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Conversations about what you’re reading, what you’re watching, and what you’re listening to
Episodes
Sunday Apr 24, 2022
Sunday Apr 24, 2022
Vibe Check
Gwen is feeling cozy! Danielle is tired!
Gwen washed and put away all of her clothes after her big move; Danielle made her family pound cake for Easter.
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Main Discussion
Let’s face it—we love a book adaptation, whether it’s on TV or a movie!
Gwen: You, Trainspotting, The Princess Diaries, Atonement, Virgin Suicides, Normal People
Danielle: Shakespeare remakes—Romeo & Juliet, Romeo + Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, The Tragedy of Macbeth, 10 Things I Hate About You, O, Hamlet; Austen—Clueless, Emma, Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Pride and Prejudice: Atlanta; TV Adaptations—Poldark, Station Eleven, My Brilliant Friend, Good Omens, “YA”: The Lord of the Rings, The Hunger Games, The Hate U Give, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Heartstopper
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Interview with ABBY JIMENEZ
PART OF YOUR WORLD, now available!
Nadia Cakes, Abby’s cupcake shop (she won Cupcake Wars!)
Movie Deal Announcement for The Happy Ever After Playlist
Abby’s Page-to-Screen recs: Warm Bodies, The Hating Game
Gwen’s Page-to-Screen recs: Clueless, My Brilliant Friend
Danielle’s Page-to-Screen recs: Trainspotting, Little Women
Connect with Abby:
https://www.authorabbyjimenez.com/
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Goals/Comfort & Joy
Last time, Gwen wanted to finish packing and move... and she did! Now she’d like to organize her pantry. Gwen is also really enjoying Julia on HBO Max.
Danielle tried to read a nonfiction book but did not. This week, she’d like to write something new, not related to what she’s working on right now. Related to writing, Danielle has found comfort in long-form journal writing, and Gwen suggested she consider doing The Artist’s Way!
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EMAIL US!
Thoughts or questions? Email us at podcast@freshfiction.com.
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Find us on the Socials!
Gwen Reyes
Danielle Jackson
Fresh Fiction
Sunday Apr 10, 2022
Sunday Apr 10, 2022
Vibe Check
It’s Spring Break and Danielle is in the thick of book 2 revisions! Also, everyone should check out ALL MY RAGE by Sabaa Tahir. Gwen is MOVING and by the time this episode airs, she will be in her new place!
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WEDDINGS!
Danielle got married at the height of Pinterest weddings and made all of her flowers out of paper and book pages. Gwen was 40 minutes late to her outdoor wedding in the hills of Virginia and it had a “movie” theme.
Memorable TV Weddings
Gwen: Kelly and Zack on Saved by the Bell, Luke and Laura on General Hospital, Jim and Pam on The Office, the Red Wedding from Game of Thrones
Danielle: Meredith and Derek on Grey’s Anatomy (the post-it note), All of Parks & Rec’s surprise weddings, David and Patrick on Schitt’s Creek, Ralph Angel and Darla on Queen Sugar
Wedding Movies
Gwen: All versions of Father of the Bride, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Bridesmaids, Sex and the City, The Little Mermaid, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
Danielle: Also Father of the Bride, Crazy Rich Asians, The Wedding Planner, Monsoon Wedding, About Time
Pop Culture Moments: Meghan and Harry, Beyonce and Jay-Z, Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian, John F. Kennedy Jr. and Caroline Bisset
Books: Nora Robert’s The Bride Quartet, Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series by Jenny Holiday, D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins, Mia Sosa’s The Worst Best Man and The Wedding Crasher
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Interview with Mia Sosa
Connect with Mia: Website | Newsletter | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
Romance tropes that Mia loves: Friends-to-Lovers, Fake Dating, Grumpy-Sunshine
What’s making Mia happy: Love is Blind on Netflix
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Goals/Comfort & Joy
Danielle did not read a nonfiction book, but she wants to read You Got Anything Stronger by Gabrielle Union (she also finally cleaned her desk!). This week, Danielle wants to actually read a nonfiction book!
