The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience
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How NY Times Bestselling Author Lisa Scottoline Writes
19 mei 2021 · 40 min
#PodcastersForJustice New York Times bestselling author and Edgar award-winner, Lisa Scottoline, spoke with me about what she learned from literary lion Philip Roth, impostor syndrome, and her latest book, Eternal.
“I think all writing is writing, and all writing is good. And whether it gets published or not, it all ... makes you better.” – Lisa Scottoline
Lisa is a #1 bestselling author of 33 novels. She's gone from law school standout to writing chart-topping legal thrillers over the course of her prolific career, has sold over 30 million copies of her books in the US, and been published in 35 countries.
Her latest is Eternal and her first historical novel, a departure that she calls the culmination of her life's work. It's described as "... a sweeping and shattering epic of historical fiction fueled by shocking true events."
“[Her] expansive WWII-era historical novel follows three childhood best friends as love, loyalty and sacrifice mix and their beloved Rome falls to the Nazis.” – GMA
Lisa also writes a weekly humor column with her daughter, Francesca Serritella, for the Philadelphia Inquirer, which have been adapted into a series of memoirs. She has served as President of the Mystery Writers of America and has taught a course she developed, “Justice in Fiction,” at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, her alma mater.
Stay tuned after the interview for a sample of the audiobook excerpted courtesy of Penguin Random House Audio read by Cassandra Campbell.
Stay calm and write on ...
Discover The Writer Files Extra
You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!
As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods pod… Lees meer -
'Diving Deep' with Award-Winning Documentarian Mimi deGruy and Author Adam Skolnick
12 mei 2021 · 53 min
#PodcastersForJustice Award-winning documentarian, Mimi deGruy, joined me and author Adam Skolnick for a deep dive into the genesis of her documentary exploring the legacy and environmental activism of her late husband, trailblazing ocean filmmaker Mike deGruy.
“When Mike died, I felt like he left in mid-conversation, and I knew that he had so much more to say,” – Mimi deGruy
Mike deGruy was a lauded filmmaker, biologist, and activist, who pushed the boundaries of cinematography and diving technology to explore never-before-seen ocean life and share it with the world.
"In 2012, deGruy died tragically at age 60 in a helicopter crash in Australia while filming for [Academy Award® winning] director James Cameron." – KCRW
The documentary, “Diving Deep: The Life and Times of Mike deGruy” was crowd-funded, directed, produced, and written by Mimi, Mike’s widow and filmmaking partner.
"Told through the eyes of his wife ... the film celebrates [Mike’s] life, career, and what he passionately believed: we are destroying the ocean before we even know what’s there."
The Hollywood Reporter said about the film: “It [succeeds] as a touching personal reminiscence and as an understated but effective environmental manifesto.”
The film opened the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in 2019, and won Best Film at the Ocean Film Festival, Audience Favorite at the Aspen Mountain Film Festival, and many other awards. It is available across all platforms including Apple TV/iTunes and Amazon rentals.
Adam Skolnick is the award-winning journalist and author covering adventure sports, environmental issues, travel, and human rights for The New York Times and other outlets. He is the author of One Breath: Freediving, Death and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits, the ghostwriter and narrator of David Goggins’ smash hit memoir and audiobook Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds, and he is a co-host on the Rich Roll Podcast.
As a bonus, Adam and I kick off the show by discussing th… Lees meer -
How Bestselling Crime Novelist Walter Mosley Writes
5 mei 2021 · 31 min
#PodcastersForJustice Lees meer
Celebrated author, Walter Mosley, took a timeout to chat with me about how he didn't write a sentence he liked until age 35, the sprawling muse of Los Angeles, and his conflicted feelings after winning a big National Book Award.
“Write your truth, and believe in it. And if your mother doesn’t like it ... too bad.” – Walter Mosley
Walter is the first Black man to receive the National Book Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters for lifetime achievement in writing.
The critically acclaimed author, playwright, screenwriter, and producer has written over 60 books including fiction (literary, mystery, and science fiction), writing guides, memoir, a YA novel, has won dozens of prestigious awards (including an Emmy), and been translated into 25 languages.
His bestselling historical mysteries feature infamous, hard-boiled detective "Easy" Rawlins, a black PI living in the Watts neighborhood of LA.
Blood Grove (Easy Rawlins Book 15) is the latest in that series and described as "... a novel of vast scope and intimate insight, and a soulful call for justice by any means necessary."
Walter's work has also been adapted for film and TV including Devil in a Blue Dress (starring Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle and Jennifer Beals) and the HBO production of Always Outnumbered (starring Laurence Fishburne and Natalie Cole).
Stay calm and write on ...
Discover The Writer Files ExtraYou can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!
As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey.
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How Critically Acclaimed Novelist Erik Raschke Writes
21 april 2021 · 1 uur 8 min
#PodcastersForJustice
Critically acclaimed novelist, short story writer, and educator, Erik Raschke, stopped by this week to talk about coming-of-age in Denver, Colorado, how The Beat Generation influenced his writing, and how your children consume you.
Erik Raschke is a native to Denver, Colorado – and admittedly, one of my oldest friends. He became a dual Dutch and American citizen in 2013, teaches writing at the University of Amsterdam and is a certified New York public school teacher.
Erik's first novel, The Book of Samuel, was translated into Italian and nominated for the prestigious Printz award. His short story, Winch (Portland Review), was nominated for the 2018 Best American Short Stories.
His latest is To the Mountain, a novel described as "... an absorbing tale of sacrifice, hope, and the bond between father and son."
NY Times bestselling author Margaret Coel called the book, “A deeply affecting tale of a father’s love for his autistic son ... Raschke’s lyrical prose evokes both the awesome wilderness of the Rocky Mountains in winter and the unfathomable wilderness of the human heart."
As a journalist in the early '90s in Belfast, Erik briefly covered violence that marked the end of The Troubles. His short stories and essays have been published in The Atlantic Monthly, The New York Times Magazine, Hazlitt, Georgia Review, De Volkskrant, and Guernica, among others.
Stay calm and write on …
And Stay Tuned: I’m cooking up some extras for fans of the show in the coming weeks you won’t want to miss including the option to have episodes, extras, and added insights delivered straight to your inbox, and maybe even some Writer Files merch on the way.
Preview a sample of a podcast at the break from this week's sponsor Look Closer: The Found Fiction Podcast, more at foundfiction.org.
In this file Erik Raschke and I discussed: The European Rockabilly facsimile that made him cry
Denver and Ken Kesey's impact on his writing
Why he studied the history of disability for… Lees meer -
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Mark Greaney Writes: Part One
15 april 2021 · 33 min
#PodcastersForJustice Lees meer
The #1 New York Times bestselling author, Mark Greaney, dropped by to chat about hanging out with Tom Clancy at The Pentagon, the elements of a great spy novel, and the latest in The Gray Man series.
"Even if you finish a whole book and it doesn't get published, I promise you you're a much better author at the end of that process than you were at the beginning..." – Mark Greaney
Mark's debut international thriller, The Gray Man, was published in 2009 and became a national bestseller and highly sought-after Hollywood property. He's released ten in that series to date including the #1 New York Times bestseller One Minute Out.
The Gray Man series has drawn comparisons to giants of the field including Brad Thor, Daniel Silva, and – of course – Tom Clancy. Mark is also the #1 New York Times bestselling author or co-author of seven Tom Clancy novels – he co-wrote Clancy’s final three Jack Ryan thrillers prior to his passing.
Mark's latest outing with The Gray Man is Relentless, a book bestselling author Lee Child called, “Hard, fast, and unflinching — exactly what a thriller should be.”
Netflix recently announced an adaptation of the first book in The Gray Man series, starring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans.
Stay calm and write on ...
And Stay Tuned: I’m cooking up some extras for fans of the show in the coming weeks you won’t want to miss including the option to have episodes, extras, and added insights delivered straight to your inbox, and maybe even some Writer Files merch on the way.
Preview a sample of a podcast at the break from this week's sponsor Look Closer: The Found Fiction Podcast, more at foundfiction.org.If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews. In this file Mark Greaney and I discussed:
His 15 year, overnight success
How his extensive research differs from book to book
What it's like to work with the Russo brothers (best known for their Marvel films)
Why writers need to relax and…
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How to Research Historical Fiction with Award-Winning Author Patrick Hicks
7 april 2021 · 40 min
#PodcastersForJustice
Award-winning author, poet, and Emmy-nominee, Patrick Hicks, joined me this week to talk about his unique research process, how stories choose their authors, and how to talk about The Holocaust.
"Whatever scares you to write... that's what you should be writing." – Patrick Hicks
Patrick is the award-winning author of over ten books, including The Collector of Names, Adoptable, This London, and the critically acclaimed novel, The Commandant of Lubizec.
He is the Writer-in-Residence at Augustana University as well as a faculty member at the MFA program at Sierra Nevada University.
He has been published widely in literary journals including Ploughshares, Prairie Schooner, Guernica, The Utne Reader, and many others. His poetry has appeared on NPR, The PBS NewsHour, and American Life in Poetry.
The Emmy-nominated writer also hosts a weekly radio broadcast Poetry from Studio 47 that airs on NPR affiliates.
Note: I’m cooking up some extras for fans of the show in the coming weeks you won’t want to miss including the option to have episodes, extras, and added insights delivered straight to your inbox, and maybe even some Writer Files merch on the way.
Stay calm and write on …
This week's sponsor is Neuro. Use the code WRITER at checkout for a 15% discount.
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Patrick Hicks and I discussed: A roadmap to making a living as a writer
How he used grants to fund the research for his latest novel
Note-taking and travel for historically accurate writing
What it's like to get blurbed by your heroes
The circularity and universality of the human condition across eras
Why great writing should always be your end goal
And more!
Show Notes: PatrickHicks.org Lees meerIn The Shadow of Dora by Patrick Hicks (Amazon)
Ulysses by James Joyce (Amazon)
Poetry from Studio 47
How Grant Money Funded the Research and Writing of My First Two Novels (and how it could help you too)
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How Award-Winning Artist & Author Jason Naylor Writes
25 maart 2021 · 36 min
#BoulderStrong Brooklyn-based designer, artist, and creative director, Jason Naylor, rapped with me about his mission to inspire hope, how to write bite-sized wisdom for an attention-starved world, and why "love is the answer to everything."
