The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience
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How Lauded Debut Author Isabel Banta Writes
12 juli 2024 · 37 min
Lauded debut author, Isabel Banta, spoke to me about working at Books Are Magic with Emma Straub, her love of Britney Spears, and capturing Y2K era pop superstardom in her debut novel HONEY. Lees meer
Isabel Banta is a writer, book publicist, and indie bookseller at Books Are Magic in Brooklyn.
Her debut novel is HONEY, named a 'GMA' Buzz Pick and described as “...a coming-of-age story about a pop star in the late '90s and early 2000s who's determined to find and claim her own identity.”
Honey was named a best book of the summer by PEOPLE, ELLE, PureWow and Our Culture, as well as a Goodreads Editor's Choice and IndieNext Pick.
New York Times bestselling author Emma Straub said of the book, "Honey is a sexy swagger of a debut." LitHub named it one of 18 Books to Read this Summer, “A delightfully bubblegum novel of hot summer nostalgia that also lands some serious blows to the patriarchal mores of a cultural milieu we still haven’t fully shaken off.”
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In this file Isabel Banta and I discussed:
Why she loves talking about and promoting other writers
The surreality of finally publishing her own book
How she approached the subject of the commodification of young stars in the music industry
Why you need to pivot POVs as a novelist
Her writing routine
And a lot more!Show Notes:
isabelbanta.com
Honey: A Novel By Isabel Banta (Amazon)
Isabel Banta on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jodi Picoult Writes
5 juli 2024 · 35 min
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Jodi Picoult, spoke with me about writing for Wonder Woman, adapting books for musical theater, and the question of Shakespeare's true authorship in her upcoming novel BY ANY OTHER NAME.
Jodi Picoult is the bestselling author of 30 novels, including landmark titles such as Mad Honey – her most recent 1 million-copy bestseller – Wish You Were Here, A Spark of Light, and Small Great Things. 40 million copies of her books are in print worldwide and have been translated into 34 languages.
Her forthcoming novel is BY ANY OTHER NAME (on sale 8/20; Ballantine), described as a novel about two women, centuries apart – one of whom is the real author of Shakespeare’s plays – who are both forced to hide behind another name.
#1 New York Times bestselling author Kristin Hannah said of the book, “You’ll fall in love with Emilia Bassano, the unforgettable heroine based on a real woman that Picoult brings vividly to life in her brilliantly researched new novel.” Elle called it, “[An] inspiring work of feminist literature inspired by real historical accounts.”
Jodi was also co-librettist for the stage musical adaptation of her young adult novel Between the Lines (which premiered Off-Broadway in Summer 2022), the co-librettist of the musical BREATHE, the co-librettist of the musical adaptation of The Book Thief, and she is currently at work on an adaptation of Austenland.
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In this file Jodi Picoult and I discussed: Lees meerWhat's changed and what hasn't for women (in theater) over 400+ years?
The best time to break an arm for an author
How she works in cycles for her books
Why her kids made her write for Wonder Woman
The conundrum of a famous playwright who didn’t own a single book
And a …
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How Critically Acclaimed Author Tracy O'Neill Writes
28 juni 2024 · 35 min
Critically acclaimed author, Tracy O'Neill, spoke with me about reality hunger vs. the hyper-realness of the pandemic, writing a love letter to friendship, and searching for her birth mother in her noir-adjacent memoir WOMAN OF INTEREST.
Tracy O'Neill is a National Book Foundation’s 5 Under 35 honoree, and the author of The Hopeful, one of Electric Literature's Best Novels of 2015, and Quotients, a New York Times New & Noteworthy Book, TOR Editor's Choice, & Literary Hub Favorite Book of 2020.
Her first book of nonfiction is the memoir WOMAN OF INTEREST (HarperOne; on-sale: 6/25/24) described by The Millions as “an intimate memoir written with the narrative propulsion of a detective novel” in their list of Most Anticipated Books of Spring 2024.
In a Starred Review Publishers Weekly, called it “…riveting… cool, noir-tinted prose shot through with wit and compassion, O’Neill presents her inquiry as a sort of metaphysical detective story. Readers will be riveted.”
Her writing has appeared in Granta, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, The Atlantic, the New Yorker, LitHub, and BOMB, among other publications. She teaches at Vassar College and holds an MFA from the City College of New York and a PhD from Columbia University.
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In this file Tracy O'Neill and I discussed:
COVID as a catalyst for life change
Why real life doesn’t adhere to any genre
Meditations on language and storytelling
How her process has evolved from fiction to non-fiction
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
tracyoneill.net
Woman of Interest: A Memoir By Tracy O'Neill (Amazon)
Tracy O'Neill Amazon Author Page
Tracy O'Neill on Twitter
Tracy O'Neill on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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Living the Dream with Jeff Goins
21 juni 2024 · 1 uur 3 min
Bestselling author, podcaster, blogger, speaker, and my friend Jeff Goins, recently brought me along on a creative journey called Hey, Creator! and it was some of the most fun I’ve had as a podcast producer. I also learned a lot from Jeff over the course of the show.
We’re back with another episode from the second season we did together titled “Living the Dream.”`
Jeff Goins helps creative people succeed. Through his bestselling books, courses, coaching, and speeches, he shares his ongoing transformation journey, inspiring creators to discover their voice and share it with the world.
He is also the founder of Fresh Complaint, a bespoke creative agency that helps authors, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs turn their stories and ideas into books that change the way people think.
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In this file Jeff Goins and I discussed:
What tattoos, dreams, and bulls have in common
This dream-like existence we call life
The creator’s dilemma of making sense of the mystery
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
goinswriter.com
freshcomplaint.com
Hey, Creator! Podcast
Jeff Goins Amazon Author Page
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How Bestselling Author Fred Waitzkin Writes
14 juni 2024 · 36 min
Bestselling author, Fred Waitzkin, spoke with me about journalism, Searching for Bobby Fischer, the thin veil between fiction and non-fiction, and the Zen of his latest novel ANYTHING IS GOOD.
Fred Waitzkin is the journalist and internationally acclaimed bestselling author of Searching for Bobby Fischer, made into the Academy Award-nominated film of the same name.
His work has appeared in Esquire, New York Magazine, The New York Times Sunday Magazine, The New York Times Book Review, Outside, Sports Illustrated, and Forbes, among other publications.
Fred Waitzkin’s fourth novel, Anything Is Good, is described as a “... hypnotically compelling tale of a man haunted by the fate of his childhood buddy, and of that friend’s pleasures and misfortunes as he navigates an unhoused life.”
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks said of the book, “Anything Is Good, based on the true story of a brilliant and beleaguered childhood friend, offers a deeply affecting dive into the lives of the unhoused.”
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In this file Fred Waitzkin and I discussed:
Finding his unique voice as a journalist
Why great writers blend non-fiction and fiction
How he chose the subject matter of his latest book
The evolution of his process as a novelist
Why he hates the question, “What’s next?”
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
FredWaitzkin.com
Anything Is Good by Fred Waitzkin (Amazon)
Fred Waitzkin Amazon Author Page
Fred Waitzkin on Facebook
Fred Waitzkin on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How NY Times Bestselling Author Jami Attenberg Writes: Redux
7 juni 2024 · 36 min
NOTE: This is an updated replay of my amazing chat with New York Times bestselling author, Jami Attenberg, in honor of the start of #1000WordsofSummer that kicked off June 1st! Take a listen to learn more about how to jump in and get going. You can always sign up at 1000wordsofsummer.substack.com to get a letter each day from Jami encouraging you to write 1000 words, additional notes from contributing authors, on writing, creativity, and productivity, and there are write-alongs, a slack channel, and of course the book. Enjoy!
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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On Mixtapes, or Curation vs. Creation with Jeff Goins
31 mei 2024 · 44 min
Bestselling author, podcaster, blogger, speaker, and my friend Jeff Goins, recently brought me along on a creative journey called Hey, Creator! and it was some of the most fun I’ve had as a podcast producer. I also learned a lot from Jeff.
We’re back with another episode from the first season we did together titled “On Mixtapes, or Curation vs. Creation.”
