The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience
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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Kelly Yang Writes
10 april 2026 · 45 min
#1 New York Times bestselling author Kelly Yang spoke with us about burning out at Harvard Law, navigating Hollywood’s power dynamics, and her adult fiction debut THE TAKE. Lees meer
Kelly Yang is the award-winning and bestselling author of over 15 books for children, teens and adults, including the lauded Front Desk series (Front Desk, Three Keys, Room to Dream, Key Player, Top Story, and Chef’s Secret), New From Here, Finally Seen, Finally Heard, young adult novels Parachutes and Private Label, as well as the picture books Yes We Will: Asian Americans Who Shaped This Country and Little Bird Laila.
Based on Kelly’s childhood experience living and working in a motel as a first-generation immigrant child from China, her debut novel, Front Desk, was named "one of the best books of the 21st century" by Kirkus Reviews.
Her adult debut novel, The Take (April 14, 2026), “blends social commentary with psychological suspense, set in contemporary Hollywood, that dives into biohacking, youth-obsessed culture, and the dangerous bargains women make to stay relevant at work.”
Marie Claire called it, “One part The Substance, another part The Devil Wears Prada, The Take is a juicy, twisty take on aging, success, and race. Told in a sharp and hilarious voice, The Take is sure to be one of the hottest books of spring.”
New York Times bestselling author Grace D. Li called the book, “Breathlessly plotted and fearlessly told, The Take is a timely, incisive examination of ambition, aging, and who gets to tell whose stories in Hollywood.”
Kelly has written screenplays and television pilots for Netflix, CBS Studios, and the CW. She and Kate DiCamillo also co-host the StoryKind podcast.
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In this file Kelly Yang, Milena and I di…
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How Author and Social Media Sensation “The Workout Witch” Liz Tenuto Writes
3 april 2026 · 44 min
Social media phenom turned author, Liz Tenuto aka “The Workout Witch,” spoke to us about how she discovered somatic healing and being courted by publishers to write her first book WHEN THE BODY SPEAKS. Lees meer
Liz Tenuto is a somatic instructor specializing in healing practices that release the physical effects of stress and trauma. She has a degree in Psychology from UCSB, certifications in Pilates and Reiki, 6 years of mentorship in teaching Feldenkrais by Augusta Moore, and 15 years of hands-on teaching experience.
Liz has helped over 200,000 women heal from trauma and long-term stress with her viral online courses, over five million followers across platforms on social media, and over 30 million views on some of her TikTok videos. She has received thousands of testimonials from students.
Her first book "Moving Through Trauma: A Somatic Guide To Healing" will be published on April 7th, 2026 by HarperCollins. It’s described as “... a comprehensive guide to understanding how trauma and stress are stored within the body—and how somatic exercises can provide a powerful tool for healing.”
Liz has been featured in USA Today, BBC News, Harper's Bazaar France, MSN, NY Weekly, LA Weekly, Shoutout LA, among others.
New York Times bestselling author Tori Dunlap said of the author, "Liz has helped millions of women connect to their bodies, relieve pain, and change their lives—[her] book has the ability to do the same for you."
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In this file Liz Tenuto, Milena and I discussed:
Her journey from contemporary dance to somatic healing
How she went from zero followers to owning a business with 11 employees and 240,000 students
A primer on somatic healing and “bottom up” therapy
Her community first approach to her pr…
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How NY Times Bestselling Author Emma Straub Writes: Part Two
27 maart 2026 · 37 min
New York Times bestselling author, Emma Straub, spoke to us about the cognitive dissonance, joy, and research process behind her highly anticipated next novel AMERICAN FANTASY. Lees meer
Emma Straub is the New York Times bestselling author of six books for adults: the novels This Time Tomorrow, All Adults Here, The Vacationers, Modern Lovers, Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures, and the short story collection Other People We Married. She is also the author of a picture book, Very Good Hats. Her books have been published in more than 20 languages.
Her latest novel, American Fantasy (Available on Apr 07, 2026), is described as “... an irresistible story about what happens when your teenage fantasy comes true after you’re already an adult.”
NAMED A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2026 BY THE NEW YORK TIMES, PEOPLE, TIME, HARPER'S BAZAAR AND OPRAH DAILY
#1 New York Times bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid, called it “…a fun, delicious, big-hearted book.” #1 New York Times bestselling author Rainbow Rowell wrote, “You don't have to be a fan of something to love American Fantasy, but if you've ever truly devoted yourself to a boy band or a TV show or even a series of books, you will feel so understood by this novel.”
Emma and her husband also own Books Are Magic, the popular independent bookstores in Brooklyn, New York.
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In this file Emma Straub, Milena and I discussed:
How an annual NKOTB fan cruise inspired the latest
Writing a book about time, love, and loss and why her mom called it her "sexiest book"
Why you can’t reverse-engineer the perfect novel
What happened when her book appeared in Season Three of the White Lotus
Hanging out at with Lin-Manuel Miranda
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
American Fantasy: A No…
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How Award-Winning Journo & Author Ellen Huet Writes
20 maart 2026 · 45 min
Award-winning journalist and author, Ellen Huet, spoke with us about the expose that set off an FBI investigation and the resultant book, EMPIRE OF ORGASM: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult. Lees meer
Ellen Huet is an award-winning investigative journalist who covers technology and Silicon Valley for Bloomberg News. She writes features for Bloomberg Businessweek magazine, and has hosted two seasons of the podcast Foundering… a narrative audio series from Bloomberg Technology.
Her first book EMPIRE OF ORGASM: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult (2025), is about the rise and fall of alleged sex cult OneTaste, and “…explore[s] how the group's former employees and customers alleged it was a sex cult that exploited its members financially and sexually.”
New York Times bestselling author Ashlee Vance said of the book, “This isn’t just a tale of one cultish company―it’s a mirror held up to tech’s dark side, so full of greed and self-delusion.”
Ellen was also featured in a 2022 Netflix documentary about OneTaste called Orgasm, Inc., and her reporting about OneTaste has been cited in the New York Times, the New Yorker, the Wall Street Journal, Vanity Fair, Slate and many other outlets.
Trigger warning: This episode includes some explicit descriptions of OneTaste’s practice of orgasmic meditation (OM).
[This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ulys.app/writeabook to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."]
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In this file Ellen Huet, Milena and I discussed:
Hitting the Crime beat for the SF Chronicle straight out of college
The company at the heart of her investigation dubbed "The Whole Foods of sexuality"
Why On…
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How to Write a Hit Narrative Podcast with Aaron Tracy: Part Three
13 maart 2026 · 45 min
Yale educator and TV writer/producer, Aaron Tracy, returns to chat with us about why truth is stranger than fiction, what it’s like to teach at Yale, and his non-fiction narrative podcast “The Secret Life of Roald Dahl.” Lees meer
Aaron Tracy also teaches “The Art and Craft of Television Drama” as well as “Narrative Podcasts” at Yale University, and his TV credits include Law & Order: SVU, Fairly Legal, and The Tap which Aaron produced alongside one of his heroes, the legendary late Rob Reiner.
He is also a Creator, Director, and Exec. Producer of scripted audio dramas for iHeartRadio, Audible, and Spotify, with various production partners including: Supreme: The Battle For Roe, starring Eva Longoria (feat. Maya Hawke and William H. Macy), and Nowhere Man, a noir political thriller Executive Produced by and starring Lee Pace, with co-stars Zosia Mamet, and Chazz Palminteri.
His latest production is the hit narrative podcast, “The Secret World of Roald Dahl,” a new series from iHeartMedia, Imagine Entertainment, and Parallax. Created and hosted by Aaron Tracy, it goes beyond the pages of Willy Wonka, Matilda, and the BFG to uncover the stranger truth behind the author himself.
Aaron’s debut audio drama, The Coldest Case, a detective thriller starring Aaron Paul, Krysten Ritter, and Alexis Bledel, premiered as the #1 download on Audible in 2021, and has since become the most downloaded show in Audible Plus history.
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In this file Aaron Tracy, Milena and I discussed:
How a former spy and struggling screenwriter became one of the most successful writers for children of all time
His evolution from screenwriter to narrative non-fiction podcast
An update on Yale’s Narrative Podcasts course in its 3rd year
Exciti…
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The Art and Craft of TV Drama with Aaron Tracy: Part Two - Redux
12 maart 2026 · 42 min
In anticipation of the third part in our series! Lees meer
Yale educator and TV writer/producer, Aaron Tracy, returns to chat with me about surviving the WGA writer’s strike, finally teaching the podcast at Yale, and his latest audio thriller on Audible, Nowhere Man, starring Lee Pace and Zosia Mamet.
Aaron Tracy also teaches “The Art and Craft of Television Drama” at Yale University, and his TV credits include Law & Order: SVU, Fairly Legal, The Tap, and Sequestered, a serialized thriller that ran two seasons, for which he was Creator and Executive Producer.
He is also a Creator, Director, and Exec. Producer of scripted audio dramas for iHeartRadio, Audible, and Spotify, with various production partners including: Supreme: The Battle For Roe, his 9-part audio drama starring Eva Longoria (feat. Maya Hawke and William H. Macy); Murder in Bermuda (feat. Mary-Louise Parker); and many others.
His most recent is Nowhere Man, a noir political thriller Executive Produced by and starring Lee Pace, with co-stars Zosia Mamet, and Chazz Palminteri. “Set in the mid-1980s, Nowhere Man is a dark, paranoid thriller about temptation and obsession through the prism of a profession most people don’t even know exists.”