“Be yourself, be brave, be proud of who you are, be kind, be loving, be happy, and be colorful.” – Jason Naylor
As a designer, Jason has won two CLIO bronze medals and a Golden Novum Design Award. But it's his "live life colorfully" credo and independent artwork that have found him fame.
Jason's popularity has grown during the pandemic through his inspiring and intensely colorful murals. Jason has worked around the world to brighten communities through his public art installations.
His first book is Live Life Colorfully: 99 Ideas to Add Joy, Positivity, and Creativity to Your Life, a "...quirky, illustrated mix of inspiring words, tips and tricks, and challenges from [the] award-winning artist."
You may recognize his distinctive style from his collaborations with brands including Coach, Guess, Pepsi, Maybelline, MAC Cosmetics, and more.
Stay calm and write on …
Note: Watch this space – I’m cooking up some extras for fans of the show in the coming weeks you won’t want to miss including the option to have episodes, extras, and added insights delivered straight to your inbox, and maybe even some Writer Files merch on the way.
This week's sponsor is Neuro. Use the code WRITER at checkout for a 15% discount.
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Jason Naylor and I discussed: How to create an instantly recognizable (and inspiring) brand
Why a splash of color and surprise is what we all need right now
His vivid tribute to the essential workers of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Why repetition is key to creativity
And more!
Show Notes: JasonNaylor.nyc Lees meerLive Life Colorfully: 99 Ideas to Add Joy, Positivity, and Creativity to Your Life by Jason Naylor (Amazon)…
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How NY Times Bestselling Author Matt Haig Writes
17 maart 2021 · 40 min
Internationally bestselling author, Matt Haig, spoke with me about how the novelist became an accidental "mental health expert," why writers need resilience, and the process behind The Midnight Library.
"The only reader you're ever going to truly know ... is yourself." – Matt Haig
Matt's the author of 20 books including the #1 bestselling memoir, Reasons to Stay Alive, five novels – including How to Stop Time – and several award-winning children’s books. His work has been translated into over 40 languages.
His latest novel is The Midnight Library, a runaway, #1 bestseller and reader favorite of 2020. It was a Goodreads Choice Awards Best Fiction Book of 2020, a Best Book of the Year by The Washington Post, Amazon, the New York Public Library, among many others.
The New York Times said of the book, "An absorbing ... vision of limitless possibility, of new roads taken, of new lives lived, of a whole different world available to us somehow, somewhere, [perhaps] exactly what’s wanted in these troubled and troubling times.”
Stay calm and write on …
**Audio excerpted courtesy Penguin Random House Audio from The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, read by Carey Mulligan.
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In this file Matt Haig and I discussed:
His superhero origins and the blog post that became a book
How to write "like no one's watching"
Inconsistent routines and the power of deadlines
Why writers need to surprise themselves
How he got Carey Mulligan to record his audiobook
And more!
Show Notes:
MattHaig.com
The Midnight Library: A Novel by Matt Haig (Amazon)
Matt Haig Amazon author page
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
Matt Haig on Instagram
Matt Haig on Facebook
Matt Haig on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad… Lees meer -
How Bestselling Thriller Writer Nick Petrie Writes
11 maart 2021 · 30 min
#PodcastersForJustice Bestselling novelist, Nick Petrie, spoke with me about keeping your sanity as a writer, the importance of boredom for creativity, and how to write a thriller series.
Nick's the award-winning author of the critically acclaimed Peter Ash series. His debut novel, The Drifter, won the ITW Thriller and Barry Awards, and was nominated for the Edgar, Anthony, and Hammett Awards.
He won a 2016 Literary Award from the Wisconsin Library Association and was named one of Apple’s 10 Writers to Read in 2017. Light It Up was named the Best Thriller of 2018 by Apple Books and has been nominated for a Barry Award.
His latest is The Breaker, the sixth in his award-winning series featuring Peter Ash, the war veteran struggling with PTSD who travels the US, "... stumbling into mysteries that only a man with his unique skill set can solve."
#1 New York Times bestselling author C.J. Box said of the book, "Nonstop action at a machine-gun pace. If you aren't reading Nick Petrie, now is the time to start."
Stay calm and write on ...
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews. In this file Nick Petrie and I discussed: His 25-year overnight success
The challenges of running a business and writing a book a year
How to "keep the faith"
The rituals and routines that keep him going
William Gibson's genius
And more!
Show Notes: NickPetrie.com Lees meerThe Breaker (A Peter Ash Novel) by Nick Petrie (Amazon)
Nick Petrie Amazon author pageNeuromancer by William Gibson (Amazon)
The Gone World by Tom Sweterlitsch (Amazon)
Nick Petrie on Facebook
Nick Petrie on Twitter
Kelton Reid on TwitterLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How Award-Winning True Crime Writer Kali White VanBaale Writes
24 februari 2021 · 45 min
#PodcastersForJustice Award-winning novelist and creative writing professor, Kali White VanBaale, chatted with me about the transition from literary fiction to true crime, her work with the PEN America Prison & Justice Writing program, and taking chances.
Kali is an award-winning, Iowa-based author of novels, short stories, and essays. Her novel The Space Between (penned as Kali VanBaale), won an American Book Award, an Independent Publisher’s silver medal for fiction, and was winner of the Fred Bonnie First Novel Award.
Her latest is The Monsters We Make (as Kali White), a mystery loosely based on the real-life unsolved "Des Moines paperboy abductions" of the early ‘80s. Pulitzer Prize finalist Lee Martin, author of The Bright Forever, said, “[The Monsters We Make] ... kept me on the edge of my seat. I truly did read this remarkable new novel in one sitting.”
Kali is a regular contributor to the A&E Network Real Crime blog series, and her short stories and essays have appeared in The Coachella Review, The Chaffey Review, Midwestern Gothic, Nowhere Magazine, Poets&Writers, The Writers’ Chronicle and others.
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Kali White VanBaale and I discussed: The challenges writers had to overcome in 2020
Her advocacy for social justice through writing
How to cut yourself off from the rabbit hole of research
On writing what scares you
Why writers need to lean on revision
And more!
At the break I've got a special segment with an inspiring young non-fiction writer you won't want to miss. Hint: She is an influencer, author, artist, and tech-savvy 10-year-old.
Stay calm and write on …
Show Notes: KaliWhite.com Lees meerThe Monsters We Make: A Novel by Kali White (Amazon)
Past TenPEN America Prison & Justice Writing
The Paperboy Abduction Cases: The Legacy of Two Des Moines Boys Who Are Still Missing
Kali White VanBaale on Facebook
Kali White VanBaale on Instagram
Kali White VanBaale… -
How Writer-Director-Activist Duo Bush+Renz Write
18 februari 2021 · 37 min
#PodcastersForJustice Writer-director duo and activists, Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz (AKA Bush+Renz), took a timeout to chat with me about storytelling to amplify social justice, hanging out with Jay-Z, their debut feature film "Antebellum," and why you need stamina to make it.
“When we conceived Antebellum, we did not – could not – envision the way that systemic racism would break through to force the meaningful conversation we desperately need. But it has.” – Gerard Bush
The duo have been together for 12 years and got their start in advertising in Miami. After losing the taste for producing champagne commercials they pivoted to their "... passion for telling powerful stories of the disenfranchised, marginalized, and underrepresented."
After their police brutality PSA "Against the Wall," starring Michael B. Jordan, went viral, their paths shifted toward Hollywood.
Their chart-topping, timely, debut feature film is "Antebellum" starring Janelle Monae, a "... psychological thriller showcasing the stark reality of being black in America."
Variety named the film a Top 10 Best Film of 2020 and called it, "... a wickedly effective horror-movie metaphor for white supremacy’s enduring grip on American society."
Bush+Renz's mission is to amplify weighty social justice issues including climate change, LGBTQ equality, women's equality, voter suppression, mass incarceration, and more.
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Bush+Renz and I talked about: Their unique perspectives and how they came to work in politics and social justice
How Antebellum began as a short story
The exhaustive research that went into their first film and the prescience that made them believers
What it's like to be tapped by HBO
And more!
Show Notes: Antebellum on IMDb Lees meerThe Best Films of 2020 - Antebellum - Variety
Bush+Renz on Twitter
Kelton Reid on TwitterLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How to Submit Your Short Story to Literary Magazines
11 februari 2021 · 54 min
#PodcastersForJustice A unique double-wide lit mag themed episode that includes interviews with two pioneering souls.
My first guest is Erik Harper Klass, a writer and the founder of the full-service short story submissions service Submitit.
And my second guest is Jenna Faccenda, Founder of Eclipse Lit, a nonprofit literary magazine.
Erik Harper Klass is the founder of a unique business, the world's first full-service submissions company for short story writers – submititnow.com.
He is also a critically acclaimed writer whose work has appeared in a variety of journals and been nominated for multiple Pushcart Prizes.
Erik and I talked about:
The sniper vs blunderbuss approach to publishing
"Zen and the Art of Rejection"
How his unique submission algorithm was designed
Why glossy lit mag queries might be a waste of time
And how to stagger your submissions
In the second segment of the show, I chatted with inspiring Philadelphia native and writer, Jenna Faccenda, Founder of Eclipse Lit.
Eclipse Lit is a nonprofit literary magazine founded on a "... mission to give artists a medium to heal while benefiting organizations dedicated to helping people facing trauma."
After losing her fiancé to suicide and finding solace in the transformative power of writing, Jenna set out to provide a forum for others who have suffered.
In this file Jenna and I talked about:
The Writer's Journey and healing through art
Her dedication to help lift other writers out of the darkness
Raising mental health awareness (and support)
And how to start a non-profit literary journal
**National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.
**1-800-273-8255 or text TALK to 741741
Show Notes: Submitit
ErikHarperKlass.com
The Single Biggest Mistake Writers Make When Submitting to Literary Journals
Duotrope
Eclips… Lees meer -
How Award-Winning Crime Writer Christopher Chambers Writes
4 februari 2021 · 44 min
#PodcastersForJustice
Award-winning writer, commentator, and Professor of Media Studies at Georgetown University, Christopher Chambers, chatted with me about why there's never been a better time to break through as a writer of color, unreliable narrators and the 2nd person POV, and writing for Marvel's Black Panther franchise.
