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The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett, book cover
Episode 34·22 October 2025·48 min

Annie HartnettThe Road to Tender Hearts

Finding the humour in tragedy.

About this episode

In this episode, I sit down with Annie Hartnett, the bestselling author of The Road to Tender Hearts, to talk about finding humour in heartbreak and the power of storytelling to carry us through difficult times. Annie shares how moments of adversity have shaped her voice as a writer and how she balances grief, chaos, and laughter in her latest novel, a darkly funny, deeply tender story about family, loss, and connection.

We talk about her unforgettable characters, including PJ Halliday, his adult daughter Sophie, two orphaned children, and Pancakes, a clairvoyant cat who can predict death and how the book’s strange mix of tragedy and magic reveals what it means to love and keep going. Annie also opens up about her writing process, her love of storytelling, and offers thoughtful advice for anyone working on their own creative projects.

It’s an honest, warm, and funny conversation about the beauty in life’s messier moments. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

In this episode

  1. Introduction
  2. Meet Annie Hartnett & The Road to Tender Hearts
  3. Inspiration Behind the Book
  4. Writing Through Adversity
  5. Reading from Chapter One
  6. Character Inspirations & Family Ties
  7. Omniscient Voice & Magical Elements
  8. The Randomness of Road Stops
  9. Real-Life Inspirations
  10. Writing Tips & Support
  11. Upcoming Projects & Book Recommendations