Jeff Goins helps creative people succeed. Through his bestselling books, courses, coaching, and speeches, he shares his ongoing transformation journey, inspiring creators to discover their voice and share it with the world.
He is also the founder of Fresh Complaint, a bespoke creative agency that helps authors, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs turn their stories and ideas into books that change the way people think.
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In this file Jeff Goins and I discussed:
How to make a perfect playlist
Why taste is integral to all creation
What it takes to turn a piece of creative curation into an actual work of art
Why what you leave out is more important than what remains
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
goinswriter.com
freshcomplaint.com
Hey, Creator! Podcast
Jeff Goins Amazon Author Page
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How to Plan, Write & Publish Nonfiction with Hungry Authors Hosts Ariel Curry & Liz Morrow: Part One
24 mei 2024 · 39 min
Writers, publishing experts, and hosts of the Hungry Authors podcast, Liz Morrow and Ariel Curry, spoke with me about the biggest mistake you can make as a writer, the mindset needed to persevere, and their much-anticipated publishing guide.
Ariel Curry is a writer and editor at Ariel Curry Editorial with over 10 years of experience in traditional publishing. Her partner in crime at hungryauthors.com is Liz Morrow, a traditionally published ghostwriter for entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and business experts who specializes in personal and professional development and memoir.`
Their forthcoming debut as co-authors is Hungry Authors: The Indispensable Guide to Planning, Writing, and Publishing a Nonfiction Book (August 6, 2024), available for preorder now.
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In this file Ariel, Liz and I discussed:
The definition of “book mapping”
Seeing the underlying code of The Matrix
How to publish kick-ass nonfiction
Some big names whose books flopped
Why publishing a book is within every writer’s reach
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
hungryauthors.com
Hungry Authors: The Indispensable Guide to Planning, Writing, and Publishing a Nonfiction Book by Liz Morrow and Ariel Curry (Amazon)
Hungry Authors - Podcast w/ Ariel Curry & Liz Morrow
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How NY Times Bestselling Author April Henry Writes
17 mei 2024 · 41 min
Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author April Henry, spoke with me about winning the Edgar Award, killing people on paper, and researching her latest cat-and-mouse survival story, STAY DEAD.
April Henry is the acclaimed bestseller of mysteries for adults and over 15 novels for teens, including the bestselling Girl, Stolen; Girl Forgotten; The Girl I Used to Be (Edgar nominated and winner of the Anthony Award for Best YA Mystery), and most recently winner of the 2024 Edgar Award in the Best Young Adult category for her novel, GIRL FORGOTTEN (2023).
Her latest novel, Stay Dead (May 28, 2024), is described as “... a thrilling murder mystery featuring a teen with an assassin on her trail fighting to uncover the truth behind a government cover-up.”
New York Times bestselling author Ellie Marney called it a “Pacy survival tale, eco-thriller, and murder mystery all rolled into one."
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In this file April Henry and I discussed:
A crazy thing that happened to her after she won the Edgar
The postcard she got from Roald Dahl that started it all
How she made the transition to full-time writer
Why she trained with real FBI agents
Her love of the treadmill desk
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
aprilhenry.com
Stay Dead by April Henry (Amazon)
April Henry Amazon Author Page
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How to Finish the First Draft of Anything with Jeff Goins
10 mei 2024 · 42 min
Bestselling author, podcaster, blogger, speaker, and my friend Jeff Goins, brought me along on a creative journey not too long ago called Hey, Creator! and it was some of the most fun I’ve had as a podcast producer.
Here’s an episode from the last season we did together titled “How to Finish the First Draft of Anything.”
Jeff Goins helps creative people succeed. Through his bestselling books, courses, coaching, and speeches, he shares his ongoing journey of transformation, inspiring creators to discover their voice and share it with the world.
He is also the founder of Fresh Complaint, a bespoke creative agency that helps authors, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs turn their stories and ideas into books that change the way people think.
[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]
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In this file Jeff Goins and I discussed:
Why the first step to finishing is to begin
The secret to getting unstuck
Why nothing is ever really finished
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
goinswriter.com
freshcomplaint.com
Hey, Creator! Podcast
Jeff Goins Amazon Author Page
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Mark Sullivan Writes
3 mei 2024 · 42 min
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Mark Sullivan, spoke to me about the story that saved his life, how to write history’s darkest chapters, and his latest novel based on a true story, All the Glimmering Stars.
Mark Sullivan is a journalist and award-winning, bestselling author of 20 novels including Beneath a Scarlet Sky, The Last Green Valley, and the #1 New York Times bestselling Private series, which he writes with James Patterson.
His latest historical novel, All the Glimmering Stars (May 7, 2024), is “Inspired by a true story [of] two teens kidnapped by an African warlord [that] find salvation through love in a powerful [story] … set in 1990s Uganda.”
New York Times bestselling author Gregg Hurwitz, said of the book, “Mark Sullivan’s All the Glimmering Stars is the pinnacle of an already distinguished career. A searing piece of historical fiction steeped in a yearslong deep dive into the horrors of child soldiering, it is at its core something tender and rare: a love story between two profoundly good people striving for light in unimaginable darkness.”
Mark Sullivan graduated with a BA in English before working as a volunteer in the Peace Corps in West Africa. Upon his return to the US, he earned a graduate degree in Journalism at Northwestern University.
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In this file Mark Sullivan and I discussed:
His former life as an award-winning investigative journalist
How his cross-cultural skills inform his work today
Why he decided to make the transition from suspense to historical fiction
Searching for the deeper meaning behind his storytelling
The four things he has to have before he can write a story
His intensive research process
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
marksullivanbooks.com
All the Glimmering St… Lees meer -
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Tom Straw Writes
26 april 2024 · 36 min
#1 New York Times bestselling author and TV producer, Tom Straw, spoke to me about breaking into television, the Gordian knot of ghostwriting, and his new “culinary, espionage, travel thriller” THE ACCIDENTAL JOE.
Tom Straw is an Emmy and Writers Guild of America–nominated writer-producer, New York Times bestselling author, and former Mystery Writers of America board member.
Writing as Richard Castle, Tom originated the hit Nikki Heat series, writing its first seven novels, all New York Times bestsellers, including Heat Rises, which reached number one.
The first book in his latest series is The Accidental Joe: The Top-Secret Life of a Celebrity Chef (Regalo Press/May 14, 2024), described as the story of “...a maverick celebrity chef [who] reluctantly agrees to let the CIA use his hugely popular international food, culture, and travel TV series as cover for a dangerous espionage mission.”
Bestselling author Walter Mosley said of the book, “Tom Straw's Sebastian Pike is a wonderful addition to the annals of amateur sleuths of the crime/spy genre.” Culinary personality Alton Brown said of the author, “Tom Straw has set the bar for culinary, espionage, travel thrillers. Actually, I think he invented the bar. And it’s a bar I’d meet him at any time.”
Tom Straw’s television career has included WGA and Emmy nominations for writing and executive producer stints for shows including Night Court, CBS’s Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and Nurse Jackie with Edie Falco.
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In this file Tom Straw and I discussed:
His early life as an AM radio personality and professional weatherman
How he got a shot to write on his first TV show
Working with Craig Ferguson and his robot skeleton sidekick
The short version of hitting #… Lees meer -
How CNN Chief Climate Correspondent Bill Weir Writes
19 april 2024 · 37 min
Emmy-winning TV journalist and CNN Chief Climate Correspondent, Bill Weir, spoke to me about finding his beat, seeking “hope in a changing world,” and his debut, Life as We Know It (Can Be).
Bill Weir is a veteran anchor, writer, producer, and host who joined CNN in 2013 after a decade of award-winning journalism at ABC News. After writing and hosting four seasons of the primetime CNN Original Series “The Wonder List with Bill Weir,” he was named the first Chief Climate Correspondent in network news in 2019.
His debut book is Life as We Know It (Can Be): Stories of People, Climate, and Hope in a Changing World, described as a “... positive and unabashed approach to exploring the science, politics, and human behavior that must be addressed to solve our most pressing problems.”