Christopher Chambers is a professor of media studies and novelist whose books include A Prayer for Deliverance and Sympathy for the Devil, the graphic anthology (with Gary Phillips) The Darker Mask, and PEN/Malamud-nominated story, "Leviathan." His writing was included in the anthology The Obama Inheritance: 15 Stores of Conspiracy Noir, which won numerous awards including the Anthony Award.
His latest novel is Scavenger: A Mystery, set in Washington D.C.'s underbelly where "... a Black homeless man must quickly learn the ropes of being a detective after [being framed] for a brutal crime he didn’t commit." Publishers Weekly called the book, a “... no-holds-barred crime novel . . . a 21st-century twist on traditional hardboiled noir,” and friend of the pod, writer S.A. Cosby, called it "wholly original."
Professor Chambers is an honors graduate of Princeton University and the University of Baltimore School of Law, where he was the first African American in the Law Review. He's a regular commentator/contributor on media and culture issues on SiriusXM Radio, ABC News, MSNBC, and HuffPost.
Stay tuned for a special offer from this week's sponsor Neuro.
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Christopher Chambers and I discussed: Why he didn't want to be the next Scott Turow
How to incorporate today's confluence of societal crises into your writing
What it's like to be invited to write about Wakanda
Why the writing life equates to isolation
And more!
Show Notes: Christopher Chambers Lees meerScavenger: A Mystery by Christopher Chambers (Amazon)
Christopher Chambers Amazon author page
Chr… -
How NY Times Bestselling Thriller Writer Jeff Lindsay Writes
27 januari 2021 · 30 min
#PodcastersForJustice
The international bestselling thriller writer of the Dexter series, Jeff Lindsay, chatted with me about his previous life in the dramatic arts, marrying into literary royalty, and what it's like to hang out with actor Andy Garcia.
"I thought I was creating a bad guy. And I was trying to make him just interesting and likeable enough to keep people reading .... I was glad it took off like it did, but it was always a shock to me that people actually liked Dexter." — Jeff Lindsay
Jeff is the New York Times bestselling author of the Dexter novels – which debuted in 2004 with Darkly Dreaming Dexter – adapted by Showtime into the popular TV series that ran for eight seasons.
His latest novel is Fool Me Twice, second in the Riley Wolfe series, about "... a master thief that targets the wealthiest 0.1 percent."
Publishers Weekly said of the series in a starred review, “Fans of the Ocean’s Eleven film franchise will be eager for more.”
Jeff has also spent time as an actor, comedian, and playwright.
Stay tuned for a special offer from this week's sponsor Neuro.
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Jeff Lindsay and I discussed: The signs that pointed to being a writer
What it's like to be married to a Hemingway
On moral ambiguity, famous last words, and enduring antiheroes
The return of 'Dexter' to the small screen
A memorable dinner with Armistead Maupin
And more!
Show Notes: Jeff Lindsay Lees meerFool Me Twice by Jeff Lindsay [Amazon]
Jeff Lindsay Amazon author page
Showtime’s plans for bringing back Dexter for a limited series
Jeff Lindsay on FaceBook
Jeff Lindsay on Twitter
Kelton Reid on TwitterLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How NY Times Bestselling Memoirist Dani Shapiro Writes
20 januari 2021 · 45 min
#PodcastersForJustice
Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author Dani Shapiro, chatted with me about the Groundhog's Day effect of the pandemic, the transition from fiction to memoir, and the hidden power of Family Secrets.
"There's no check the boxes kind of 'career development,' or anything like that, that exists in the creative life. People think that there is, and that they're not doing it right. And there's no right." — Dani Shapiro
Dani is the author of 10 books including the instant New York Times bestselling memoir, Inheritance, which was published in 2019. Her other books include the memoirs Hourglass, Still Writing, Devotion, and Slow Motion, and five novels including Black & White and Family History.
Inheritance won the 2019 National Jewish Book Award, was named one of Wired’s top Science books of 2019 and a best book of 2019 by Vanity Fair. It was also a book club pick for Now Read This, the PBS NewsHour’s book club with The New York Times.
“A meditation on what it means to live in a time when secrecy, anonymity, and mystery are vanishing.” — The New Yorker
Dani has taught at Columbia and New York University, is the co-founder of the Sirenland Writers Conference in Positano, Italy, and teaches writing workshops around the world.
In early 2019, Dani launched an original podcast, Family Secrets, in collaboration with iHeartMedia. An iTunes Top 10 podcast, the series features "...stories from guests who — like Dani — have uncovered life-altering and long-hidden secrets from their families’ past."
Stay tuned for a special offer from this week's sponsor Neuro.
NOTE: Our apologies for any audio issues with our podcast guest interview. We hope it doesn't distract from the important message of this episode. Thank you!
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Dani Shapiro and I discussed: How to change the rhythm of your day to spark creativity
Her mentors and awakening to her writing voi… Lees meer -
How NY Times Bestselling Author Craig Johnson Writes
13 januari 2021 · 30 min
#PodcastersForJustice
The award-winning mystery writer and popular crime novelist, Craig Johnson, spoke with me about his long-running Longmire series, shotgun self-realization, and how to write good books.
"How am I ever gonna get seen? Write good books." — Craig Johnson
Craig is the New York Times bestselling author of the Longmire mysteries, the bedrock of the hit Netflix series of the same name. His latest novel is the 16th Sheriff Walt Longmire murder mystery, Next to Last Stand, a story that centers around Custer’s Last Fight, one of the most viewed paintings in American history.
"Custer's Last Fight was copied and distributed by Anheuser-Busch at a rate of over two million copies a year and destroyed in a fire at the 7th Cavalry Headquarters in Fort Bliss, Texas, in 1946 . . . Or was it?"
In a starred review, Library Journal said of the book, "... Johnson lightens the atmosphere in this complex, thought-provoking mystery that highlights art and Western history, emphasizing the contrast between Native accounts and white history." Craig is also the recipient of the Western Writers of America Spur Award for fiction, the Mountain & Plains Independent Booksellers Association's Reading the West Book Award for fiction, the Nouvel Observateur Prix du Roman Noir, and the Prix SNCF du Polar.
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Craig Johnson and I discussed: Why he chose to feature veterans in his latest book
The wisdom behind "Choose a job you love..."
How to host a virtual book tour event
His special relationship with the cast and crew of the Longmire TV series
And more!
Show Notes: CraigAllenJohnson.com Lees meerNext to Last Stand: A Longmire Mystery by Craig Johnson [Amazon]
Craig Johnson Amazon author pageTinderbox: Soldier of Indira by Lou Diamond Phillips [Amazon]
Craig Johnson on FaceBook
Craig Johnson on Instagram
Craig Johnson on Twitter
Kelton Reid on TwitterLearn more about your ad choice…
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How International Bestselling Novelist Emily Schultz Writes
5 januari 2021 · 32 min
#PodcastersForJustice
The internationally bestselling thriller writer, Emily Schultz, spoke with me about recollections of coming of age as a Gen-Xer, her creative process in multiple mediums, and how to funnel emotion onto the page.
"You have to be able to take your own emotions and experiences and translate them into a fictional story. If you can pull on the truths that you know, you can bring them to the reader." — Emily Schultz
Emily is the co-founder of the literary magazine Joyland and is the author of The Blondes, an international bestseller named a Best Book of 2015 by NPR, BookPage, and Kirkus Reviews.
Her latest novel is Little Threats, described as a "...taut whodunit and a haunting snapshot of the effects of a violent crime [that] tells the story of a woman who served 15 years in prison for murder ... and now it's time to find out if she's guilty." The book was named an Apple Books Best of November 2020 pick.
Booklist said of the book, "Fans of Tana French, Kimberly Belle, and Orange is the New Black will fall under this book's spell. . . Terse and tense, Little Threats investigates righteous anger, teenage angst, and the enormity of setting the record straight." Emily’s writing has appeared in Elle, Slate, Vice, Hazlitt, Prairie Schooner, and many others. She is also a producer at the indie media company Heroic Collective where she recently released a complimentary podcast adaptation of The Blondes.
Stay tuned for a clip from the Little Threats audiobook at the break, “... excerpted courtesy [of] Penguin Random House Audio ... read by Dylan Moore and Ariadne Meyers.”
Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Emily Schultz and I discussed: The influential literary magazine she helped co-found
How to get an "accidental" blurb from Stephen King
The pandemic's effect on her creative process
How to pull on the tr… Lees meer -
The State of Publishing 2020 with Hybrid Publisher Jesse Krieger
24 december 2020 · 41 min
#PodcastersForJustice Internationally bestselling author, publisher, and founder of Lifestyle Entrepreneurs Press, Jesse Krieger, took time to chat with me about disruptions to the publishing industry, the intersection of creativity and commerce, and marketing and promotion strategies for self-published authors.
"Learn what you need to know, to do what you love to do, so you can be the person you want to be" — Jesse Krieger
Jesse has signed publishing deals on two different continents and navigated the path of becoming a bestselling author twice. He has been featured on over 50 media outlets for his bestselling book Lifestyle Entrepreneur.
He has also published 100+ books during his six-year tenure as founder and publisher of Lifestyle Entrepreneurs Press, a boutique, hybrid model publishing house.
“Their mission is to deliver a world-class publishing experience for authors – which they accomplish through their done-for-you publishing service – focused primarily on personal development, entrepreneurship, self-help, and healthy lifestyles.”
Through their unique distribution and sales models, and a focus on helping authors on each phase of the publishing journey, they strive to provide both higher quality work and resultant royalties.
Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Jesse Krieger and I discussed: How books get published: traditional vs. hybrid publishing
Why he doesn't recommend starting a publishing company
Best practices for non-fiction authors thinking of writing a book
The most common mistakes he sees authors make
How to write a great book that will stand the test of time
Why you can't anticipate where your audience will find you
And much more!
Show Notes: Lifestyle Entrepreneurs Press Lees meerLifestyle Entrepreneur: Live Your Dreams, Ignite Your Passions and Run Your Business From Anywhere in The World by Jesse Kri…
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How to Design Your Book Cover with Designer & Author Erin Tyler
8 december 2020 · 37 min
#PodcastersForJustice
Celebrated designer, Creative Director of Scribe Media, and author, Erin Tyler, spoke with me about how she overcame childhood trauma to become one of the industry's best book cover designers, why this is such an important time in publishing, and book cover fails to avoid.