Gwen succeeded in packing up her kitchen stuff and needs to continue to pack because she is literally moving in 24 hours.
Danielle has been reading old school romances: Morning Glory by Lavyrle Spencer and Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas. Gwen went to her local cookie kiosk!
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EMAIL US!
Thoughts or questions? Email us at podcast@freshfiction.com.
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Find us on the Socials!
Gwen Reyes
Danielle Jackson
Fresh Fiction
Thursday Mar 24, 2022
Thursday Mar 24, 2022
Vibe Check
Gwen has been traveling and booked movers! Danielle has been going outside and started working on more book 2 revisions!
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Main Discussion
Self-care has changed so much and is incredibly personal. We’re discussing our own self-care practices and how we approach taking care of ourselves.
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Our interview with KATE SPENCER
Kate’s Website
Kate’s Instagram
Kate’s memoir: THE DEAD MOM’S CLUB
Forever35 Podcast
Book recs from Kate: the entire Ice Planet Barbarians series (and spinoffs!) by Ruby Dixon, PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION by Emily Henry, ACCIDENTALLY ENGAGED by Farah Herron, A THOUSAND MILES by Bridget Morrissey (6/21), FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK by Elissa Sussman (4/12)
Kate has a new puppy! The Encanto soundtrack is giving her entire household life. And she recommends the folk singer Henry Jamison, especially for writing!
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Goals/Comfort & Joy
Danielle did not clean her desk (and probably won’t now that revisions have started) but would like to read a nonfiction book. Gwen did not start going through her closets but thinks packing up her kitchen might be a better place to start.
Danielle loves her Old Skool platform Vans.
Gwen is reading and loving Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
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EMAIL US!
Thoughts or questions? Email us at danielle@freshfiction.com.
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Find us on the Socials!
Gwen Reyes
Danielle Jackson
Fresh Fiction
Saturday Mar 19, 2022
Saturday Mar 19, 2022
Vibe Check
It’s cold and dreary in both Washington and Illinois. Gwen has found a new apartment and Danielle hosted two events: a virtual event with Lauren Kate and a sold-out in-person event with Bob Odenkirk.
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Main Discussion
In just a few short weeks, this year’s Academy Awards will be handed out. Gwen and Danielle discuss if the Oscaras “matter” anymore, what goes into Oscar campaigns, and of course, our predictions for this year’s winners! We don’t over all the categories, but you can find a full list of nominees here: https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2022.
Danielle mentioned the podcast Fat Mascara, and in particular episodes with Cruella makeup artist Nadia Stacey and Gwen Stefani.
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Interview with Kristy Woodson Harvey
THE WEDDING VEIL will be in stores on March 29th! It is set at the legendary Biltmore Estate.
Kristy’s Peachtree Bluff series has been optioned to be adapted into a TV series! She told us about helping write the pilot and more exclusive details.
Reading is Kristy’s self-care! She recommends GILT by Jamie Brenner, REMINDERS OF HIM by Colleen Hoover, ONCE UPON A WARDROBE by Patty Callahan, THE HOMEWRECKERS by Mary Kay Andrews, and books by William Kent Kreuger.
Head to Kristy’s website, sign up for her newsletter, and find her on Instagram and Facebook. She’s also a part of the Friends & Fiction Facebook group!
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Goals/Comfort & Joy
We gave ourselves a break from goals last time! This week, Gwen wants to clean out her closet and Danielle needs to clean her desk! Danielle bought a huge tub of Stonefire Naan Dippers from Costco and has been enjoying them immensely. Gwen is loving the Salt & Straw Pot of Rainbows cereal-flavored ice cream.
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EMAIL US!
Thoughts or questions? Email us at podcast@freshfiction.com.
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Find us on the Socials!
Gwen Reyes
Danielle Jackson
Fresh Fiction
Saturday Mar 05, 2022
Saturday Mar 05, 2022
Vibe Check
It has been... a week, LOL!