New York Times bestselling author and CNN anchor Jake Tapper said of the book, “Bill Weir provides insightful, alarming, but ultimately hopeful coverage of the climate crisis. His new book is a gorgeous love letter to his son but also to Earth and humanity,” and New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Safran Foer called it, “... a clear-eyed, heartfelt argument against despair.”
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In this file Bill Weir and I discussed:
How he incorporates the math and physics of storytelling into his journalism
The “crappy elf” method of writing and penning letters to his kids in the future
Why connection is more important than ever in the “golden age of distraction”
The difference between writing for the screen and the page
When he decided to focus on the dreamers and the doers
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
Bill Weir CNN Chief Climate Correspondent
Life as We Know It (Can Be): Stories of People, Climate, and Hope in a Changing World by Bill Weir (A… Lees meer -
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Tomi Adeyemi Writes
12 april 2024 · 32 min
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Tomi Adeyemi, spoke to me about the film adaptation of Children of Blood and Bone, her evolution as a writer, and the final book in her Orisha trilogy, Children of Anguish and Anarchy.
Tomi Adeyemi is the #1 New York Times bestselling, Hugo and Nebula award-winning novelist and screenwriter who was named one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People, Forbes’s 30 Under 30 in Media, and whose website was named one of the 101 Best Websites for writers by Writer’s Digest.
Her Children of Blood and Bone series continues to be a publishing phenomenon, acquired in a heated bidding war with the first two books becoming instant #1 NY Times bestsellers – spending over 150 weeks on the list – and over 1.5 million copies in print to date including recent paperback re-releases.
The Nigerian/American writer graduated from Harvard University with an honors degree in English literature and studied West African mythology, religion, and culture in Salvador, Brazil
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In this file Tomi Adeyemi and I discussed:
Her newly found balance and definition of success as a writer
Facing rejection early on in her career
How she persevered through meticulous planning
Why her acknowledgments are so lengthy in her long-awaited capstone to her trilogy
What’s next for the superstar
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
tomiadeyemi.com
thewritersroadmap.net
Children of Anguish and Anarchy (Legacy of Orisha, 3) – June 25, 2024 by Tomi Adeyemi (Amazon)
Tomi Adeyemi Amazon Author Page
Tomi Adeyemi on Instagram
Tomi Adeyemi on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How Stanford Prof. & Comms Expert Matt Abrahams Writes
5 april 2024 · 33 min
Stanford Professor, communications expert, and author, Matt Abrahams, spoke with me about tips and tricks to hone your communication skills as a writer, and his award-winning podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart.
Matt Abrahams is a leading expert in communication with decades of expertise as an educator, author, podcast host, and coach. As a Lecturer in Organizational Behavior at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, he teaches popular classes in strategic communication and effective virtual presenting.
He also hosts Stanford Graduate School of Business' Think Fast, Talk Smart – the 2023 Webby Award-winning “Best Business Podcast." The podcast has topped 42 million downloads and has been the #1 Career podcast in over 95 countries.
Matt is the author of two books including Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot, based in part on his hit podcast.
Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestseller, said of the author, "Matt Abrahams has a gift for making complex concepts easy to understand and simple to enact. If you’ve ever struggled to summon the right words at the right time, this book is an essential read.”
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In this file Matt Abrahams and I discussed:
The TED talk that led to a podcast that led to a book
Why writers need to find their focus through structure
His advice on pitching your book to agents in person
How it’s normal to be nervous; managing anxiety
Why most writers suffer the curses of knowledge and passion
How to nail that first book tour
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
mattabrahams.com
Think Fast Talk Smart: Podcast
Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot By Matt Abrahams (Amazon)
Think Fast Talk Smart on Instagr… Lees meer -
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Ernest Cline Writes: Part Two
29 maart 2024 · 30 min
#1 New York Times bestselling novelist and screenwriter, Ernest Cline, spoke to me about what inspired him to become a novelist, the success of Ready Player One, and his love letter to Austin, Texas, the mostly true tall tale BRIDGE TO BAT CITY.
Ernest Cline is the bestselling author of Ready Player One, Ready Player Two, and Armada, and co-screenwriter of the film adaptation of Ready Player One, directed by Steven Spielberg.
His debut middle-grade novel, BRIDGE TO BAT CITY (on sale 4/9/24; ages 8 & up), is described as “... a mostly true tall tale about a recently orphaned girl and her mission to help a family of displaced bats find a new home under the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas.”
His books have been published in over fifty countries and have spent more than 100 weeks on The New York Times bestsellers list.
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In Part Two of this file Ernest Cline and I discussed:
The crazy story behind Stephen King’s Misery
What it was like waiting for a call from Stephen Spielberg
How the author got to see his fiction turned into reality
Making the transition from adult sci-fi to middle grade novels
His shout outs to ET, Roald Dahl, Charles Portis
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Ernest Cline Writes: Part One
Bridge to Bat City by Ernest Cline (Amazon)
Ernest Cline Amazon Author Page
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Ernest Cline Writes: Part One
22 maart 2024 · 28 min
#1 New York Times bestselling novelist and screenwriter, Ernest Cline, spoke to me about what inspired him to become a novelist, the success of Ready Player One, and his love letter to Austin, Texas, the mostly true tall tale BRIDGE TO BAT CITY.
Ernest Cline is the bestselling author of Ready Player One, Ready Player Two, and Armada, and co-screenwriter of the film adaptation of Ready Player One, directed by Steven Spielberg.
His debut middle-grade novel, BRIDGE TO BAT CITY (on sale 4/9/24; ages 8 & up), is described as “... a mostly true tall tale about a recently orphaned girl and her mission to help a family of displaced bats find a new home under the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas.”
His books have been published in over fifty countries and have spent more than 100 weeks on The New York Times bestsellers list.
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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 Part One of this file Ernest Cline and I discussed:
The signposts on the road to becoming a writer
His change of fortune (and opinion) as a screenwriter
The big idea behind Ready Player One
Why 90% of Stephen King’s protagonists are school teachers or writers
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Ernest Cline Writes: Part Two
Bridge to Bat City by Ernest Cline (Amazon)
Ernest Cline Amazon Author Page
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How NY Times Bestselling Author Garrard Conley Writes
15 maart 2024 · 41 min
New York Times bestselling memoirist turned novelist, Garrard Conley, spoke with me about going from activist to fictionist, the isolation of being an artist, and his debut novel All the World Beside.
Garrard Conley is the New York Times bestselling author of the memoir Boy Erased, as well as the creator and co-producer of the podcast UnErased: The History of Conversion Therapy in America. His memoir became a major motion picture starring Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, and Lucas Hedges, directed by Joel Edgerton.
His debut novel is titled All the World Beside and described as “... an electrifying, deeply moving novel about the love story between two men in Puritan New England.”
Tess Gunty, National Book Award-winning author of Rabbit Hutch, called the book an “... accomplishment of breathtaking prose, expert pacing, and extraordinary psychological intelligence...” Garth Greenwell wrote, “... this novel contains some of the finest writing I've encountered in recent American fiction.”
Garrard’s work has been published by The New York Times, Oxford American, Time, and Virginia Quarterly Review, among others. Conley is a graduate of Brooklyn College’s MFA program, where he was a Truman Capote Fellow specializing in fiction, and he is an assistant professor of creative writing at Kennesaw State University.
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In this file Garrard Conley and I discussed:
What it was like to work with Radiolab on a podcast
Setting out to write “The Queer Scarlett Letter”
His intense historical research process
How he inhabits his stories
Why writers can’t skimp on what the audience wants
How to un-Tik-Tok-ify your brain
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
garrardconley.com
All the World Beside: A NOVEL By Garrard Conley (Amazon)
Garrard Co… Lees meer -
Book Publicity Crash Course with Dir. of PR & Founder Leah Paulos
8 maart 2024 · 45 min
Director of Publicity and Press Shop PR Founder, Leah Paulos, spoke with me about how authors can cut through the noise in a challenging news cycle, when to build your platform, and demystifying the book biz.