"My relationship with writing is a private one. It's just something that I do every day. It's almost religious for me. Some people meditate or do yoga. I write." — Erin Tyler
Over her 20-year career, Erin has designed book covers for multiple New York Times bestselling authors including James Altucher, Ryan Holiday, David Goggins, and Tucker Max.
As Creative Director of Scribe Media she helps manage and support "...the best book cover designers in the game ... to create unforgettable covers for authors."
Erin recently illustrated and published her own memoir – The Bad One: A Memoir About Growing Up a Goat (short for scapegoat) – the story of her traumatic childhood.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. 1-800-273-8255
Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Erin Tyler and I discussed: Her cathartic journey from designer to author
The glut of creative tools now available to authors
Why competitive title research is so crucial to the look of your book
The "visual math and emotional haiku" that go into a great cover
Recent industry trends that get under her skin
And why you should feel free to overcommunicate (but not micromanage) with your book cover designer
Show Notes: ErinTylerdesign.com Lees meerThe Bad One: A Memoir About Growing Up a Goat by Erin Tyler [Amazon]
ScribeMedia.com
Erin Tyler on Twitter
Kelton Reid on TwitterL…
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How Award-Winning Debut Novelist Bryan Washington Writes
29 november 2020 · 34 min
#PodcastersForJustice
New York Times Notable author, Bryan Washington, dropped by to chat about how his short stories garnered so much acclaim, what cuisine tells us about the larger narrative around sharing a meal, and why writers need to ignore the publishing marketplace.
"A reading itself can feel more akin to a set list. You adjust your set list based on the context in which you're performing. I think of the reading ... as being interconnected with the text, but its own singular entity." — Bryan Washington
The author published the award-winning story collection Lot in 2019 which garnered him – to name only a few – a National Book Award 5 Under 35 honor, the Dylan Thomas Prize, a Lambda Literary Award, numerous best-of-the-year lists, and one of President Barack Obama’s favorite books of 2019.
His debut novel is Memorial, and it too earned a NY Times notable spot, a Good Morning America Book Club Pick, and was named a Best Book of the Year by The Washington Post, TIME, O, the Oprah Magazine, Esquire, Harper's Bazaar, and others.
It's described as "A funny and profound story about family in all its strange forms, joyful and hard-won vulnerability, becoming who you're supposed to be, and the limits of love."
The author described Memorial as a "gay slacker dramedy." NPR called it, “A masterpiece,” and The Washington Post said of the book “No other novel this year captures so gracefully the full palette of America.”
A24 has already purchased the rights to Memorial, with Washington writing the adaptation for television.
Bryan has written for The New Yorker, The New York Times, The New York Times Magazine, Buzzfeed, Vulture, The Paris Review, McSweeney’s Quarterly, Tin House, One Story, Bon Appetit, GQ, The Awl, and Catapult.
Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Bryan Washington and I discussed: Trying to pin down the … Lees meer -
How NY Times Bestselling Mystery Writer Tana French Writes
4 november 2020 · 32 min
#PodcastersForJustice
The New York Times bestselling crime novelist, Tana French, took a break to talk with me about her early training as an actress, her definition of creativity, and how to write through the tough times.
"I didn't know if I could write a book. I'd written short stories and really galactically bad teenager poetry, but I'd never tried to write a book before." — Tana French
The author has written eight mystery novels and is considered a master of suspense and the modern psychological thriller. Her work has been compared to writers including James Ellroy and Donna Tartt, and has been called "incandescent" by Stephen King, and "absolutely mesmerizing" by Gillian Flynn.
Her novels have sold over three million copies and won numerous awards, including the Edgar and Barry awards, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Best Mystery/Thriller, and the Irish Book Award for Crime Fiction.
Her latest bestseller, The Searcher, is her second stand-alone novel, and she was described by The Washington Post as "...the most important crime novelist to emerge in the past 10 years."
Stay tuned for a clip from The Searcher audiobook at the break, “... excerpted courtesy [of] Penguin Random House Audio ... read by Roger Clark.”
Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Tana French and I discussed: Her "galactically" bad poetry
The archaeological dig that inspired “In the Woods,” her Edgar-winning 2007 debut novel
How she came to riff on the Western genre in her latest
And why writers need to fight off the struggle of isolation
Show Notes: TanaFrench.com Lees meerThe Searcher: A Novel by Tana French [Amazon]
Tana French Amazon pageThe Essential Tana French, The New York Times
Tana French on FaceBook
Kelton Reid on Twitter#PodcastersForJustice
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How NY Times Bestselling Novelist Ace Atkins Writes
21 oktober 2020 · 35 min
#PodcastersForJustice
The New York Times bestselling Southern crime writer, Ace Atkins, took a minute to talk with me about his superhero origins as a journalist, the complicated, dark history of the American South, and the challenge and thrill of changing POVs in the novel.
"Make sure you're picking [your genre and subject] for the right reason, that you're picking something that's your personal obsession. When you do that you're never really working, you're really just having fun." — Ace Atkins
The author has written 26 books, including ten in his country noir, Quinn Colson series, and eight bestselling novels in the continuation of Robert B. Parker’s iconic Spenser series. He has been nominated for every major award in crime fiction, including the Edgar three times.
HBO recently optioned his Quinn Colson novels for a series that's currently in development and Ace's second novel for the Robert B. Parker estate, Wonderland, was made into the film "Spenser Confidential" starring Mark Wahlberg and directed by Peter Berg.
The former newspaper reporter (and SEC football player) also writes essays and investigative pieces for publications including Garden & Gun, The Wall Street Journal, and Outside Magazine.
The Revelators is the 10th Quinn Colson Novel a series Men’s Journal called, "The Deep South’s true detective," and NY Times bestselling author Megan Abbott dubbed, “Ace Atkins’ Quinn Colson series is, quite simply, the best in crime fiction today..."
Stay tuned for a clip from The Revelators audiobook at the break, “... excerpted courtesy [of] Penguin Random House Audio ... read by MacLeod Andrews.”
Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Ace Atkins and I discussed: How his writing has been influenced by '70s noir
Why his latest work echoes social issues of the deep South
The music that helps him create
Dinner with Da… Lees meer -
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Laurell K. Hamilton Writes: Part One
10 oktober 2020 · 33 min
#PodcastersForJustice
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of paranormal fiction, Laurell K. Hamilton, took a break to talk with me about why her first fantasy novel nearly tanked her career, some of the systems that go into her world-building, and why writers need to stay off the internet and protect their writing time.
"I am very much a believer that if my characters have a better idea then that's magic. They've become alive enough to argue with me, to have an opinion. And I don't squash my own magic." — Laurell K. Hamilton
The trailblazing, genre-bending author of the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series, and the Merry Gentry series, is considered an influential pioneer to the urban-fantasy genre. Laurell has sold more than 20 million books worldwide.
The 27th novel in her wildly popular Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series is Sucker Punch, a mash-up of her signature blend of mystery, magic, horror, and romance.
Fellow #1 New York Times bestselling author, Charlaine Harris, said of the author, "Hamilton remains one of the most inventive and exciting writers in the paranormal field."
Stay tuned for a clip from the Sucker Punch audiobook at the break, “... excerpted courtesy [of] Penguin Random House Audio ... read by Kimberly Alexis.”
In this file Laurell K. Hamilton and I discussed: Lees meerHow she found her trailblazing, genre-busting style
Why you have to be passionate to sustain a series
How her characters take over the plot if they have better ideas
On what unsettles her and how it "goes into the soup"
And how to make more pages!
Show Notes:
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Laurell K. Hamilton Writes: Part Two
LaurellKHamilton.com
Sucker Punch (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
#PodcastersForJustice
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
How to Live to 100 with Science Journalist Marta Zaraska
3 oktober 2020 · 36 min
#PodcastersForJustice
The lauded science journalist and author, Marta Zaraska, spoke with me about the impacts of loneliness on your health, why we need to think about aging earlier, and how smartphones ruin relationships.
"Too much concentration on our smartphones is definitely damaging our health. The reason for that is that it tends to damage our relationships ." — Marta Zaraska
Marta is the author of two non-fiction books (including Meathooked and Growing Young) two literary novels, and has contributed to two travel books published by National Geographic.
Her latest book is Growing Young: How Friendship, Optimism and Kindness Can Help You Live to 100, and is "A smart, research-driven case for why optimism, kindness, and strong social networks will help us live to 100."
Bestselling author Adam Grant said of the book, "If you care about the length and quality of your life but can’t stomach yet another diet or workout routine, this book is for you."
Marta has been published in the Washington Post, Scientific American, New Scientist, The Atlantic, Discover, and her articles and books have been turned into TV programs around the globe.
Note: This interview was recorded at the end of June, 2020.
Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Marta Zaraska and I discussed: How she distills the essence of hundreds of research papers into highly-readable prose
Why social isolation is so abnormal for humans and the double-edged sword of the pandemic
How retirement can have negative side-effects
And why introverted writers really only need one good friend
Show Notes:
Zaraska.com - Marta Zaraska's homepage Lees meerGrowingYoungTheBook.com
Growing Young: How Friendship, Optimism and Kindness Can Help You Live to 100 by Marta Zaraska [Amazon]
Marta Zaraska on Facebook
Marta Zaraska on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter#PodcastersForJustice
Lear… -
How to 'Hyperfocus' with Productivity Expert Chris Bailey
23 september 2020 · 44 min
#PodcastersForJustice
The internationally bestselling author of The Productivity Project and Hyperfocus, Chris Bailey, took the time to chat with me about tricks for focusing on what matters most, and how writers can cultivate more calm and creativity through uncertain times.
"Tolkien said, 'Not all those who wander are lost.' I would argue that the exact same thing is true for our attention." — Chris Bailey
Fresh out of college Chris took a full year off to study productivity. He posted his experiments to his popular blog, A Life of Productivity, which went on to become the international bestseller, The Productivity Project.
His latest book is Hyperfocus: How to Manage Your Attention in a World of Distraction, "A practical guide to managing your attention--the most powerful resource you have to get stuff done, [and be] more creative."