Aaron’s debut audio drama, The Coldest Case, a detective thriller starring Aaron Paul, Krysten Ritter, and Alexis Bledel, premiered as the #1 download on Audible in 2021, and has since become the most downloaded show in Audible Plus history.
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In this file Aaron Tracy and I discussed:
Why he loves the ‘80s period pieces
How his directing experience has shaped his writing
Why he teaches the narrative podcast the same way he teaches Television Drama
The two greatest innovations of the modern TV art form
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How to Write a Bestselling Audio Drama with Writer/Producer Aaron Tracy: Part One - Redux
10 maart 2026 · 43 min
In anticipation of the third part in our series! Lees meer
Yale educator and TV writer/producer, Aaron Tracy, spoke with me about what it takes to make it as a TV writer, breaking into the audio drama space, producing Audible’s most successful original fiction series, and working on the upcoming “Supreme” with Eva Longoria.
Aaron Tracy teaches “The Art and Craft of Television Drama” at Yale University, and his TV credits include Law & Order: SVU, Fairly Legal, The Tap, and Sequestered, a serialized thriller that ran two seasons, for which he was Creator and Executive Producer.
He is also the Creator, Head Writer, and Exec. Producer of scripted audio dramas for iHeartRadio, Audible, and Spotify, with various production partners. These include an underdog NBA story with Steve Nash, a legal thriller with James Patterson, a historical romance with Shonda Rhimes, and a courtroom drama with Eva Longoria.
His first show to be released, The Coldest Case, a detective thriller starring Aaron Paul, Krysten Ritter, and Alexis Bledel, premiered as the #1 download on Audible in 2021, and has since become the most downloaded show in Audible Plus history.
His audio entertainment company, Parallax, is the home for “prestige scripted audio thrillers and thought-provoking unscripted fare.”
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In this file Aaron Tracy and I discussed:
The two paths available to aspiring TV writers
Why you need to always be pitching ideas
How audio dramas harken back to the golden days of radio
Landing big stars for "TV shows without the visuals"
Working with Rob Reiner
How to write for the ear
Why the journey is the destination for writers
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
The Art and Craft of TV Drama with Aaron Tracy: Part Two
Ya…
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How Bestselling Author Emma Grey Writes
6 maart 2026 · 48 min
Bestselling and award-winning author, Emma Grey, spoke with us about the long path to publication, the catharsis of writing through grief, and her latest unexpected love story, START AT THE END. Lees meer
Emma Grey is the award-winning author of seven books, including the USA Today and international bestsellers, The Last Love Note and Pictures of You. Her newest book, Start at the End, publishing April 7, 2026, is described as a “...sliding-doors novel … that explores second chances and unwritten endings.”
Robinne Lee, author of The Idea of You wrote, "Emma Grey is a talented, beautiful writer, full of wit and wisdom and brilliant observations.” Sarah Damoff, author of The Bright Years called the book “... a tour de force of honest humanity.”
Emma’s book Pictures of You won the gold medal in the American Independent Publisher Book Awards. Along with The Last Love Note, it received a starred review from the American Library Association. Both books were selected for two major American book clubs, including the Book of the Month and the Target Book Clubs.
Her novels have attracted multiple foreign translations deals, a TV option, and Emma co-wrote a stage musical based on one of her teenage novels, which was selected for Broadway Unplugged in Sydney and by the Homegrown Initiative in Melbourne.
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In this file Emma Grey, Milena and I discussed:
Why writers choose to have homework all the time
Visiting Prince Edward Island to speak about Anne of Green Gables
Why every reader takes away a unique thing from your writing
How her audience feeds into the writing of each new book
Striving for 100 rejections a year to become more resilient
The #writingvanlife
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
emmagrey.com.au
Start at…
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How Award-Winning Author & Journo Elizabeth Arnott Writes: Redux
3 maart 2026 · 44 min
Happy pub' day Elizabeth! Lees meer
Award-winning author and journalist Elizabeth Arnott spoke with us about her early studies of serial killers, a wild journalism career, and her latest period-set crime novel THE SECRET LIVES OF MURDERERS' WIVES.
Elizabeth Arnott has written critically acclaimed historical fiction as Lizzie Pook (her maiden name). As a journalist, she covered everything from true crime to Arctic exploration and appeared in publications such as The Sunday Times, National Geographic, The New York Times Book Review, and The Guardian among others.
She has described her much-anticipated latest historical crime novel as Mad Men with murders, and Lessons in Chemistry with a body count. The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives [available for pre-order and landing March 3, 2026; Berkley Hardcover], is a story that “... centers on three unlikely friends—all former wives of serial killers—and their efforts to solve a string of local killings in 1966 California.”
The book was acquired in a heated seven-way auction and named one of “The Best Books for Book Clubs in 2026” by Glamour, and among “The 10 Most-Anticipated Mystery-Thriller Books of 2026” by Marie Claire.
Parade wrote of the book, “... a story that feels like Bright Young Women collided with Mindhunter …. a propulsive, period-set whodunit perfect for anyone who loves early criminal profiling and Mad Men-era aesthetics with bite.”
[This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ulys.app/writeabook to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."]
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In this file Elizabeth Arnott, Milena and I discussed:
Elizabeth’s early obsession with the film Almost Famous
Renting a flat …
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How NY Times Notable Novelist Emily Listfield Writes
27 februari 2026 · 44 min
New York Times Notable author and journalist, Emily Listfield, spoke with us about quitting her waitressing job after her first advance, the true value of beta readers, and the rich people behaving badly in her latest thriller REASONS TO LIE. Lees meer
Emily Listfield is the author of seven previous novels, including a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, It Was Gonna Be Like Paris. She is the former editor-in-chief of Fitness magazine and executive editor of Parade's HealthyStyle. Her writing appears frequently in Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, Allure, the New York Times, and numerous other national publications.
Her latest novel, Reasons to Lie (Thomas & Mercer; February 24, 2026)—described as “Gossip Girl meets Law and Order SVU,”—is a propulsive mystery set in the rarefied world of NYC’s elite and shaped by the bonds of female friendship. Oprah Daily included Reasons to Lie among their Most Anticipated Books of 2026.
New York Times bestselling author Kate White called the book,“Taut, riveting, and laced with stunning and unsettling revelations…,” and author Elinor Lipman wrote, “REASONS TO LIE is set at the kind of snobby Manhattan school I love to hate. Highly enjoyable, flawlessly written, and highly recommended!”
[This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ulys.app/writeabook to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."]
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In this file Emily Listfield, Milena and I discussed:
Why some big ideas are best left to marinate
The difference between writing short form journalism and the novel
How female friendships are at the core to her life and so many other women
Why she chose to skewer the world of an elite NY private school
How th…
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How NY Times Bestselling Author Emma Straub Writes: Part One - Redux
20 februari 2026 · 32 min
In anticiapation of the second part in this series! Lees meer
New York Times bestselling author, Emma Straub, spoke to me about why everything in life is timing, how to write a book for yourself, time travel, and her latest This Time Tomorrow.
Emma is the bestselling author of six novels — including All Adults Here, The Vacationers, Modern Lovers, and Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures — the short story collection Other People We Married. Her books have been published in 20 countries.
Her latest, This Time Tomorrow, has been named One of the Most Anticipated Books of 2022 by Vogue, Oprah, Entertainment Weekly, Glamour, Good Housekeeping, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Reader’s Digest, Today, Parade, Thrillist, Pop Sugar, Lithub and more.
Described as "...a moving father-daughter story and a playful twist on the idea of time travel," author Michael Chabon called the book "...a beautifully made, elegant music box of a novel that sets in motion its clever clockwork of delight—then breaks your heart with its bittersweet, lingering song.”
Emma and her husband also own Books Are Magic, a popular independent bookstore in Brooklyn, New York.
[This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ulys.app/writeabook to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."]
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In this file Emma Straub and I discussed:
Why getting an MFA helped her slow down her writing
How she met everyone in publishing at an indie bookshop
The unique perspective of Xennials
How to find confidence and pages while being off-balance
Why she'd drink less Olde English if she could go back
And a lot more!
Stay calm and write on ...
emmastraub.net
This Time Tomorro…
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How NY Times Bestselling Author Gregg Hurwitz Writes: Part Two
13 februari 2026 · 45 min
New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author, Gregg Hurwitz, returns to chat with us about his unflagging curiosity and fascinating research process, how to find your true writing voice, and his 11th Orphan X novel, ANTIHERO. Lees meer
Gregg Hurwitz is the award-winning and internationally bestselling author of 27 novels including the lauded ORPHAN X series. His work has appeared in 33 languages, and the Los Angeles Times called him “... a thriller giant."
He is also a New York Times bestselling comic book writer, has written screenplays and TV scripts for many major studios and networks, and is an award-winning documentary producer. He has published numerous academic articles on Shakespeare, taught fiction writing at USC, and currently serves as the Co-President of International Thriller Writers (ITW).
His 11th Orphan X novel, Antihero, continues to follow The Nowhere Man, “Evan Smoak [as he] takes on his most complex mission yet―one where he not only has to protect but also avenge, and find a way to balance vengeance with mercy.”
The series has been described as, “All Gas. No Breaks," by The Real Book Spy, and Library Journal called the book, "A relentless battle between vengeance and virtue."