Leah Paulos is the Founder and Director of Publicity at Press Shop PR an independent book publicity firm based in Brooklyn. The Press Shop team has worked on campaigns for over 300 authors since its launch in 2012, including the #1 bestselling campaigns for ON TYRANNY by Timothy Snyder, MARCH by Rep. John Lewis, and WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSE by Neil deGrasse Tyson.
She also recently launched Book Publicity School to bring Press Shop’s expertise and guidance to more authors at an affordable price. The School offers workshops, coaching, and online groups to help authors advocate for their work as effectively as possible.
Leah has spoken on book publicity at Columbia Journalism School, CUNY Graduate Center, and as part of her regular workshop series, Book Publicity for Literary Agents.
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In this file Leah Paulos and I discussed: Lees meerWhy authors need a “Big Fat Book Promo” spreadsheet
What works in social media now, and what’s a waste of time
How and when to build an effective author platform
What kind of promotion an author should expect from their publisher
Why a full press, media, and event campaign doesn't make sense for every author
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
pressshoppr.com
bookpublicityschool.com
Book Publicity School on Facebook
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How Oscar-Nominated Scribe & Novelist Iris Yamashita Writes: Part Two
1 maart 2024 · 36 min
Oscar-nominated screenwriter turned novelist, Iris Yamashita, returns to chat with me about the difference between writing for the ear and the screen, fusing plotting and pantsing, and her anticipated follow-up thriller Village in the Dark.
Iris Yamashita has been working in Hollywood for over 15 years and was nominated for a “Best Original Screenplay” Oscar for the movie Letters from Iwo Jima (directed by Clint Eastwood).
The sequel to her debut novel City Under One Roof is Village in the Dark, described as a riveting mystery perfect for fans of Twin Peaks, Mare of Easttown, and True Detective.
An Amazon Editor’s Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense – New and continuing series. Kirkus Reviews called the book, “A sharp and gritty mystery with a compelling sociopolitical undercurrent.”
Iris continues to work in Hollywood, developing for both film and streaming media. She has taught screenwriting at UCLA and the American Film Institute.
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In this file Iris Yamashita and I discussed: Lees meerWhy you need to have a beginning, middle, and end in mind no matter what you’re writing
What it’s like to be both the writer and the director as a novelist
How to write for audio drama
Why filmmakers don’t like to read
Learning the rules so you can break them
How to keep your dreams alive
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
Village in the Dark by Iris Yamashita (Amazon)
Amazon Author Page for Iris Yamashita
www.irisyamashita.com
Iris Yamashita on Facebook
Iris Yamashita on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How Bestselling Author Adelle Waldman Writes
23 februari 2024 · 42 min
Bestselling author, Adelle Waldman, spoke with me about her former life as a journalist, writerly wish fulfillment, and going undercover for her latest workplace novel, Help Wanted.
Adelle Waldman is a journalist and the bestselling author of The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P., which was named a best book of the year by The New Yorker, Economist, NPR, The New Republic, Slate, Bookforum, The Guardian and many others.
Her latest novel, Help Wanted, is from W.W. Norton in March of 2024, and described as a “funny, eye-opening tale of work in contemporary America.” It has been named one of New York Magazine's "23 Books We Can’t Wait to Read in 2024," VOGUE’s Best Books of the Year So Far, ELLE’s Best (and Most Anticipated) Fiction of 2024, Lit Hub’s Most Anticipated Books of 2024, and one of Kirkus’s Most Anticipated Books of 2024.
A starred Kirkus Review called the book, "The workplace dramedy of the year." Publishers Weekly said of the book, "A bracing and worthwhile glimpse of the high stakes faced by low-wage workers."
Adelle attended Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, New York Times, and Wall Street Journal, among others.
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In this file Adelle Waldman and I discussed:
Why she turned to journalism as a day job
Writing a hard-to-like protagonist
The breakout success of her first novel
How co-workers and friends at a Big Box store inspired her latest
Found comedy, unfortunate nerds, unrealistic dreams
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
adellewaldman.com
Help Wanted: A Novel by Adelle Waldman (Amazon)
Adelle Waldman Amazon Author Page
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Lees meer -
How Acclaimed Newbery Honor-Winning Author Veera Hiranandani Writes
16 februari 2024 · 37 min
Newbery Honor-winning children’s author, Veera Hiranandani, spoke with me about her former life in publishing, why no word is ever wasted, and her anticipated middle-grade novel Amil and The After.
Veera Hiranandani is an award-winning author of several books for young people, and a faculty member with the MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program at The Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Amil and The After is her latest work of children’s fiction, a stand-alone sequel to her Newbery Honor winner, The Night Diary. It was named an Amazon Best Book of the Month (January 2024).
A starred Kirkus Reviews called the book, “…a masterpiece of nuance, vulnerability, and emotional complexity. A quietly brilliant, deeply insightful story of living in uncertain times.”
Veera earned her MFA in fiction writing at Sarah Lawrence College and was a former book editor at Simon & Schuster.
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In this file Veera Hiranandani and I discussed:
Why writing is like slow cooking
How to write historical fiction if you’re not good at history
Why you need to follow your writerly instincts
The importance of accountability partners, learning from your mistakes
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
VeeraHiranandani.com
Amil and the After By Veera Hiranandani (Bookshop.org)
Veera Hiranandani Amazon Author Page
Veera Hiranandani on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Lees meer -
How NY Times Bestselling Author Emma Straub Writes: Redux
2 februari 2024 · 33 min
NOTE: This is an updated replay of my amazing chat with Emma Straub, the New York Times bestselling author of six books for adults, including her novel This Time Tomorrow … She is also the author of three picture books, the first of which, Very Good Hats, was published in January 2023. Congrats Emma! Enjoy …
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.
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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 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… Lees meer -
How to Land a Book Deal with Agent & Author Lucinda Halpern: Part Two
26 januari 2024 · 38 min
President of Manhattan-based literary agency Lucinda Literary turned author, Lucinda Halpern, returns to chat with me about how to crack the code of publishing, the four types of writers who get book deals, and her latest book Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author.
Lucinda Halpern is a literary agent with over 15 years of experience securing book deals with Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette, Macmillan, and now the author of Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author. (available for preorder now and landing 2/6/2024, Hay House - wherever fine books are sold)
“Packed with interviews from best-selling authors and leading book editors Get Signed is the indispensable roadmap you need … to get noticed and become a published author.” #1 New York Times best-selling author Adam Grant said of the book, “Lucinda Halpern has written the definitive guide to attracting an agent and laying the groundwork for a book well worth publishing.”
She represents a range of New York Times and internationally bestselling authors in the categories of business, health, lifestyle, popular science, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and upmarket fiction. Her classes and coaching programs have been taught to hundreds of writers worldwide.
Stay tuned until the end of our interview for Lucinda’s special gift for listeners.
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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 Lucinda Halpern and I discussed:
How her full-circle journey to becoming a published author has made her a better agent
Why having a book editor is like lying naked on the table at the doctor's office
The best way to diagnose what's wrong with your book
How she is still myth-busting publishing
Why a book for ever… Lees meer -
How NY Times Bestselling Author Ann Napolitano Writes
19 januari 2024 · 45 min
New York Times bestselling author, Ann Napolitano, spoke with me about overcoming rejection early on, how grief transformed her writing process, and getting that fateful call from Oprah about Hello Beautiful.
Ann Napolitano is the New York Times bestselling author of Hello Beautiful which was selected as Oprah’s 100th Book Club pick; Dear Edward, an instant New York Times bestseller, a Read with Jenna selection, and an Apple TV+ series; A Good Hard Look, and Within Arm’s Reach.
Hello Beautiful has been called a “powerfully affecting” (People) family story that asks: Can love make a broken person whole? The Washington Post said of the book, “Another tender tearjerker . . . Napolitano chronicles life’s highs and lows with aching precision.”
It was named Chicago Public Library’s Ten Best Books of the Year and a Best Book of the Year by The New York Times Book Review, NPR, The Washington Post, Time, Vogue, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, New York Post, She Reads, and Bookreporter.
Ann was the associate editor of the literary magazine One Story for seven years, and she received an MFA from New York University.
