The Best of Women's Fiction

Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, chats about The Mountains Sing. This novel is already a New York Times Editors’ choice, and winner of several awards including the 2020 Lannan Literary Award Fellowship. Plus it’s been named a best book in 2020 by the Washington Post , *O, The Oprah Magazine, USA Today, NPR’s Book Concierge and tens more publications. Plus, it also happens to be her first novel, written in the English language. Quế Mai shares her inspiration for the novel, and you can tell from  her passion for storytelling and the Vietnamese language & culture why she was selected by Forbes Magazine as one of Twenty Inspiring Vietnamese women of 2021! Find The Mountains Sing on bookshop.org as well as the books Quế Mai references by Wayne Karlin. Connect with Quế Mai and learn more about her books at www.nguyenphanquemai.com or on Instagram @nguyenphanquemai_ All episodes in video form at www.bestofwomensfiction.com

Ann Garvin chast about her latest novel, I Thought You Said This Would Work, which shot up the Amazon charts and has held #1 positions in multiple categories over the last month including humorous women's fiction. Ann shares her inspiration for the novel, and great writing and life advice. I Thought You Said This Would Work and Ann's other novels can be found on bookshop.org, along with the two novels she recommends; Send for Me by Lauren Fox, and Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano. Also, check out Ann's new podcast Come Sit With Me which can be found here on Apple podcasts and Spotify! Connect with Ann and learn more about her books at www.anngarvin.net or on Instagram @anngarvin_ Find all episodes at www.bestofwomensfiction.com

Rochelle chats about her latest release, This is Not How It Ends, how writing every book is different, and she has great advice for writers, and on kindness and life in general. Find This is Not How it Ends on bookshop.org, along with the novels Rochelle mentions; Becoming Duchess Goldblatt, The Push by Ashley Audrain, Eliza Starts a Rumor by Jane L Rosen, and The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.  As well as those on her To Be Read list: The Art of Happy Moving by Ali Wenzke, The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi, Band of Sisters by Lauren Willig, The Kindest Lie by Nancy Johnson, Mom's Don't Have Time To by Zibby Owens, and Everything After by Jill Santopolo. Connect with Rochelle and learn more about her books at www.rochelleweinstein.com or on Instagram @rochellebweinstein Find all episodes and more notes at www.bestofwomensfiction.com

Alison Hammer has been called "a great new voice in women’s fiction" by the esteemed Kristin Harmel. This interview celebrates the release of Alison's sophomore novel, Little Pieces of Me, which was named one of the top April books by E! News, and received a Library Journal starred review. We chat about Alison's unique writing process, her craft advice, and she has three recommended reads.  Find Little Pieces of Me and You and Me and Us on bookshop.org, along with the three novels Alison recommends; A Million Reasons Why by Jessica Strawser, Are We There Yet? by Kathleen West, and The Exit Strategy by Lainey Cameron.  Connect with Alison and learn more about her books at www.alisonhammer.com or on Instagram @thishammer. Find all episodes at www.bestofwomensfiction.com

Kris Clink chats about her heart-warming debut novel, Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy.She shares her inspiration for a book that reviews are deeply hopeful and heartwarming, and why Kris believes in the concept of spectacular happiness. Find Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy on bookshop.org, along with the two books Kris recommends; The Jake Ryan Complex by Bethany Crandell and The Chicken Sisters by KJ Dell'Antonia.  Connect with Kris and learn more about her books at www,krisclink.com or on Instagram @krisclinkbooks Find all episodes at www.bestofwomensfiction.com

Have you ever wondered what goes into performing an audiobook? Or how the skills required compare to writing? In this interview with Susan Marlowe, who has recorded over 150 successful audiobooks, answers those questions and more. Plus, the episode includes previously unreleased samples from the audio version of Lainey Cameron's debut novel, The Exit Strategy. Purchase The Exit Strategy in audiobook, ebook, or paperback.  Learn more about Susan and her work at www.susanmarlowenarrator.com, plus if you're looking to produce an audiobook you can find lots of good resources on ACX and Findaway Voices. All episodes at www.bestofwomensfiction.com

