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

#1 New York Times bestselling author and two-time Newbery Medal winner Kate DiCamillo spoke with us about overcoming rejection early on, her workmanlike process, and how she stays grounded after more than 25 years in the craft.  Kate DiCamillo is a celebrated author of children's fiction, and famously one of only seven authors to win two Newbery Medals for her outstanding contributions to American children's literature. Because of Winn-Dixie—her debut novel—became a runaway bestseller and snapped up a Newbery Honor. Since then she has written for a wide range of ages, received countless awards, has nearly 49 million books in print worldwide, and been translated into 41 languages. Kate has multiple new books this year, and is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the beloved classic, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. The Chicago Tribune wrote of the author, “DiCamillo has carved out a distinct place as one of her generation’s most beloved writers.” There are popular feature film versions of some of her classic novels, including Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux, Flora & Ulysses, The Tiger Rising, and The Magician’s Elephant.  Kate is also a literacy advocate and a Library of Congress National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Emerita. [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 Kate DiCamillo, Milena, and I discussed: Why all roads lead to the coffee maker Her morning ritual and daily page counts What she tells students about being relentless How each book presents a unique challenge for her Hanging out with friend Ann Patchett at Parnassus Books Why writers need to show up every day And a lot more! Show Notes: ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/files! #squarepod katedicamillo.com Kate DiCamillo Amazon Author Page <a href="https://www.facebook

Acclaimed debut novelist Austin Taylor spoke with us about the pressure cooker of Harvard life, studying AI law in the heart of Silicon Valley, and the inspiration behind her debut set in the biotech startup world of NOTES ON INFINITY. Austin Taylor graduated from Harvard University in 2021 with a joint degree in Chemistry and English. She is currently pursuing a JD at Stanford Law School as a Knight-Hennessy Scholar, with a focus on generative AI, copyright, and authorship. Her debut novel, Notes on Infinity, was named an Oprah Daily “Best Summer Read,” a Zibby Owens’ “Summer Read,” a Goodreads “Hottest Debut of 2025,” and is inspired in part by her undergraduate studies, peers, and lab work in Harvard’s chemistry department. Booklist wrote of the book, "With a trajectory that echoes that of Elizabeth Holmes’ Theranos, Taylor's debut provides an insider's glimpse into the high-stakes Ivy League climate and the potentially devastating personal consequences for those caught up in ambition beyond their abilities." Austin is also a private pilot, a registered Maine guide, and a bassist. [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 Austin Taylor, Milena, and I discussed: What it was like to grow up on a dairy farm in Maine Writing her debut novel during her gap year How The Social Network helped her capture the "momentum and excitement” of startup life Her morning ritual and daily word counts Why bad writing days are "almost always because [she’s] not reading enough" good stuff Balancing law school and writing her sophomore novel And a lot more! Show Notes: ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/files! #squarepod austintaylorwrites.com Notes on Infinity: A Novel by Austin Taylor Austin Taylor on Instagram⁠ <a href="https://milenaje

New York Times bestselling author Jessica Knoll spoke with us about her career trajectory from magazine editor to novelist and screenwriter, the allure of dark romance, and her latest erotic thriller, HELPLESS. Jessica Knoll is the New York Times bestselling author of Bright Young Women, The Favorite Sister, and Luckiest Girl Alive — now a major motion picture on Netflix starring Mila Kunis. She adapted and executive-produced Luckiest Girl Alive for the screen. In 2021, she was named a screenwriter to watch by Variety, and in 2019, her original script, ‘Til Death, sold to Amazon and made The Black List. Her latest novel, Helpless, was named a New York Times, Oprah Daily, Crime Reads, Town & Country, and Bookpage Most Anticipated Book. Booklist described Helpless as “[A] taut contemporary tale of the explosive reunion of two former lovers… Knoll's twisty tale of psychological suspense, with its exploration of a nuanced relationship with elements of submission and control, will get readers talking.” And the New York Times Book Review wrote, “Knoll is the author of really unsettling thrillers… [Helpless] is like Misery but with your ex.” Before writing fiction, Knoll built a career in editorial journalism, serving as a senior editor at Cosmopolitan and as articles editor at Self magazine. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, New York Magazine, and Vogue. [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 Jessica Knoll, Milena, and I discussed: Writing her first novel in under ten months How she taught herself the screenwriting craft Why you need to write the book you want to read How to write “low-fat” novels The first time she understood that unlikable characters can anchor your fiction And a lot more! Show Notes: ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/files</