[This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ulys.app/writeabook to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."]
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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]In this file Gregg Hurwitz, Milena and I discussed:
Going on book tour and hanging out with David Duchovny
How his prescient contemporary thriller plots come to be
His most eye-opening research and future as a cult leader
Why writing should be a version of play
How fiction can be truer than truth
Why writers an…
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How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Rosie Storey Writes
6 februari 2026 · 39 min
Acclaimed debut novelist Rosie Storey spoke with us about her rejection advice for writers, chasing personal authenticity, and the "accidental catfishing" at the heart of DANDELION IS DEAD. Lees meer
Rosie Storey left her corporate career to finish her hotly anticipated debut novel, Dandelion Is Dead. The book received significant buzz in early 2026, including a January 2026 Indie Next selection, an exclusive excerpt on Today.com, an NPR interview, coverage from Reader’s Digest, and optioned for TV, among many others.
Described as a “... witty, heart-wrenching debut that follows a woman who starts dating under her late sister’s online profile,” and a “... ‘messy millennial’ story that’s Fleabag meets P.S. I Love You.”
Booklist said of the book, “Storey's debut novel is striking, with staggeringly complex characters and messy situations reminiscent of real life…. filled with intimacy and kindness….Fast-paced but never hurried.” #1 New York Times bestselling author Carley Fortune called it “... the perfect book club book.”
Rosie Storey holds a master’s in creative writing, and lives in East London, where she works as a writing coach. She is working on her second book.
[This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ulys.app/writeabook to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."]
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In this file Rosie Storey, Milena and I discussed:
How it feels to be compared to your heroes
The many opportunities she had to give up the writing life
Getting support and much-needed advice from her editors early on
The importance of pacing for the novel
Writing about grief and the societal pressures on men and women
Dancing at Studio 54 with Miranda July
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How Award-Winning Author & Journo Elizabeth Arnott Writes
30 januari 2026 · 45 min
Award-winning author and journalist Elizabeth Arnott spoke with us about her early studies of serial killers, a wild journalism career, and her latest period-set crime novel THE SECRET LIVES OF MURDERERS' WIVES. Lees meer
Elizabeth Arnott has written critically acclaimed historical fiction as Lizzie Pook (her maiden name). As a journalist, she covered everything from true crime to Arctic exploration and appeared in publications such as The Sunday Times, National Geographic, The New York Times Book Review, and The Guardian among others.
She has described her much-anticipated latest historical crime novel as Mad Men with murders, and Lessons in Chemistry with a body count. The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives [available for pre-order and landing March 3, 2026; Berkley Hardcover], is a story that “... centers on three unlikely friends—all former wives of serial killers—and their efforts to solve a string of local killings in 1966 California.”
The book was acquired in a heated seven-way auction and named one of “The Best Books for Book Clubs in 2026” by Glamour, and among “The 10 Most-Anticipated Mystery-Thriller Books of 2026” by Marie Claire.
Parade wrote of the book, “... a story that feels like Bright Young Women collided with Mindhunter …. a propulsive, period-set whodunit perfect for anyone who loves early criminal profiling and Mad Men-era aesthetics with bite.”
[This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ulys.app/writeabook to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."]
[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]
[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Elizabeth Arnott, Milena and I discussed:
Elizabeth’s early obsession with the film Almost Famous
Renting a flat above a brothel in grad school
Her…
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How NY Times Bestselling Author Gregg Hurwitz Writes: Part One - Redux
23 januari 2026 · 37 min
In anticipation of the author's return to the pod ... Lees meer
New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author, Gregg Hurwitz, spoke with me about why all writing is a process of self-discovery, how to humanize a trained assassin, and the latest Orphan X thriller, THE LAST ORPHAN.
Gregg Hurwitz is an award-winning and internationally bestselling author of 23 thrillers including the ORPHAN X series. He has been published in 33 languages, and the Los Angeles Times called him “... a thriller giant."
He is also a NY Times bestselling comic book writer, having penned stories for AWA (Knighted and the critically acclaimed anthology NewThink), Marvel (Wolverine, Punisher) and DC (Batman, Penguin).
His eighth Orphan X novel is The Last Orphan, the ongoing series featuring The Nowhere Man, “Evan Smoak, a man with skills, resources, and a personal mission to help those with nowhere else to turn. He’s also a man with a dangerous past.”
#1 NY Times bestselling author Meg Gardiner said of the book, "Just when I thought the Orphan X novels couldn’t get any better, Gregg Hurwitz takes the series to an even higher level. The Last Orphan is pulse-pounding, heart-stopping, and thought-provoking.”
Gregg Hurwitz has written screenplays and TV scripts for many of the major studios and networks, has published poetry, numerous academic articles on Shakespeare, and has taught fiction writing at USC.
[This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ulys.app/writeabook to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."]
[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]
[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Gregg Hurwitz and I discussed:
The reason he never took a creative writing class
Why Orphan X is the culmination of h…
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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Dean Koontz Writes
16 januari 2026 · 37 min
#1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz spoke with me about his secret desire to run away with the carnival, struggling as a young writer, finding his voice, the evolution of his process, and his latest novel THE FRIEND OF THE FAMILY. Lees meer
International bestselling author Dean Koontz was a senior in college when he won an Atlantic Monthly fiction competition. He has never looked back.
Koontz has written over 120 novels, been published in over 38 countries, and sold an incredible 500 million copies to date.
His masterful suspense thrillers, which blend science fiction, horror, crime and comedy, have earned him worldwide acclaim–and 14 hardback #1 NYT bestsellers–making him one of only a dozen writers to achieve that milestone (incl. One Door Away From Heaven, From the Corner of His Eye, Midnight, Cold Fire, The Bad Place, Hideaway, Dragon Tears, Intensity, Sole Survivor, The Husband, Odd Hours, Relentless, What the Night Knows, and 77 Shadow Street).
His latest novel, The Friend of the Family, is described as the story of “A girl liberated from a carnival sideshow [who] discovers her mysterious purpose in a moving novel about family, sacrifice, and transcendent love…”
Dean Koontz has been hailed by Rolling Stone as “America’s most popular suspense novelist,” and The New York Times has called his writing “psychologically complex, masterly and satisfying.” Many of his books have been made into films.
[This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ulys.app/writeabook to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."]
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In this file Dean Koontz and I discussed:
What to do when you’re down and out
When he realized he wasn’t a true s…
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How Bestselling Author & Literary Agent Betsy Lerner Writes: Redux
14 januari 2026 · 36 min
Listen to a replay of 2025's other 3rd most popular episode (it was a statistical tie)! Lees meer
Bestselling author and literary agent Betsy Lerner spoke with me about being a “late bloomer,” what 35 years in publishing has taught her, and portraying mental illness in her debut novel SHRED SISTERS.
Betsy Lerner is the author of the popular advice book to writers, The Forest for the Trees, and the memoirs Food and Loathing and The Bridge Ladies. With Temple Grandin, she is the also co-author of the New York Times bestseller Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns and Abstractions.
Her debut novel, Shred Sisters, is described as “... an intimate and bittersweet story exploring the fierce complexities of sisterhood, mental health, loss and love.” The book was longlisted for The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, a New York Times Notable Book of 2024, and a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice and Best Book of the Year So Far, among many other accolades.
Betsy received an MFA from Columbia University in Poetry and was selected as one of PEN’s Emerging Writers. She also received the Tony Godwin Publishing Prize for Editors. After working as an editor for 15 years, she became an agent and is currently a partner with Dunow, Carlson and Lerner Literary Agency.
[This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ulys.app/writeabook to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."]
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In this file Betsy Lerner and I discussed:
Getting kicked out of film school
How "No Bad Dogs" inspired her to write The Forest for the Trees about writer personalities
Working with punk rock icon Patti Smith
The secre…
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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Marissa Meyer Writes: Redux
9 januari 2026 · 33 min
Listen to a replay of 2025's 3rd most popular episode! Lees meer
#1 New York Times bestselling author Marissa Meyer spoke with me about cutting her teeth on fanfiction, working briefly in publishing, and THE HAPPY WRITER, a guide to writing with less stress and more JOY.
Marissa Meyer is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lunar Chronicles, Heartless, The Renegades Trilogy, and Instant Karma, as well as the graphic novel duology Wires and Nerve.
Marissa also created and hosted a popular podcast, The Happy Writer, that inspired her debut writing guide, The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond.
Described as, “Applicable to writers in all genres and disciplines—from screenwriters to novelists, journalists to picture book authors, aspiring to many-times published—The Happy Writer is a heartfelt and optimistic guide that will show you the way to a happier writing journey.”
Marissa holds a BA in Creative Writing from Pacific Lutheran University and a MA in Publishing from Pace University.
[This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ulys.app/writeabook to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."]
[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]
[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Marissa Meyer and I discussed:
How an overactive imagination led to a lifetime of storytelling
What she learned about the author/editor relationship early on
Why optimism has always been a part of her brand
How to bring more joy to your writing “process”
Embracing lifelong creativity
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
marissameyer.com
The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and…
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How Award-Winning TV Writer & Novelist Georgia Jeffries Writes: Redux
2 januari 2026 · 48 min
Listen to a replay of 2025's 2nd most popular episode! Thank you for your ears and we look forward to a raucous writerly 2026 ... Lees meer
Award-winning TV writer/producer turned novelist Georgia Jeffries spoke with me about why Cagney and Lacey was her film school, teaching screenwriting at USC, and the ghosts, grief, and grievance in her debut novel THE YOUNGER GIRL.
