For our last episode of this season, award-winning author Kelly Irvin talks about her most recent release, "The Year of Goodbyes and Hellos," a deeply personal novel inspired by her own experience with ovarian cancer.Kelly has authored more than 35 Amish romances, romantic suspense novels, and novellas. Her latest book, "The Year of Goodbyes and He…

Bestselling author Emily Bleeker, with six novels under her belt, is a two-time Whitney Award finalist, Wall Street Journal bestseller, and Amazon charts topper. In her latest historical fiction novel, "When We Were Enemies," Emily unveils a compelling narrative featuring two women from different generations thrust into the spotlight. This powerful…

Katherine Howe is a New York Times bestselling and award-winning historian and novelist. She delves into the riveting world of piracy and maritime history in her latest novel, A True Account: Hannah Masury's Sojourn Amongst the Pyrates, Written by Herself. Drawing inspiration from her own genealogy, the book explores how women looked for their own …

A special Fall episode featuring hot new releases from our past guests! In this episode we share a range of newly released and upcoming books, from emotional and romantic women’s fiction, to historical fiction, domestic suspense, and even an apocalyptic holiday tale. Acid Christmas by Charlotte Dune Always Orchid by Carol Van Den Hende As Though Yo…

Award-winning author Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger talks about her first two books in The Diplomat's Wife series: "The American Wife" and "An American Wife in Paris". The third book, "The American Wife's Secret," has just been released. In this gripping World War 2 fiction, we follow the journey of Kitty Larsson, a U.S. senator's daughter whose life takes…

Step back in time with Jane Healey, the Washington Post and Amazon Charts bestselling author of 'The Secret Stealers.' In her latest historical novel, 'Goodnight From Paris,' we're transported to Nazi-occupied France. Here, an American film star embraces her most dangerous role, weaving a tale of loyalty and resistance, inspired by the true story o…

In this special episode, we showcase six exciting women's fiction debuts. Each of our chosen authors shares insights about their novel, the inspiration behind it, and their best writing advice. From historical fiction to multi-cultural romance and a dose of the supernatural, there's something here for everyone! Anju Gattani author of Dynasties, Boo…

Mary Camarillo is the author of the award-winning novel, "The Lockhart Women." Her poems and short fiction have appeared in publications such as TAB Journal, 166 Palms, Sonora Review, and The Ear. Her latest novel, Those People Behind Us is set in the summer of 2017 in Wellington Beach, California. This captivating story delves into the lives of fi…

Vanessa Riley is an award-winning author of historical fiction. Her novels illuminate the hidden histories of Black women and women of color, emphasizing strong sisterhoods and vibrant multicultural communities. Her novel, Island Queen was a Good Morning America Buzz Pick and she was also named the 2023 Georgia Author of the Year Awards Literary Fi…

Our choice for the first episode of the new season, Ann Marie Jackson's debut novel, The Broken Hummingbird, was announced as a finalist in the 2023 American Fiction and International Book Awards. Set in the Mexican town of San Miguel de Allende, where Lainey Cameron also resides, this novel wrestles with marital dissolution and cultural dissonance…

In our last episode of this season, we feature four exciting new novels, all releases from our past guests. We showcase new historical fiction from Erin Litteken and KD Allbaugh, set in Ukraine and rural Wisconsin. Plus, two upcoming novels - new contemporary fiction in a poignant sister story from author Jamie Beck (coming in July) and a preview o…

NYT and USA TODAY bestselling author Chanel Cleeton is the author of many superb novels including Next Year in Havana, When We Left Cuba, The Last Train to Key West, and more. Her latest release, The Cuban Heiress, follows two women in 1934 with secrets. They set sail aboard the Morro Castle—a luxury cruise liner that sailed between New York and Ha…

For Women’s Fiction Day 2023, a discussion that tackles the difficult questions surrounding the term “women’s fiction”. With host Lainey Cameron and guests Charlotte Dune, Maggie Smith, Paulette Stout, and author and book coach Kathryn Dodson. In a world recognizing a wide gender spectrum, and after Publishers Marketplace dropped the term, does a g…

Micki Berthelot Morency shares the inspiration behind her debut novel, The Island Sisters. A story about four women from Haiti, St. Thomas, and Guam whose fates are bound together by culture, history, and most importantly, by a deep and irrevocable friendship. The novel is told from alternating perspectives of each friend and delves into an importa…

Diane Marie Brown talks about her historical novel, Black Candle Women, recently named as “A Read with Jenna Book Club Pick as Seen on the Today Show.” Jenna Bush Hager says, “If you like Practical Magic… you will love Black Candle Women.” We dive into what inspired Diane Marie Brown to write this particular story and how her own family history ins…

Our second episode featuring Hot New Releases from our past guests. This time we’re highlighting new books that released in the month of May. We'll introduce you to new historical fiction from Linda Rosen, an exciting new book club novel by Laura Hankin, and a thriller from Regina Buttner. The Emerald Necklace, like Linda Rosen’s prior work, featur…

Joani Eliott's novel, The Audacity of Sara Grayson was last year’s winner of Women’s Fiction Writers Association STAR award in the debut category, in addition to winning the Whitney awards in debut novel of the year and general fiction categories. Joani shares the inspiration behind a novel writers and creatives have been raving about, and which re…