Gwen is going to her first concert in a while—Eddie Vedder!
Danielle did a virtual event with friend of the pod Jessica P. Pryde with Books are Magic last week. Follow her on social media for the link the replay!
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Main Discussion
Some of the cool girls we discussed:
Gone Girl, and the Salon article
Everyone on Euphoria
Julia Gardner/Anna from Inventing Anna
Anne Hathaway/Rivka in We Crashed
Sarah Michelle Gellar/Katherine in Cruel Intentions
Mila Kunis/ Rachel in Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Megan Fox/Reagan from New Girl
Celebs: Glen Close, Olivia Coleman, Jennifer Lawrence, Zendaya, Billie Eilish, Betty White, Dionne Warwick
Books: Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake, Not the Girl You Marry by Andie J. Christopher
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Recs from Mia P. Manansala
Website: https://www.miapmanansala.com/ (sign up for her newsletter!)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MPMtheWriter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MPMtheWriter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mpmthewriter/
All the food!
Celebration/common Filipino dishes: Adobo, Lumpia, Pancit
Unheard of dishes: Ginataang Bilo-bilo
Good starter dish for the home cook: Sinigang
Mia’s website has a ton of recipes from and inspired by her book!
Cozy mystery series Mia and her mom enjoy: Joanna Fluke’s Hannah Swensen series, Vivien Chien’s Noodle Shop Mysteries, Raquel V. Reyes’s Caribbean Mystery series
Mia LOVES candles. Bath & Body Works are among her favorites, but she also mentioned two small Filiapina-owned candle makers: Terra and Kilig
Mia is also a new romance reader and enjoys novels by Talia Hibbert, Alyssa Cole, and Sherry Thomas!
Goals/Comfort & Joy
Danielle has succeeded in making her lunch for work! Gwen hasn’t gotten around to exploring her neighborhood, but she has been taking Ronin (her dog!) on new walking routes.
And... we are taking a break from goals this week!
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EMAIL US!
Thoughts or questions? Email us at podcast@freshfiction.com.
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Find us on the Socials!
Gwen Reyes
Danielle Jackson Dresser
Fresh Fiction
Friday Feb 18, 2022
Friday Feb 18, 2022
Vibe Check
Gwen is busy but making lists, and took the time to relax by going on a long drive to see the snow. Danielle is being lazy on purpose but did some major Valentine’s Day crafting with friends.
Black Romance in Media
MOVIES
Gwen: If Beale Street Could Talk, The Lovebirds, Poetic Justice, Malcolm and Marie, Southside with You, The Bodyguard, Beyond the Lights, Cinderella
Danielle: Love and Basketball, The Photograph, The Incredible Jessica James
TV
Gwen: Insecure, Harlem (also Run the World), Black-Ish, The Wonder Years (new version)
Danielle: Insecure, Queen Sugar, This is Us, Living Single, Girlfriends
CELEB COUPLES
Gwen: Berry Jenkins and Lulu Wang, Oprah and Stedman
Danielle: Gabrielle Union and Dwayne Wade, Beyonce and Jay-Z, Barack and Michelle Obama, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky
BLACK ROMANCE AUTHORS TO CHECK OUT!
Beverly Jenkins, Brenda Jackson, Alyssa Cole, Tracey Livesay, Farrah Rochon, Vanessa Riley, Christina C. Jones, Rilzy Adams, Katrina Jackson, Tasha L. Harrison, Rebecca Weatherspoon, Chencia C. Higgins
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Recs from JESSICA P. PRYDE
BLACK LOVE MATTERS was in part, inspired by WELL-READ BLACK GIRL by Glory Edim, but with more romance!
Jess co-hosts a podcast called When In Romance, with Trish Brown.
