The Best of Women's Fiction

Mansi Shah and Lainey talk about The Taste of Ginger, which Booklist calls “a poignant debut novel, that touches on the immigrant experience in America”. We chat about how Mansi weaved important themes into a novel which many readers have called “thought-provoking” and makes for great book club conversation. Also, how growing up with no stories that represented her cultural heritage provided Mansi’s inspiration, and how her perspective on telling an authentic story has changed from when she first started writing ten years ago. 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

Kimmery Martin is an emergency medicine doctor-turned novelist whose works of medical fiction have been praised by The Harvard Crimson, Southern Living, The New York Times, and others. She talks about her latest novel, Doctors and Friends, which is set during a pandemic. Written before Covid 19, the novel is prescient in how it follows a group of doctor friends as a contagious virus spreads around the world. Kimmery shares how the storyline changed as a result during editing, as well as book recommendations and her best writing advice. 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 Lainey's recommended reads at www.bookshop.org

Colleen van Niekerk, author of A Conspiracy of Mothers, talks about the inspiration for a novel set in South Africa, which tells the story of three mothers whose lives intersect during a generation-defining period in history. A Conspiracy of Mothers tells a story of love and betrayal from multiple perspectives while deftly balancing the painful legacy of apartheid with the trials of motherhood. 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 Lainey's recommended reads at www.bookshop.org

Starting in the 2022 season, Ashley Hasty, founder of The Hasty Booklist, will be joining Lainey Cameron as co-host on The Best of Women’s Fiction Podcast. Learn more about Ashley, what she likes to read, and her progress as a future published author. Also learn how, together, she and Lainey will be choosing the guests to invite for the early 2022 season of The Best of Women’s Fiction Podcast. Visit The Hasty Booklist  How to be considered for an invitation to be on the podcast in 2022. Find all the links and the video version of this episode at www.BestofWomensFiction.com

Phoebe Fox, author of six novels, joins to talk about her latest release The Way We Weren’t. She shares the inspiration behind a novel that Booklist called "a study in contrasts: tragic yet heart-warming, suspenseful yet comforting." Plus, why she decided to come clean on her alter-ego as Tiffany Yates Martin, one of the publishing industry’s most successful developmental editors. 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 Lainey's recommended reads at www.bookshop.org

Alice Early talks about The Moon Always Rising, a story that takes the reader on a journey from the Caribbean island of Nevis to the Highlands of Scotland. The novel is already a multiple-award winner, including overall winner in the 2020 National Indie Excellence and American Fiction Awards. It’s also unusual in that one of the main characters is a ghost. 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 Lainey's recommended reads at www.bookshop.org

Two-time Pushcart prize nominee and winner of the Women’s National Book Association’s Effie Lee Morris Prize, Joan Gelfand introduces us to her novel, Extreme. Set in the pressure cooker environment of Silicon Valley startups, Extreme takes the reader inside the gamification of extreme sports.  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 Lainey's recommended reads at www.bookshop.org

Jenn Bouchard, talks about her debut novel, First Course, a finalist in the 2021 American Fiction Awards. She shares her inspiration for a book about second acts, why she decided to set the book in coastal Maine, and how she approached writing about a real location. Plus, her path to publication, and why Jenn told to go with a small publisher. Find the books she recommends, her social media links, and the video version of this episode at www.BestofWomensFiction.com All books featured on the podcast are listed in Lainey's recommended reads at www.bookshop.org

Joy Jordan-Lake is the bestselling author of eight books, several historical fiction. She shares the inspiration and background behind her latest novel, Under A Gilded Moon. A must-not-miss episode for lovers and writers of historical fiction. Inspired by the story of the building of the Biltmore estate, the novel is told from the point of view of Kerry MacGregor, from a poor family, who is torn between two worlds after returning the Appalachian mountains. We chat about what goes into researching a historical fiction novel, and how to be brave and humble at the same time. Find Joy's social media links, the books she recommends, and the video version of this episode at www.BestofWomensFiction.com All books featured on the podcast are listed in Lainey's recommended reads at www.bookshop.org

Kalyn Fogarty shares the inspiration behind What We Carry, a novel that deals with miscarriage, a topic often underrepresented in women’s fiction.  She talks about her personal experience that led to writing a novel of hope around such an important and heart-breaking experience, her own writing journey, her approach to self-care, and her hope that the novel will be healing for others. Find Kalyn's social media links, the books she recommends and the video version of this episode at www.BestofWomensFiction.com All books featured on the podcast are listed in Lainey's recommended reads at www.bookshop.org

Leslie Hooton, author of The Secret of Rainy Days talks about how friendships save our lives, how it felt to be nominated for a Zibby award, and how she writes and edits all of her books using dictation. Find Leslie's social media links, the books she recommends and the video version of this episode at www.BestofWomensFiction.com All books featured on the podcast are listed in Lainey's recommended reads at www.bookshop.org

Washington Post and Amazon charts bestselling author Kerry Anne King chats about her latest novel, Other People’s Things. Kerry shares secrets on the inspiration behind the story, her writing and editing process, and awesome wisdom for other writers. Find Kerry's social media links, the books she recommends and the video version of this episode at www.BestofWomensFiction.com All books featured on the podcast are listed in Lainey's recommended reads at www.bookshop.org

This week, the winners of the 2021 STAR award for women's fiction will be announced by Women’s Fiction Writers Association.  All six finalists (there's two categories - debut and general) have been on this podcast! In this special episode, you'll learn about the six finalists’ winning books and hear their best writer insights and advice. Find links to the authors' books, websites, and the video version of this episode at www.BestofWomensFiction.com All books featured on the podcast are listed in Lainey's recommended reads at www.bookshop.org

KD Allbaugh shares the inspiration behind her novel, Face Down in Rising Sun, which was chosen as one of only three finalists in the debut category of the 2021 STAR awards by Women’s Fiction Writers Association Find KD's social media links, the books she recommends and the video version of this episode at www.BestofWomensFiction.com All books featured on the podcast are listed in Lainey's recommended reads at www.bookshop.org

Cara Sue Achterberg, author of Blind Turn, chosen as the Maxy Awards 2021 Book of the Year. Cara shares her inspiration for the story described as a “deeply felt” page-turner, which explores a mother’s worst nightmare – when her daughter is responsible for a fatal texting and driving accident. Find Cara's social media links, the books she recommends and the video version of this episode at www.BestofWomensFiction.com All books featured on the podcast are listed in Lainey's recommended reads at www.bookshop.org