Georgia Jeffries is the Emmy-nominated TV writer/producer who became the first individual female screenwriter to earn a Writers Guild Award for Episodic Drama for her work on the ground-breaking series Cagney & Lacey.
Her debut is The Younger Girl: A Dark Labyrinth of Family Betrayal, based on a true crime. It was described by bestselling author Rachel Howzell Hall as “...historical fiction at its best. … [and] an eye-opening, immersive story about a family, then and now, nearly stripped bare from greed and the steadfast refusal to acknowledge a painful past.”
Jeffries has written docudramas and series pilots for CBS, ABC, NBC, HBO, and Showtime and is a professor at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts where she created the first undergraduate screenwriting thesis program at an American university.
[This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ulys.app/writeabook to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."]
[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]
[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Georgia Jeffries and I discussed:
Her early years as a journalist
How she received rave rejections on her first attempt at a novel
Why she based her debut on true events from her family’s past
The throughline of her quest for justice and love of noir fiction
Writing genre-bending historical suspense
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
georgiajeffrie…
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The Writer Files Holiday Party 2025
26 december 2025 · 52 min
Cheers! Welcome to our year-end Holiday Party for 2025. Lees meer
How Long Did Famous Novels Take to Write (infographic)?
Kafka’s diaries are heartening
Why We Should Keep Notebooks (According to Joan Didion)
Milena on being more intentional as a reader/writer
The last chapter of Stephen Pressfield’s The War of Art and his blurb of Adam’s American Tiger
Who couldn’t use 3 years uninterrupted in a cabin in the woods to finish your novel lol
Revisiting “Beginner’s Mindset” and the concept of the Duning-Kruger Effect: The “Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive bias where people with low ability in a specific area overestimate their competence, while experts often underestimate theirs, stemming from a lack of self-awareness about their own deficiencies or the complexity of the topic. Essentially, you need some knowledge to realize how much you don't know; the unskilled lack this meta-cognitive ability, leading to inflated confidence, while the skilled recognize the vastness of what's unknown, sometimes leading to underconfidence.”
Milena's Two Favorite Books of 2025! Milena read (or listened to) 64 books this year, and her faves all come down to language
Joining up with yours truly and our favorite TWF interviews in 2025: Albom, Zang, Lockhart, Skolnick, and Jeneva (freakin) Rose lol, and a shoutout to the most popular episode of the year with Emma Knight
We were named one of the “12 Best Writing Podcasts” by LARB, and won a Spotify “2025 Most Shared Show” Award
[This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ulys.app/writeabook to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."]
[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]
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Show Notes:
How Long Did Famous Novels Take to Write? (infogra…
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How NY Times Bestselling Author Emma Knight Writes: Redux
19 december 2025 · 32 min
Listen to a replay of 2025's most popular episode! Lees meer
New York Times bestselling author, journalist, and entrepreneur Emma Knight spoke to me about finding the courage to write fiction, the Loch Ness Monster of motherhood, and her breakout debut novel The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus.
Emma Knight is an author, journalist, Co-Founder and Head of Brand at Greenhouse, an award-winning organic beverage company, and co-author of The Greenhouse Cookbook (2017), a national bestseller.
Her debut novel and instant New York Times bestseller, The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus, is described as a “coming-of-age story, part family drama, and part campus novel.”
#1 New York Times bestselling author Carley Fortune called the book “A spellbinding debut about friendship, motherhood, first love, and the choices that bind us . . . I couldn’t put it down.”
Emma Knight also has an MA in Journalism, and her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Walrus, The Globe and Mail, Literary Hub, and more.
[This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ulys.app/writeabook to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."]
[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]
[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Emma Knight and I discussed:
The contrast of her whirlwind world tour after five years of writing
Why you can only write one sentence at a time
The process of removing your ego from the work
Taking the same advice she shared with her daughters
Why it's so much better to make things up for a living
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus by Emma Knight (Amazon)
Emma Knight talks how debut novel is a metaphor for motherhood - Today
Emma Knight on Instagram
Kelton Reid I…
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How NY Times Bestselling Author Peter Heller Writes: Part One - Redux
12 december 2025 · 42 min
Part 1 of 2 Throwback to a Pre-Pandemic podcast! Pete has some big news on the radar … Lees meer
The New York Times bestselling novelist, award-winning adventure writer, and journalist, Peter Heller, spoke with me about his early life as a starving poet, breaking into journalism, how he makes things up for a living, and what it's like to be compared to your heroes.
Peter is a longtime contributor to NPR, and a former contributing editor at Outside Magazine, Men’s Journal, and National Geographic Adventure. He received an MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop in fiction and poetry, is the author of four nonfiction books, and winner of the National Outdoor Book Award for Literature.
Heller is also a notable bestselling author of a half-dozen novels including The Dog Stars – a lauded breakout bestseller, now published in 22 languages – The Painter, and Celine (a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize that won the prestigious Reading the West Book Award, shared in the past by Western writer Cormac McCarthy).
His latest novel, and Edgar Award Nominee, The River, has been called a "... heart-pounding survival story of .... two college students on a wilderness canoe trip – [and] a gripping tale of a friendship tested by fire, white water, and violence."
The New York Times called The River, “[A] modern-day survival tale .... [with] the urgency of a thriller.”
[This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ulys.app/writeabook to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."]
[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]
[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Peter and I discussed:
How the author channels his fictional characters
The only way to start a novel
Why once you start "making it up" you can never go bac…
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How Bestselling Ghostwriter, Award-Winning Journo & Debut Novelist Adam Skolnick Writes: Part Two
5 december 2025 · 44 min
Part 2 of 2 Lees meer
Bestselling author and award-winning journalist Adam Skolnick returns to chat with us about the mystery of the creative process, why timing is everything in crafting a story, and his much-anticipated debut novel, AMERICAN TIGER.
I am joined by my co-host Milena Gonzalez.
Adam Skolnick is an author and award-winning journalist who covers travel, adventure and endurance sports, and the environment. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Outside, Wired, Lonely Planet, and Men's Health.
He's the author of One Breath: Freediving, Death and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits, and the ghostwriter and audiobook narrator of the bestselling David Goggins memoirs, Can't Hurt Me and Never Finished. A frequent contributor on The Rich Roll Podcast, he lives in Southern California where he was born and raised.
His debut novel, American Tiger (available for preorder now, out December 2, 2025), “Based on true events, rooted in the stunning Southern California landscape, and populated with vivid characters, [the book] is more than a frantic tiger hunt. It's about a child's quest for self-discovery, her stoic father's struggle to come to terms with their past, and the innate wildness of every living thing.”
New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert said of the author, "Adam Skolnick is a tireless investigator of the human experience, writes like a dream, and American Tiger is a gorgeous, subtly subversive yarn ringing with truth."
[This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ulys.app/writeabook to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."]
[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]
[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In Part Two of this file Adam Skolnick, Milena Gonzalez and I discussed:
Wh…
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How Bestselling Ghostwriter, Award-Winning Journo & Debut Novelist Adam Skolnick Writes: Part One
28 november 2025 · 50 min
Part 1 of 2 Lees meer
Bestselling author and award-winning journalist Adam Skolnick spoke with us about earning his 10,000 hours, living with yours truly in a trailer in the mountains, and his much-anticipated debut novel, AMERICAN TIGER.
I am joined by my co-host Milena Gonzalez.
Adam Skolnick is an author and award-winning journalist who covers travel, adventure and endurance sports, and the environment. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Outside, Wired, Lonely Planet, and Men's Health.
He's the author of One Breath: Freediving, Death and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits, and the ghostwriter and audiobook narrator of the bestselling David Goggins memoirs, Can't Hurt Me and Never Finished. A frequent contributor on The Rich Roll Podcast, he lives in Southern California where he was born and raised.
His debut novel, American Tiger (available for preorder now, out December 2, 2025), “Based on true events, rooted in the stunning Southern California landscape, and populated with vivid characters, [the book] is more than a frantic tiger hunt. It's about a child's quest for self-discovery, her stoic father's struggle to come to terms with their past, and the innate wildness of every living thing.”
Ann Napolitano, New York Times bestselling author of Hello Beautiful, wrote that the book, “Gripped me from the first page. Rarely have I read a novel with such an exquisite sense of place.”
[This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ulys.app/writeabook to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."]
[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]
[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In Part One of this file Adam Skolnick, Milena Gonzalez and I discussed:
His latest adventures and his next non-fiction book
What it wa…
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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Mitch Albom Writes
21 november 2025 · 54 min
#1 New York Times bestselling author Mitch Albom spoke with us about his humble beginnings as a sports journalist, the origins of Tuesdays with Morrie, and the universal themes he explores in his latest novel TWICE. Lees meer
I am joined by a co-host this week, none other than The Book Babe, Milena Gonzalez.
Mitch Albom is the internationally acclaimed author of 12 New York Times bestselling books. He is best known for Tuesdays with Morrie, the best-selling memoir of all time, which tells the story of his college professor, Morrie Schwartz.
His books have collectively sold 42 million copies worldwide; have been published in 51 territories in 48 languages around the world; and have been made into Emmy Award-winning and critically-acclaimed TV movies.
His latest novel, Twice, is described as “... a stunning love story that dares to explore how our unchecked desires might mean losing what we’ve had all along.”