Book recs: LOVE AND OTHER DISASTERS by Anita Kelly, YOU MADE A FOOL OF DEATH WITH YOUR BEAUTY by Akwaeke Emezi (May 2022), TO CATCH A RAVEN by Beverly Jenkins (Aug 2022)
What’s bringing Jessica comfort: Star Trek: Discovery on Paramount+
Find Jess on Twitter and Instagram
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Goals/Comfort & Joy
Last week, Danielle said she was going to deep clean, and whoo boy, she did NOT. This week, she wants to make her lunch at home to take to work. Gwen absolutely excelled at her daily yoga practice, and this week is going to explore a new part of her neighborhood!
Gwen is obsessed with water in all forms. Danielle highly recommends the Universal Standard Seine skinny jeans (and just about everything else on the site).
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EMAIL US!
Thoughts or questions? Email us at danielle@freshfiction.com.
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Find us on the Socials!
Gwen Reyes
Danielle Jackson
Fresh Fiction
Friday Jan 14, 2022
Friday Jan 14, 2022
Vibe Check
Danielle and Gwen are both basking in the afterglow of taking time away over the holidays and disconnecting! Danielle has been taking care of her health and going to all the doctor’s appointments and Gwen has started eating more veggies at every meal.
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Main Discussion
Gwen’s Recs: Sex and the City (also And Just Like That), The Phantom Thread. Halston, FASHION CLIMBING by Bill Cunningham and The Times of Bill Cunningham (documentary film), GRACE by Grace Coddington
Danielle’s Recs: The Devil Wears Prada (with the most iconic fashion montage ever), The Mindy Project, Insecure, Project Runway, House of Gucci, IRIS APFEL: ACCIDENTAL ICON by Iris Apfel
We’re both obsessed with the anachronistic fashion found on Reign, The Great, Marie Antoinette, and Bridgerton
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Recs from Mimi Matthews
THE SIREN OF SUSSEX is now available!
Mimi wrote about Victorian Fashion in A VICTORIAN LADY’S GUIDE TO FASHION AND BEAUTY.
Mimi’s author and book recs: Lisa Kleypas, Evie Dunmore, Harper St. George, Suzanne Allain, JANE AND THE YEAR WITHOUT A SUMMER by Stephanie Barron
Find Mimi on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and on her website, https://www.mimimatthews.com/.
Look for the second book in Mimi’s series, Belles of London, THE BELLE OF BELGRAVE SQUARE, in fall 2022!
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Goals/Comfort & Joy
Danielle has finished her book 2 revisions and will send it to her editor soon. Her new goal is to work on a writing schedule for the first half of 2022! She is also obsessed with Soap and Glory Hand Food hand cream.
Gwen definitely enjoyed traveling over the holidays. She would now like to take 30 minutes every Sunday and set up her journal/plan for the week. Gwen is also loving the Showtime show, Yellowjackets (and Danielle rec’d a recent episode of Pop Culture Happy Hour that does a deep dive on this show).
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EMAIL US!
Thoughts or questions? Email danielle@freshfiction.com.
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Find us on the Socials!
Gwen Reyes
Danielle Jackson
Fresh Fiction
Saturday Dec 11, 2021
Saturday Dec 11, 2021
Vibe Check
Gwen is on a mission to get her cart back! She has not gone to jail and this is a major achievement. Danielle feels accomplished, but is still busy. And she has addressed and stamped her Christmas cards!
Candle Recs from Gwen’s Bath and Body Works haul: Champagne Toast, Campfire S’mores, Apple Hot Toddy.
Candle + Tea rec from Danielle: Winter Wonderland (it’s LIMITED EDITION at Target) and Winter Wake Up Tea from Trader Joe’s
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Main Discussion
Old School Holiday Entertainment
Danielle
TV: Star Wars Holiday Special, Pee Wee’s Playhouse: Christmas Special, Disney Christmas Parade
Movies: How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, A Charlie Brown Christmas, A Christmas Story, Home Alone 1 & 2
Books: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson, Babysitters Club Christmas books
Gwen
TV Specials: The Spirit of Christmas
Movies: Muppets Christmas Carol, Mickey’s Christmas Carol, Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol.