Chris’s TEDx talk – How to Get Your Brain to Focus – on the subject of Hyperfocus has received over 5.4 million views. David Allen, author of Getting Things Done said of the book, “Hyperfocus ... is an extraordinary, eye-opening and research-based report of what affects [our attention], and how to take advantage of [it] to achieve greater satisfaction in our lives.”
Chris also co-hosts the podcast Becoming Better with Ardyn Nordstrom, a self-described “nerdy economist,” a show that covers topics as diverse as productivity, procrastination, happiness, gratitude, and disconnecting.
Bailey’s work has received national and international media attention from outlets like the New York Times, Lifehacker, Fast Company, New York Magazine, and many others.
Note: This interview was recorded at the beginning of June, 2020.
Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Chris Bailey and I discussed: Some of the neurobiology and behavioral psychology that went into his research and writing
Why writers should… Lees meer -
How NY Times Bestselling Thriller Author Shari Lapena Writes
14 september 2020 · 28 min
#PodcastersForJustice
The internationally bestselling author of "domestic suspense" thrillers, Shari Lapena, took a few minutes to chat with me about her circuitous path to success, how she subverts the idea of the perfect "white picket fence" family, and her unique process as a novelist.
"I always just start with an idea and write chronologically all the way through to the end. I don't have a plan, but as I go along, ideas present themselves....it's all very organic" — Shari Lapena
She's the author of popular "suburban paranoia" thrillers – including The Couple Next Door and Someone We Know – and multiple New York Times and The Sunday Times (London) bestsellers.
The Couple Next Door was an international breakout and New York Times bestseller for an astounding 23 consecutive weeks. Her books have been sold in 37 countries and sold more than seven million copies worldwide.
Her latest is The End of Her, a book that "... will have readers questioning their spouse’s past and their own judgment as well."
#1 NY Times bestselling author Ruth Ware said of the book, “No one does suburban paranoia like Shari Lapena — this slowly unfurling nightmare will have you biting your nails until the end.”
Note: This interview was recorded at the end of July, 2020.
Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Shari Lapena and I discussed: How her process starts from the kernel of a perfect murder
Why she intentionally starts out not knowing the ending to her novels
Her work ethic, daily routines, and inspiration
And rules and no-nonsense advice to getting words on the page
Show Notes: ShariLapena.com
The End of Her: A Novel by Shari Lapena [Amazon]
Shari Lapena Amazon author page
Shari Lapena on FaceBook
Shari Lapena on Instagram
Shari Lapena on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter Lees meer#PodcastersForJustice
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaph… -
How Bestselling Hugo-Nominated Author Robert Jackson Bennett Writes
7 september 2020 · 50 min
#PodcastersForJustice
Award-winning speculative fiction and fantasy novelist, Robert Jackson Bennett, chatted with me about turning genre conventions upside down, how he incorporates critiques on modern society into his writing, and why truth is stranger than fiction.
He's the Hugo-nominated author of a handful of critically acclaimed novels including The Divine Cities trilogy and The Founders Trilogy.
He has received the Edgar Award, the Shirley Jackson Award, and the Phillip K. Dick Citation of Excellence, and he has been shortlisted for the World Fantasy, British Fantasy, and Locus Awards.
Bennett posited the idea of "industrialized magic" in book one of his Founders Trilogy, Foundryside (a Time, Paste, Vulture, and The Verge “Best Fantasy Books of 2018” pick).
His second installment in that series is Shorefall, which Kirkus Review called, "Tolkien meets AI .... neatly blending technology, philosophy, and fantasy ... An expertly spun yarn by one of the best fantasy writers on the scene today."
Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Robert Jackson Bennett and I discussed: The meaning of time and landmarks of an uncertain future
How to write a bestselling trilogy
Rules to world-building and staying organized as a fantasy author
Robert's definition of technology
And why writing is a space you have to design to be successful
Show Notes: RobertJacksonBennett.com Lees meerShorefall: A Novel (The Founders Trilogy Book 2) by Robert Jackson Bennett
Robert Jackson Bennett Amazon author page
Robert Jackson Bennett on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter#PodcastersForJustice
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
How the Screenwriter of ‘The Batman’ and 'Project Power' Mattson Tomlin Writes
18 augustus 2020 · 35 min
#PodcastersForJustice
Busy screenwriter and director, Mattson Tomlin, took a minute to rap with me about debuting a film during a pandemic, what it takes to break into Hollywood, and how he was brought on to co-write The Batman with Director Matt Reeves.
"Every script is an opportunity to change your life. Every script is an investment in yourself."—Mattson Tomlin
Mattson rose to prominence in 2017 after a bidding war for his original screenplay that became the Netflix film, Project Power, starring Jamie Foxx, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and breakout Dominique Fishback.
Hollywood Reporter describes the film as an "... action-packed tale that tackles themes [like] government control and the exploitation of marginalized communities."
Tomlin recently gained attention for being brought on board to co-write The Batman with Matt Reeves; the reboot will star Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, and Jeffrey Wright among others.
He is writing a film adaption of the video game character Mega Man for 20th Century Studios and sold a spec script, titled 2084, to Paramount Pictures.
While getting his Master’s Degree in directing at the American Film Institute, Mattson created over a dozen short films, most as writer-director. Tomlin has appeared on the annual Hollywood's Black List six times in the past four years.
Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Mattson Tomlin and I discussed: How he writes 10 scripts a year
Why you need to try to "find the film that's in your head"
The curious tattoo he uses to stay on track
His unique approach to Rubik's cubing genres
How he became one of "Hollywood’s Busiest Screenwriters"
And why every script is a chance to change your life!
Show Notes: Mattson Tomlin - IMDb
Project Power | Netflix Official Site
How 'The Batman' and 'Project Power' Scribe Mattson Tomlin Became One of Hollywood’s Busiest Screenwrite… Lees meer -
How NY Times Bestselling Novelist S. A. Cosby Writes: Part One
11 augustus 2020 · 44 min
#PodcastersForJustice
Award-winning, neo-noir novelist and short story writer, S. A. Cosby, took time to speak with me about his pulp fiction influences, the hard work that went into his 10-year overnight success, and the cinematic timbre of his writing voice.
"Writing is like telling yourself a joke for nine months ... and hoping that everybody else gets the punchline."—S. A. Cosby
S.A. Cosby's short story, "The Grass Beneath My Feet," won an Anthony Award for Best Short Story, 2019, and his short fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies and magazines.
His latest, Blacktop Wasteland, is a reinvention of the noir genre described as "...Ocean’s Eleven meets Drive, with a Southern noir twist ... [the] story of a man pushed to his limits by poverty, race, and his own former life of crime.”
Already an Amazon bestseller, the book has received extraordinary trade coverage -- starred reviews, a cover with ALA Booklist, an interview at Publishers Weekly -- and has a bevy of early supporters including legends of the genre Walter Mosley, Dennis Lehane, and Lee Child.
“Sensationally good—new, fresh, real, authentic, twisty, with characters and dilemmas that will break your heart. More than recommended.”—Lee Child, bestselling author
Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file S. A. Cosby and I discussed: How he amassed such critical acclaim from his heroes
The $1 paperbacks that influenced his writing
How early advice helped him "go to where the people are"
Why he wanted to incorporate the modern, rural, Black Southern experience into his writing
The many films that shaped his cinematic prose
And how to develop a thick skin, stand up for your work, and defend your dreams!
Show Notes: How NY Times Bestselling Novelist S. A. Cosby Writes: Part Two Lees meerBlacktop Wasteland: A Novel by S. A. Cosby [Amazon]
S. A. Cosby Amazon author page
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How Bestselling Legal Thriller Author Marcia Clark Writes
4 augustus 2020 · 45 min
#PodcastersForJustice
#1 NY Times bestselling author and famed criminal lawyer, Marcia Clark, dropped by to chat about the perils of celebrity, how she got her start as a TV producer, and the highs and lows of the writing process.
*This is another double-episode, with a surprise (12-year-old) debut author you won't want to miss.
"It's no big surprise that Marcia Clark knows her way around a courtroom and a murder mystery—but she's also a terrific writer and storyteller."—James Patterson
Marcia has been a practicing criminal lawyer since 1979 – she joined the LA District Attorney's office in '81 – and served as a prosecutor for the high-profile trials of Robert Bardo (convicted of killing actress Rebecca Schaeffer), and most notably, O. J. Simpson.
She co-wrote the #1 New York Times bestseller Without a Doubt, which chronicled her work on the Simpson trial.
Marcia writes the bestselling crime fiction series centered on a morally ambiguous criminal defense attorney, Samantha Brinkman.
Her latest is the conclusion of that critically acclaimed thriller series, Final Judgment (Samantha Brinkman). It debuted in 2016 with the publication of #1 Amazon bestseller Blood Defense.
“The plot twists are both plausible and shocking in this intelligent page-turner. Fans of whodunits featuring ethical dilemmas will be pleased.” —Publishers Weekly Marcia's been a frequent commentator on Today, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, and MSNBC, and a legal correspondent for Entertainment Tonight.
Stay-tuned for this double-episode including a debut crime novelist who shares her story of rejection, stereotypes, and finding your voice.
Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
In this file Marcia Clark and I discussed: How the author embraced "write what you know"
How to outline ripped-from-the-headlines novels
Why she misses being a prosecuto… Lees meer -
The 'State of Travel Writing' Roundtable with Award-Winning Journalist Adam Skolnick
23 juli 2020 · 1 uur 21 min
#PodcastersForJustice
Award-winning international journalist, author, and serial pundit, Adam Skolnick, co-hosted our pandemic edition "state of travel writing" roundtable with several like-minded travel junkies.
Adam is an award-winning independent journalist and author covering adventure sports, environmental issues, travel, and human rights for The New York Times, Outside, Playboy, and many others. He recently began a co-hosting gig on The Rich Roll Podcast.
He’s traveled to over 50 countries, worked on six continents, and contributed to over 35 Lonely Planet travel guides.
He is also the author of One Breath: Freediving, Death and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits, and was the ghostwriter and narrator of David Goggins’ hit memoir and audiobook Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds, which has sold over two million copies and counting worldwide.
MaSovaida Morgan is a travel journalist whose wayfaring tendencies have taken her to more than 50 countries across all seven continents.