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In this file Ann Napolitano and I discussed:
Her long and rocky road to success
How an illness early in life helped her realize she was a writer
Why her first published book felt like a proving ground
The nine-month approach to planning your next novel
How to write the truest sentence possible
Why you need to string together as many Xs as you can
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
AnnNapolitano.com
Hello Beautiful (Oprah's Book Club): A NOVEL By Ann Napolitano (Amazon)
Ann Napolitano Amazon Author Page
Ann Napolitano on Twitter
Ann Napolitano on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visi… Lees meer -
How NY Times Bestselling Author Jami Attenberg Writes
12 januari 2024 · 35 min
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. Lees meer
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-alongs
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
JamiAttenberg.com
1000wordsofsummer.substack.com
1000 Words: A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Produ…
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Best of 2023 - Hot Takes and Shootin’ the Breeze with Adam Skolnick: Part Two
5 januari 2024 · 42 min
This is the second part of a year-end retrospective with award-winning indie journalist and author, Adam Skolnick, who returns to rap with me about show highlights from the last half of 2023, hot takes, and shootin’ the breeze.
Adam Skolnick is an award-winning independent journalist and author covering adventure sports, environmental issues, and civil rights for outlets such as The New York Times, Outside, ESPN, BBC, and Men’s Health, among others.
Adam is co-author of Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within, the follow-up to David Goggins’ smash hit memoir Can’t Hurt Me. Adam is also the author of One Breath, has narrated David Goggins’ bestselling audiobooks, and co-hosted The Rich Roll Podcast, on the "Roll On" edition.
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In this file Adam Skolnick and I discussed:
How Literary Critic & Publishing Insider Bethanne Patrick Writes: Part Two: The sui generis of the Colleen Hoover effect
How Award-Winning Climate Journalist Amy Westervelt Writes: Why more writers need to set their stories in the real world
How Booker Prize-Winning Author Anne Enright Writes: The moment of burnout that changed her career
How National Book Award Winner & Bestselling Author James McBride Writes: Why some writers find no joy in being well-known
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Emily Henry Writes: Part Two: What it feels like to live inside a lightning strike
Show Notes:
Best of 2023 - Hot Takes and Shootin’ the Breeze with Adam Skolnick: Part One
AdamSkolnick.com
Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within – by David Goggins (Amazon)
Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds – by David Goggins (Amazon)
Adam Skolnick on Instagram
A Mostly Uncensored Chat with Award-Winning Journo Adam… Lees meer -
Best of 2023 - Hot Takes and Shootin’ the Breeze with Adam Skolnick: Part One
29 december 2023 · 37 min
This is the first part of a year-end retrospective with award-winning indie journalist and author, Adam Skolnick, who returns to rap with me about show highlights from the last half of 2023, hot takes, and shootin’ the breeze.
Adam Skolnick is an award-winning independent journalist and author covering adventure sports, environmental issues, and civil rights for outlets such as The New York Times, Outside, ESPN, BBC, and Men’s Health, among others.
Adam is co-author of Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within, the follow-up to David Goggins’ smash hit memoir Can’t Hurt Me. Adam is also the author of One Breath, has narrated David Goggins’ bestselling audiobooks, and co-hosted The Rich Roll Podcast, on the "Roll On" edition.\
This is the last episode of the year but we’ll be back soon with more inspiration from your favorite authors. Happy Holidays!
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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 Adam Skolnick and I discussed:
How Literary Critic & Publishing Insider Bethanne Patrick Writes: Part Two: The sui generis of the Colleen Hoover effect
How Award-Winning Climate Journalist Amy Westervelt Writes: Why more writers need to set their stories in the real world
How Booker Prize-Winning Author Anne Enright Writes: The moment of burnout that changed her career
How National Book Award Winner & Bestselling Author James McBride Writes: Why some writers find no joy in being well-known
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Emily Henry Writes: Part Two: What it feels like to live inside a lightning strike
Show Notes:
Best of 2023 - Hot Takes and Shootin’ the Breeze with Adam Skolnick: Part Two
AdamSkolnick.com
Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within – by David Goggins (Amazon)
Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind an… Lees meer -
Myth-Busting Book Publishing with Agent Lucinda Halpern: Redux
22 december 2023 · 40 min
NOTE: This is an updated replay of an amazing chat I had with Lucinda Halpern, Founder and President of Manhattan-based literary agency Lucinda Literary LLC turned author. Lucinda’s new book, Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author (2/6/2024, Hay House) “... lets readers in on the secrets to writing a book agents will battle over.” Congrats Lucinda! Lees meer
President and Founder of Manhattan-based agency Lucinda Literary, Lucinda Halpern, gave me an insider’s take on why literary agents can't just be deal-makers anymore.
Lucinda Halpern is a literary, lecture, and PR agent with over 15 years of experience on both the corporate and agency sides of publishing.
Specializing in "books that change the way people work, behave, and live," she represents authors writing in the categories of business, health, lifestyle, popular science, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and upmarket fiction.
Her agency, Lucinda Literary, boasts a roster of authors including New York Times bestselling authors Susan Peirce Thompson (Bright Line Eating), Chris Bailey (The Productivity Project; Hyperfocus), Cait Flanders (The Year of Less), Paul Jarvis (Company of One), the new work of Nicola Kraus (The Nanny Diaries) and Jake Wood (Once a Warrior).
She also shares publishing insights and motivation for writers and hosts both live and online programs for aspiring authors.
Stay calm and write on ...
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In this file Lucinda Halpern and I discussed:Her mission statement, ethos, and the future of publishing
How good agents build lifelong marriages with their authors
Why you don't have to be famous to get published
Counterintuitive tips about the industry
The old-fashioned art of crafting a book
And more!
Show…
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How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Jo Segura Writes
15 december 2023 · 43 min
Acclaimed debut novelist, Jo Segura, spoke with me about her love of the romance writing community, why natural history and archaeology are her jam, and her debut romcom RAIDERS OF THE LOST HEART.
Jo Segura’s debut, Raiders of the Lost Heart, is described as an adventure romance about “Rival archaeologists [who] must team up on a secret Aztec expedition, [that] could leave their careers—and hearts—in ruins.
Entertainment Weekly called it, “Romancing the Stone meets Indiana Jones in this thrilling adventure romance.” And Publishers Weekly said of the book, “Segura’s rip-roaring debut is sure to put her on the map."
The book was named a LibraryReads Pick and Indie Next pick for December, Entertainment Weekly’s 41 New Fall Books We're Most Excited To Read, and Book Riot’s 8 Of The Best Romance Books With Action.
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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 Jo Segura and I discussed:
Why she dedicated a whole year to getting published
How she turned to escapist fare during the Pandemic
Writing her debut novel for NaNoWriMo
The reason she named her main character after her great-aunt
Why writers have to find their people
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
Josegura.com
Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura [Amazon]
Jo Segura on Twitter
Jo Segura on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Lees meer -
The Art and Craft of TV Drama with Aaron Tracy: Part Two
8 december 2023 · 42 min
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
What aspiring TV writers should be reading
And a lot more!
Show Not… Lees meer -
How National Book Award Winner & Bestselling Author James McBride Writes: Redux
1 december 2023 · 32 min
NOTE: This is an updated replay of an amazing chat I had with New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award winner, James McBride. His latest novel, THE HEAVEN & EARTH GROCERY STORE, was named Amazon’s #1 Book of the Year Pick, and Barnes & Noble's Book of the Year, among many other accolades for 2023. Congrats James!
New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award winner, James McBride, spoke to me about eschewing literary fame, his friendship with Spike Lee, and his latest novel THE HEAVEN & EARTH GROCERY STORE.
James McBride is a musician, screenwriter, and award-winning author of New York Times bestselling Oprah’s Book Club selection Deacon King Kong, the National Book Award–winner The Good Lord Bird (now a Showtime limited series starring Ethan Hawke), and the American classic The Color of Water.
His debut novel, Miracle at St. Anna, was turned into a 2008 film by Oscar-winning writer and director Spike Lee, with a script written by McBride.
