The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience

Bestselling, award-winning author, and founder of the LA Review of Books, Tom Lutz, returned to talk with me about life in the French countryside, his writer's residency, and the greatest year in literary history, 1925. He's a Professor Emeritus of Creative Writing at UC Riverside, and the author of multiple bestselling and award-winning titles – translated into dozens of languages – including Doing Nothing (American Book Award winner), Crying, American Nervousness, 1903 (both New York Times Notables), and Born Slippy, his first novel. His latest, 1925: A Literary Encyclopedia, is described as an “… exploration of one of the richest moments in our literary and cultural history .… an explosion of literary innovation, from the rise of modernist masterpieces like Mrs. Dalloway and The Great Gatsby to a boom in pulp fiction.” Besides founding 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 and his wife now run a residency for writers and artists in St. Chamassy, in France's Dordogne region. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In Part Two of this file Tom Lutz and I discussed: Adjusting to the life of a country gentleman and all the great wines Why he cares less than ever about what people think of his work The legion of classic texts that came out of one of the most prolific years in history How 1925 birthed so much progress for American culture Why literature is the R&D wing of human enterprise, especially in 2025 And a lot more! Show Notes: 1925: A Literary Encyclopedia by Tom Lutz TomLutzWriter.com⁠ All things ⁠LARB⁠ French Presse - St.-Chamassy Writers' Residency: A quiet place to live and work in the French countryside. ⁠Tom Lutz's Amazon Author Page⁠ ⁠Tom Lutz on Facebook⁠ ⁠Tom Lutz on Instagram⁠ ⁠Tom Lutz on Twitter⁠ Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award-winning journalist and bestselling author Rachel Slade spoke to me about majoring in “New York,” killing her darlings, and the future of manufacturing in her latest book MAKING IT IN AMERICA. Rachel Slade is an award-winning journalist and acclaimed author of Into the Raging Sea, a national bestseller, New York Times Notable Book, and winner of the Maine Literary Award for nonfiction. Her latest work of nonfiction is Making It in America: The Almost Impossible Quest to Manufacture in the U.S.A. (And How It Got That Way). It is described as “a deeply personal and eye-opening journey into the fight to bring ethical manufacturing back to the U.S.” A Publishers Weekly Top 10 Pick in Business and Economics, The Washington Post called it “Persuasively argue[d] . . . Slade's book gives a granular sense of just how hard it is for business owners, particularly those in manufacturing, to do the right thing by their workers in America today.” Rachel also spent a decade in the city magazine trenches at Boston—first as the design editor, ultimately as executive editor. Her work has appeared in publications including The New York Times, The Boston Globe, and Boston magazine. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Rachel Slade and I discussed: Making a career transition from architecture to journalism The intense research that went into her first book Why she used Moby Dick as a story framework Writing a Pandemic book The two hats all writers wear Smoking a cigar with Charles Dickens And a lot more! Show Notes: rachelslade.net Making It in America:The Almost Impossible Quest to Manufacture in the U.S.A. (And How It Got That Way) By Rachel Slade (Amazon) Rachel Slade on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#1 Sunday Times Bestselling ghostwriter Marie Ellis spoke to me about her past lives in both acting and journalism, setting her ego aside as a ghost, and hacking the hero's journey. Marie Ellis is a Sunday Times bestselling ghostwriter, freelance editor, and writer of literary fiction. She is a career journalist who walked away from a 15-year in-house gig to go rogue. She combines her journalism and acting background with her writing skills to help businesses and individuals tell their stories. Marie spoke to me from a recording studio in London just before an on-screen commercial audition. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Marie Ellis and I discussed: How she landed a journalism job at a print science magazine with no experience Why 10,000 hours and her Masters in Literature were well-suited for ghostwriting The Impostor Syndrome that comes with each new book Productive procrastination and improv Why writers need to “Fail faster to succeed sooner” And a lot more! Show Notes: musecontent.co.uk  Fabula Deck by Sefirot Marie Ellis on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times bestselling author Hanif Abdurraqib spoke to me about taking a leap of faith, the tentpoles of his writing practice, and his recent NBCC award-winning THERE'S ALWAYS THIS YEAR: On Basketball and Ascension. Hanif Abdurraqib is a lauded New York Times bestselling author, recent Winner of the NBCC Award for criticism, and a finalist for the National Book Award for A Little Devil in America. He is also a poet, essayist, cultural critic, contributor for The New Yorker, and a recipient of the MacArthur Foundation “Genius” grant. His latest book, There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension, was described by Publishers Weekly, in a Starred Review, as "A triumphant meditation on basketball and belonging…" and named a Best Book of the Year by The New York Times Book Review, Time, The Washington Post, NPR, The Boston Globe, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Book Riot, Electric Lit and many others. Steve James, director of Hoop Dreams, called it, “Mesmerizing  ... not only the most original sports book I've ever read but one of the most moving books I've ever read, period.” Hanif's first collection of essays, They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us, was named a book of the year by NPR, Esquire, BuzzFeed, O: The Oprah Magazine, Pitchfork, and the Chicago Tribune, among others. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Hanif Abdurraqib and I discussed: What it's like to be on a book tour for close to a year His superpower as a highly prolific writer Quitting his 9-5 job after squirreling away money from freelancing Building his own poetry curriculum Why his writing routine hasn't changed much over the years Hot takes on the 2025 NBA Playoffs And a lot more! Show Notes: abdurraqib.com  There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraqib (Amazon) Hanif Abdurraqib on Facebook Hanif Abdurraqib on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times bestselling author Laura Munson spoke to me about her acclaimed writing retreats, building a bridge to readers, and bringing wonder back into our lives with her latest THE WILD WHY. Laura Munson is the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of the novel Willa's Grove and the memoir This Is Not The Story You Think It Is. She is also an editor and Founder of the top-ranked Haven Writing Retreats. Her new book is THE WILD WHY: Stories and Teachings to Uncover Your Wonder. A Maria Shriver Sunday Paper Pick, “For fans of Brené Brown's Daring Greatly, Glennon Doyle's Untamed, and Elizabeth Gilbert's Big Magic, this illuminating self-help tool is the perfect book for anyone who yearns to rekindle their own voice.” Laura has been featured or published in Vanity Fair, Elle, Redbook, Time, Newsweek, The New York Times' “Modern Love” column, The New York Times Magazine, O, The Oprah Magazine, and many others. She has appeared on Good Morning America, The Early Show, WGN, NPR, London's This Morning, Australia's Sunrise, and other global media outlets. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Laura Munson and I discussed: How to rekindle your true voice Why we lose wonder in our worried world Her life's journey to live in her truth The importance of finding radical empathy How to eradicate the “tortured artist” pattern And a lot more! Show Notes: lauramunson.com The Wild Why: Stories and Teachings to Uncover Your Wonder by Laura Munson (Amazon) Laura Munson on Facebook Laura Munson on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Tomi Adeyemi, spoke to me about the film adaptation of Children of Blood and Bone, her evolution as a writer, and the final book in her Orisha trilogy, Children of Anguish and Anarchy. Tomi Adeyemi is the #1 New York Times bestselling, Hugo and Nebula award-winning novelist and screenwriter who was named one of TIME magazine's 100 Most Influential People, Forbes's 30 Under 30 in Media, and whose website was named one of the 101 Best Websites for writers by Writer's Digest. Her Children of Blood and Bone series continues to be a publishing phenomenon, acquired in a heated bidding war with the first two books becoming instant #1 NY Times bestsellers – spending over 150 weeks on the list – and over 1.5 million copies in print to date including recent paperback re-releases. The Nigerian/American writer graduated from Harvard University with an honors degree in English literature and studied West African mythology, religion, and culture in Salvador, Brazil [Discover ⁠The Writer Files Extra⁠: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at ⁠writerfiles.fm⁠] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please ⁠click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews⁠. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Tomi Adeyemi and I discussed: Her newly found balance and definition of success as a writer  Facing rejection early on in her career How she persevered through meticulous planning Why her acknowledgments are so lengthy in her long-awaited capstone to her trilogy What's next for the superstar And a lot more! Show Notes: ⁠tomiadeyemi.com⁠ ⁠thewritersroadmap.net⁠ ⁠Children of Anguish and Anarchy (Legacy of Orisha, 3)⁠ – June 25, 2024 by Tomi Adeyemi (Amazon) ⁠Tomi Adeyemi Amazon Author Page⁠ ⁠Tomi Adeyemi on Instagram⁠ ⁠Tomi Adeyemi on Twitter⁠ ⁠Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Acclaimed debut novelist Emily Everett spoke to me about finding a writing community, impostor syndrome, setting aside self-doubt, and her literary debut, ALL THAT LIFE CAN AFFORD. Emily Everett is a writer and the managing editor of The Common, a literary magazine based at Amherst College. Her debut novel All That Life Can Afford, is the Reese's Book Club pick for April 2025 (out now from Putnam Books), was named a most anticipated book of 2025 by Harper's Bazaar, Town & Country, and E! News, as well as an Apple Books Audiobook Staff Pick. Described as “A taut and lyrical coming-of-age debut about a young American woman navigating class, lies, and love amid London's jet-set elite.” New York Times bestselling author Sarah McCoy said of the book, “Emily Everett's All That Life Can Afford is a wildly entertaining fish-out-of-water story meets Cinderella fairy tale.” Emily Everett has an MA in literature from Queen Mary University of London, where she lived and worked from 2009 to 2013. Her short fiction appears in Electric Literature, Tin House, and Mississippi Review, among others. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Emily Everett and I discussed: Teaching SAT classes for wealthy families abroad Why you don't have to wait to get started on your book Her thirst to prove herself with the first novel Time-blocking vs writing in the margins with a full-time job On crappy first drafts And a lot more! Show Notes: emily-everett.com The Common literary magazine All That Life Can Afford: Reese's Book Club by Emily Everett (Amazon) Emily Everett on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award-winning writer and producer Arvind Ethan David spoke to me about making sh*t up for a living, late bloomers, and adapting RAYMOND CHANDLER'S TROUBLE IS MY BUSINESS into a graphic novel. Arvind Ethan David is the Stoker Award-nominated graphic novelist who has also written chart-topping Audiodramas (The Crimes of Dorian Gray, Earworms), television (Anansi Boys) and plays (The Boy with Wings). Arvind is also a producer of film and theater, including the Emmy & Grammy award-winning musical Jagged Little Pill with Diablo Cody. His latest adaptation TROUBLE IS MY BUSINESS is a graphic novel adaptation of Raymond Chandler's novella featuring one of the most well-known characters in hard-boiled fiction, detective Phillip Marlowe. Library Journal called it “A gripping adaptation of a classic short story [...] A compelling exploration of greed and justice in shadowy 1940s Los Angeles.” Arvind is a principal of Prodigal, the entertainment company where he has produced eight feature films including the Asian Academy Award-winning "The Garden of Evening Mists" and theatrical shows including the Tony- and Grammy-winning Alanis Morissette musical "Jagged Little Pill." [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Arvind Ethan David and I discussed: Why he was told to be more like Chekhov or Grisham His past lives as a lawyer and venture capitalist Working with some of the greatest writers in the world How storytelling is genetic Adapting one of the great prose stylists for a graphic novel The most interesting dinner in literary history And a lot more! Show Notes: Raymond Chandler's Trouble Is My Business – May 20, 2025 – by Raymond Chandler and Arvind Ethan David; illustrated by Ilias Kyriazis (Amazon) Arvind Ethan David on IMDb Arvind Ethan David on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Tom Lutz and I discussed: His early years as a juvenile delinquent and the teacher that duped him into becoming a writer Why "... if you want something done, ask a busy person to do it." How he's happiest (and most creative) when playing hooky On impostor syndrome and sneaking in the back door of an exclusive club of writers What it's like to hang out with Salman Rushdie and Margaret Atwood And why you may not be the type of writer you think you are Show Notes: TomLutzWriter.com All things LARB Born Slippy by Tom Lutz [Amazon] Tom Lutz's Amazon Author Page Tom Lutz on Facebook Tom Lutz on Instagram Tom Lutz on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Susannah Cahalan, spoke to me about her writing process, witch candles, and stepping into the shoes of psychedelic pioneer Rosemary Woodruff Leary in her new biography THE ACID QUEEN. Susannah Cahalan is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, journalist, and public speaker. Her first book, Brain on Fire, has sold over a million copies and has been translated into more than twenty languages. Her second book, The Great Pretender, was shortlisted for the Royal Society's 2020 Science Book Prize. Her latest biography The Acid Queen: The Psychedelic Life and Counterculture Rebellion of Rosemary Woodruff Leary, “...chronicles the life of Rosemary Woodruff Leary (1935–2002), a prominent figure in the 1960s psychedelic movement and Timothy Leary's wife from 1967 through 1976.”  Kirkus gave THE ACID QUEEN a glowing review, calling it a “well-wrought narrative that brings deserved attention to a lost figure in the counterculture,” and Publishers Weekly called it a “... stranger than fiction story [that offers] a vivid portrait of how flower power cracked up in the '70s.” Susannah Cahalan has been profiled in the New York Times, featured as an answer on Jeopardy!: delivered a TEDx Talk, and appeared as a guest on The Today Show, PBS, BBC's Inside Science, and Fresh Air, among many others. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Susannah Cahalan and I discussed: The throughline that connects all of her books Synchronicities that led her to the life story of a psychedelic icon How she used the research process to fully immerse herself in Rosemary's persona What she's learned over the course of her writing career Why you need to find time for “deep work” to get the pages And a lot more! Show Notes: susannahcahalan.com The Acid Queen: The Psychedelic Life and Counterculture Rebellion of Rosemary Woodruff Leary By Susannah Cahalan (Amazon) Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport (Amazon) The Modern Library Writer's Workshop: A Guide to the Craft of Fiction by Stephen Koch Susannah Cahalan on Facebook Susannah Cahalan on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times bestselling author, journalist, and entrepreneur Emma Knight spoke to me about finding the courage to write fiction, the Loch Ness Monster of motherhood, and her breakout debut novel The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus. Emma Knight is an author, journalist, Co-Founder and Head of Brand at Greenhouse, an award-winning organic beverage company, and co-author of The Greenhouse Cookbook (2017), a national bestseller. Her debut novel and instant New York Times bestseller, The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus, is described as a “coming-of-age story, part family drama, and part campus novel.” #1 New York Times bestselling author Carley Fortune called the book “A spellbinding debut about friendship, motherhood, first love, and the choices that bind us . . . I couldn't put it down.” Emma Knight also has an MA in Journalism, and her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Walrus, The Globe and Mail, Literary Hub, and more. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Emma Knight and I discussed: The contrast of her whirlwind world tour after five years of writing Why you can only write one sentence at a time The process of removing your ego from the work Taking the same advice she shared with her daughters Why it's so much better to make things up for a living And a lot more! Show Notes: The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus by Emma Knight (Amazon) Emma Knight talks how debut novel is a metaphor for motherhood - Today Emma Knight on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Carley Fortune, spoke to me about her storied career as a journalist, writing a breakout hit in just four months, and her latest novel, MEET ME AT THE LAKE. Carley Fortune is an award-winning Canadian journalist and the #1 New York Times and #1 Globe and Mail bestselling author of Meet Me at the Lake and Every Summer After.  Her latest, Meet Me at the Lake, is described as a “...love story about two strangers who come together when they need each other most. Once, in their early twenties, and again a decade later.” GMA said of the book, "Fortune explores the aftermath of losing a beloved parent and reclaiming a relationship in this unputdownable, witty, soulful and stirring novel." And New York Times bestselling author Jill Santopolo called Meet Me at The Lake “... a beautiful, heart-tugging, love story about secrets, lies, missed connections and second chances.” Carley has worked as an editor at some of Canada's top publications, including The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, Toronto Life, and a now-defunct weekly paper, The Grid. She was most recently the Executive Editor of Refinery29 Canada. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file, Carley Fortune and I discussed:  What prompted her to reclaim her creative energy How to write 80 thousand words in just four months Why writers need to keep their expectations realistic and protect their mental health How she starts planning her novels  Why extroverted writers need to get into real clothes and out of the house And a lot more! Show Notes: carleyfortune.com Meet Me at the Lake By Carley Fortune (Amazon)  Carley Fortune Amazon Author Page Carley Fortune on Instagram Carley Fortune on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Acclaimed debut novelist and award-winning poet Jeanette Horn spoke to me about writing experimental poetry, getting a fateful call from the Iowa Writer's Workshop, and the magical realism in her debut novel PLAY, WITH KNIVES. Jeanette Horn is an Iowa Writers' Workshop MFA program graduate and was a Maytag Fellow. Her debut novel, Play, With Knives, is described as the story of “A struggling theater troupe [that] tours the Midwest by surreal train—where aspects of their plays come to life and wreak havoc—in this inventive literary novel.” Elizabeth Gilbert, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Eat Pray Love, said of the book, "Play, With Knives is a work of wondrous imagination—a dream from which I did not want to awaken."  