Books: The Nutcracker
New School Holiday Entertainment
Danielle
TV: The OC/Chrismukkah, A Very Murray Christmas, The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show, Mariah Carey Magical Christmas Special & The Magic Continues
Movies: A Christmas Prince, The Princess Switch, 8-Bit Christmas
Books: Christmas Miracle in Jamaica by Ann McIntosh, What He Wants for Christmas by Brenda Jackson, Just for the Holidays by Adriana Herrera, OMG Christmas Tree by Stephanie J. Scott, A Princess for Christmas and Duke Actually by Jenny Holiday, Lady Sophie’s Christmas Wish by Grace Burrowes. Also, there are a TON of sexy Santa romances.
Gwen
TV: The Office Christmas episodes!
Movies: A Castle from Christmas, a Clusterfunke Christmas
Books: The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer
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Recs from ROAN PARRISH
The Garnet Run Series: BETTER THAN PEOPLE, BEST LAID PLANS, THE LIGHTS ON KNOCKBRIDGE LANE
THE LIGHTS ON KNOCKBRIDGE LANE is the first Harlequin category romance to feature a same-sex main couple.
Smitten Kitchen “Craggy” Pumpkin Bread
Dear Romance Writer Podcast
Birding has brought Roan immense joy!
Coming soon: THE HOLIDAY TRAP (rom-com, house-swap, double romance; 9/6/22) and THE UNHAUNTING OF CASPER ROAD (final in the Garnet Run Series, Halloween romance, late September ‘22)
https://twitter.com/roanparrish
https://www.facebook.com/roanparrish/
https://www.instagram.com/roanparrish/
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Goals/Comfort & Joy
Danielle has completed her Christmas shopping, overachieving on last episode’s goal of finalizing her lists. This week, she wants to finish The Story of the Last Child, the final book in Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan series. Danielle’s comfort: the return of the podcast For Colored Nerds
Gwen wanted to get better sleep and she is working on it! This week, she’d like to finish her Christmas shopping. Gwen’s comfort: Salt & Straw Ice Cream
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EMAIL US!
Thoughts or questions? Email us at podcast@freshfiction.com.
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Find us on the Socials!
Gwen Reyes
Danielle Jackson
Fresh Fiction
Friday Nov 12, 2021
Friday Nov 12, 2021
Vibe Check
Gwen is leaning into Daylight saving. Danielle did a whole bunch of stuff but still feels like she didn’t “do” anything. Gwen learned the importance of cleaning out your fridge. Danielle read a bunch of books (MISS MORIARTY, I PRESUME? by Sherry Thomas, JUST FOR THE HOLIDAYS by Adriana Herrera, THE BAD BOY EXPERIMENT by Reese Ryan, and YINKA WHERE IS YOUR HUZBAND? by Lizzia Damilola Blackburn) and her 8th wedding anniversary is this week!
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Pop Culture Pets
GWEN’S RECS: NOODLE THE PUG (tik tok), UP, SECRET LIFE OF PETS , All Disney movies with a journey, VIVO, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, THE CROWN, IT STARTED WITH A DOG by Julia London
DANIELLE’S RECS: Salem on Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Heihei from MOANA, the guard horse from TANGLED, GET A LIFE, CHLOE BROWN by Talia Hibbert, TOO GOOD TO BE REAL by Melonie Johnson, HEARTS OF ALASKA series by Alanna Martin
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Recs from LUCY GILMORE
The dog show in Lucy’s novel is based on Westminster, but on a much smaller scale. As for beauty pageant research? Toddlers & Tiaras!
Lucy is enjoying watching Only Murders in the Building (on Hulu) and recently read Dark Rise by C.S. Pacat.
For self-care, Lucy loves taking her dogs on long walks!
Be sure to follow her on social media for info about her books and all the pet pics:
https://tamaraberry.com/lucy-gilmore
https://twitter.com/Words_by_Lucy
https://www.instagram.com/tamaratamaralucy/
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLucyGilmore/
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Goals/Comfort & Joy
Danielle, and hopefully everyone else, enjoyed Halloween! This week she wants to watch more TV. Gwen did not do morning meditation, but she is going to start journaling every day (Danielle recommended her One Line A Day journal).
Danielle is finding joy in eating leftover Halloween candy, and loose leaf tea from her local tea shop, The Tea Tree. Gwen is enjoying the return of Starbucks’s red holiday cups.
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EMAIL US!
Don’t forget to send us your questions/thoughts/ideas for the listener request show later this month. Email us at podcast@freshfiction.com.
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Find us on the Socials!
Gwen Reyes
Danielle Jackson
Fresh Fiction
Sunday Oct 31, 2021
Sunday Oct 31, 2021
CALL TO ACTION: For our “listener request” show in November, send us a note at podcast@freshfiction.com and let us know what you want us to talk about: advice, book recommendation requests, gift-giving help, or any topic you wish!
Gwen’s had a busy week while her husband has been injured, but she feels like Mary Tyler Moore because she’s doing it all.
Danielle has been making the most of the gorgeous fall happening in Illinois, bonfires, hanging out with friends, and more!
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Paranormal Pop Culture Recommendations
TV
Danielle: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, True Blood, Lost Girl
Gwen: Ghosts on CBS (based on a British series of the same name), Childs Play TV series on SciFi, Bettlejuice animated series,
MOVIES
Danielle: The Addams Family, Casper, Ghostbusters; most of Tim Burton’s Oeuvre: Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow
Gwen: Interview with a Vampire (TV series coming soon!), Gaia on Hulu, Brotherhood of the Wolf, Into the Woods
BOOKS
Danielle: Mating the Huntress by Talia Hibbert, Shelley Laurenston, Ilona Andrews; Middle-Grade graphic novel: Séance Tea Party by Reimena Yee, YA graphic novel: Sheets and Delicates by Brenna Thummler
Gwen: Joe Hill's books combine horror and paranormal (also, he's Stephen King’s son)
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Recs from SULEIKHA SNYDER
Don’t sleep on how diverse and speculative Passions was...
The heroine of PRETTY LITTLE LION is an apsara with some added ablities!
Suleikha has been an entertainment writer for years! Some recs: General Hospital, Days of Our Lives, Ted Lasso, Evil
Romance recs: KJ Charles, Holley Trent, Olivia Waite, Beverly Jenkins, Alyssa Cole, Courtney Milan, Melissa Blue, Charlotte Stien (basically just read every book by everyone)
Suleikha finds immense comfort in Ted Lasso, ice cream (specifically Hagen-Das Creamy Mango and anything by Jenni’s), soap operas, and her upcoming trip to NYC.
Recs from our Halloween Rapid Fire Round:
Suleikha wants to dress up like Taika Waititi in a pineapple romper, Gwen’s all about Jennifer Coolidge’s character on The White Lotus, and Danielle is feeling feline (because it’s easy).
Halloween Movie recs: the first that came to mind for Suleikha was Nightmare Before Christmas, Gwen loves Hocus Pocus, and Danielle enjoys how The Addams Family is weird and has no rules.
https://twitter.com/suleikhasnyder
https://www.instagram.com/suleikhasnyder/
https://www.tiktok.com/@suleikhasnyder
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Goals/Comfort & Joy
Danielle did prep for NaNoWriMo, but because of book 2 revisions, she probably won’t be doing it this year. Her new goal is to enjoy Halloween!
Danielle’s Comfort: E.L.F. Nourishing Night Cream ($12) and Uoma Drama Bomb Mascara ($20)
Gwen has been getting up early! Her new goal is to mediate for ten minutes every morning.
Gwen’s Comfort: Meditation Aromatherapy Roll-On from Pompeii Organics
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EMAIL US!
Thoughts or questions? And send us your topics for the listener request show! Email us at podcast@freshfiction.com.
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Find us on the Socials!
Gwen Reyes
Danielle Jackson
Fresh Fiction