The author’s latest novel, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, was an Instant New York Times Bestseller and Named a Must Read for the Summer by The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Time, Town & Country, and others.
Described as “... a novel about small-town secrets and the people who keep them,” it begins in 1972 when workers in Pottstown, PA, find a skeleton at the bottom of a well. The New York Times Book Review called the book, “A murder mystery locked inside a Great American Novel.”
James McBride received a National Humanities Medal from President Obama, “... for humanizing the complexities of discussing race in America.” He is a distinguished writer in residence at New York University.
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In this file James McBride and… Lees meer -
How Publishing Legend Charles Scribner III Writes
22 november 2023 · 40 min
Publishing legend, art historian, and author, Charles Scribner III, spoke with me about growing up surrounded by publishing, Hemingway’s Three Rules to Life, and his memoir/family history SCRIBNERS: FIVE GENERATIONS IN PUBLISHING.
Charles Scribner III is an art historian, author, editor, and lecturer, who received his BA, MFA, and PhD from Princeton University in art and archaeology.
He worked in publishing for nearly thirty years and is a prominent authority on Caravaggio, Bernini, Rubens, and other artists. He has written biographies on Rubens and Bernini; articles for Vanity Fair, Art & Antiques, among other publications; and has lectured at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery, the Smithsonian, Christie’s, and various universities.
His forthcoming family history, Scribners: Five Generations in Publishing, is about the inside story of 5 generations – over 150 years – at the legendary publishing house of Charles Scribner's Sons.
“The author, the fifth of the Charleses to work at that house of celebrated authors, provides … an inside view – ‘between the covers’ of illustrious and notorious books – of the family members, editors, and authors of this colorful literary history.”
Kirkus Reviews called it "A charming memoir of a life in books," and Publishers Weekly called it “... a lively and refreshing must-read for those interested in the history of book publishing.”
Charles remained at Scribners through three changes in ownership (Macmillan, Maxwell, and Viacom), overseeing the publication of its literary classics. He was also a commentator for TV documentaries on Edith Wharton (BBC/PBS), Fitzgerald and Hemingway (A&E Biography).
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In this file, Charles Scribner III and I discussed: Lees meerHow ma…
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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jim Butcher Writes
17 november 2023 · 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.
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: Lees meerWhy “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 #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Susan Wiggs Writes: Part Two
10 november 2023 · 35 min
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Susan Wiggs, returns to chat with me about her island writing hideout, rescuing two puppies at the same time, holiday genre tropes, and her latest Christmas book THE TWELVE DOGS OF CHRISTMAS.
Susan Wiggs is the award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of over 50 published novels, with over 25 million copies in print, published in 30 countries, and translated into over 20 languages.
Her latest, The Twelve Dogs of Christmas: A Novel, is described as, “The ultimate holiday gift from New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs: a delightful novel about a Christmas transport of rescue puppies that’s guaranteed to warm readers’ hearts.”
#1 New York Times bestselling author of Must Love Flowers, Debbie Macomber, said of the book, "Don't miss this charming Christmas tale of thawing hearts, escaping dogs, and finding home. I couldn't help digging into this book with both paws."
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In this file, Susan Wiggs and I discussed: Lees meerWriting on planes, trains, and automobiles
Her love of classic Christmas stories
How the latest ties into her Lakeshore Chronicles series
Why one of the easiest things in the world to do is “not write”
Getting snowed in with Toni Morrison
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Susan Wiggs Writes: Part One
Susanwiggs.com
The Twelve Dogs of Christmas: A Novel by Susan Wiggs (Amazon)
Susan Wiggs Amazon Author Page
Susan Wiggs on Instagram
Susan Wiggs on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How Literary Critic & Publishing Insider Bethanne Patrick Writes: Part Two
3 november 2023 · 34 min
Longtime literary critic and publishing insider, Bethanne Patrick, is back to chat with me about the return of her hit podcast Missing Pages, her front-row seat to the sea change in publishing, and her life-affirming first memoir LIFE B.
Bethanne Patrick is a world-renowned literary critic, author, and host of the chart-topping and Signal Award-winning podcast Missing Pages. Her work appears frequently in the Los Angeles Times as well as in The Washington Post, NPR Books, and Literary Hub.
Missing Pages is back – the Webby Award-nominated podcast named a “must-listen” by The Washington Post and The Guardian – has a second season on deck that features authors, experts, publishing insiders, and a circus of NYC media elites.
Host Bethanne Patrick sits down with notable guests to set the record straight on the secretive world of book publishing again. From the rise of Colleen Hoover and book bans across America to the idea of who owns what in fan fiction, Missing Pages investigates it all.
Bethanne also recently published her first memoir, Life B, “A bracing and fresh look at a lifelong struggle with depression and mental illness,” described by NY Times bestselling author Lori Gottlieb as, “Insightful, honest, [and] ultimately life-affirming …”
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In this file Bethanne Patrick and I discussed: Lees meerWhat it was like to have her podcast nominated for a Webby Award
The sui generis of the Colleen Hoover effect
What the ambitious second season of Missing Pages plans to tackle
The origins and evolution of the novel
How she wrote her first memoir
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
Missing Pages on Apple Podcasts
Missing Pages on Twitter
How Literary Critic & Publishing Insider Bethanne Patrick (AKA TheBookMaven) Writes:…
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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Andrew Child Writes
27 oktober 2023 · 37 min
#1 NY Times bestselling author, Andrew Child, spoke to me about his lifelong obsession with storytelling, working with Jack Reacher co-author and brother Lee Child, and their latest in the series THE SECRET.
In addition to four Reacher novels, Andrew Child – the pen name of author Andrew Grant – has also written his own hit thriller series including RUN, False Positive, False Friend, False Witness, Invisible, and Too Close to Home.
His brother Lee Child is the creator of the international bestselling, award-winning, 28-book series of Jack Reacher novels, and winner of Author of the Year at the 2019 British Book Awards.
NPR said of the books, “The Reacher novels are easily the best thriller series going,” and James Patterson said of the brother’s collaboration, “Two Childs are better than one.”
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In this file Andrew Child and I discussed: Lees meerHis past lives in theater and the corporate world
The two saddest words in the English language
What it was like being a Beta reader for Lee’s early Reacher novels
The evolution of the Child brother’s low-tech writing process
How to outwrite self-doubt
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
jackreacher.com
The Secret: A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child and Andrew Child [Amazon]
Andrew Grant Amazon Author Page
Jack Reacher on Facebook
Jack Reacher on Instagram
Jack Reacher on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Molly McGhee Writes
20 oktober 2023 · 34 min
Critically acclaimed debut novelist, Molly McGhee, spoke with me about the best day of her life, her part in The Great Publishing Resignation, losing a parent, and her first book JONATHAN ABERNATHY YOU ARE KIND.
Molly McGhee writes fiction and essays and taught in the undergraduate creative writing department at Columbia University where she also graduated with an MFA in fiction.
Her debut novel is Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind, described by The New York Times as a story about, “... debt-laden citizens [who] are recruited to ‘audit’ others’ dreams — all in the name of productivity.”
In a starred review Booklist said of the book, “… a superlative state-of-the-nation novel like no other. Full of astoundingly resonant and eminently quotable points about labor, capital, and depression, this wondrous literary creation brilliantly captures the excessive demands of contemporary work.”
Molly has worked in the editorial departments of McSweeney’s, The Believer, NOON, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, and helped launch a horror imprint at Tor. Her work has appeared in The Paris Review, LitHub, and others.
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In this file Molly McGhee and I discussed: Lees meerHer past life as a NY Times bestselling editor
Using writing as a coping mechanism for grief
The nightmare that became a book
Why she thinks of herself as a reader first
Learning how to give yourself grace
The importance of authenticity and vulnerability in your writing
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
mollymcghee.com
Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind: A Novel By Molly McGhee [Amazon]
This Science Fiction Novel Scrapes the Work Force of Human Suffering
The "Great Publishing Resignation" Exposes the Failings of the Industry
Men Who Don’t Know Women: On Unlearning the Les…
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How Award-Winning Climate Journalist Amy Westervelt Writes
18 oktober 2023 · 42 min
Bonus Episode – Climate Edition: Award-winning investigative journalist and Executive Podcast Producer, Amy Westervelt, spoke to me about her accidental career in climate accountability, the greatest threat to free speech, and her deep dive into the origins of climate denial.