Barbara Linn Probst shares the inspiration behind her newest novel, The Sound Between the Notes, plus chats with Lainey about music and inspiration, how the book changed during editing, surviving a pandemic debut launch, and the challenges of sophomore novels.  Find The Sound Between the Notes and Queen of the Owls on bookshop.org, plus the two other sophomore novels Barbara mentions Little Pieces of Me by Alison Hammer and Sisters of the Vine by Linda Rosen. Connect with Barbara and learn more about her books at www.barbaralinnprobst.com or on Instagram @barbara_linn_probst Find all episodes at www.bestofwomensfiction.com

Christina Consolino shares her inspiration for her debut, Rewrite the Stars, a novel that’s been called “bittersweet” and “touching”. She also has several recommended reads, great writing advice on not giving up, and we chat about the difficulty of writing in multiple points of view. Find Rewrite the Stars on bookshop.org. Connect with Christina and learn more about her books at www.christinaconsolino.com or on Instagram @cmconsolino Find all episodes at www.bestofwomensfiction.com

Linda chats about the story behind The Disharmony of Silence, her debut novel which released in 2020. We talk about the inspiration behind a book that moves back and forth between the 1920s and today, how the book changed from initial versions and her reading recommendations. Plus I share more on Linda's second novel, Sisters of the Vine, which releases this week! Find both of Linda's novels, The Disharmony of Silence and Sisters of the Vine on bookshop.org . Plus the books she recommends in this interview- You and Me and Us by Alison Hammer and No Bad Deed by Heather Chavez. Connect with Linda and learn more about her books at www.linda-rosen.com or on Instagram @lindarosenauthor Find all episodes at www.bestofwomensfiction.com

Kathleen’s debut, Minor Dramas and Other Catastrophes, was received with great acclaim in 2020 and was chosen as a best books pick by Real Simple, Newsweek, People Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, and the New York Post. This week her second novel Are We There Yet? hits the stores, and Kathleen shares her inspiration, book recommendations and has some great writing advice! Find Kathleen's novels, Are We There Yet and Minor Dramas and Other Catastrophes on bookshop.org as well as her recommended reads The Chicken Sisters by KJ Dell'Antonia and Ahmed Aziz's Epic Year by Nina Hamza. Connect with Kathleen and learn more about her books at www.kathleenwestbooks.com or on Instagram @kathleenwestwrites Find all episodes at www.bestofwomensfiction.com

Kim shares how she prides herself on writing historical fiction “for non historical fiction lovers”, her inspiration for her big bestseller,After Alice Fell, her best writing advice, and a book recommendation. Find Kim's novel, After Alice Fell, on bookshop.org as well as her recommended read Churchill's Secret Messenger by Alan Hlad. Connect with Kim and learn more about her fierce women characters at www.kimtaylorblakemore.com or on Instagram @kimtaylorblakemorebooks Find all episodes at www.bestofwomensfiction.com

Barbara is one of the best supporters of other authors. We chat about the great reception and inspiration for her debut novel, Nowhere Near Goodbye, and her pride in being such a well-received debut author over 70 (it’s never too late!). Find Barbara's novel, Nowhere Near Goodbye on bookshop.org as well as her recommendations by Robert Dugoni and Chris Bohjalian. Connect with Barbara at www.barbaraconreyauthor.com or on Instagram at @barbaraconrey Find all episodes at www.bestofwomensfiction.com

Sarahlyn Bruck shares the inspiration behind her latest release, Daytime Drama, which follows her award-winning debut, Designer You. She shares why she chose multiple points of view to tell this latest story, great writing advice, and recommended Philly authors. Connect with Sarahlyn at www.sarahlynbruck.com on Instagram @sarahlynbruck Find all episodes at www.bestofwomensfiction.com

The best advice from 40+ episodes of The Best of Women's Fiction interview series. Tips from best-selling and debut authors on getting started, finding your voice, the power of community, writing craft, dealing with fear, and more. Find interviews with all the featured authors at www.bestofwomensfiction.com

Mel chats about her inspiration for Running With Our Eyes Closed, a novel set in mid-life, which reviews describe as a tale of rediscovery and reconnection between a husband and a wife, beautifully written, sensual and spicy. We discuss why she decided to make the novel so sexy, how Samantha, her protagonist found her own voice during the editing process, and Mel's writing advice. Connect with Mel at www.melmediallc.com or on Instagram @melgberg Find all episodes at www.bestofwomensfiction.com