Time magazine wrote of the author, “Think of Mitch Albom as the Babe Ruth of popular literature, hitting the ball out of the park every time he’s at bat.”
Mitch Albom is also a journalist, screenwriter, playwright, radio and television broadcaster, musician, and philanthropist.
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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Mitch Albom, Milena Gonzalez and I discussed:
Learning the art of storytelling at the dinner table as a kid
His past life as a musician playing nightclubs in Greece, and dive bars in NY
How he didn't write a word until he was 23 years old
Writing Tuesdays with Morrie and the hurricane of notoriety that followed
What it’s like to play in a band with Stephen King and James McBride
The different writers from different eras that have influenced his career
Why you need to swim in the water of creativity as a write…
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How Bestselling Author & Award-Winning Podcaster Barbara DeMarco-Barrett Writes
14 november 2025 · 42 min
Bestselling author and award-winning podcaster Barbara DeMarco-Barrett spoke with me about producing 20+ years of Writers on Writing, why writers don’t retire, and her debut noir short story collection POOL FISHING. Lees meer
Barbara DeMarco-Barrett’s first book Pen on Fire: A Busy Woman’s Guide to Igniting the Writer Within, was an Los Angeles Times bestseller and honored with an American Society of Journalists and Authors Outstanding Book Award.
Her latest book of short stories, Pool Fishing, is “... centered around deviant women …. in a world with characters who live on the fringes of society-physically, psychologically, or financially”.
Barbara DeMarco-Barrett is creator, executive producer, and host of the award-winning podcast, Writers on Writing, where she interviews authors, agents, and poets. She taught at the UC-Irvine Extension, where she received a Distinguished Instructors award, and is professor of creative writing at Saddleback College’s Emeritus Institute and lecturer at Chapman University.
Her fiction and poetry have been published in Coolest American Stories 2022, CrimeReads, Dark City Crime & Magazine, Serial Magazine, Beach Reads, among others. She was nominated for a Pushcart Prize for her short story, “Rowboat,” in Kelp Journal (Dec. 2023).
Her essays and articles have also been published in The Los Angeles Review of Books, Orange Coast Magazine, Westways, The Los Angeles Times, Writer’s Digest, and Poets & Writers and many others.
[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]
[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Barbara DeMarco-Barrett and I discussed:
Writing Pen on Fire early in her career
Why she feeds off of the energy of the writing community
How to write a noir short story
Hanging out with Raymond Chandler in Beverly Hills
Why you need to qu…
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How #1 New York Times Bestselling Author E. Lockhart Writes
7 november 2025 · 38 min
#1 New York Times bestselling author E. Lockhart spoke with us about her past life in academia, falling in love with the YA scene, and returning to the world of TikTok favorite We Were Liars with her latest beachy gothic WE FELL APART. Lees meer
I am joined by a co-host this week, none other than The Book Babe, Milena Gonzalez.
E. Lockhart is author of #1 New York Times bestsellers We Were Liars (also now a hit original series on Prime Video) and Family of Liars. Her other books include Again Again, Genuine Fraud, and The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks.
Recently celebrating 11 years in print, Lockhart’s We Were Liars has sold more than 2 million copies, become a TikTok sensation, and remained a regular New York Times bestseller since its publication.
Her latest novel returns to the world of We Were Liars with WE FELL APART described as “...an intricate, highly bingeable psychological suspense novel exploring themes of privilege, family legacy, freedom, and parental abandonment.” #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Inheritance Games Jennifer Lynn Barnes called it, “Compulsively readable to the very last page.”
E. Lockhart is also the inventor of DC Comics superhero Whistle: A New Gotham City Hero. She has been a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the National Book Award and an honoree for the Printz Award. She has a PhD in English literature from Columbia University and chaired the committee on Young People's Literature for the National Book Awards.
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In this file E. Lockhart, Milena Gonzalez and I discussed:
The dangers of bottomless espresso
How her process has evolved over the years and across genres
What getting a two-book deal for a YA novel did for her career
Wri…
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How NY Times Bestselling Author Jami Attenberg Writes: Bonus
1 november 2025 · 35 min
In honor of Novel November and every writer who needs 1000 Words, I'm republishing author Jami Attenberg's interview. Keep calm and write on ... Lees meer
New York Times bestselling author, Jami Attenberg, spoke with me about documenting the process of being a writer online and off, building a global literary movement, and her latest, 1000 Words: A Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All-Year Round.
Jami Attenberg is the New York Times bestselling author of seven books of fiction, including The Middlesteins, All Grown Up, and her recent memoir, I Came All This Way to Meet You. Her work has been published in 16 languages, she is the founder of the annual #1000WordsofSummer project and maintains the popular Craft Talk newsletter.
Jami Attenberg’s latest is 1000 Words: A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round. “Inspired by [her] wildly popular literary movement #1000WordsofSummer, this writer’s guide features encouraging essays on creativity, productivity, and writing from [over 50] acclaimed authors including Roxane Gay, Lauren Groff, Celeste Ng, Meg Wolitzer, and Carmen Maria Machado.”
Lit Hub said of the book, “It will be the new Bird by Bird, you heard it here first.” A Booklist, Starred Review called it “A fantastic set of essays… Readers of this collection will feel surrounded and bolstered by like-minded people who have been in the trenches.”
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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Jami Attenberg and I discussed:
The blessing and the curse of knowing you’re a writer
How she built an online writing community into a literary movement
Her tongue-in-cheek approach to the craft
The reason she uses the seasons as a metaphor for writers
How to harness the power of write-along…
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The Writer Files x Diary of a Book Babe: Vol. 2
31 oktober 2025 · 39 min
#bookstagram influencer, reviewer, and writer Milena Gonzalez (aka Diary of a Book Babe) returns to speak to me about hanging out with Jeneva Rose and Penny Zang, her latest five-star finds, and her top book pick of 2025. Lees meer
Milena Gonzalez graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a double major in Literary Journalism and English. She spent eight years as owner, designer, and screen printer of a small business, Lady & Little.
Milena is a Southern California mom to three kids. She is currently working on her third novel, a psychological suburban thriller. Learn more about her at diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram.
[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]
[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Milena Gonzalez and I discussed:
Diving deeper down the Doll Parts rabbit hole
Our future chat with #1 New York Times-bestselling author of We Were Liars, E. Lockhart
Emily Henry’s Netflix adaptation
The importance of finding other voices and your writing community
Adam Skolnick’s return to the podcast
My rapid-fire AMA with Milena
A few gratuitous F-bombs
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
The Writer Files x Diary of a Book Babe: Vol. 1
Doll Parts: A Playlist by Penny Zang (Spotify)
How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Penny Zang Writes
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jeneva Rose Writes
How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Jinwoo Park Writes
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Kelton Reid Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
How National Book Award Finalist Amber McBride Writes
24 oktober 2025 · 36 min
National Book Award Finalist Amber McBride spoke with me about finding her authentic voice, getting yelled at by kids, near-death experiences and the story behind her latest novel-in-verse THE LEAVING ROOM. Lees meer
Amber McBride is an award-winning author, poet, and former assistant professor of poetry, writing, and protest literature. Her debut young adult novel, Me (Moth) was a finalist for the National Book Award, 2021 and won the 2022 Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent, among many other accolades.
Her latest YA novel-in-verse is The Leaving Room, also a 2025 National Book Awards Finalist.
“Told from the perspective of a girl hovering between life and death, The Leaving Room is a poignant story about connection, grief, love, and the power of memories.”
Amber McBride’s middle-grade debut, Gone Wolf, won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. She holds an MFA in poetry from Emerson College, and her poetry has been published in Ploughshares, The Rumpus, DecomP Magazine, Provincetown Arts, and more.
[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]
[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Amber McBride and I discussed:
Overcoming hundreds of rejections early on
Finally quitting her assistant professorship to write full time
How the loss of her grandfather changed her writing
Why anything beyond publishing is icing on the cake
How she creates an entire world with a quarter of the words
Writing while the world sleeps
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
amber-mcbride.com
76th National Book Awards - Young People's Literature - Finalists
The Leaving Room by Amber McBride (Amazon)
Amber McBride Amazon Author Page
Amber McBride on Threads
Amber McBride on TikTok
Amber McBride on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. … -
How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Penny Zang Writes
17 oktober 2025 · 43 min
Acclaimed debut novelist Penny Zang spoke with us about making friendship bracelets for readers, why the world doesn’t stop when you lose a loved one, hanging out with Sylvia Plath, and her psychological thriller DOLL PARTS Lees meer
I am joined by a co-host this week, none other than The Book Babe, Milena Gonzalez.
Penny Zang is an English professor at Greenville Technical College and the debut author of DOLL PARTS, described as “... a dark, poetic, dual-timeline psychological thriller that blends sad girl lit and feminist horror with a heavy dose of 90s grunge nostalgia.”
International bestselling author Samantha Downing said of the book, "Doll Parts is the most mesmerizing and original book I’ve read in a long time. It’s eerie and addictive, a story that pulls you in and won’t let go," and Library Journal wrote, “Zang’s compelling debut delves insightfully into topics such as friendship, grief, and Plath’s place in literature...”
Penny Zang holds an MFA in Creative Writing from West Virginia University and is the 2024 Elizabeth Boatwright Coker fiction fellow via the South Carolina Academy of Authors. Her work has appeared in New Ohio Review, Louisville Review, Superstition Review, Potomac Review, and South 85, among others.