Amy Westervelt is an independent investigative climate journalist who has been on the climate beat for more than 20 years, reporting for a wide range of outlets over the years, including Inside Climate News, The Guardian, The Nation, The Intercept, NPR, and many others.
She is the Executive Producer of the independent podcast production company Critical Frequency, and in 2021, she helped produce This Land S2—an investigative podcast revealing the forces behind efforts to unravel tribal sovereignty in the U.S.— nominated for a Peabody Award in April 2022. In 2020 she produced Unfinished: Short Creek with Stitcher which was named a best podcast of the year by The New Yorker and The Atlantic
She also hosted her award-winning climate podcast Drilled, a Critical Frequency original, and was most recently awarded Covering Climate Now's Journalist of the Year Award 2023, a global journalism collaboration co-founded by Columbia Journalism Review, The Nation, and others.
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In this file Amy Westervelt and I discussed: Lees meerWhy journalists and protesters are being jailed for speaking out
How the early days of climate denialism set the tone for our current dilemma
How to record a hit podcast in your car while your kids sleep
Why we need climate fiction storytellers now more than ever
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
Drilled.media
Amy Westervelt on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Isa Arsén Writes
13 oktober 2023 · 34 min
Critically acclaimed debut novelist, Isa Arsén, spoke with me about humanizing machines and the creative process, how to write soft sci-fi, and her genre-bending, “timey-wimey” literary debut SHOOT THE MOON.
Isa Arsén is an author and audio engineer based in South Texas and has published several short stories and pieces of experimental interactive media.
Shoot the Moon is Arsén’s debut novel, inspired by her own childhood in New Mexico. Named a BookBub Best Book of Fall and Shondaland Best Book for October 2023 among others, it has been described as “...a puzzle box time travel story,” about an “... [intelligent] but lonely NASA secretary and her relentless drive to live a big life in a world that would keep her small.”
Publishers Weekly called it an, "Innovative . . . [novel that] navigates the back-and-forth of the story’s time-travel events, threading them into the highlights of women’s scientific achievements."
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In this file Isa Arsén and I discussed: Lees meerStudying music composition and blending the organic and machine
Why “music is how we decorate time”
Her unique blend of interests, including Dr. Who
What it means to write in the age of genre-benders
Why storytelling is a quirk of evolution
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
inarsen.com
Shoot the Moon by Isa Arsén [Amazon]
Isa Arsén on 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 Laurell K. Hamilton Writes: Part Two
6 oktober 2023 · 47 min
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Laurell K. Hamilton, returns to talk about how her writing process has evolved over the last 30 years, how to find words, wisdom, and mental wellness, and celebrating the 30th in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series with SLAY.
Laurell K. Hamilton is the trailblazing, genre-bending author of the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series, and the Merry Gentry, Fey Detective series, and is considered an influential pioneer in the urban-fantasy genre.
In the 30th novel of the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Hunter series, Slay, wedding bells are ringing. “But before Anita can make it to the altar, she must face an obstacle more daunting than any supernatural threat.”
Laurell K. Hamilton is one of the most successful and popular paranormal fiction authors publishing today, has published over 40 novels, and has sold more than 20 million copies of her books.
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In this file Laurell K. Hamilton and I discussed: Lees meerWhy she doesn’t outline or do research before her first drafts
How she became a lean, mean writing machine over the years
Why you can’t beat yourself up if the pages aren’t coming
How to refill your creative tank
Tapping science, history, and mythology for realism in your fiction
The rarefied air of a 30-book series
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Laurell K. Hamilton Writes: Part One
LaurellKHamilton.com
Slay (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter) by Laurell K. Hamilton [Amazon]
Laurell K. Hamilton Amazon author page
Laurell K. Hamilton on FaceBook
Laurell K. Hamilton on Instagram
Laurell K. Hamilton on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How Booker Prize-Winning Author Anne Enright Writes
29 september 2023 · 36 min
Bestselling, Booker Prize-winning author, Anne Enright, spoke to me about eagles and moles, the interior engineering of a novel, her love of Irish poetry, and her latest THE WREN, THE WREN.
Anne Enright won the Man Booker Prize and the Irish Fiction Award for her novel The Gathering. She has also been awarded the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Irish Book Awards, and was the first Laureate for Irish Fiction (2015-2018).
Her latest novel The Wren, the Wren, was named a Most Anticipated Book of the Year by TIME, The Millions, Literary Hub, and others, and is described as the story of “... three generations of … women who must contend with inheritances―of poetic wonder and of abandonment by a man who is lauded in public and carelessly selfish at home.”
The New York Times called it, "... a powerful, thoughtful book by one of the great living writers on the subject of family," and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jennifer Egan said of the book, “The Wren, the Wren is an electrifying romp through language itself―its dizzying possibilities and satisfactions―led by one the most gifted writers working in English today."
Anne Enright has also published two books of short stories, her essays on literary themes have appeared in the London Review of Books and The New York Review of Books, and she writes for the books pages of The Irish Times and The Guardian.
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In this file Anne Enright and I discussed: Lees meerThe moment of burnout that changed her career
How she used to be a night owl scribe
Why you shouldn’t over-panic, or over-plan
The fallacies of impostor syndrome and inspiration
How to create a fictional poet out of thin air
Taking a long look at James Joyce across the tabl…
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How Bestselling Author & TV Producer Dwain Worrell Writes
22 september 2023 · 43 min
Bestselling author and award-winning screenwriter, Dwain Worrell, spoke to me about making the move from the writers' room to the cafe, the art and science of suspense, and his debut novel ANDRONE.
Dwain Worrell is an award-winning Marvel and Disney+ TV producer, filmmaker, and novelist whose writing credits include Marvel’s Iron Fist, CBS’s Fire Country, Amazon Studios’ The Wall, and the Disney+ series National Treasure, among others. Dwain also worked as a translator of Mandarin Chinese in Beijing for nearly a decade.
His bestselling debut novel, Androne, is described as a “... near future … highly cinematic and propulsive story [centered] around a terrifying event called the Ninety-Nine, where all major military installations on Earth [are] eviscerated, heralding humanity's start of a war with an unknown enemy.”
Niels Arden Oplev, Director of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo called the book “A crazy-cool ride into the unknown …. [Androne] reads like a high-end videogame on steroids with a destiny of Shakespearean magnitude.”
Publishers Weekly wrote, “... taut intrigue … reels readers into a thrilling yet thoughtful narrative about the futility of war and the cost of doing the right thing…”
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In this file Dwain Worrell and I discussed: Lees meerMaking the move from screenwriter to novelist during a WGA strike
How he discovered theater after having his basketball dreams dashed
Why writing for TV is harder (and easier) than prose
The inspiration that went into his latest sci-fi thriller
Our mutual love of Hans Zimmer soundtracks
Hanging out with Shakespeare at Chili’s
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
Dwainworrell.com
Dwain Worrell - IMDb
Behind the Science of Writing Good Suspense - Writer's Digest
Androne By…
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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jennifer Lynn Barnes Writes: Part One
15 september 2023 · 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.
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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In this file Jennifer Lynn Barnes and I discussed: Lees meerHer 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
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Le…
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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author James Rollins Writes
8 september 2023 · 34 min
#1 New York Times bestselling author, James Rollins, spoke to me about his alter ego, veterinarian Dr. Jim, how to write two staccato-paced novels a year, and his latest Sigma Force installment, TIDES OF FIRE.
James Rollins is the #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of the Sigma Force series, six standalone adventure thrillers, a novelization of the Indiana Jones franchise, and many others totaling over 44 novels (even he can’t remember the exact number).
His latest in his most popular series is Tides of Fire: A Sigma Force Novel, [set on] “...an international research station in the Coral Sea [that] comes under siege during a geological disaster that triggers massive quakes, deadly tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. To stop the world from burning, it’s up to Sigma Force to uncover a secret buried at the heart of our planet…”
Publishers Weekly said of the book, "The X-Files meets Seal Team Six in Rollins’s imaginative, pulse-pounding 17th Sigma Force thriller . . . . Rollins’s gleeful everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach works well here, nimbly balancing popcorn action with mind-blowing scientific speculation. The author has rarely been better at making the implausible feel plausible."
James Rollins’s novels have sold over 20 million copies and are published in more than 40 languages worldwide.
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In this file James Rollins and I discussed: Lees meerHow 49 rejections early in his career didn’t sway his passion for writing
Keeping all of the plots and characters organized in his many series
The panic that comes with every undertaking
Why he adds illustrations and appendices to his books
The unique research process that goes into his prescient novels
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
JamesRollins.com
Tides of F…
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How Internationally Bestselling Author Lucy Clarke Writes
1 september 2023 · 34 min
Internationally bestselling author, Lucy Clarke, spoke to me about how her love of travel morphed into a destination thriller, building your readership organically, and the chewy female dynamics in her latest novel THE HIKE.
Lucy Clarke is a Sunday Times bestseller and the author of eight destination thrillers including Waterstones Thriller of the Month, The Castaways, Richard and Judy Book Club pick, One of the Girls, and most recently, The Hike.
Told in alternating perspectives her latest thriller “explores the wild side of female friendship and the transportive power of the wilderness.”
New York Times bestselling author Sarah Pearse said of the book, “THE HIKE transports you to the Norwegian wilderness where a group of female friends are pushed to their absolute limits and beyond.”
Lucy’s novels have sold over a million copies and are published in over 25 territories worldwide. An adaptation of her book The Castaways was filmed on location in Fiji and Greece, and the five-part series is airing on Paramount+.
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In this file Lucy Clarke and I discussed: Lees meerHer past life in advertising and making the transition to fiction
The explosion of the thriller genre and her place in it
Why she likes to write characters at their crossroads
Her remote Zen writing hideout
Why maintaining author friendships is so important to longevity
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
Lucy-clarke.com
The Hike by Lucy Clarke (Amazon)
Lucy Clarke Amazon Author Page
Lucy Clarke on Facebook
Lucy Clarke on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How to Write with ADHD and Coach Skye Waterson
30 augustus 2023 · 33 min
Bonus Episode: ADHD Coach, researcher, and Doctoral Candidate, Skye Waterson, spoke to me about writing a dissertation with neurodiversity, conquering burnout, and her unconventional approach to writing routines for writers with time blindness and more.
Skye Waterson is the Founder of Unconventional Organization, a worldwide, research-based ADHD support service that has helped academics, playwrights, and authors with ADHD “...build strength-focused writing routines so they can meet their goals while managing struggles with executive functioning”
An academic with over seven years of experience working in adult education, she has studied in various fields, including Psychology, Sociology, and Public Health, and is now a Doctoral Candidate in Population Health.
[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 Skye Waterson and I discussed: Lees meerHow she got her ADHD diagnosis at age 30
Why procrastination and neurodiversity go hand-in-hand
How neurotypical writers differ from those with real struggles
When you need to seek out unconventional wisdom for help
The strengths of writers with ADHD
Leaning on self-care to promote productivity
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
unconventionalorganisation.com
'The Writer's Brain' on Procrastination: Part One - The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience (podcast)
Unconventional Organization on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How Acclaimed TV Writer/Producer Adam Lorenzo Writes
25 augustus 2023 · 50 min
Acclaimed TV and movie writer, Adam Lorenzo, spoke to me about owning a college bar … while still in college, his work ethic and what keeps him hustling pages, and his latest college survival guide ALL I NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED FROM MY COLLEGE BAR.
Adam Lorenzo is a writer/producer who works in both live-action and animation who started as a joke writer, selling material to Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon on Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update''; Jimmy Kimmel; and David Letterman, which resulted in his first staff-writing job, on The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn (co-created and executive produced by Letterman).
Other notable TV credits include the Emmy-winning Everybody Loves Raymond, Are We There Yet? (starring Terry Crews and Ice Cube), and Everybody Hates Chris, based on the life of Chris Rock.
Before successfully pursuing his dream of being a writer, he owned a college bar... while still a student at Syracuse University.
The author’s debut in publishing, naturally, is All I Need To Know I Learned From My College Bar, a whimsical look at what Adam calls the "valuable life lessons learned working and laughing with people from all over the world in that cathedral of knowledge known as a college bar."x
The self-described “college survival guide” is based on his life and has illustrations by Antonio Giovanni Pinna of The New Yorker.
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In this file Adam Lorenzo and I discussed: Lees meerHow he faked and faxed his way into Dave Letterman’s heart
Why his writing career effectively ended his marriage
How a kid from Buffalo, NY made it in Hollywood
Why he spent so much time at a little-known library at The Writers Guild of America
The Sicilian barber that got him a big break into sitcoms
My own #TheCollegeBarChalle…
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How National Book Award Winner & Bestselling Author James McBride Writes
18 augustus 2023 · 32 min
New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award winner, James McBride, spoke to me about eschewing literary fame, his friendship with Spike Lee, and his latest novel THE HEAVEN & EARTH GROCERY STORE.
James McBride is a musician, screenwriter, and award-winning author of New York Times bestselling Oprah’s Book Club selection Deacon King Kong, the National Book Award–winner The Good Lord Bird (now a Showtime limited series starring Ethan Hawke), and the American classic The Color of Water.
His debut novel, Miracle at St. Anna, was turned into a 2008 film by Oscar-winning writer and director Spike Lee, with a script written by McBride.
The author’s latest novel, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, was an Instant New York Times Bestseller and Named a Must Read for the Summer by The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Time, Town & Country, and others.
Described as “... a novel about small-town secrets and the people who keep them,” it begins in 1972 when workers in Pottstown, PA, find a skeleton at the bottom of a well. The New York Times Book Review called the book, “A murder mystery locked inside a Great American Novel.”
James McBride received a National Humanities Medal from President Obama, “... for humanizing the complexities of discussing race in America.” He is a distinguished writer in residence at New York University.
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In this file James McBride and I discussed: Lees meerWhy he finds no joy in being well-known
How The Color of Water changed his career
The lessons he learned from Michael Jackson
The hyperbole of the literary world and standing on the shoulders of giants
How we’re all more alike than we are different
Why writers must seek out their mentors
And a lot more!
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How Critically Acclaimed Memoirist Melissa Bond Writes
11 augustus 2023 · 34 min
Critically acclaimed memoirist, Melissa Bond, spoke to me about her dark night of the soul, crowd-funding her lauded memoir, and the paperback release of BLOOD ORANGE NIGHT: A Memoir of Insomnia, Motherhood, and Benzos.
Melissa Bond is a narrative journalist, editor, award-winning poet, and speaker/performer whose breakout debut memoir, Blood Orange Night, is a Barnes & Noble non-fiction book of the month, and was selected by both The New York Times as one of the Best Audiobooks of 2022.
Publishers Weekly (in a Starred Review) said of the book, “In this raw and captivating debut, journalist Bond chronicles her volatile descent into a benzodiazepine addiction …. Bond’s narrative casts a burning light onto the hazards of overprescribing and the threat it poses to vulnerable people. This cautionary tale stuns.”
Melissa Bond blogged and became a regular contributor for Mad in America in the years of her dependence on benzodiazepines. She is a respected speaker and writer on the perils of over-prescribing benzodiazepines and has been featured on podcasts including The New York Times Book Review, and others.
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In this file Melissa Bond and I discussed: Lees meerHer guerilla street poet/poverty phase and hosting National Poetry Slams
Why she never imagined writing a memoir
How she Kickstarted her hit book in just three days
The transformative process of finding gems in the rubble of difficult times
Her process, meditation practice, and “sitting beyond oneself”
How to quiet the gnome of self-doubt
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
melissaabond.com
Blood Orange Night: A Memoir of Insomnia, Motherhood, and Benzos By Melissa Bond (Amazon)
Melissa Bond on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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