New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton returns to speak to me about the unknown nature of early spaceflight, watching The Right Stuff, the Artemis launch, and writing speculative fiction in her latest novel, AN INFINITE LOVE STORY. Chanel Cleeton is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick Next Year in Havana, as well as instant New York Times bestsellers When We Left Cuba, and The Last Train to Key West, among others. Her new historical fiction novel, An Infinite Love Story, is described as Interstellar meets Daisy Jones & the Six: a sweeping dual-timeline novel set against the backdrop of the 1960s Space Race, perfect for readers of Taylor Jenkins Reid, Kate Quinn, and Kristin Hannah. Booklist called it "[A] charming exploration of romantic entanglements during the Space Race…,” and New York Times bestselling author Kate Quinn said of the book, "Cleeton's most deeply personal and deeply moving book yet! As an Air Force spouse herself, Cleeton paints Vivian's agony for her husband's safety and her frustration with a system built on the unseen labor of its military wives with keen understanding and endless sympathy. Both a tender romantic drama and a fascinating deep dive into the 1960s space race, An Infinite Love Story soars as high as its astronauts." [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 Chanel Cleeton and I discussed:  NASA’s unique use of squawk boxes during the Space Race How her IR academic background shaped the Cold War framing throughout her novel Why managing reveals in speculative fiction is similar to managing multiple timelines How to write a tearjerker What she’s cooking up for her next Cold War novel And a lot more! Show Notes: ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/files! #squarepod ⁠ChanelCleeton.com⁠

New York Times bestselling author, Chanel Cleeton, spoke to me about her passion for exploring Cuban-American identity via women's perspectives throughout history, how she plots her popular historical fiction, and her latest novel THE CUBAN HEIRESS. Chanel Cleeton is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick Next Year in Havana, as well as instant New York Times bestsellers When We Left Cuba, and The Last Train to Key West. Her most recent historical fiction entry is The Cuban Heiress, described as a novel inspired by true events that “ … follows two women whose lives become intertwined during a fateful journey upon the S.S. Morro Castle—a luxury cruise liner that caught fire and sank on its way from Havana to New York in September 1934” Booklist wrote of the book, “Nothing is what it seems in Cleeton's latest gripping historical novel.... Handsome con men, clever thieves, desperate rebels, and our valiant heroines all convene on this elegant but doomed ocean liner. Cleeton includes vivid details about the mysterious final voyage of the Morro Castle and provides further reading about this historic disaster.” [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 Chanel Cleeton and I discussed:  How she turned a law degree into a writing career Why every writer needs to write a terrible first book The research process of a book-a-year writer Exploring lesser known events shaping Cuban-American culture How her characters speak to her in her daily life Why writers need to dig deep to overcome rejection And a lot more! Show Notes: ⁠ChanelCleeton.com⁠ ⁠The Cuban Heiress⁠ By Chanel Cleeton (Amazon) ⁠Chanel Cleeton Amazon Author Page⁠ ⁠Chanel Cleeton on Instagram⁠ ⁠Chanel Cleeton on Facebook⁠ ⁠Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times bestselling author and Shakespeare Professor Emeritus, Eloisa James, spoke with us about balancing literary scholarship with romance writing, leaving academia to write full-time, and her new “gothic adjacent” novel, THE LAST LADY B. Eloisa James is a New York Times bestselling author who has lead a “double life” as both Mary Bly—a Harvard, Oxford, and Yale-educated Shakespeare professor—and Eloisa James—a powerhouse of historical romance (recognized for her Regency and Georgian-era romances). Eloisa, called “a reigning queen of romance” by CBS Sunday Morning and a newly retired Shakespeare professor, continues to reinvent herself with her latest novel. THE LAST LADY B is a sharp, contemporary take on historical romance and her first foray into near-gothic storytelling—described as Jane Austen meets The White Lotus in the Scottish Highlands. Publishers Weekly said of the book in a starred review, "As the intrigue ramps up—complete with death, scandalous revelations, criminal allegations, and the potential for supernatural interference—sparks fly …" Eloisa James inherited a fascination with literature from her father, American Book Award-winning poet Robert Bly; her mother, short story author Carol Bly; and her godfather, Pulitzer Prize winner James Wright. [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 Eloisa James, Milena, and I discussed: The burnout she experienced as a professor and former head of the Creative Writing program at Fordham University Why she decided to break the fourth wall and write her latest in first person What the romance genre offers writers in creative freedom and experimentation Her Popular course on writing genre fiction “Dragons, Daggers, and Dukes” How she collaborated with co-author Julia Quinn And a lot more! Show Notes: ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/files! #squarepod eloisajames.com  <a href="https://amzn.to/4gWP2

