! Find the recommended books, the author's social media links, and the video version of this episode at www.BestofWomensFiction.com All books featured on the podcast are listed in The Best of Women's Fiction List at www.bookshop.org and amazon.com Lainey's author website: www.LaineyCameron.com

The Beach Trap has been hailed as “an enchanting, heartwarming story” (NYT bestseller Ali Hazelwood), and “the ultimate vacation read” (Colleen Oakley). Author Ali Brady (aka Alison Hammer and Bradeigh Godfrey) join us to share how they co-wrote such a winning novel. Also, how it wasn’t the first book they worked on together, insights on how they became co-authors, and their best writing advice. Want to win a copy? Lainey currently has a giveaway for a signed copy of The Beach Trap. Find the show notes, the author's social media links, and the video version of this episode at www.BestofWomensFiction.com All books featured on the podcast are listed in The Best of Women's Fiction List at www.bookshop.org and amazon.com Lainey's author website: www.LaineyCameron.com

In this episode, Kerry Chaput shares how researching her husband’s family history inspired her to write DAUGHTER OF THE KING, which is about the protestant struggle in Catholic France in the 1600s and based on the real story of girls known as a daughter of the king who were taken from poverty, given money and protection and allowed to select their own husbands through an interview process if they would help populate the region of Canada. Find the books recommended, the author's social media links, and the video version of this episode at www.BestofWomensFiction.com All books featured on the podcast are listed in The Best of Women's Fiction List at www.bookshop.org and amazon.com Ashley’s author website: www.AshleyHasty.com

Just released on paperback, and already in TV development, A Special Place for Women, tells the story of a New York City club where only the most important women receive an invitation. But one undercover reporter is about to infiltrate this female-run secret society and expose their secrets. Laura shares how she was inspired by  the experience of entering an exclusive all women’s club, plus fascinating insights on the process of developing the script for television. Find the show notes, the author's social media links, and the video version of this episode at www.BestofWomensFiction.com All books featured on the podcast are listed in The Best of Women's Fiction List at www.bookshop.org and amazon.com Lainey's author website: www.LaineyCameron.com

In this episode, Aimie Runyan shares why her latest novel was the perfect book to write during the pandemic lockdown and why she never could have written it in happier times. THE SCHOOL FOR GERMAN BRIDES is about the unlikely friendship between a young German girl sent to a horrific “bride school” and a young Jewish woman who is about to give birth. Find the books recommended, the author's social media links, and the video version of this episode at www.BestofWomensFiction.com All books featured on the podcast are listed in The Best of Women's Fiction List at www.bookshop.org and amazon.com Ashley’s author website: www.AshleyHasty.com

Marilyn Simon Rothstein, an author who is known for her sharp humor, introduces us to Crazy to Leave You, a novel which Booklist called a “fast-paced and entertaining story will appeal to those who like tales of women succeeding on their own terms.”  Find the show notes, the author's social media links, and the video version of this episode at www.BestofWomensFiction.com All books featured on the podcast are listed in The Best of Women's Fiction List at www.bookshop.org and amazon.com Lainey's author website: www.LaineyCameron.com