[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]
[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Penny Zang, Milena Gonzalez, and I discussed:
How she formed the #5AMWritersClub
Writing as a form of grief after losing a good friend
Reminding her parents that her fiction didn’t really happen
Wending pop culture iconography into her work
Why finding your writing community is so important
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
pennyzang.com
Doll Parts: A Novel by Penny Zang (Amazon)
Penny Zang on Facebook
Penny Zang on Instagram
Penny Zang on T…
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How to Become a Professional Screenwriter with Ted Braun and Melissa Rosenberg
10 oktober 2025 · 34 min
WGA-nominated writer, director and USC professor Ted Braun, and TV and film writer and exec. producer Melissa Rosenberg, joined me to talk about reimagining screenwriting education with the MFA in Screenwriting at Bennington College. Lees meer
Ted Braun is the Program’s Director and the WGA-nominated writer and director of Darfur Now, Betting on Zero, and Viva Maestro. He is a Professor of Screenwriting and Joseph Campbell Endowed Chair of Cinematic Ethics at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and was named one of Variety’s Top Ten Teachers in Film and TV in 2018.
Melissa Rosenberg is a writer and executive producer known for Twilight, Jessica Jones, and a 1986 graduate of Bennington College, where she is now a Trustee. She helped create and showrun Jessica Jones and adapted the Twilight film series, while also serving as head writer for Dexter.
Bennington College will admit just 12 gifted, driven writers—students who are serious about building a body of work and launching a professional screenwriting career—to their inaugural class of The MFA in Screenwriting.
Braun notes, “We’re looking for students with imagination and hunger—those who want to develop a foundation for a decades-long screenwriting career.”
The MFA in Screenwriting at Bennington College prepares writers for a life as creative and professional leaders in the evolving landscape of film and television. This low-residency, two-year program combines the academic depth of a liberal arts education with the rigorous preparation needed for a career in screenwriting.
Learn more at bennington.edu/screenwriting Applications are due by December 1st, 2025.
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In this file Ted Braun, Melissa Rosenberg and I discussed:
How life as a sc…
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How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Jinwoo Park Writes
3 oktober 2025 · 37 min
Award-winning, acclaimed debut novelist Jinwoo Park spoke to me about breaking out of a creative rut, writing as “self-therapy,” cracking the #BookTok code, and his literary espionage thriller OXFORD SOJU CLUB Lees meer
Jinwoo Park is a Korean Canadian writer based in Montreal. He completed a master's degree in creative writing at the University of Oxford, and currently works as a marketer in the tech industry.
His first novel, Oxford Soju Club, is a literary espionage thriller exploring themes of identity and the Korean diaspora. Park's manuscript for Oxford Soju Club won the Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers' Award in 2021.
A Booklist starred review wrote of the book, “In stylistically rich prose, the author carefully portrays complex characters, distilling the intricate workings of the Korean psyche with riveting tension. Under the cover of a compelling espionage drama…”
Jinwoo is also a literary translator and received the LTI Korea Translation Award for Aspiring Translators in 2023.
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In this file Jinwoo Park and I discussed:
How his notes from "self-therapy" became a breakout book
Posting to TikTok every day to build a following
Sharing a name with a character from K-Pop Demon Hunters
In rewriting his debut novel five times to distill it to its essence
What authenticity means to him
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
jinwoo-park.com
Oxford Soju Club by Jinwoo Park (Amazon)
Jinwoo Park on Instagram
Jinwoo Park on TikTok
Jinwoo Park on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jeneva Rose Writes
26 september 2025 · 40 min
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Jeneva Rose, spoke with us about betting on herself, spurning the crown of “Queen of Twists,” her viral social media fame and latest post-apocalyptic romance, DATING AFTER THE END OF THE WORLD Lees meer
I am joined by a co-host this week, none other than The Book Babe, Milena Gonzalez.
Jeneva Rose is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of several novels, including the multi-million copy bestseller, The Perfect Marriage. Her work has been translated into more than 30 languages and optioned for film and TV.
Her latest novel is DATING AFTER THE END OF THE WORLD (October 1, 2025), a post-apocalyptic, zombie, enemies-to-lovers romance. Dating After The End of the World was named an Amazon First Reads pick and a #1 New Release in Romantic Comedy.
Jeneva Rose has a background in social media, digital, and email marketing. She became a full-time author in March 2021, and has amassed over one million followers across all social media platforms, including TikTok where she’s known as “Mother Goose.”
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In this file Jeneva Rose, Milena Gonzalez, and I discussed:
How she overcame the odds, and 500 rejections, to sign two major publishing deals
Writing with a new baby on board
Turning hate mail into a laughable social media saga
Her inspiration for the latest
The unwavering support of her husband
Hanging out with Colleen Hoover
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
jenevarose.com
Dating After the End of the World– October 1, 2025 by Jeneva Rose (Amazon)
Jeneva Rose Amazon Author Page
Jeneva Rose on Facebook
Jeneva Rose on Instagram
Jeneva Rose on TikTok
Jeneva Rose on Twitter
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on In…
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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Lev Grossman Writes: Redux
24 september 2025 · 33 min
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Lev Grossman, spoke to me about his tenure at Time magazine, how The Magicians poked holes in Narnia and Potter, and reimagining a legend with THE BRIGHT SWORD: A Novel of King Arthur. Lees meer
Lev Grossman is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Magicians trilogy—The Magicians, The Magician King, and The Magician’s Land—which has been published in 30 countries and adapted as a TV show that ran for five seasons on SYFY.
His latest novel is THE BRIGHT SWORD: A Novel of King Arthur, named a Best Summer Read by The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Time, Vulture, Esquire, Boston Globe, Elle, Town & Country, Seattle Times, New York Post, Lit Hub, and many others.
George R. R. Martin, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Game of Thrones said of the book, “If you love King Arthur as much as I do, you’ll love Lev Grossman’s The Bright Sword, a fresh and engrossing take on the Matter of Britain featuring a colorful cast of Round Table knights who don’t often get as much story time as they deserve. The creator of The Magicians has woven another spell.”
Lev has written two critically acclaimed novels for children, and the screenplay for the movie The Map of Tiny Perfect Things, a finalist for the Critic’s Choice awards (based on his short story).
He also worked as a staff writer at Time magazine, and has written essays and articles for Vanity Fair, the Believer, the Village Voice, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Salon, Slate, Wired, Entertainment Weekly, Buzzfeed, NPR, and many others.
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In this file Lev Grossman and I discussed:
How he talked his way into writing for Time magazine
The evolution of his career from journalist to novelist
Brea…
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How NY Times Bestselling Author Jayne Ann Krentz Writes: Part Two
19 september 2025 · 36 min
New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of romantic suspense, Jayne Ann Krentz, returns to speak with me about how she’s published over 120 novels, her advocacy of the merits of romantic fiction, and her latest mystery, THE SHOP ON HIDDEN LANE. Lees meer
Dubbed “The Queen of romantic suspense” and a trailblazer of paranormal romance, Jayne Ann Krentz is the author of over 50 New York Times bestsellers. She has written contemporary romantic suspense novels under that name and futuristic and historical romance novels under the pseudonyms Jayne Castle and Amanda Quick, respectively.
Her latest novel is THE SHOP ON HIDDEN LANE (available for preorder from Berkley; on sale January 6, 2026), described as “... a romantic mystery filled with intergenerational family rivalries, paranormal suspense, tension-filled romance, and a pulse-pounding conspiracy.”
Jayne Ann Krentz was the editor of and a contributor to Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women: Romance Writers on the Appeal of the Romance, a non-fiction essay collection that won the prestigious Susan Koppelman Award for Feminist Studies. Krentz was also the inspiration for, and first recipient of, the Romantic Times Jane Austen Award, created to "honor those in the romance community who have significantly impacted [the] genre"
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In this file Jayne Ann Krentz and I discussed:
Overcoming rejection early on
Why she would caution new authors against launching multiple brands under different names
The rise of Romantasy
Her inspiration for the “paranormal twist with a psychic vibe”
Writing plots that don’t require forensic science
The importance of storytelling for future generations
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
jayneannkrentz.co…
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How NY Times Bestselling Thriller Writer Riley Sager Writes: Redux
17 september 2025 · 33 min
New York Times bestselling thriller writer Riley Sager, spoke to me about why he publishes under a pen name, how to write Hitchcockian suspense, and his latest "The House Across the Lake." Lees meer
Riley Sager is the bestselling author of six novels, most recently Home Before Dark and Survive the Night. His award-winning first novel, Final Girls, was a national and international bestseller that has been published in 30 countries.
His latest novel, The House Across the Lake, has been named a most anticipated summer book by People, E! News, PureWow, CNN.com, CrimeReads, and many others.
It's been described by CrimeReads as "... a psychological thriller version of The Great Gatsby, featuring binoculars for more accurate across-the-lake spying, smaller gatherings for a shorter list of suspects, and a truly bat**** twist for more satisfying consumption."
The House Across the Lake was inspired by Riley's "... own pandemic escapes to a cabin in rural Vermont [and] oozes with slow-burn Hitchcockian suspense before building to a finale that will leave readers reeling. "
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Stay calm and write on ...