Debut novelist Shaunna J. Edwards & USA Today bestselling Alyson Richman talk about their historical novel, The Thread Collectors, loosely inspired by their own family histories. With Ashley, they discuss their enduring friendship, how they came to be co-writers, and what it was like to transition from friends to colleagues. In addition, they each …

Debra Thomas' first novel, Luz, won several awards including the Sarton Award for contemporary fiction. Her second novel, Josie and Vic just released. A brother and sister story of love, loss, and forgiveness, it's been described as "an unforgettable, heart-filled, heart-filling novel”. Debra shares her inspiration, more on that outstanding cover d…

Brenda Janowitz talks about her latest historical novel, The Audrey Hepburn Estate, about a love triangle and the estate where it took place, inspired by Audrey Hepburn’s tendency to be a homebody. This is the third novel in what Ashley lovingly refers to as Brenda’s novels about starlets and the things they own. In addition, Brenda shares great ad…

A new type of special episode where we feature the latest releases from our past guests. In this episode we introduce you to new fiction from Leanne Treese, Laura Drake, and K.T. Blakemore. Laura’s Drake’s newest novel, AMAZING GRACIE is poignant women’s fiction, a story of family in all its incarnations. FUN LESSONS, the new release from Leanne Tr…

Jennifer Rosner’s first novel, The Yellow Bird Sings was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. Her new release, Once We Were Home, is historical fiction based on the true stories of children separated and displaced from their parents, during and after World War II. The novel has been called “moving, subtle, and beautifully told”. Find the …

Stephanie Landsem introduces us to her fifth novel, Code Name Edelweiss Based on true events, the novel tells the story of how a lone Jewish lawyer and a handful of amateur spies discovered and foiled Adolf Hitler's plan to take over Hollywood. Stephanie shares her best writing advice, how she came across the true story that inspired this latest bo…

A special episode featuring six exciting women’s fiction debuts from the first half of 2023! Each of our six authors shares with Ashley Hasty and Lainey Cameron about their novel, their inspiration, and their best writing advice. * Tracey D Buchanan author of Toward the Corner of Mercy and Peace * Annie Cathryn author of The Friendship Breakup * D.…

Sarah Penner is the author of the New York Times bestseller and breakout debut success, The Last Apothecary. Her new novel, The London Séance Society, tells the tale of two daring women who hunt for truth and justice in the perilous art of conjuring the dead. In the episode, Sarah shares Sarah shares how it felt to live the dream of becoming a brea…

USA Today bestselling author, Sonali Dev, introduces us to her new women’s fiction novel, THE VIBRANT YEARS, which chosen as the first novel to be released by Mindy Kaling’s new imprint, Mindy’s Book Studio. The story of three generations of women, Mindy describes the book as “a joyful and fun read”, “a tale about a group of underestimated women de…

In this episode, Madeline Martin chats about her latest historical novel, THE LIBRARIAN SPY, based on the true story of American librarians spying for the American government with little to no training during World War II. We meet Ava, an American librarian at the Library of Congress who travels to Lisbon to gather intelligence and ends up communic…

Linda Williamson Rosenberg talks with us about her debut novel, Embers on the Wind. Telling a tale centered around Whittaker House, a haunted stop on the Underground Railroad, past and present converge in this novel about women connected by motherhood, slavery’s legacy, and histories that span centuries. Find the recommended books, the author's soc…

In this episode, Jenni L. Walsh talks to Ashley about her latest historical novel, THE CALL OF THE WRENS, a little-known story about a group of women who were assigned to train and deliver carrier pigeons to the front line of World War II. Jenni talks about the difference between writing about real, well-known women in history versus telling true s…

Lauren Belfer is a New York Times bestselling author and a past winner of winner of the Washington Post Best Novel and NPR Best Mystery of the Year prizes. She introduces us to her latest novel, Ashton Hall, where an American woman and her son unearth the buried secrets and past lives of an English manor house. Find the recommended books, the autho…

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 car…

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 f…

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 tha…

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 …

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 th…

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…

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 …

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 …

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 additi…

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 Founda…

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 b…

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 …

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 en…

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…

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.B…

In this episode, Heather Webb shares the real-life stories of people passing through Ellis Island, as well as the historical backdrop of the time that inspired her latest novel THE NEXT SHIP HOME. We also chat about Heather’s reading world which transitioned into us sharing some of our favorite con-artist television shows. She also shares the best …

Veena Rao shares the inspiration behind her novel, Purple Lotus, the winner in the 2021 American Fiction Awards (multi-cultural category). A tale of an immigrant who comes to Atlanta through marriage, the novel has been described as a "dazzling tale of an Indian-American woman finding her way through the labyrinth of tradition to self-awareness in …

In this episode Denny S. Bryce chats about her latest novel, IN THE FACE OF THE SUN, as well as the four books she’s currently in the process of writing. We dive into her research, the inspiration behind the title and the story, as well as the writing advice that I especially needed to hear this week. Described as “The best kind of historical novel…

Award-winning author, Laura Drake introduces us to her newest novel, The Road to Me, which has been described as “an unforgettable story of self-discovery and survival, reconciliation and redemption.” (bestselling author, Barbara Claypole White). Laura Drake's first novel, The Sweet Spot, was a double-finalist and then won the 2014 Romance Writers …

Kimberly Brock shares the inspiration behind The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare, a novel described as “complex, compelling, and beautifully crafted” by William Kent Kreuger, New York Times bestselling author. In this episode Kimberly Brock tells us what caused her to cry during her research phase, when I asked her for her best advice for her fellow auth…