Jeanette also earned a BA in English from the University of Texas, where she won several Adele Steiner Burleson Awards for poetry and essay writing. Her work has appeared in MARGIE, Poetry International, Stand, Washington Square, and other journals. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Jeanette Horn and I discussed: What it was like at Iowa's famed Writer's Workshop Why her debut novel was a labor of love (10 years in the making) The successful query letter that led to publishing the book Her true feelings about the cover art Why it's ok to write in the margins And a lot more! Show Notes: www.jeanettehorn.com Play, With Knives by Jeanette Horn (Amazon) Successful Queries: Jaynie Royal and “Play, With Knives,” by Jeanette Horn By Any Other Name Paperback by Jodi Picoult (Amazon) The Stab - jeanettehorn.substack.com Jeanette Horn on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award-winning journalist and The Atlantic staff writer Olga Khazan spoke to me about the worst way to launch a book, writing long-form watchdog journalism, and her latest ME, BUT BETTER, The Science and Promise of Personality Change. Olga Khazan is a staff writer for The Atlantic – covering science, health, and psychology for more than a decade – and the author, previously, of Weird: The Power of Being an Outsider in an Insider World. She was also The Atlantic's Global editor, and ​​former host of The Atlantic's podcast How To Start Over. In her forthcoming book Me, But Better: The Science and Promise of Personality Change (S&S/Simon Element), she reveals the science behind lasting personality change, and explains how anyone, at any age, can seize the reigns of their destiny. New York Times bestselling author Gretchen Rubin called the book, “Hilarious, honest, and packed with cutting-edge research…”, and #1 New York Times bestselling author Adam Grant wrote, “This book shatters the myth that personality is set in stone. Drawing on state-of-the-art evidence and rich personal experience, Olga Khazan artfully reveals what our traits really are—and how we can adapt them to achieve our goals.” Olga Khazan has also written for The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Vox, and other publications. She is a two-time recipient of the International Reporting Project's Journalism Fellowship and winner of the 2017 National Headliner Award for Magazine Online Writing. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Olga Khazan and I discussed: How she got her start at The Atlantic Why she never got to see her first book in a bookstore Turning a piece of long-form journalism into a book pitch Why reducing your neuroticism by even a small amount can improve your life On crappy first drafts  And a lot more! Show Notes: olgakhazan.com Olga Khazan - The Atlantic Me, But Better: The Science and Promise of Personality Change by Olga Khazan (Amazon) Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt Haig reads an excerpt from The Midnight Library, backed by an original Storybound remix with Robert Wynia, and sound design and arrangement by Jude Brewer. Robert Wynia is a founding member of the Portland band Floater. Known for their progressive concept albums, Floater is famous for incorporating stylized storytelling. Wynia also releases music under his own name and released his book Night Walks with its own accompanying soundtrack in 2020. Storybound comes to you from The Podglomerate and Lit Hub Radio. Season 4 is some of their most inspired work yet, so be sure to subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or wherever you tune in. Matt Haig is 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 … [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] Show Notes: How NY Times Bestselling Author Matt Haig Writes MattHaig.com The Midnight Library: A Novel by Matt Haig (Amazon) Matt Haig Amazon author page Matt Haig on Instagram Matt Haig on Facebook Matt Haig on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 is 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. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file 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 choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bestselling author and literary agent Betsy Lerner spoke with me about being a “late bloomer,” what 35 years in publishing has taught her, and portraying mental illness in her debut novel SHRED SISTERS. Betsy Lerner is the author of the popular advice book to writers, The Forest for the Trees, and the memoirs Food and Loathing and The Bridge Ladies. With Temple Grandin, she is the also co-author of the New York Times bestseller Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns and Abstractions. Her debut novel, Shred Sisters, is described as “... an intimate and bittersweet story exploring the fierce complexities of sisterhood, mental health, loss and love.” The book was longlisted for The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, a New York Times Notable Book of 2024, and a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice and Best Book of the Year So Far, among many other accolades. Betsy received an MFA from Columbia University in Poetry and was selected as one of PEN's Emerging Writers. She also received the Tony Godwin Publishing Prize for Editors. After working as an editor for 15 years, she became an agent and is currently a partner with Dunow, Carlson and Lerner Literary Agency. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Betsy Lerner and I discussed: Getting kicked out of film school How "No Bad Dogs" inspired her to write The Forest for the Trees about writer personalities Working with punk rock icon Patti Smith The secrets behind her writing process Why she wants to have dinner with filmmaker Greta Gerwig And a lot more! Show Notes: betsylerner.com Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency Shred Sisters by Betsy Lerner (Amazon) The Forest for the Trees: An Editor's Advice to Writers by Betsy Lerner (Amazon) Betsy Lerner Amazon Author Page Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#1 New York Times bestselling novelist and screenwriter, Ernest Cline, spoke to me about what inspired him to become a novelist, the success of Ready Player One, and his love letter to Austin, Texas, the mostly true tall tale BRIDGE TO BAT CITY. Ernest Cline is the bestselling author of Ready Player One, Ready Player Two, and Armada,  and co-screenwriter of the film adaptation of Ready Player One, directed by Steven Spielberg. His debut middle-grade novel, BRIDGE TO BAT CITY (on sale 4/9/24; ages 8 & up), is described as “... a mostly true tall tale about a recently orphaned girl and her mission to help a family of displaced bats find a new home under the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas.” His books have been published in over fifty countries and have spent more than 100 weeks on The New York Times bestsellers list. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In Part Two of this file Ernest Cline and I discussed: The crazy story behind Stephen King's Misery What it was like waiting for a call from Stephen Spielberg How the author got to see his fiction turned into reality Making the transition from adult sci-fi to middle grade novels His shout outs to ET, Roald Dahl, Charles Portis And a lot more! Show Notes: How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Ernest Cline Writes: Part One Bridge to Bat City by Ernest Cline (Amazon) Ernest Cline Amazon Author Page Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#1 New York Times bestselling novelist and screenwriter, Ernest Cline, spoke to me about what inspired him to become a novelist, the success of Ready Player One, and his love letter to Austin, Texas, the mostly true tall tale BRIDGE TO BAT CITY. Ernest Cline is the bestselling author of Ready Player One, Ready Player Two, and Armada, and co-screenwriter of the film adaptation of Ready Player One, directed by Steven Spielberg. His debut middle-grade novel, BRIDGE TO BAT CITY, is described as “... a mostly true tall tale about a recently orphaned girl and her mission to help a family of displaced bats find a new home under the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas.” His books have been published in over fifty countries and have spent more than 100 weeks on The New York Times bestsellers list. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In Part One of this file Ernest Cline and I discussed: The signposts on the road to becoming a writer His change of fortune (and opinion) as a screenwriter The big idea behind Ready Player One  Why 90% of Stephen King's protagonists are school teachers or writers And a lot more! Show Notes: How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Ernest Cline Writes: Part Two Bridge to Bat City by Ernest Cline (Amazon) Ernest Cline Amazon Author Page Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#1 New York Times bestselling author Marissa Meyer spoke with me about, cutting her teeth on fanfiction, working briefly in publishing, and THE HAPPY WRITER, a guide to writing with less stress and more JOY. Marissa Meyer is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lunar Chronicles, Heartless, The Renegades Trilogy, and Instant Karma, as well as the graphic novel duology Wires and Nerve. Marissa also created and hosted a popular podcast, The Happy Writer, that inspired her debut writing guide, The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond. Described as, “Applicable to writers in all genres and disciplines—from screenwriters to novelists, journalists to picture book authors, aspiring to many-times published—The Happy Writer is a heartfelt and optimistic guide that will show you the way to a happier writing journey.” Marissa holds a BA in Creative Writing from Pacific Lutheran University and a MA in Publishing from Pace University. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Marissa Meyer and I discussed: How an overactive imagination led to a lifetime of storytelling What she learned about the author/editor relationship early on  Why optimism has always been a part of her brand How to bring more joy to your writing “process” Embracing lifelong creativity And a lot more! Show Notes: marissameyer.com The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond By Marissa Meyer Marissa Meyer Amazon Author Page Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book On Novel Writing You'll Ever Need by Jessica Brody (Amazon) Marissa Meyer on Facebook Marissa Meyer on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Psychology and Neuroscience Professor Kurt Gray spoke with me about the timely release, and inspiration behind his latest book OUTRAGED: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground. Kurt Gray is a Professor in Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he directs the Deepest Beliefs Lab and the Center for the Science of Moral Understanding. Kurt Gray's, new book OUTRAGED: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground “... explains the science behind the United States' current political divide.” A NEXT BIG IDEA CLUB MUST-READ BOOK • It is described as “A groundbreaking new perspective on the moral mind that rewrites our understanding of where moral judgments come from, and how we can overcome the feelings of outrage that so often divide us.” #1 New York Times best-selling author Adam Grant called it, "A riveting read. . . . Overturns widespread assumptions about why we're divided and reveals how we can come together." Kurt Gray received a PhD in Social Psychology from Harvard University, has published over 120 scientific papers, and his findings have been featured in The  New York Times, the Economist, Scientific American, Wired, and Hidden Brain. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Kurt Gray and I discussed: What it finally feels like to publish a book after decades of research How we have misunderstood the moral mind Who makes a profit from the “outrage machine” Why humans are innately storytelling creatures How to unplug, get words on the page, keep going And a lot more! Show Notes: kurtjgray.com Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground By Kurt Gray (Amazon) Dragon Transcription App Why We Fight About Morality and Politics | Kurt Gray | TEDxReno Kurt Gray on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author, Robert Crais, returns to talk with me about the destruction of the recent LA fires, writing “enlightened” crime fiction, and the 20th in his Elvis Cole and Joe Pike series THE BIG EMPTY. Robert Crais is the author of 24 novels, 20 featuring private investigator Elvis Cole and his laconic ex-cop partner, Joe Pike. The first in the series, The Monkey's Raincoat, won the Anthony and Macavity Awards and was nominated for the Edgar Award. The 20th in the series, THE BIG EMPTY, is described as an unpredictable and powerful thriller, and "Cole and Pike's toughest case yet, testing their loyalty to their clients and themselves in ways they've never been tested before.” #1 New York Times bestselling author James Patterson said of the book, “Elvis Cole and Joe Pike are right up there with Harry Bosch and Reacher as must reads….It's close to flawless. Robert Crais has mastered the fine art of storytelling.” In a previous life Robert Crais was an Emmy-nominated TV writer/producer and spent several years writing scripts for classic television series like Hill Street Blues, Cagney & Lacey, and Miami Vice. screenwriting thesis program at an American university. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this Part Two of this file Robert Crais and I discussed: What writing 20 novels for the same hit series means to him How he became a master of LA detective fiction Why every novel gets harder than the last The catharsis of storytelling for both writer and reader How to keep going  And a lot more! Show Notes: How #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Robert Crais Writes: Part One robertcrais.com Racing the Light (An Elvis Cole and Joe Pike Novel Book 19) by Robert Crais (Amazon) Robert Crais Author Page on Amazon Robert Crais on Facebook Robert Crais on Instagram Robert Crais on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NOTE: Preface to Part Two of this prescient interview with a master of the craft: “[Crais is] an enlightened crime writer.”—New York Times Book Review Award-winning and #1 NY Times bestselling author, Robert Crais, spoke to me about breathing life into the ur detective novel, the legacy of Raymond Chandler, his love of LA, and his latest, "Racing the Light." Robert Crais is the author of 23 novels, 19 of which feature private investigator Elvis Cole and his laconic ex-cop partner, Joe Pike. The first in the series, The Monkey's Raincoat, won the Anthony and Macavity Awards and was nominated for the Edgar Award. The latest is Racing the Light, described as "... a pulse-pounding read and Elvis Cole's most dangerous case yet." Bestselling author David Baldacci called it "... another grand slam for the master storyteller Robert Crais. If there's a better dynamic duo than Elvis Cole and Joe Pike in all of crime fiction, I'm not aware of it.” On Reader's Digest's list of "30 new books we can't wait to read in 2022," Kirkus Reviews said that, "... [Crais] keeps the traditional detective novel alive and well." In a previous life Robert Crais was an Emmy-nominated TV writer/producer and spent several years writing scripts for classic television series like Hill Street Blues, Cagney & Lacey, and Miami Vice. Stay calm and write on ... Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews. In this file Robert Crais and I discussed: Burning out as a TV writer and chasing the dream of becoming a novelist Why he never anticipated fame How his novel LA Requiem changed the trajectory of his career When your author name gets bigger than the title Why he'll always be a meticulous outliner And a lot more! Show Notes: robertcrais.com Racing the Light (An Elvis Cole and Joe Pike Novel Book 19) by Robert Crais (Amazon) Robert Crais Author Page on Amazon Robert Crais on Facebook Robert Crais on Instagram Robert Crais on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times bestselling author and award-winning journalist L.M. Elliott spoke with me about the heyday of magazine writing and new journalism, why research tells her what to write, and her latest novel TRUTH, LIES, AND THE QUESTIONS IN BETWEEN. L.M. Elliott (who also writes as Laura Elliot) was an award-winning magazine journalist for 20 years before becoming the New York Times bestselling author of 14 historical and biographical novels. The three-time finalist for the National Magazine Award and winner of multiple Dateline Awards, focused primarily on women's issues and human interest profiles. Her latest novel Truth, Lies, and the Questions in Between, is described as a “‘docu-novel' … of 1973—the year of Watergate hearings, the Equal Rights Amendment, and Roe v. Wade…” and “... [explores] a fraught political era and the dangers of disinformation, unchecked power, hate-rhetoric, and censorship.” NYT bestselling author Sharon Cameron said of the author, “... Elliott uses the pen of a journalist and the heart of a storyteller to create  a masterful, page-turning, razor-sharp commentary on a past that looks eerily like our present.” [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file L.M. Elliott and I discussed: Her journey to accidental bestseller and a second career Why there isn't any better training than writing historical fiction The definition of “saving string” for journalists and fictionists How her books mix photo documentary and in-depth research Hanging out with Emily Brontë And a lot more! Show Notes:  lmelliott.com Truth, Lies, and the Questions in Between by L.M. Elliott (Amazon) L.M. Elliott Amazon Author Page L.M. Elliott on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award-winning TV writer/producer turned novelist Georgia Jeffries spoke with me about why Cagney and Lacey was her film school, teaching screenwriting at USC, and the ghosts, grief, and grievance in her debut novel THE YOUNGER GIRL. Georgia Jeffries is the Emmy-nominated TV writer/producer who became the first individual female screenwriter to earn a Writers Guild Award for Episodic Drama for her work on the ground-breaking series Cagney & Lacey. Her debut is The Younger Girl: A Dark Labyrinth of Family Betrayal, based on a true crime. It was described by bestselling author Rachel Howzell Hall as “...historical fiction at its best. … [and] an eye-opening, immersive story about a family, then and now, nearly stripped bare from greed and the steadfast refusal to acknowledge a painful past.” Jeffries has written docudramas and series pilots for CBS, ABC, NBC, HBO, and Showtime and is a professor at USC's School of Cinematic Arts where she created the first undergraduate screenwriting thesis program at an American university. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Georgia Jeffries and I discussed: Her early years as a journalist How she received rave rejections on her first attempt at a novel Why she based her debut on true events from her family's past The throughline of her quest for justice and love of noir fiction Writing genre-bending historical suspense And a lot more! Show Notes:  georgiajeffries.com The Younger Girl: A Dark Labyrinth of Family Betrayal by Georgia Jeffries (Amazon) Georgia Jeffries on IMDb Georgia Jeffries on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NOTE: Repost of our second most popular episode of the year, Happy Holidays! New York Times bestselling author, Ann Napolitano, spoke with me about overcoming rejection early on, how grief transformed her writing process, and getting that fateful call from Oprah about Hello Beautiful. Ann Napolitano is the New York Times bestselling author of Hello Beautiful which was selected as Oprah's 100th Book Club pick; Dear Edward, an instant New York Times bestseller, a Read with Jenna selection, and an Apple TV+ series; A Good Hard Look, and Within Arm's Reach. Hello Beautiful has been called a “powerfully affecting” (People) family story that asks: Can love make a broken person whole? The Washington Post said of the book, “Another tender tearjerker . . . Napolitano chronicles life's highs and lows with aching precision.” It was named Chicago Public Library's Ten Best Books of the Year and a Best Book of the Year by The New York Times Book Review, NPR, The Washington Post, Time, Vogue, Glamour, Harper's Bazaar, New York Post, She Reads, and Bookreporter. Ann was the associate editor of the literary magazine One Story for seven years, and she received an MFA from New York University. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Ann Napolitano and I discussed: Her long and rocky road to success How an illness early in life helped her realize she was a writer Why her first published book felt like a proving ground The nine-month approach to planning your next novel How to write the truest sentence possible Why you need to string together as many Xs as you can And a lot more! Show Notes: AnnNapolitano.com Hello Beautiful (Oprah's Book Club): A NOVEL By Ann Napolitano (Amazon) Ann Napolitano Amazon Author Page Ann Napolitano on Twitter Ann Napolitano on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NOTE: Repost of our most popular episode of the year by far, enjoy! Bestselling author, podcaster, blogger, speaker, and my friend Jeff Goins, brought me along on a creative journey not too long ago called Hey, Creator! and it was some of the most fun I've had as a podcast producer. Here's an episode from the last season we did together titled “How to Finish the First Draft of Anything.” Jeff Goins helps creative people succeed. Through his bestselling books, courses, coaching, and speeches, he shares his ongoing journey of transformation, inspiring creators to discover their voice and share it with the world. He is also the founder of Fresh Complaint, a bespoke creative agency that helps authors, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs turn their stories and ideas into books that change the way people think. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Jeff Goins and I discussed: Why the first step to finishing is to begin The secret to getting unstuck Why nothing is ever really finished And a lot more! Show Notes: goinswriter.com freshcomplaint.com Hey, Creator! Podcast Jeff Goins Amazon Author Page Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times bestselling author Penn Cole spoke with me about her past life as an attorney, living in Paris, how she became a breakout hybrid author, and book #2 in the Kindred's Curse saga: GLOW OF THE EVERFLAME. Penn Cole is an internationally bestselling author whose debut series, The Kindred's Curse Saga, became a BookTok and Bookstagram sensation, and an instant New York Times bestseller with over a million copies in more than a dozen languages. Described as a slow burn, epic romantasy series, Book #2, GLOW OF THE EVERFLAME, was called "Gripping…,” by The Library Journal, and in a starred review noted, “Readers will be clamoring for the next in the series after the cliffhanger ending." Before pursuing her lifelong dream of publishing, Penn had a prior career as an artist and attorney. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Penn Cole and I discussed: Falling for the myth of the “starving artist” How she self-published three books in 2023 Why she was so adamant about keeping her e-book rights when traditional publishers called The huge adjustment she's had to make for her fans Why there's some misconception about going “viral” And a lot more! Show Notes:  penncole.com Glow of the Everflame: A Novel; Book #2 of The Kindred's Curse Saga by Penn Cole (Amazon) Penn Cole Amazon Author Page Penn Cole on Facebook Penn Cole on Threads Penn Cole on TikTok Penn Cole on Instagram Penn Cole on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

PEN/Bellwether winner Fabienne Josaphat spoke with me about being born into storytelling, writing socially engaged fiction, and the revolution and injustice at the center of her new novel KINGDOM OF NO TOMORROW. Fabienne Josaphat was born and raised in Haiti, and graduated with an MFA in Creative Writing from Florida International University. Her sophomore novel KINGDOM OF NO TOMORROW was the 2023 winner of the PEN / Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction. Barbara Kingsolver established the biennial prize in 2000 to highlight previously unpublished works of fiction that addressed issues of social justice. Barbara Kingsolver, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Demon Copperhead, said of the book, "This beautifully convincing slice of history is powered not just by good research, but by lots of suspense, compelling characters, and understated political themes that …. bring the fierce vision of the Black Panthers to new generations of readers, adding some stunning context to the modern Black Lives Matter movement." In addition to fiction, Josaphat writes non-fiction, screenplays, and is an anthologized poet. Her work has been featured in The African American Review, The Washington Post, Teen Vogue, The Master's Review, Grist Journal, and many others. [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Fabienne Josaphat and I discussed: Why her grandfather's stories helped shape her into a writer The surreal journey from award-winner to publication of her second novel How the Black Panthers were maligned by mainstream media The importance of preserving the oral storytelling tradition of her culture What writers can do to tame distraction And a lot more! Show Notes:  PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction - PEN America Kingdom of No Tomorrow by Fabienne Josaphat  (Amazon) Fabienne Josaphat on Instagram Fabienne Josaphat on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Polymath and author of ARISTOTLE FOR NOVELISTS Douglas Vigliotti spoke with me about the outsized influence of Poetics on storytelling, why a well-told story is so cathartic, and the three big questions every writer must answer. Douglas Vigliotti is the author of four non-fiction and fiction books, including Tom Collins: A ‘Slightly Crooked' Novel. He is also the host of Books for Men, a weekly podcast created to inspire (more) men to read. His latest, Aristotle for Novelists: 14 Timeless Principles on the Art of Story, is described as a writing and creativity guide on “... how to write a novel using tried-and-true principles that have been used since antiquity to tell great stories.” [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Douglas Vigliotti and I discussed: How he mined Poetics to help craft his first novel His take on why The Penguin is so popular Why he doesn't trust writers who don't read (a lot) The importance of consistency in all great fiction Why tragedies are more powerful than epics And a lot more! Show Notes:  douglasvigliotti.com Aristotle for Novelists: 14 Timeless Principles on the Art of Story by Douglas Vigliotti (Amazon) Douglas Vigliotti Amazon Author Page Douglas Vigliotti on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times bestselling author Christina Lynch spoke with me about working with Harvard pal Conan O'Brien, gang writing for TV, her nom de plume, and her new novel, PONY CONFIDENTIAL, featuring a grumpy pony. Christina Lynch is the author of Sally Brady's Italian Adventure, The Italian Party, and – under the pen name Magnus Flyte – co-author of New York Times bestseller City of Dark Magic and City of Lost Dreams. Her latest mystery, Pony Confidential (Berkley/PRH), is “... an epic saga, narrated by a pony, about the bond between animals and their humans.” It was named an NPR “Book of the Day,” Amazon Top 100 Books of 2024, an Indie Next Pick for November, and many other “most anticipated” lists. Christina Lynch was an editor on the Harvard Lampoon, the Milan correspondent for W magazine, and wrote for TV on the writing staffs of Unhappily Ever After and Stephen King's The Dead Zone among others. She teaches at College of the Sequoias. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Christina Lynch and I discussed:  End-of-semester panic and counseling her students Why she burned out on fashion and disappeared in Tuscany How a game with a fellow writer turned into a bestseller What her most recent success has meant to her The crazy story behind her latest novel And a lot more! Show Notes:  clynchwriter.com Pony Confidential By Christina Lynch (Amazon) In the new novel 'Pony Confidential,' a crime-solving pony seeks revenge - NPR Christina Lynch Amazon Author Page Christina Lynch on Facebook Anne Lamott on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Note: I revisited a chat with the soothsayer A.M. Homes from 2022. Bestselling, award-winning author A.M. Homes, spoke to me about getting sued by J.D. Salinger, the irony of winning the Women's Prize for Fiction, and her latest "The Unfolding." A.M. Homes is a TV producer, art critic, and the author of 13 books, including the bestselling memoir The Mistress's Daughter. Her last novel, May We Be Forgiven, was the winner of the 2013 Women's Prize for Fiction. Her latest novel is The Unfolding, described as a "... darkly comedic alternative history that takes us into the heart of a fractured family living in a divided country." New York Times bestselling author Salman Rushdie called the book, “A terrific black comedy, written almost entirely in pitch-perfect dialogue, that feels terrifyingly close to the unfunny truth.” A.M. Homes was a Co-Executive Producer and Writer on David E. Kelly and Stephen King's, Mr. Mercedes, and a writer/producer of the Showtime series The L Word. Her work has been translated into 22 languages and appears frequently in Art Forum, Harpers, Granta, McSweeney's, The New Yorker, The New York Times, and Zoetrope. She is a Contributing Editor to Vanity Fair, Bomb and Blind Spot, and she has taught in the Creative Writing Program at Princeton. Stay calm and write on ... [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file A.M. Homes and I discussed: Her early struggles with dyslexia Why awards and votes of confidence are so important for writers How she helped hire Dennis Lehane to write for Mr. Mercedes  Her strange obsession with George Washington and her claim to Capitol Hill How to write your way out of a jam And a lot more! Show Notes: amhomesbooks.com The Unfolding: A Novel by A.M. Homes (Amazon) A.M. Homes on Facebook A.M. Homes on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Note: I revisited a chat with multi-hyphenate Rob McElhenney from 2020. The writer, producer, and actor best known for It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Rob McElhenney, took a timeout during 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 his advice for aspiring TV producers. "Everyone is going through the same things. At least, people who 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. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file 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 stays culturally relevant And how the greatest indie production tool you own is in your pocket Show Notes: Rob McElhenney on IMDb Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet – Apple TV+ It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia now longest-running live-action comedy series ever after season 15 renewal Rob McElhenney on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bestselling author, podcaster, blogger, speaker, and my friend Jeff Goins, recently brought me along on a creative journey called Hey, Creator! We're back with another episode from the second season titled “It's a Matter of Taste.” This is part two of a two-part conversation. Jeff Goins helps creative people succeed. Through his bestselling books, courses, coaching, and speeches, he inspires creators to discover their voice and share it with the world. He is also the founder of Fresh Complaint, a bespoke creative agency that helps authors, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs turn their stories and ideas into books that change the way people think. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Jeff Goins and I discussed: How developing your taste is a process of trusting yourself and your experience Learning to live in the moment  Why it never gets better than the first sip The art of learning to live a little more fully alive And a lot more! Show Notes: goinswriter.com freshcomplaint.com Hey, Creator! Podcast Jeff Goins Amazon Author Page Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bestselling author, podcaster, blogger, speaker, and my friend Jeff Goins, recently brought me along on a creative journey called Hey, Creator! We're back with another episode from the second season titled “It's a Matter of Taste.” This is part one of a two-part conversation. [This is part two of a two-part conversation.] Jeff Goins helps creative people succeed. Through his bestselling books, courses, coaching, and speeches, he inspires creators to discover their voice and share it with the world. He is also the founder of Fresh Complaint, a bespoke creative agency that helps authors, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs turn their stories and ideas into books that change the way people think. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Jeff Goins and I discussed: Why an artist's taste is everything How it takes time and effort to develop your palate Why we can't know what we like until we experience what we don't The importance of paying attention And a lot more! In this file Jeff Goins and I discussed: How developing your taste is a process of trusting yourself and your experience Learning to live in the moment  Why it never gets better than the first sip The art of learning to live a little more fully alive And a lot more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Note: I revisited a chat with the amazing Walter Mosley from 2021. 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). Preview a sample of a podcast at the break from this week's sponsor Look Closer: The Found Fiction Podcast, more at foundfiction.org. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Walter Mosley and I discussed: His winding career path How the apex of post-hippie Los Angeles, California affected his writing What it was like to work with the late, Oscar-nominated filmmaker John Singleton (Boyz N the Hood) Why you need to read your drafts out loud And more! Show Notes: WalterMosley.com Walter Mosley Amazon author page Writing Los Angeles: A Literary Anthology: A Library of America Special Publication (Amazon) Roger Zelazny Amazon author page Walter Mosley on Facebook Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bestselling author, podcaster, blogger, speaker, and my friend Jeff Goins, recently brought me along on a creative journey called Hey, Creator! We're back with another episode from the second season we did together titled “Creative Idiots.” Jeff Goins helps creative people succeed. Through his bestselling books, courses, coaching, and speeches, he inspires creators to discover their voice and share it with the world. He is also the founder of Fresh Complaint, a bespoke creative agency that helps authors, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs turn their stories and ideas into books that change the way people think. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Jeff Goins and I discussed: Why all art is a little scandalous When great artists play the trickster How humanity expands and evolves by pushing the boundaries of art And a lot more weird stuff! Show Notes: goinswriter.com freshcomplaint.com Hey, Creator! Podcast Jeff Goins Amazon Author Page Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

*We're excited to be partnering with Writers Rising as one of this year's sponsors, and as a special gift to our listeners, we were able to get you a 10% discount on your in-person or virtual retreat ticket. Visit WritersRising.com today and enter code writerfiles10 to get that discount. Buy your ticket now before they sell out! We'll see you there.* #1 New York Times bestselling author, Anne Lamott, spoke with me about 40 years of teaching writing, how to write more bravely, on sh*tty first drafts, and sharing hacks she's learned over her career at the Writers Rising 2024 retreat. Anne Lamott is the author of 20 books, including New York Times bestsellers Help, Thanks, Wow; Dusk, Night, Dawn; Traveling Mercies; and Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, as well as seven novels. Her latest book, Somehow: Thoughts on Love was a #1 New York Times bestseller. Publishers Weekly praised “…her ability to distill complex truths with a deceptive lightness” in their starred review. Anne is a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, an inductee to the California Hall of Fame, and was recently a columnist for The Washington Post. She has taught at UC Davis, writing conferences across the country, and is currently an artist in residence at A Writing Room Collective. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Anne Lamott and I discussed:  The debt of honor that is the writing life Why you don't have to know everything to finish your book What it was like getting inducted into the California Hall of Fame next to Mark Zuckerberg and Serena Williams The importance of accountability for staying on track Why you need to stop not writing and get your butt in the chair And a lot more! Show Notes: Writers Rising 2024 awritingroom.com Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott (Amazon) Somehow: Thoughts on Love By Anne Lamott (Amazon) Anne Lamott Amazon Author Page Anne Lamott on Twitter Anne Lamott on Facebook Anne Lamott on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Note: A revisiting of an amazing chat I had with Ashley Audrain. Also ... We're excited to be partnering with Writers Rising as one of this year's sponsors, and as a special gift to our listeners, we were able to get you a 10% discount on your in-person or virtual retreat ticket. Visit WritersRising.com today and enter code writerfiles10 to get that discount. Buy your ticket now before they sell out! We'll see you there. New York Times bestselling author, Ashley Audrain, spoke to me about giving herself permission to write sh*tty first drafts, writing in public, and her second novel THE WHISPERS. Ashley Audrain's debut novel, The Push, was a New York Times, Sunday Times (London), #1 international bestseller, and a Good Morning America Book Club pick. It has sold in more than 40 territories, and a limited TV series is currently in development.  Her latest, The Whispers, is described as “ … a propulsive page-turner about four families whose lives are changed when the unthinkable happens – and what is lost when we give in to our own worst impulses.” The New York Times Book Review wrote, "Expertly, subtly and powerfully rendered …. [The Whispers] delivers a sucker-punch ending you'll have to read twice to believe.” And #1 New York Times bestselling author Carley Fortune called it, “[An] electrifying … razor-sharp page-turner.” Ashley Audrain previously worked as the publicity director of Penguin Books Canada, and prior to that, worked in public relations. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file, Ashley Audrain and I discussed:  Why she felt intimidated by writers while working in PR How to write claustrophobic, voyeuristic fiction Why she is drawn to the darker side of literature Tapping into the messiness of midlife ennui How to escape your kids And a lot more! Show Notes: Writers Rising 2024 ashleyaudrain.com The Whispers By Ashley Audrain (Amazon)  Ashley Audrain Amazon Author Page Ashley Audrain on Instagram Ashley Audrain on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Critically acclaimed debut author Bryan VanDyke, spoke with me about the writer's life in NYC, pushing the boundaries of literature and speculative fiction, and his latest novel about AI tech, IN OUR LIKENESS. Bryan VanDyke is a former staff writer for The Millions, and he graduated from writing programs at Columbia University and Northwestern. As a digital strategist, he advised and partnered with technologists, startup founders and venture capitalists. His “eerily timely debut novel,” IN OUR LIKENESS, draws on his experience and dramatizes many of the as-yet-unanswered questions about “the wonders and chaos” of artificial intelligence. Described as a “Frankenstein-esque tale befitting the information age,” CNN journalist and author of Age of Revolutions Fareed Zakaria called the book “A total triumph.” [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Bryan VanDyke and I discussed:  Feeling like a double agent while he was struggling to get published His love of genre science fiction and literary lions What it was like to edit a book about AI during a sea change in the tech How he edits his work on the go Grabbing a drink with William Faulkner at Grand Central Terminal And a lot more! Show Notes:  bryanvandyke.com In Our Likeness: A Novel by Bryan VanDyke (Amazon) Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Mark Oshiro, spoke with me about what journalism taught them about book editing, capturing a transitional age with young adult and middle-grade fiction, and their latest novel JASMINE IS HAUNTED. Mark Oshiro is the #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of young adult books including Anger Is a Gift, as well as middle-grade books The Insiders, You Only Live Once, David Bravo, and Star Wars Hunters: Battle for the Arena. They are also the coauthor (with Rick Riordan) of The Sun and the Star: A Nico Di Angelo Adventure. Their upcoming middle-grade novel JASMINE IS HAUNTED (Starscape, Hardcover; October 1, 2024), is described as a "heartfelt, funny, fast-paced, and spooky” (Rick Riordan), tale about the gravity of grief and the courage it takes to overcome it. Mark Oshiro won the 2024 Georgia Author of the Year Award and the 2019 Schneider Family Book Award. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Mark Oshiro and I discussed:  The strange circuitous route to bestseller and the public perception of debut authors Why their journalism background prepared them for a full-time fiction career How they teamed up with the author of Percy Jackson & the Olympians On writing queer stories with characters of color The outsized influence of Octavia Butler And a lot more! Show Notes:  www.markoshiro.com Jasmine Is Haunted by Mark Oshiro (Amazon) Mark Oshiro Amazon Author Page Mark Oshiro on Instagram Mark Oshiro on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Note: A revisiting of an amazing chat I had with the humble Emily Henry. #1 New York Times bestselling author, Emily Henry, returns to chat with me about depressing first drafts, what it's like to be a genre-bending, commercial fiction superstar, and her “glittering” new novel HAPPY PLACE. Emily Henry is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Book Lovers, People We Meet on Vacation, and Beach Read, and has sold over three million copies of her novels. Her latest is Happy Place, an instant ​​#1 New York Times bestseller and her first hardcover novel, described as a book “...about reluctant exes who make a pact to pretend to date during an annual friends' trip...” Author Taylor Jenkins-Reid called it "Another knock-out from the champ.” The Washington Post wrote that the book, “Blur[s] the lines between women's and literary-leaning commercial fiction, departing from the fantasy spaces of bodice rippers and misty moors to depict a world that looks a lot more like, well, our own…” Emily's books have been featured in Buzzfeed, Oprah Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, and many more.  [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file, Emily Henry and I discussed:  What it feels like to (still) be living inside a lightning strike Why it's easy for her to stay humble as a writer How to write rom-com at the top of readers' intelligence Her take on superhero movie tropes Why making a reader laugh is so much harder than making them cry And a lot more! Show Notes: How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Emily Henry Writes: Part One emilyhenrybooks.com Happy Place By Emily Henry (Amazon)  Emily Henry Amazon Author Page Emily Henry on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NOTE: This is an updated replay of my amazing chat with #1 New York Times bestselling author and screenwriter-producer Dennis Lehane. His latest novel, Small Mercies, was an instant NY Times Bestseller named an Amazon Editors' pick for Best Books 2023. Stephen King said of the book “Small Mercies is thought-provoking, engaging, enraging, and can't-put-it-down entertainment.” Enjoy! New York Times bestselling author and screenwriter-producer, Dennis Lehane, spoke to me about what he learned from Clint Eastwood, working on "Mr. Mercedes" with David E. Kelley, and his new Apple TV+ show "Black Bird." Dennis Lehane is the bestselling author of 13 novels including four adapted into films of the same name: 2003's Academy Award-winning film Mystic River, directed by Clint Eastwood; 2007's Gone Baby Gone; 2010's Shutter Island directed by Martin Scorsese, and 2016's Live by Night directed by Ben Affleck. His latest is the limited Apple TV+ series, Black Bird, described as a "...fascinating, ripped-from-the headlines story [and] true-crime drama..." based on the 2010 memoir by James Keene and Hillel Levin, “In With The Devil: A Fallen Hero, A Serial Killer, and A Dangerous Bargain for Redemption." "Jimmy Keene (Taron Egerton), cuts a deal with the FBI to enter maximum-security prison for the criminally insane and befriend a suspected serial killer, Larry Hall (Paul Walter Hauser)." Black Bird premieres globally with the first two episodes on Friday, July 8, followed by one new episode weekly every Friday. Lehane was a staff writer on the acclaimed HBO series "The Wire" and also worked as a writer-producer on HBO's "Boardwalk Empire" the Netflix series, "Bloodline," and a writer and producer on the television adaptation of Stephen King's "Mr. Mercedes." [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Dennis Lehane and I discussed: Why he sucked at everything except writing and playing pool How he landed a literary agent while parking cars Dealing with impostor syndrome early on Why he prefers screenwriting to novel writing today Why narcissists have no place on a TV set And a lot more! Show Notes: Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane (Amazon) Dennis Lehane Amazon Author Page Black Bird | Apple TV+ Dennis Lehane on IMDb In With The Devil: A Fallen Hero, A Serial Killer, and A Dangerous Bargain for Redemption by James Keene and Hillel Levin (Amazon) Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, returned to chat about why bestsellers stick around for years, why fiction is perfectly geared for the human mind, and her latest YA thriller, THE GRANDEST GAME. Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 25 acclaimed young adult novels, including The Inheritance Games series (over 3 million copies sold), Little White Lies, Deadly Little Scandals, The Lovely and the Lost, and The Naturals series. Her latest is another #1 New York Times bestseller, The Grandest Game (Volume 1) “... a new series that brings readers deeper into the lush, romantic, and puzzle-filled world of the #1 bestselling Inheritance Games series, set a year after we last saw Avery and the Hawthornes.” Jen is a Fulbright Scholar with advanced degrees in psychology, psychiatry, and cognitive science including a Ph.D. from Yale University, and “...is one of the world's leading experts on the psychology of fandom and the cognitive science of fiction and the imagination.” [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Jennifer Lynn Barnes and I discussed:  Juggling a book launch, edits, and revisions for three new books How to reboot a hit series to capture the same energy as the original Why she approaches writing as both a scientist and an author How she uses lists of her favorite tropes to unlock her scenes More theories on why readers love fiction And a lot more! Show Notes:  How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jennifer Lynn Barnes Writes: Part One Jenniferlynnbarnes.com The psychology of fiction with Jennifer Lynn Barnes | Re:Thinking with Adam Grant - TED Audio Collective The Grandest Game (Volume 1) (The Grandest Game, 1) By Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Amazon) Jennifer Lynn Barnes Amazon Author Page Jennifer Lynn Barnes on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award-winning author and journalist, Alex Temblador, spoke with me about seeing publishing through rose-colored glasses, teaching writers to create inclusive narratives, and her essential guide WRITING AN IDENTITY NOT YOUR OWN. Alex Temblador is an award-winning travel, arts, and culture journalist, award-winning author of novels Half Outlaw, and Secrets of the Casa Rosada, as well as the Executive Director of Write Here DFW and the founder and moderator of LitTalk at Whose Books, a panel series for Dallas-Forth Worth authors. Her recently published resource, WRITING AN IDENTITY NOT YOUR OWN: A Guide for Creative Writers (8/13/24 from St. Martin's Essentials), is described as a “...practical guide [that] delves into one of the most contentious topics in creative writing: creating characters with historically marginalized identities.” David Mura, author of A Stranger's Journey: Race, Identity & Narrative Craft in Writing said of the author, "Alex Temblador provides a concrete and detailed guide to the issues of misrepresentation, appropriation and stereotypes in creative writing….and interrogates not just issues of craft but the biases we all carry that we may be unaware of. An essential text." Alex has an MFA in Creative Writing and her journalism has been published in Conde Nast Traveler, Outside, Travel + Leisure, among others. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Alex Temblador and I discussed: Writing subtitles for films Her love of magical realism How she became a freelance journalist focusing on DEI Why she decided to undertake an ambitious creative writing guide  What authors can do for their mental health And a lot more! Show Notes: www.alextemblador.com Writing an Identity Not Your Own: A Guide for Creative Writers by Alex Temblador (Amazon) writinganidentitynotyourown.com Alex Temblador on Instagram Alex Temblador on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Writers, publishing experts, and Hungry Authors podcast hosts, Ariel Curry and Liz Morrow, returned to chat about playing the long game, meeting readers where they're at, and the origins of their much-anticipated publishing guide. Ariel Curry is a writer and Senior Editor of nonfiction at Sourcebooks with over 10 years of experience in traditional publishing. Her partner in crime at hungryauthors.com is Liz Morrow, a traditionally published ghostwriter for entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and business experts who specializes in personal and professional development and memoir. Their debut as co-authors is Hungry Authors: The Indispensable Guide to Planning, Writing, and Publishing a Nonfiction Book (August 6, 2024), available now. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Ariel, Liz and I discussed: Time-blocking, non-negotiables, and writing when you have kids How the Hungry Authors multiverse came to be Why finding comps to your work is so important How to navigate the publishing landscape without losing faith Overcoming fear, procrastination, scarcity mindset, impostor syndrome … And much more! Show Notes: How to Plan, Write & Publish Nonfiction with Hungry Authors Hosts Ariel Curry & Liz Morrow: Part One hungryauthors.com Hungry Authors: The Indispensable Guide to Planning, Writing, and Publishing a Nonfiction Book by Liz Morrow and Ariel Curry (Amazon) Hungry Authors - Podcast w/ Ariel Curry & Liz Morrow Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bestselling author and teacher, Natalie Goldberg, spoke to me about igniting a revolution with Writing Down the Bones, meeting creative block in a cemetery, and her latest, WRITING ON EMPTY: A Guide to Finding Your Voice. Natalie Goldberg is a poet, teacher, author, painter, and 24-year student of Zen Buddhism who teaches writing workshops based on the methods presented in her popular bestseller Writing Down the Bones. The book has sold over a million copies and has been translated into 14 languages. Her latest is Writing on Empty: A Guide to Finding Your Voice, where the author “... shares her inspiring personal journey out of a devastating period of writer's block and back into a life of growth, creativity, and healing.” Described as a guide to “… discovering how to write through the emptiness in order to fill up the world with compassion, healing, and renewed liveliness.” Publishers Weekly praised it as "... a refreshingly honest look at the struggles of the creative mind." [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Natalie Goldberg and I discussed:  How her Zen practice informs her work Her early life as a poet When New York publishers made fun of her, at their peril Why she hates the diagnosis “writer's block” Finding catharsis in writing a personal history And a lot more! Show Notes: NatalieGoldberg.com Writing on Empty: A Guide to Finding Your Voice by Natalie Goldberg (Amazon) Natalie Goldberg Amazon Author Page Natalie Goldberg on Facebook Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Lev Grossman, spoke to me about his tenure at Time magazine, how The Magicians poked holes in Narnia and Potter, and reimagining a legend with THE BRIGHT SWORD: A Novel of King Arthur. Lev Grossman is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Magicians trilogy—The Magicians, The Magician King, and The Magician's Land—which has been published in 30 countries and adapted as a TV show that ran for five seasons on SYFY. His latest novel is THE BRIGHT SWORD: A Novel of King Arthur, named a Best Summer Read by The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Time, Vulture, Esquire, Boston Globe, Elle, Town & Country, Seattle Times, New York Post, Lit Hub, and many others. George R. R. Martin, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Game of Thrones said of the book, “If you love King Arthur as much as I do, you'll love Lev Grossman's The Bright Sword, a fresh and engrossing take on the Matter of Britain featuring a colorful cast of Round Table knights who don't often get as much story time as they deserve. The creator of The Magicians has woven another spell.” Lev has written two critically acclaimed novels for children, and the screenplay for the movie The Map of Tiny Perfect Things, a finalist for the Critic's Choice awards (based on his short story). He also worked as a staff writer at Time magazine, and has written essays and articles for Vanity Fair, the Believer, the Village Voice, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Salon, Slate, Wired, Entertainment Weekly, Buzzfeed, NPR, and many others.  [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Lev Grossman and I discussed:  How he talked his way into writing for Time magazine The evolution of his career from journalist to novelist Breaking through with middle-grade fantasy and The Magicians How he “got into the weeds” with his latest Arthurian tome World-building for streaming vs. collaborating on the graphic novel And a lot more! Show Notes: levgrossman.com The Bright Sword: A Novel of King Arthur by Lev Grossman (Amazon) Lev Grossman Amazon Author Page Lev Grossman on Facebook Lev Grossman on Instagram Lev Grossman on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lauded debut author, Isabel Banta, spoke to me about working at Books Are Magic with Emma Straub, her love of Britney Spears, and capturing Y2K era pop superstardom in her debut novel HONEY. Isabel Banta is a writer, book publicist, and indie bookseller at Books Are Magic in Brooklyn. Her debut novel is HONEY, named a 'GMA' Buzz Pick and described as “...a coming-of-age story about a pop star in the late '90s and early 2000s who's determined to find and claim her own identity.” Honey was named a best book of the summer by PEOPLE, ELLE, PureWow and Our Culture, as well as a Goodreads Editor's Choice and IndieNext Pick. New York Times bestselling author Emma Straub said of the book, "Honey is a sexy swagger of a debut." LitHub named it one of 18 Books to Read this Summer, “A delightfully bubblegum novel of hot summer nostalgia that also lands some serious blows to the patriarchal mores of a cultural milieu we still haven't fully shaken off.” [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Isabel Banta and I discussed:  Why she loves talking about and promoting other writers The surreality of finally publishing her own book How she approached the subject of the commodification of young stars in the music industry Why you need to pivot POVs as a novelist Her writing routine And a lot more! Show Notes: isabelbanta.com Honey: A Novel By Isabel Banta (Amazon) Isabel Banta on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Jodi Picoult, spoke with me about writing for Wonder Woman, adapting books for musical theater, and the question of Shakespeare's true authorship in her upcoming novel BY ANY OTHER NAME. Jodi Picoult is the bestselling author of 30 novels, including landmark titles such as Mad Honey – her most recent 1 million-copy bestseller – Wish You Were Here, A Spark of Light, and Small Great Things. 40 million copies of her books are in print worldwide and have been translated into 34 languages. Her forthcoming novel is BY ANY OTHER NAME (on sale 8/20; Ballantine), described as novel about two women, centuries apart – one of whom is the real author of Shakespeare's plays – who are both forced to hide behind another name. #1 New York Times bestselling author Kristin Hannah said of the book, “You'll fall in love with Emilia Bassano, the unforgettable heroine based on a real woman that Picoult brings vividly to life in her brilliantly researched new novel.” Elle called it, “[An] inspiring work of feminist literature inspired by real historical accounts.” Jodi was also co-librettist for the stage musical adaptation of her young adult novel Between the Lines (which premiered Off-Broadway in Summer 2022), the co-librettist of the musical BREATHE, the co-librettist of the musical adaptation of The Book Thief, and she is currently at work on an adaptation of Austenland. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Jodi Picoult and I discussed:  What's changed and what hasn't for women (in theater) over 400+ years? The best time to break an arm for an author How she works in cycles for her books Why her kids made her write for Wonder Woman The conundrum of a famous playwright who didn't own a single book And a lot more! Show Notes: jodipicoult.com By Any Other Name: A Novel By Jodi Picoult (Amazon) Jodi Picoult Amazon Author Page WAS SHAKESPEARE A WOMAN? – Elizabeth Winkler for The Atlantic Jodi Picoult on Facebook Jodi Picoult on Twitter Jodi Picoult on Instagram Jodi Picoult on TikTok Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Critically acclaimed author, Tracy O'Neill, spoke with me about reality hunger vs. the hyper-realness of the pandemic, writing a love letter to friendship, and searching for her birth mother in her noir-adjacent memoir WOMAN OF INTEREST. Tracy O'Neill is a National Book Foundation's 5 Under 35 honoree, and the author of The Hopeful, one of Electric Literature's Best Novels of 2015, and Quotients, a New York Times​ New & Noteworthy Book, TOR Editor's Choice, & Literary Hub Favorite Book of 2020. Her first book of nonfiction is the memoir WOMAN OF INTEREST (HarperOne; on-sale: 6/25/24) described by The Millions as “an intimate memoir written with the narrative propulsion of a detective novel” in their list of Most Anticipated Books of Spring 2024. In a Starred Review Publishers Weekly, called it “…riveting… cool, noir-tinted prose shot through with wit and compassion, O'Neill presents her inquiry as a sort of metaphysical detective story. Readers will be riveted.” Her writing has appeared in Granta, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, The Atlantic, the New Yorker, LitHub, and BOMB, among other publications. She teaches at Vassar College and holds an MFA from the City College of New York and a PhD from Columbia University. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Tracy O'Neill and I discussed: COVID as a catalyst for life change Why real life doesn't adhere to any genre Meditations on language and storytelling How her process has evolved from fiction to non-fiction And a lot more! Show Notes: tracyoneill.net Woman of Interest: A Memoir By Tracy O'Neill (Amazon) Tracy O'Neill Amazon Author Page Tracy O'Neill on Twitter Tracy O'Neill on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices