Episodes
Tuesday Jul 26, 2022
The Accidental Pinup is Here! + Interview with Danielle Jackson
Tuesday Jul 26, 2022
Tuesday Jul 26, 2022
Vibe Check
We took a break and feel great! But we’re so happy to be back!!
Danielle is attempting to go on vacation and release a book and work at the bookshop all at the same time. But she actually updated the News and Events sections of her website—go look at them!
Gwen got a NEW PUPPY (who is noisily chewing/playing with her bone throughout this episode)! That is both her vibe and her achievement this week, and we are here for it.
*
What pop culture have we been consuming this summer?
We both HIGHLY recommend The Bear (FX on Hulu).
What Gwen is watching: Loot (Apple TV+), Barry (HBO Max)
What Danielle is watching: Heartstopper (Netflix), Ms. Marvel (Disney+) Queen Sugar (OWN/Hulu), Wimbledon
What Gwen is reading: Meet Me in The Bathroom by Lizzie Goodman
What Danielle is reading: Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley, Heartbreaker by Sara MacLean (August), Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng (October); re-reads: the entire Reluctant Royals Series by Alyssa Cole, all of Lore Olympus on Webtoons
What Gwen is listening to: Podcasts: You Must Remember This, Spectacle podcast, You’re Wrong About (Go Ask Alice); Music: Wet Leg, WILLOW, Beyonce, Bob Moses
What Danielle is listening to: Podcasts: Newcomers (MCU season), Wait is This a Date w/ Drew Gregory and Christina Tucker; Music: Harry’s House
*
Interview with Danielle Jackson (we know her!)
THE ACCIDENTAL PINUP hits stores on July 19th!
For buy links and info to order personalized, signed copies from independent bookstores: https://daniellejacksonbooks.com/books
Website: https://daniellejacksonbooks.com/
https://twitter.com/DJacksonBooks
https://www.instagram.com/djacksonbooks/
https://www.goodreads.com/daniellejackson
*
Goals/Comfort & Joy
Danielle didn’t really spend a ton of time outside like she wanted to (plans to make up for this in FL!)… This week, Danielle wants to focus on enjoying vacation and her book launch week!!!! She has found immense comfort in Ben & Jerry’s Stephen Colbert’s Americone Dream Ice Cream and Pilot Acroball Fine Point ballpoint pens (Gwen recommends Pentel Energel RTX pens as well)
Gwen did cook for herself while her husband was on a business trip, but then her fridge died, so... This week, Gwen wants to potty train her new pup, Aria! Her comfort this week comes from La Colombe Coffee (found at our beloved Costco, natch)
*
EMAIL US!
Thoughts or questions? Email us at podcast@freshfiction.com.
*
Find us on the Socials!
Gwen Reyes
Danielle Jackson
Fresh Fiction
Sunday Jun 12, 2022
A Caribbean Heiress in Paris Book Club!
Sunday Jun 12, 2022
Sunday Jun 12, 2022
Vibe Check
We’re both doing our best to deal with the news, but Gwen has a very clean apartment after getting a new Dyson cordless vacuum, and Danielle has been reading a TON!
*
Main Discussion
Welcome to the first FF Podcast Book Club! We read A CARIBBEAN HEIRESS IN PARIS by Adriana Herrera. We really loved it!
Gilded Age Recs: Mr. Selfridge, The Paradise, The Buccaneers, The Age of Innocence, Howards End, Ken Burns’s Gilded Age Documentary
PS—No one understood the Gilded Glamour assignment at this year’s Met Gala.
*
Goals/Comfort & Joy
Danielle was supposed to work in her garden, but did not. This week, she would like to spend time outside every day.
Gwen did not organize her office (but has a deadline to do so in a couple of days!). This week, she wants to cook for herself instead of ordering food while her husband is away.
Danielle has been enjoying the graphic novels by Reina Telgemeier! Gwen loves her teak shower foot roller!
*
EMAIL US!
Thoughts or questions? Email us at podcast@freshfiction.com.
*
Find us on the Socials!
Gwen Reyes
Danielle Jackson
Fresh Fiction
Sunday Apr 24, 2022
Page-to-Screen Adaptations + Abby Jimenez Interview
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.
*
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
*
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/
*
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!
*
EMAIL US!
Thoughts or questions? Email us at podcast@freshfiction.com.
*
Find us on the Socials!
Gwen Reyes
Danielle Jackson
Fresh Fiction
Sunday Apr 10, 2022
Pop Culture Weddings + Mia Sosa Interview
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!
*
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
*
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
*
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!
*
EMAIL US!
Thoughts or questions? Email us at podcast@freshfiction.com.
*
Find us on the Socials!
Gwen Reyes
Danielle Jackson
Fresh Fiction
Saturday Mar 05, 2022
Quote-Unquote Cool Girls + Mia P. Manansala Interview
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!
*
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
*
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!
*
EMAIL US!
Thoughts or questions? Email us at podcast@freshfiction.com.
*
Find us on the Socials!
Gwen Reyes
Danielle Jackson Dresser
Fresh Fiction
Friday Feb 18, 2022
Black Romance We Love + Interview with Jessica P. Pryde!
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
*
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
*
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).
*
EMAIL US!
Thoughts or questions? Email us at danielle@freshfiction.com.
*
Find us on the Socials!
Gwen Reyes
Danielle Jackson
Fresh Fiction
Friday Jan 28, 2022
IT’S A VIBE!: Host check-in & Early 2022 Media Recs
Friday Jan 28, 2022
Friday Jan 28, 2022
Vibe Check
D and G are both feeling Mercury in retrograde. Danielle hosted a small family get-together for her husband’s birthday and Gwen made dinner at home every day!
Host Check-In: Danielle has a new job at a local independent bookstore. Not to worry, the podcast will continue! Gwen is committed to doing more creative endeavors this year!
*
Early 2022 Anticipated Media
JANUARY
TV: The Gilded Age, Abbott Elementary
Books: Violeta by Isabel Allende, D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins
Movies: Scream 5, The 355, The Tragedy of Macbeth
FEBRUARY
TV: Pam and Tommy, Inventing Anna
Books: Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake
Movies: Dog, The Tinder Swindler, Marry Me, Book of Love
MARCH
TV: The Dropout, Atlanta Season 3, Bridgerton Season 2, Barry Season 3
Books: The Bone Orchard by Sara A. Meuller, Savvy Sheldon is Feeling Good as Hell by Tag McCoy
Movies: The Batman, TUrning Red, Downton Abbey: A New Era, The Lost City
APRIL
TV: More to come soon!
Books: The Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa, In the Face of the Sun by Denny S. Bryce
Movies: The Northman, X, Aline, The Bad Guys
*
Goals/Comfort & Joy
Danielle sort of made a writing schedule for the first part of 2022, but now really needs to deep clean her house. Gwen did journal but didn’t exactly set up her entire week (it’s a work in progress). This week, Gwen would like to start a daily Yoga practice!
*
EMAIL US!
Thoughts or questions? Email us at danielle@freshfiction.com.
*
Find us on the Socials!
Gwen Reyes
Danielle Jackson
Fresh Fiction
Friday Jan 14, 2022
Pop Culture, but Make It Fashion + Interview with Mimi Matthews
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.
*
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
*
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!
*
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).
*
EMAIL US!
Thoughts or questions? Email danielle@freshfiction.com.
*
Find us on the Socials!
Gwen Reyes
Danielle Jackson
Fresh Fiction
Sunday Dec 26, 2021
Everything We Loved in 2021!
Sunday Dec 26, 2021
Sunday Dec 26, 2021
Vibe Check
Danielle and Gwen both can’t sleep and are very tired. No one at Fresh Fiction told Danielle about her book’s cover reveal and it went really well; the cover of THE ACCIDENTAL PINUP is now out in the world! Gwen made two new recipes ahead of the holidays: beef pot roast stew and apple cranberry sauce.
*
Our Faves of 2021!
Danielle’s Faves
TV: Only Murders in the Building, Ted Lasso, Virgin River Season 3, Insecure, Dickinson
Movies: Raya and the Last Dragon, The Mitchells vs. The Machines, In the Heights, Passing (Danielle mentioned a Reddit thread and Salon article about the book Passing by Nella Larson, how it relates to The Great Gatsby, and how perhaps Gatsby was passing, too)
Books: Sisters in Arms by Kaia Alderson, The Fastest Way to Fall by Denise Williams, Love in Colour by Bolu Babalola
Gwen’s Faves
TV: Tuca & Bertie season 2, Rick & Morty, Succession, Hacks, White Lotus, Insecure, Ghosts
Movies: King Richard, Tick, Tick, Boom; Malignant, Candyman, Barb and Star Go to Del Mar
Board Games: Fort, Abandon All Artichokes, Accension Realms Unraveled
*
2021 “SENIOR SUPERLATIVES”
The Media that Saved You
Gwen: Podcasts and reality TV
Danielle: Graphic novels
Something That Made You LOL
Danielle: Nailed It! On Netflix; this clip of Prince Harry and Prince William doing obstacle courses set to Do You Remember
Gwen: Noodle the Pug
Under the Radar
Gwen: Bo Burnham’s INSIDE
Danielle: We Are Lady Parts on Peacock (Premium)
Wild Card
Danielle: Romancelandia Stickers
Gwen: Alba Botanicals Natural Vegan Jelly
What We Want to See in 2022
What we hope to see in entertainment in 2022
Gwen: History, but not just what we’re already used to
Danielle: Diverse stories, more voices represented, and more HAPPY content.
*
Goals/Comfort & Joy
BIGGEST GOAL FLOP FROM 2021
Gwen: Drinking water
Danielle: Re-reading Austen
BIGGEST GOAL SUCCESS FROM 2021
Danielle: Anything writing related
Gwen: Uncrossing my legs at my desk
BIG GOAL or INTENTION for 2022
Gwen: Creating and finishing something
Danielle: ENJOY releasing a book!
GOALS FROM LAST WEEK:
Danielle: Finish The Story of the Lost Child by Elena Ferrante by the end of the year—ALMOST DONE!
Gwen: Finish Christmas shopping—YES!
*
Gwen’s New Goal: Enjoy the next two weeks of traveling
Danielle’s New Goal: Book 2 Revisions, round 1.
*
EMAIL US!
Thoughts or questions? Email us at danielle@freshfiction.com.
*
Find us on the Socials!
Gwen Reyes
Danielle Jackson
Fresh Fiction
Saturday Dec 11, 2021
Holiday Entertainment + Roan Parrish Interview
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
*
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
*
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/
*
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
*
EMAIL US!
Thoughts or questions? Email us at podcast@freshfiction.com.
*
Find us on the Socials!
Gwen Reyes
Danielle Jackson
Fresh Fiction