In this file Riley Sager and I discussed:
The albatross of bad sales early in your career
Why his process changes from book to book
How to turn common genre tropes on their head
What happens to his social life as deadlines loom
Taking inspiration from classic film
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
rileysagerbooks.com
The House Across the Lake: A Novel by Riley Sager (Amazon Affiliate)
Riley Sager Amazon Author Page (Amazon Affiliate)
Riley Sager on Facebook
Riley Sager on Instagram
Riley Sager on TikTok
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adcho… -
How NY Times Bestselling Author Chevy Stevens Writes: Part Two
12 september 2025 · 41 min
New York Times bestselling and award-winning psychological thriller writer, Chevy Stevens, returns to speak with me about writing dark subjects, running out of scary humans, and her latest “home invasion on wheels,” THE HITCHHIKERS. Lees meer
Chevy's debut novel Still Missing became a New York Times bestseller and winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for Best First Novel in 2010.
Her popular books, including Those Girls — which Stephen King called “Incredibly scary and suspenseful” — have been published in over thirty countries and optioned for film and TV.
New York Times bestselling author Karin Slaughter described her eighth novel, another standalone thriller titled THE HITCHHIKERS (available for pre-order and on-sale 10/7) as "A frightening and viscerally chilling road-trip-gone-wrong story."
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In Part Two of this file Chevy Stevens and I discussed:
How not all Canadians are friendly
Starting books with something innocent that morphs into terror
Why writing is like dating
Her love of the nostalgia of ‘70s Hollywood
Why Poltergeist is the scariest movie of all time
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
chevystevens.com
The Hitchhikers: A Novel Hardcover – October 7, 2025 by Chevy Stevens (Amazon)
Chevy Stevens Amazon Author Page
Chevy Stevens on Facebook
Chevy Stevens on Instagram
Chevy Stevens on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
How NY Times Bestselling Author Chevy Stevens Writes: Part One - Redux
10 september 2025 · 40 min
Award-winning, New York Times bestselling psychological thriller writer, Chevy Stevens, spoke to me about her life as a recluse, dreaming in prose, scaring the King, and her latest, Dark Roads. Lees meer
Chevy's debut novel Still Missing went on to become a New York Times bestseller and winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for Best First Novel in 2010.
Her popular books, including Those Girls – which Stephen King called “Incredibly scary and suspenseful,” – have been published in more than thirty countries and optioned for film.
Her seventh novel, the standalone thriller, Dark Roads, has been described as an "instant classic" by #1 New York Times bestselling author C. J. Box. Author Gillian Flynn has called Chevy's work both "Gripping ... [and] unforgettable."
Stay calm and write on ...
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In this file Chevy Stevens and I discussed:
Why writers need to be protective of their (daydreaming) time
The romanticization of the writing life
Tossing novel drafts in the trash bin
The real-life "Highway of Tears" and a legacy of broken promises
How to write a proper prologue, your first 50 pages ...
And a lot more
Show Notes:
ChevyStevens.com
Dark Roads: A Novel by Chevy Stevens (Amazon)
Chevy Stevens Amazon author page
Chevy Stevens on Facebook
Chevy Stevens on Instagram
Chevy Stevens on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about …
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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Bonnie Garmus Writes: Redux
5 september 2025 · 31 min
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Bonnie Garmus, spoke to me about the evolution of her craft, how her protagonist changed her life, getting blurbed by Stephen King, and the never-ending book tour for her lauded debut LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY. Lees meer
Bonnie Garmus is a copywriter, creative director, and author of the #1 New York Times bestselling novel, Lessons in Chemistry, named a Best Book of the Year by The New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, Oprah Daily, Entertainment Weekly, and Newsweek.
The book introduced the main character, “Elizabeth Zott, a headstrong, gifted chemist in 1960s California whose career takes a detour when she becomes the unlikely star of a beloved TV cooking show.”
BuzzFeed wrote of the book, “A kicky debut, this book tackles feminism, resilience, and rationalism in a fun and refreshing way.” And Stephen King called it, “witty, sometimes hilarious…the Catch-22 of early feminism.”
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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Bonnie Garmus and I discussed:
How her copywriting career supported her fiction writing
Why courses will never make you a writer
Plotters vs Pantsers and why she can't write from an outline
Overcoming a fear of the blank page
Why writing a synopsis is one of The Circles of Hell
Getting a phone call from Academy Award Winner Brie Larson
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
BonnieGarmus.com
Lessons in Chemistry By Bonnie Garmus (Amazon)
Bonnie Garmus on Instagram
Bonnie Garmus on Twitter
Kelton Reid Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Josie Silver Writes: Redux
3 september 2025 · 36 min
#1 New York Times bestselling author Josie Silver spoke to me about the laptop that changed her life, overcoming adversity early on, and her latest ghost-hunting rom-com CRAZY SPOOKY LOVE. Lees meer
Josie Silver is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of One Day in December, The Two Lives of Lydia Bird, One Night on the Island, and A Winter in New York, and her books have been published in over 25 languages.
Her latest novel, CRAZY SPOOKY LOVE (September 2, 2025), features a plucky medium, her fame-chasing ex, and an infuriatingly handsome skeptic reporter in a ghost-hunting series full of romance and humor.
Although Josie Silver burst onto the scene with her smash-hit debut romance, One Day in December in 2018, she had published books before—just under a different name, and never in the U.S. She tells me that story here.
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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Josie Silver and I discussed:
How she wrote on maternity leave, won a contest, and got an agent
Why she couldn’t imagine doing anything else amidst multiple rejections
The need for authors to reinvent themselves often
How her latest protagonist strolled into her imagination fully formed
Rewriting a previously published work for a new set of editors
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
josiesilver.com
Crazy Spooky Love: A Melody Bittersweet Novel (Melody Bittersweet, 1) – September 2, 2025 – by Josie Silver (Amazon)
Josie Silver Amazon Author Page
Josie Silver on Twitter/X
Josie Silver on Instagram
Kelton Reid Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
The Writer Files x Diary of a Book Babe: Vol. 1
29 augustus 2025 · 43 min
#bookstagram influencer, reviewer, and writer Milena Gonzalez (aka Diary of a Book Babe) spoke to me about culling inspiration from the podcast, hyping up her favorite authors, and her latest five-star finds. Lees meer
This is the first volume of a new format of the show where I’ll be inviting some like-minded friends to talk shop.
Milena Gonzalez graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a double major in Literary Journalism and English. She spent eight years as owner, designer, and screen printer of a small business, Lady & Little.
Milena is a Southern California mom to three kids. She is currently working on her third novel, a psychological suburban thriller. Learn more about her at diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram.
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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Milena Gonzalez and I discussed:
Why we both love #1 NY Times bestselling author Bonnie Garmus so much
Quick reviews of the latest releases from NY Times bestselling author Stacy Willingham and debut novelist Penny Zang
How Milena discovers new and established authors to review
The definition of “dark academia”
Where we put all of our TBR stacks
Advice on how to keep going
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
Forget Me Not: A Novel by Stacy Willingham (Amazon)
Doll Parts: A Novel by Penny Zang (Amazon)
Dating After the End of the World by Jeneva Rose (Amazon)
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Bonnie Garmus Writes
How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Priscilla Morris Writes
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Carley Fortune Writes - Redux
How NY Times Bestselling Thriller Writer Riley Sager Writes
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Emily Henry Writes: Part One
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Kelton Reid Instagram…
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How #1 Sunday Times Bestselling Author Stuart MacBride Writes
22 augustus 2025 · 49 min
#1 Sunday Times bestselling author Stuart MacBride spoke to me about playing god, why there are no shortcuts for writers, and his latest Logan McRae novel THIS HOUSE OF BURNING BONES. Lees meer
Stuart MacBride is the Sunday Times No.1 bestselling author of the Logan McRae and Ash Henderson novels. He’s also published standalones, novellas, short stories, and a “... slightly twisted children’s picture book.”
His latest novel, THIS HOUSE OF BURNING BONES, is the 13th in the popular Logan McRae series. “A gritty police procedural that perfectly blends dry humor and psychological elements, this brand-new installment in the Logan McRae series celebrates 20 years since the beloved detective's first appearance in Cold Granite (2005).”
The Washington Post wrote of the book, "Though part of a series, this novel stands successfully on its own, its characters fleshed out and in full possession of their idiosyncrasies."
Lee Child, New York Times bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series, said, "Stuart MacBride is an automatic must-read for me . . . always fast, hard, authentic – and different."
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In this file Stuart MacBride and I discussed:
Why your first novel will definitely be crap
How finally getting his first agent went sideways
The decision to have his protagonist age in real time
Taking a five-year hiatus from the popular DI Logan McRae series
Why he writes his novels as screenplays first
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
stuartmacbride.com
This House of Burning Bones (Logan McRae, 13) by Stuart MacBride (Amazon)
Stuart MacBride Amazon Author Page
Stuart MacBride on Facebook
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Priscilla Morris Writes
15 augustus 2025 · 50 min
Acclaimed debut novelist and English Professor Priscilla Morris spoke to me about finding her voice, and the germ of an idea that became her labor of love, acclaimed debut novel BLACK BUTTERFLIES. Lees meer
Priscilla Morris is a British author and lecturer whose debut novel, Black Butterflies, was shortlisted for a number of major awards.
Critics described Black Butterflies as “a story of strife and hope set during the conflict in the Balkans in the early '90s,” and it was shortlisted in 2023 for: the Women’s Prize for Fiction, the RSL Ondaatje Prize, among others, and chosen as an Indie Fiction Book of the Month.