As a Lonely Planet author, she contributes to guidebooks on destinations throughout Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas. Prior to going freelance in 2018, MaSovaida spent four years in-house at Lonely Planet's Nashville office as a Destination Editor, where she oversaw all of the company's content on South America and Antarctica.
Celeste Brash has been a travel writer for Lonely Planet since 2005 and has contributed to over 80 books and countless articles.
Her travels have brought her to around 45 countries and have helped her learn to communicate in French, Spanish, Thai, Malay and Tahitian. Along the way, she's written for numerous other outlets such as Islands Magazine and National Geographic's Intelligent Travel. She's also had her photography published in magazines including Travel & Leisure and has starred in videos produced by Lonely Planet.
Aaron Millar is an award-winning travel writer, photographer, journalist, and podcast host who has worked f… Lees meer -
How Emmy-Winning Showrunner of 'The Handmaid’s Tale' Bruce Miller Writes
30 juni 2020 · 43 min
#PodcastersForJustice
The creator, executive producer, and showrunner of the award-winning TV series The Handmaid’s Tale, Bruce Miller, spoke with me about his storied career as a TV writer/producer, what it's like to work with author Margaret Atwood, and adapting a modern classic for the small screen.
The Emmy award-winning TV writer and producer has worked on dozens of shows and movies (including Medium, Eureka, Alphas, and The 100), and got his start working on NBC's long-running hit ER in the early '90s.
Miller's adaptation of Margaret Atwood's prescient, critically acclaimed 1985 novel, The Handmaid’s Tale – considered by many to be a modern classic of dystopian literature – is a drama about a "... totalitarian society [that] subjects fertile women, called 'Handmaids,' into child-bearing slavery."
In its first season, the show won multiple Emmy awards – including Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for Miller – and became the first on a streaming platform to win an Emmy for Outstanding Series (beating out nominees House of Cards, The Crown, Stranger Things from Netflix, HBO’s Westworld, AMC’s Better Call Saul, and NBC’s This Is Us).
"Handmaid’s” has gone on to win the Peabody Award; a Golden Globe for Best Television Series, Drama; Critics Choice Award for Best Drama Series; the PGA Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama; two WGA Awards, for Best Drama Series and Best New Series; was honored by AFI as one of the top ten TV programs of the year, and garnered dozens of Emmy nominations.
The show has been picked up for a fourth season by Hulu.
Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
In this file Bruce Miller and I discussed: How getting "fired" from so many gigs helped his career
The brilliance of Margaret Atwood and the influence it had on both the writer and the adaptation
Why TV production is all about… Lees meer -
How 'It's Always Sunny' Creator and Star Rob McElhenney Writes
12 juni 2020 · 39 min
The writer, producer, and actor – best known for It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and recent hit Apple TV+ show Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet – Rob McElhenney took a timeout at the apocalypse to rap with me about how he runs his writer's room, his humble beginnings and admiration for the great TV comedies, and advice for aspiring TV producers.
"Everyone is going through the same things. At least, people that respect science are. That sense of loneliness and despair ... needs to be addressed in some way, but ultimately we want to leave people with a sense of optimism." – Rob McElhenney
FX recently renewed his irreverent "It’s Always Sunny..." for a 15th season, making it officially the longest-running live-action sitcom in US history.
The multihyphenate's latest, Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet, is a comedy series "...that follows a team of video game developers as they navigate the challenges of running a popular video game,"
The Apple TV+ show was co-created with "Sunny" alums Charlie Day and Megan Ganz (executive produced by McElhenney and Day), and has been described as "... the travails of a boisterous video game studio – think Silicon Valley meets Veep."
*Note: Though I was lucky enough to catch Rob in his natural LA habitat, sadly the interview was cut short due to technical difficulties, our apologies for the abrupt ending.
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In this file Rob McElhenney and I discussed:
How It's Alway Sunny in Philadelphia almost didn't make it to the fourth season
The inner-workings of a perpetual creativity engine
How little episodic and streaming models of TV differ from a sitcom producer's perspective
His relationships with Danny DeVito and F. Murray Abraham
The evolution of "It's Always Sunny..." and why it stay… Lees meer -
How Bestselling Novelist Aris Janigian Writes
2 juni 2020 · 55 min
#PodcastersForJustice
The bestselling, award-winning novelist, Aris Janigian, had a candid conversation with me about the recently "mandated dystopia," his circuitous path to bestselling author, the city as muse, and what it means to be a transgressive writer.
“As a cognitive social psychologist, I can tell you without any hesitation that the human mind really is built for deception.” – Aris Janigian
The author of six novels (all without traditional representation), critics hailed his 2012 novel This Angelic Land – set during the 1992 Los Angeles Riots – as "today's necessary book," and his novel Waiting for Lipchitz at Chateau Marmont, spent 17 weeks on the Los Angeles Times bestseller list.
Janigian holds a PhD in psychology from the Claremont Graduate School and was formerly Senior Professor of Humanities at the Southern California Institute of Architecture.
He was a finalist for Stanford University's William Saroyan Fiction Prize and has been a contributing writer to West, the Los Angeles Times Sunday magazine.
The second book of Janigian's Waiting for... trilogy, Waiting for Sophia at Shutters on the Beach, "... is a satirical mashup of Nabokov's Lolita and Dostoevsky's Notes from the Underground."
The book has be described as "... an unflinching, deadly serious ... tragic-comic view of male sexuality in the era of #metoo."
*Note: This interview was recorded at the beginning of May, 2020.
Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
In this file Aris Janigian and I discussed: The life of a lazy author
Why graduate school corrupts good writers
Wisdom on the importance of mentorship
How the cruel mistress of Los Angeles plays a character in his works
The self-censorship of academia
And why life is the best teacher
Show Notes: ArisJanigian.com Lees meerWaiting for Sophia at Shutters on the Beach by Aris Janigian [Amazon]
Aris Janigian Amazon … -
How to Write Commercial Fiction with NY Times Bestselling Author Jeffery Deaver
27 mei 2020 · 35 min
The internationally bestselling author of over 35 novels, Jeffery Deaver, took a few minutes to discuss his advice on how to write emotionally engaging fiction, the merits of plotters vs. pantsers, and a 5-step process for writing your novel.
"Rejection is just a speed bump ... it's not a brick wall. Keep at it." – Jeffery Deaver
Jeffery is a former journalist, musician, and attorney best known for his Lincoln Rhyme series – now a hit NBC TV show – and the novel, The Bone Collector, adapted for the big screen starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie.
The "master of suspense" has been nominated for seven Edgar Awards and gone on to sell 50 million books worldwide, translated into 35 languages.
His latest thriller is a sequel to The Never Game – The Goodbye Man (A Colter Shaw Novel Book 2) – and once again features Colter Shaw, a rugged survivalist and "reward-seeker."
One of Bookpage's "Most Anticipated Mysteries and Thrillers" of 2020, Publishers Weekly said of the book, “Deaver balances suspense and plausibility perfectly ... This is a perfect jumping-on point for readers new to one of today’s top contemporary thriller writers.”
Stay calm and write on ...
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In this file Jeffery Deaver and I discussed: Lees meerWhy suspense writers are like airline pilots
Wisdom from Joyce Carol Oates and the importance of outlining
How having your novel read aloud to you can improve your prose
A simple formula for writing "roller-coaster" fiction
And much more!
Show Notes:
JefferyDeaver.com
How NY Times Bestselling Thriller Writer Jeffery Deaver Writes: Part Two
The Goodbye Man (A Colter Shaw Novel) by Jeffery Deaver [Amazon]
Jeffery Deaver Amazon author page
NaturalReader app
Jeffery Deaver on Instagram
Jeffery Deaver on Facebook
Jeffery Deaver on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visi…
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Productivity Secrets from NY Times Bestselling Author John Zeratsky
21 mei 2020 · 50 min
New York Times bestselling author and productivity expert, John Zeratsky, made time to chat with me about his mission to help you improve your focus, find greater meaning in your work, and get more out of each day.
“All of the old structures and routines are gone.... When we have a schedule for ourselves ... that becomes scaffolding we can stand on, we're free to focus.” — John Zeratsky
John studied journalism in college and has spent over 15 years as a designer for tech companies like YouTube and Google. He was also Google Ventures's in-house copywriter, editor, and content strategist. At Google Ventures, he helped develop the design sprint process and worked with close to 200 startups, including Uber, Slack, 23andMe, and Nest.
As a result he co-authored the bestseller Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days – written with fellow "Time Dork" Jake Knapp. But they're by no means run-of-the-mill productivity experts, as you'll soon hear.
Their latest collaboration is Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day a book described by the bestselling author of The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg, as "A charming manifesto [and] do-it-yourself guide to building smart habits that stick. If you want to achieve more (without going nuts), read this book."
Seems only fitting at a time when many of us are WFH (working from home), experiencing cabin fever (or worse), and questioning the future of work itself (i.e. "going nuts").
John is a keynote speaker whose writing has been published by The Wall Street Journal, TIME, Harvard Business Review, Wired, Fast Company, and many other publications.
Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
In this file John Zeratsky (JZ – no not that Jay-Z) and I discussed: Why your smartphone saps your energy, focus, and attention
The origins of the "distraction-free" mindset
How to r… Lees meer -
How NY Times Bestselling Author James Swallow Writes: Part One
14 mei 2020 · 54 min
Award-winning New York Times, Sunday Times, and Amazon #1 bestselling author, James Swallow, spoke with me about his superhero origin story, how he found success channeling his own anger, and the most important lessons he's learned along the way.
"I try to make the details as authentic as I possibly can ... because a lot of the action in my books is 'heightened reality.'" – James Swallow
James is a former journalist and British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) nominated scriptwriter who has written for video games, TV, and radio.
The prolific author of over 50 books – who has written sci-fi for storied franchises including Star Trek, Dr. Who, and Stargate – is best known for his espionage thrillers.
His Marc Dane series – with over 750,000 books in print worldwide – includes novels Nomad, Exile, Ghost, Shadow, and his forthcoming novel Rogue, the fifth in the bestselling series featuring "Britain's answer to Jason Bourne," out May 28th (from Zaffre Books).
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
In this file James Swallow and I discussed: Lees meerWhy the pandemic feels like "almost the end of the world"
The renaissance of "high-speed, low-drag" thrillers inspired by the '80s
His theories on the fallibility of action heroes
How his journalism and TV writing experience set him up for success
Why writers are always writing ... even when they're not
His greatest influences
And much more!
Show Notes:
www.jswallow.com
Rogue by James Swallow [Amazon]
James Swallow on Amazon
James Swallow on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How to Publish Your First Novel with Acclaimed Author Abbigail N. Rosewood
6 mei 2020 · 40 min
Award-winning writer and debut novelist, Abbigail N. Rosewood, joined me to discuss the roller coaster of emotions first-time authors face, how she overcame rejection and uncertainty, and her advice to aspiring scribes on how to rise above the noise.
"Seeking representation didn't prepare me well for what was to come..." – Abbigail N. Rosewood
Abbigail was born in Vietnam and lived there until the age of 12, so it's no surprise that she tapped into her past as a well for her fiction.
After a false start in International Business, she earned an MFA in creative writing from Columbia University where she studied with famed fictionist Gary Shteyngart.
Her lauded debut novel, If I Had Two Lives, has been described as "... [The] story [of] a young woman from her childhood in Vietnam to her life as an immigrant in the United States – and the necessary return to her homeland."
The Los Angeles Review of Books called it, “... a tale of staggering artistry,” and The New Yorker said "...the novel poignantly conjures the difficulties of reconciling the present with an 'ungraspable history.'"
** Note: This interview was recorded in mid-February, 2020.
Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
In this file Abbigail N. Rosewood and I discussed: Why empathy is so critical in fiction and the human experience
The surreal (and fleeting) feeling of holding your first book in print
How she was compelled to write the story of a Vietnamese immigrant/protagonist
Why rejection is such an integral part of the traditional publishing path
The importance of music and coffee to the creative process
And the most valuable traits for aspiring writers
Show Notes: abbigailrosewood.com Lees meerIf I Had Two Lives – by Abbigail N. Rosewood [Amazon]
Abbigail N. Rosewood on Facebook
Abbigail N. Rosewood on Instagram
Kelton Reid on TwitterLearn more about your ad choices. Visit m…
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Earth Day Special with Terrain.org Editor-in-Chief Simmons Buntin
22 april 2020 · 39 min
Editor-in-Chief of Terrain.org, Simmons Buntin, helped me celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day by discussing why we need strong writing voices now more than ever, how to deal with the current "infodemic" of misinformation, and resources for starting your own revolution.
“The voices in this essential anthology are anything but silent. Indeed, they are voices of hope, habitat, defiance, and, most importantly, democracy. Lend your ears, and then your own voice.” — Simmons Buntin
Simmons has a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the CU, Denver, and an MFA in creative writing from the University of Arizona, so it's no surprise that he found the intersection of "... the built and natural environments [something he calls] 'the soul of place'."
As the editor-in-chief of Terrain.org, a nonprofit literary magazine that explores just that, he publishes works that examine how our environment influences us in profound ways.
He's also the co-editor of a new collection titled Dear America: Letters of Hope, Habitat, Defiance, and Democracy (Trinity University Press, April 22, 2020), described as a "patriotic anthology" that includes hundreds of writers, poets, artists, scientists, and political activists of all ages. The more than 130 impassioned letters to America are calls to action for common ground and conflict resolution with a focus on the environment and social justice.
Lauded author and environmentalist, Bill McKibben, said of the book, “These letters come from a deep, real love of this place, and they imagine willing, receptive readers on the other end. We need a series of miracles looking forward, and this is one.”
Simmons is the author of 2 books of poetry, Riverfall, and Bloom, and also Unsprawl: Remixing Spaces as Places (co-authored with Ken Pirie). He has published poetry, essays, and technical articles in publications as varied as Edible Baja Arizona, North American Review, Kyoto Journal, and Bulletin of Science, Technology, and Society.
Plea… Lees meer -
The Legacy of Robert Ludlum with Author Joshua Hood
16 april 2020 · 32 min
Military thriller author, Joshua Hood, stopped by the podcast to talk with me about being given the keys to the Bentley of Robert Ludlum's storied writing legacy, the military toughness that's written into his own stories, and how impostor syndrome doesn't phase him.
"In my career, I've had almost every bad thing that could happen to a writer ... happen to a writer." – Joshua Hood
Joshua was an English major at the University of Memphis before joining the military where he spent five years in the 82nd Airborne Division.
As a team leader in the 3-504 Parachute Infantry Regiment in Iraq (2005-2006), the author conducted combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also served as a squad leader with the 1-508th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Afghanistan (2007-2008) and he was decorated for valor in Operation Furious Pursuit.
Hood is also a decorated "life-saving" sniper team leader who was on a full-time SWAT team in Memphis, Tennessee, and he has conducted countless stateside operations with the FBI, ATF, DEA, Secret Service, and US Marshals.
His background and expertise lend to the popularity of his own Search and Destroy military thriller series, and also made him a shoo-in to reboot the brilliant legacy of the late Robert Ludlum (1927-2001), a literary legend whose books have sold in the hundreds of millions.
Joshua kicked off a new series inspired by Ludlum's Bourne universe with Robert Ludlum's The Treadstone Resurrection, a book that #1 New York Times bestselling author Mark Greaney called, “An intense and electrifying espionage adventure [and] ... a worthy addition to the Ludlum bookshelf.”
Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
In this file Joshua Hood and I discussed: How The Hobbit lured him into a lifelong love of books and writing
Why writers are more than just people who jot down (ransom) notes
How he was… Lees meer -
How Editor-in-Chief of the LA Review of Books Tom Lutz Writes
2 april 2020 · 51 min
Award-winning author, founder and editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles Review of Books, Tom Lutz, took a timeout to talk with me about his early years as a literary ne'er-do-well, what it's like to hang out with your heroes, and why you can assume every writer is faking it just a little bit.
"Writing has never felt like a chore to me. It always feels like the space of freedom, and that I'm stealing the time from my job to do something I love." – Tom Lutz
In addition to editing the Los Angeles Review of Books, "... a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and disseminating ... engaging writing on every aspect of literature, culture, and the arts," Tom also founded The LARB Radio Hour, The LARB Quarterly Journal, The LARB/USC Publishing Workshop, and LARB Books.
He's a Distinguished Professor of Creative Writing at UC Riverside, and the author of multiple bestselling and award-winning nonfiction titles – translated into dozens of languages – including Doing Nothing (American Book Award winner), Crying, and American Nervousness, 1903 (both New York Times Notables).
His fiction debut is, “A literary thriller that wanders the globe,” novel Born Slippy is described as part "... literary thriller, noir and political satire ... a darkly comic and honest meditation on modern life under global capitalism.”
Bestselling novelist James Ellroy said of the book, "Lutz has the seven deadly sins nailed and rethought for our 2020 world. You’ve got to dig this book!"
Tom's writing has appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, New Republic, Chicago Tribune, ZYZZYVA, and many other newspapers and literary venues, as well as in dozens of books and academic journals.
He previously taught at Stanford University, University of Iowa, CalArts, and the University of Copenhagen.
** Note on the audio quality: I reached Tom in his natural environs of LA, and the sounds of that urban landscape dot our interview. This interview was recorded at the end of January. Stay well!
Please he… Lees meer -
How NY Times Bestselling True Survival Author Michael Tougias Writes
25 maart 2020 · 46 min
New York Times bestselling creative nonfiction author, Michael Tougias, joined me to talk about how he translated his success in the true survival genre for younger audiences, his unique research processes, and how he captures the "... heroism and humanity of people on life-saving missions..." during maritime disasters.
"You've interviewed these people that have lost loved ones ... They're counting on you to tell the story right, and ... as an author you really do feel that pressure." – Michael Tougias
Michael has written or co-written 29 books in a multitude of genres, including history, and humor, but found the most success with his popular true survival, creative nonfiction.
He's the author of the bestseller The Finest Hours (now a motion picture from Disney starring Chris Pine and Casey Affleck), and Ten Hours Until Dawn (named an Editor's Choice by ALA and praised by Booklist as "the best story of peril at sea since The Perfect Storm").
With his latest "True Rescue Series" – adapted from his popular disaster at sea tales for YA and middle-grade audiences – Tougias is now on a mission to "... ignite the reading passion that he had as a student in young adults."
The most recent is Into the Blizzard: Heroism at Sea During the Great Blizzard of 1978, an adaptation of Tougias’ adult book Ten Hours Until Dawn, called “A blockbuster account of tragedy at sea,” by The Providence Journal.
The Amazon Best Book of the Month was described by Kirkus Reviews as a "riveting" book that, "Reads like a thriller, suspenseful and ultimately tragic."
** Note: This interview was recorded before the Coronavirus pandemic.
Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
In this file Michael Tougias and I discussed: How he was a "late bloomer" who dreamt of a full-time writing career
Why he recommends public speaking for any author or aspiring writer
The inten… Lees meer -
How Emmy Nominated TV Writer Sandy Fries Writes
18 maart 2020 · 55 min
The Emmy-nominated TV writer and professor, Sandy Fries, joined me this week to talk about the lessons he learned over his storied, 20-year career in Hollywood, and how he wrote hundreds of popular TV episodes, including Star Trek: The Next Generation, NBC’s Quantum Leap, and Spider-Man: The Animated [TV] Series.
"We all have cracks, the sun shines through those cracks, and through those cracks is how one human being connects to another." – Sandy Fries
Sandy has rubbed elbows with an incredible assortment of media moguls including Sam Simon, co-creator of The Simpsons – who gave Sandy his first break – Marvel's Stan Lee, Star Trek's Gene Rodenberry, and Chuck Lorre of The Big Bang Theory fame.
He's written for almost every TV genre and has had feature film and television development deals with Warner Brothers and Dick Clark Productions throughout his career.
In addition to his Emmy nod he recently won the 101 Best Written TV Series in the History of Television award from the Writer’s Guild of America, for Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Sandy continues to write and share his wisdom with students as a Professor of Film and Mass Communication at the College of DuPage.
He recently poured many of his life lessons into the book, Secrets Your Textbook Will Not Tell You: About TV, Movies and Life, "... a view of Mass Communication, Film and TV from the down and dirty perspective [of] over twenty years..." in the industry.
Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey A quick note, I'm changing up the format of the show to present longer episodes presented in a single part, as opposed to two-parters split for a shorter, drive-time experience.
Reach out on Twitter or over at writerfiles.fm if you like the longer episode format better, I appreciate your feedback.
In this file Sandy Fries and I discussed: Why his most revered TV writing credit is a cartoon
How Sandy ditched his job in advertising and got a big break
The writing life and lesson… Lees meer -
How NY Times Bestselling Author Peter Heller Writes: Part One
11 maart 2020 · 42 min
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. Lees meer
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]
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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 back
Productivity hacks for writing 1000 words a day, rain or shine
The importanc…
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How to Design Your Writing Space with Award-Winning Architect Donald M. Rattner
4 maart 2020 · 57 min
Author, educator, and award-winning architect, Donald M. Rattner, stopped by this week to expound on invaluable research into the latest psychology and productivity studies to offer practical tips for designing your writing space for maximum creative output.
“Unfortunately, once you go down this rabbit hole, you could go on and on forever...” – Donald M. Rattner
Donald has an art history degree from Columbia (where he graduated with honors), and a Masters of Architecture from Princeton.
He's now the founder of an award-winning architecture firm and a "Creativity Architect" whose work (on the psychology of creative spaces) has been featured on CNN, in The New York Times, Work Design Magazine, Better Humans, Town & Country, and many others.
His latest book, My Creative Space: How to Design Your Home to Stimulate Ideas and Spark Innovation, offers "48 Techniques to Boost Your Creativity at Home, According to Science."
The book has a coffee table slash textbook feel to it and includes "... over 200 high-quality photos of interiors from around the world, [from] top-tier architects, designers, and creatives."
So guess what we're going to dig into today?
A quick note, I'm changing up the format of the show to present longer episodes presented in a single part, as opposed to two-parters split for a shorter, drive-time experience.
Reach out on Twitter or over at the writerfiles.fm if you like the longer episode format better, I appreciate your feedback.
Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
In this file Donald M. Rattner and I discussed: The often disparate and misleading definitions of creativity
Why writers have such a unique relationship to their creative space
Science-based techniques to boost your creative output
Secrets behind why creativity is a 24-hour occupation
The optimal noise and clutter levels for idea generation
Why nature … Lees meer -
How International Bestselling Crime Novelist Adam Croft Writes: Part Two
19 februari 2020 · 38 min
In Part Two of this file the international bestselling hybrid author and crime novelist, Adam Croft, returned to chat with me from overseas about the processes, productivity hacks, and professionalism that have helped him become one of the most successful independently published authors in the world, and why writers need to develop a business mindset to do the same.
"Writing more books is going to earn you more money, and that should always be your priority.” – Adam Croft
Adam's previous career was as a freelance designer and editor, but his hard work and persistence over ten years have helped him become one of the biggest selling authors of the last decade.
How did Adam go on to sell close to two million books in over 120 countries in such a short time?
We'll dig into his inspiring story, including the stories behind his breakthrough worldwide bestseller Her Last Tomorrow, and his crime thriller Knight & Culverhouse series, which knocked J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child off the top spot in Canada only weeks after Her Last Tomorrow was also #1 in the same country.
His multiple bestsellers have also made him an authority on indie publishing, and he's been featured on BBC television, BBC Radio, the BBC World Service, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, The Bookseller and many other media outlets.
Adam now shares his unique expertise of the craft at The Indie Author Mindset where he offers to help "... authors cut through the overwhelming — and often conflicting — information that’s out there [with] solid help and information."
And Adam was kind enough to drop some of that wisdom here for you today, so I’ll tease the promo code I’ve also put in the show notes – WRITERFILES – for a 50% discount on every course at The Indie Author Mindset just for listeners of this show. Simply go to courses.indieauthormindset.com and pop that in there.
Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of the Writer Files is broug… Lees meer -
How International Bestselling Crime Novelist Adam Croft Writes: Part One
13 februari 2020 · 28 min
The international bestselling hybrid author and crime novelist, Adam Croft, spoke with me from overseas about the processes, productivity hacks, and professionalism that have helped him become one of the most successful independently published authors in the world, and why writers need to develop a business mindset to do the same.
"Writing more books is going to earn you more money, and that should always be your priority.” – Adam Croft
Adam's previous career was as a freelance designer and editor, but his hard work and persistence over ten years have helped him become one of the biggest selling authors of the last decade.
How did Adam go on to sell close to two million books in over 120 countries in such a short time?
We'll dig into his inspiring story, including the stories behind his breakthrough worldwide bestseller Her Last Tomorrow, and his crime thriller Knight & Culverhouse series, which knocked J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child off the top spot in Canada only weeks after Her Last Tomorrow was also #1 in the same country.
His multiple bestsellers have also made him an authority on indie publishing, and he's been featured on BBC television, BBC Radio, the BBC World Service, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, The Bookseller and many other media outlets.
Adam now shares his unique expertise of the craft at The Indie Author Mindset where he offers to help "... authors cut through the overwhelming — and often conflicting — information that’s out there [with] solid help and information."
And Adam was kind enough to drop some of that wisdom here for you today. Stay tuned for Part Two of this series for a promo code just for Writer Files listeners!
Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of the Writer Files is brought to you by Words Matter by Wix. Looking for that burst of inspiration to break your writer's block? Or maybe you just need some quick grammar and style tips? Words Matter has tons of ar… Lees meer -
How NY Times Bestselling Suspense Novelist Joseph Finder Writes
5 februari 2020 · 35 min
New York Times bestselling author, Joseph Finder, took a timeout to talk with me about how to write prescient, cutting-edge suspense, his writing rituals, overcoming impostor syndrome, and how to come to terms with a business built on rejection.
"My objective is not to present research...my objective is to make people turn the pages." – Joseph Finder
The award-winning author is known for his "cutting-edge suspense ripped straight from the headlines." He's written 16 novels and counting, including Judgment, The Switch, Guilty Minds, The Fixer, Suspicion, and the international bestseller Killer Instinct.
Two of his bestselling novels – Paranoia and High Crimes – have been turned into major motion pictures, and Vanished, Finder's instant bestseller, introduced readers to “private spy” Nick Heller.
His latest is House on Fire: A Novel (A Nick Heller Novel), focusing on "... a wealthy family who owns a pharmaceutical company at the epicenter of the opioid crisis."
The Washington Post said of the book, the thriller “Takes ‘ripped from the headlines’ to a new level," and The New York Times called Finder, "The master of a complex suspense formula."
He is a founding member of the International Thriller Writers, as well as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Association of Former Intelligence Officers. He is a graduate of Yale College and the Harvard Russian Research Center.
Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of the Writer Files is brought to you by Words Matter by Wix. Looking for that burst of inspiration to break your writer's block? Or maybe you just need some quick grammar and style tips? Words Matter has tons of articles to help you become a better writer, plus invites to intensive in-person writing workshops. Visit wix.com/wordsmatter/blog to learn more. Lees meerIf you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.
In this file Joseph Finder and I discussed: … -
How to Ghostwrite a Bestseller with Author Adam Skolnick: Part Two
29 januari 2020 · 36 min
In Part Two of this file we return with an exclusive look into the process behind not only how a writer gets paid to ghostwrite a title for a celebrity, but also the writing, researching, and indie publishing of a book that has sat on top of the Amazon charts for over a year.
“If you’re struggling to figure out what to write, it means you don’t know what you want to say." – Adam Skolnick
Note: We had to get special permission from the incredible human and author, David Goggins, to share this story – so this is truly an exclusive – but it’s no secret that the book was written by my good friend. A huge thank you to Mr. Goggins and his spirit, generosity, and ethos.
From ideation of his bestselling book Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds – by Author David Goggins – to publishing with Lioncrest, and the experimental new media formats like an audiobook/podcast and beyond, this is a glimpse behind the camouflage curtain.
“... Can't Hurt Me, shares [Goggins's] astonishing life story and reveals that most of us tap into only 40% of our capabilities. He calls this The 40% Rule, and his story illuminates a path that anyone can follow to push past pain, demolish fear, and reach their full potential.”
The writer (or ghostwriter) is an award-winning international journalist, author, serial pundit, and “bad penny” Adam Skolnick, our own international correspondent.
Adam’s narrative nonfiction book is available in paperback — One Breath: Freediving, Death, and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits — is based on his award-winning New York Times sports coverage of the death of the greatest American freediver of all time.
The book has been compared to other classics of extreme sports journalism — like Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air, and National Geographic Traveller called it “A vicarious thrill that you can enjoy in a little over 300 pages ... unless you read it in the bath...”
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How to Ghostwrite a Bestseller with Author Adam Skolnick: Part One
22 januari 2020 · 32 min
Welcome back to a special edition of the show we traditionally call “Writer Porn.” To kick off 2020 we have a very enlightening show for you that you're not going to want to miss.
It’s an exclusive look into the process behind not only how a writer gets paid to ghostwrite a title for a celebrity, but also the writing, research, and indie publishing of a book that has sat on top of the Amazon charts for over a year! Did it beat Michelle Obama in 2019? TK
“If you’re struggling to figure out what to write, it means you don’t know what you want to say." – Adam Skolnick
Note: We had to get special permission from the incredible human and author, David Goggins, to share this story – so this is truly an exclusive – but it’s no secret that the book was written by my good friend. A huge thank you to Mr. Goggins and his spirit, generosity, and ethos.
From ideation of his bestselling book Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds – by Author David Goggins – to publishing with Lioncrest, and the experimental new media formats like an audiobook/podcast and beyond, this is a glimpse behind the camouflage curtain.
“In Can't Hurt Me, [Goggins] shares his astonishing life story and reveals that most of us tap into only 40% of our capabilities. He calls this The 40% Rule, and his story illuminates a path that anyone can follow to push past pain, demolish fear, and reach their full potential.”
The writer (or ghostwriter) is an award-winning international journalist, author, serial pundit, and “bad penny” Adam Skolnick, our own international correspondent.
Adam’s narrative nonfiction book is available in paperback — One Breath: Freediving, Death, and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits — is based on his award-winning New York Times sports coverage of the death of the greatest American freediver of all time.
The book has been compared to other classics of extreme sports journalism — like Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air, and National Geographic Traveller called it “A vicarious thrill… Lees meer