Black Butterflies is a finalist for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize 2025 (winners to be announced in September).
Priscilla teaches creative writing in Ireland and studied Spanish, Italian and social anthropology at Cambridge University and creative writing at the University of East Anglia, where she earned her PhD.
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In this file Priscilla Morris and I discussed:
How her Grandfather’s funeral planted the seed that became her novel
Why art helps overcome the tragedies of war
Writing a love letter to the place she spent a part of her formative childhood
How to cultivate a balanced disposition toward your work over time
Why writing is a long game
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
priscillamorris.org
Black Butterflies: A Novel by Priscilla Morris (Amazon)
Priscilla Morris on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jennifer Lynn Barnes Writes: Part Two - Redux
13 augustus 2025 · 40 min
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, returned to chat about why bestsellers stick around for years, why fiction is perfectly geared for the human mind, and her latest YA thriller, THE GRANDEST GAME. Lees meer
Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 25 acclaimed young adult novels, including The Inheritance Games series (over 3 million copies sold), Little White Lies, Deadly Little Scandals, The Lovely and the Lost, and The Naturals series.
Her latest is another #1 New York Times bestseller, The Grandest Game (Volume 1) “... a new series that brings readers deeper into the lush, romantic, and puzzle-filled world of the #1 bestselling Inheritance Games series, set a year after we last saw Avery and the Hawthornes.”
Jen is a Fulbright Scholar with advanced degrees in psychology, psychiatry, and cognitive science including a Ph.D. from Yale University, and “...is one of the world's leading experts on the psychology of fandom and the cognitive science of fiction and the imagination.”
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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Jennifer Lynn Barnes and I discussed:
Juggling a book launch, edits, and revisions for three new books
How to reboot a hit series to capture the same energy as the original
Why she approaches writing as both a scientist and an author
How she uses lists of her favorite tropes to unlock her scenes
More theories on why readers love fiction
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jennifer Lynn Barnes Writes: Part One
Jenniferlynnbarnes.com
The psychology of fiction with Jennifer Lynn Barnes | Re:Thinking with Adam Grant - TED Audio Collective
The Grandest Game (Volume 1) (The Grandest Game, 1) By Jennifer Lynn Barnes …
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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jennifer Lynn Barnes Writes: Part One - Redux
8 augustus 2025 · 37 min
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, spoke to me about how to write seven novels in 18 months, the psychology of fiction and fandom, and her latest YA mystery, THE BROTHERS HAWTHORNE. Lees meer
Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 20 acclaimed young adult novels, including The Inheritance Games trilogy, Little White Lies, Deadly Little Scandals, The Lovely and the Lost, and The Naturals series.
Her latest is The Brothers Hawthorne, described as “Knives Out-esque” by Publishers Weekly, it is a story of [two brothers] “Drawn into twisted games on opposite sides of the globe, [who] —with the help of their brothers and the girl who inherited their grandfather’s fortune—must dig deep to decide who they want to be and what each of them will sacrifice to win.”
Jen is a Fulbright Scholar with advanced degrees in psychology, psychiatry, and cognitive science including a Ph.D. from Yale University, and “...is one of the world's leading experts on the psychology of fandom and the cognitive science of fiction and the imagination.”
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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Jennifer Lynn Barnes and I discussed:
Her study of autism and why neurodivergents rely so heavily on story
How her bestselling trilogy went viral on TikTok
Why she writes for reluctant readers
How to write mysteries with intricate puzzles, twists, turns, and reveals
Her theories on why readers love fiction
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
Jenniferlynnbarnes.com
The psychology of fiction with Jennifer Lynn Barnes | Re:Thinking with Adam Grant - TED Audio Collective
The Brothers Hawthorne By Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Amazon)
Jennifer Lynn Barnes Amazon Author Page
Jennifer Lynn Barnes on Twitter
Kel…
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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Josie Silver Writes
1 augustus 2025 · 36 min
#1 New York Times bestselling author Josie Silver spoke to me about the laptop that changed her life, overcoming adversity early on, and her latest ghost-hunting rom-com CRAZY SPOOKY LOVE. Lees meer
Josie Silver is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of One Day in December, The Two Lives of Lydia Bird, One Night on the Island, and A Winter in New York, and her books have been published in over 25 languages.
Her latest novel, CRAZY SPOOKY LOVE (September 2, 2025), features a plucky medium, her fame-chasing ex, and an infuriatingly handsome skeptic reporter in a ghost-hunting series full of romance and humor.
Although Josie Silver burst onto the scene with her smash-hit debut romance, One Day in December in 2018, she had published books before—just under a different name, and never in the U.S. She tells me that story here.
[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]
[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Josie Silver and I discussed:
How she wrote on maternity leave, won a contest, and got an agent
Why she couldn’t imagine doing anything else amidst multiple rejections
The need for authors to reinvent themselves often
How her latest protagonist strolled into her imagination fully formed
Rewriting a previously published work for a new set of editors
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
josiesilver.com
Crazy Spooky Love: A Melody Bittersweet Novel (Melody Bittersweet, 1) – September 2, 2025 – by Josie Silver (Amazon)
Josie Silver Amazon Author Page
Josie Silver on Twitter/X
Josie Silver on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jim Butcher Writes: Redux
25 juli 2025 · 35 min
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Jim Butcher, spoke with me about how he outlined a hit 20-novel series (years before he had an agent), why all steampunks wear goggles, and the second book in his Cinder Spires series, THE OLYMPIAN AFFAIR. Lees meer
Jim Butcher is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Dresden Files, the Codex Alera, and the Cinder Spires novels.
The long-anticipated second novel in his Cinder Spires series is The Olympian Affair, described by the author as “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen meets Sherlock meets Hornblower,” in a series “... about noble families, magic-wielding warriors, and airship battles.”
Library Journal called it “... an exciting epic fantasy, set in the sky and filled with airships, magic, and the connections of blood and found family." And New York Times bestselling author David Weber said of the book, “It’s steampunk meets magic with a dose of sci-fi for seasoning.”
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In this file, Jim Butcher and I discussed:
Why “breaking into print is an arduous and discouraging process”
The Genre Fiction Novel class that changed his writing for good
Keeping your writing time sacred
When your fans become your boss
How to write a “steam opera”
His most important legacy as a writer
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
jim-butcher.com
The Olympian Affair (The Cinder Spires Book 2) by Jim Butcher (Amazon)
Jim Butcher Amazon Author Page
Jim Butcher on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How NY Times Bestselling Author Antony Johnston Writes
18 juli 2025 · 38 min
New York Times bestselling author Antony Johnston, spoke to me about falling backwards into video game writing, meeting Atomic Blonde’s Charlize Theron, and his new interactive whodunit Can You Solve the Murder? Lees meer
Antony Johnston is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of over fifty books, graphic novels, and comic series, including the popular Dog Sitter Detective murder mysteries. He adapted his graphic novel, The Coldest City, into the multi-million-dollar blockbuster movie Atomic Blonde, which he also co-produced.
His latest novel, Can You Solve the Murder? (Penguin Books; On Sale: 7/1), is described as “An interactive whodunit where you choose which suspects to question, which leads to follow, and ultimately, who to accuse.”
Kirkus Reviews wrote of the book, “A Choose Your Own Adventure–style novel for willing and agile grownups….as interactive as readers who don’t play video games are likely to find.”
Antony is also a celebrated video games writer, and is credited with many franchise-defining titles, and a former vice chair of the Crime Writers’ Association.
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In this file Antony Johnston and I discussed:
How writing graphic novels and comics lead to a 20-year parallel career in video games
Why the Atomic Blonde adaptation gave him space to write novels
His love of storytelling and having never taken a creative writing course
Bringing the video games and crime writing worlds together
How to write and publish an interactive “game book”
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
antonyjohnston.com
Can You Solve the Murder?: An Interactive Crime Novel by Antony Johnston (Amazon)
Antony Johnston: Solving This Crime Is No Cakewalk - Writer’s Digest Interview
The Organized Writer
Antony …
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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Anne Lamott Writes: Redux
11 juli 2025 · 35 min
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Anne Lamott, spoke with me about 40 years of teaching writing, how to write more bravely, on sh*tty first drafts, and sharing hacks she’s learned over her career at the Writers Rising 2024 retreat. Lees meer
Anne Lamott is the author of 20 books, including New York Times bestsellers Help, Thanks, Wow; Dusk, Night, Dawn; Traveling Mercies; and Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, as well as seven novels.
Her latest book, Somehow: Thoughts on Love was a #1 New York Times bestseller. Publishers Weekly praised “…her ability to distill complex truths with a deceptive lightness” in their starred review.
Anne is a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, an inductee to the California Hall of Fame, and was recently a columnist for The Washington Post. She has taught at UC Davis, writing conferences across the country, and is currently an artist in residence at A Writing Room Collective.
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In this file Anne Lamott and I discussed:
The debt of honor that is the writing life
Why you don’t have to know everything to finish your book
What it was like getting inducted into the California Hall of Fame next to Mark Zuckerberg and Serena Williams
The importance of accountability for staying on track
Why you need to stop not writing and get your butt in the chair
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
Writers Rising 2024
awritingroom.com
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott (Amazon)
Somehow: Thoughts on Love By Anne Lamott (Amazon)
Anne Lamott Amazon Author Page
Anne Lamott on Twitter
Anne Lamott on Facebook
Anne Lamott on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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