New York Times bestselling author and Knopf Executive Editor, Jenny Jackson, spoke with us about balancing life as an #authormom, editing bestsellers, finding standalone books, and her anticipated second novel, THE SHAMPOO EFFECT. Jenny Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of Pineapple Street, a graduate of Williams College and the Columbia Publishing Course, and a Vice President and Editorial Director of Fiction at Alfred A. Knopf. Her second novel, The Shampoo Effect (Pamela Dorman Books; June 30), was named a most anticipated book of 2026 by the New York Times, described as “a frothy novel of love, money, sex, and friendship,” [about] “an ambitious young woman [who] insinuates herself into a tight-knit social set, shaking up friendships and marriages in a small seaside town.” New York Times bestselling author Coco Mellors said, “Jackson has a rare knack for capturing the intensity of old friendships and the way love, jealousy, money, and history combust until everyone is behaving (deliciously) badly.” Jenny Jackson is a prominent figure in the publishing world, having edited numerous high-profile works, including Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan, Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, and Cormac McCarthy’s final books, 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 Jenny Jackson, Milena, and I discussed: Why she has the "shortest resume in all of publishing" What 23 years at Penguin Random House have taught her How John Updike inspired her latest The number of pages it takes her to know if your voice works Why you need to reject “rise and grind”  culture and write whenever you can And a lot more! Show Notes: ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for⁠ iOS,⁠⁠ Android,⁠⁠ Web⁠ Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at ⁠square.com/go/files⁠! #squarepod www.jennyjacksonbooks.com <a href="http

Critically acclaimed novelist and entertainment podcaster, Bobby Finger, returns to speak with us about his weekly word counts, wedding DJs, Who? Weekly, and his latest beach read WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY. Bobby Finger is the author of The Old Place and Four Squares, and co-creator and cohost of the popular celebrity and entertainment podcast, Who? Weekly, "The podcast that tells you everything you need to know about celebrities you don’t." His third novel, We Are Gathered Here Today, was named a New York Times Summer's Best Beach Read. It’s described as The Wedding People meets The Celebrants, and a “...sharp and tender story [that] follows a recently engaged gay man who begins to question the idea of marriage while attending his cousin’s chaotic Wild West-themed wedding weekend.” Booklist called the book “… a perfect read for anyone confused by or suspicious of the wedding-industrial complex, which can leave happy celebrations feeling more like a second full-time job for young lovers.” Bobby previously worked as a staff writer for the culture website Jezebel from 2015 to 2018 and has contributed extensively to outlets like Vulture and The New York Times. [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 Bobby Finger, Milena, and I discussed: How his latest originally featured a death until his editor suggested everyone live, transforming it into a beach read Why he changed the book’s setting from fall to June at the`` publisher's request to position as summer release How a scene from the book became a part of the cover design The craziest thing he’s ever witnessed at a wedding IRL His next book and upcoming essay collection written with his podcast co-host And a lot more! Show Notes: ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for⁠ iOS,⁠⁠ Android,⁠⁠ Web⁠ Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at ⁠square.com/go/files⁠! #squarepod ⁠whoweekly.us⁠ We Are Gathered Here Today</

Journalist, hit entertainment podcaster, and debut novelist, Bobby Finger, spoke to me about writing for Jezebel, turning a screenplay into a novel, and his debut, "The Old Place." Bobby Finger is a writer and co-host of the popular celebrity and entertainment podcast, Who? Weekly, "The podcast that tells you everything you need to know about celebrities you don’t." His debut novel is The Old Place, described as "A bighearted and moving debut about a wry retired schoolteacher whose decade-old secret threatens to come to light and send shockwaves through her small Texas town." It has been named Washington Post‘s 10 Noteworthy Books for September, People‘s Best New Books, Town & Country’s 45 Must-Read Books of Fall, New York’s 25 Notable New Releases, Kirkus Review‘s 150 Most Anticipated Fall Books, LitHub‘s Most Anticipated Books of 2022, among many others. New York Times bestselling author Emma Straub said of the book, “I loved being inside this skillful novel—at the planning parties for church fundraisers, learning to drive with a can of beer in the cupholder, and in the heads of some wonderfully tangy old Texan ladies. Bobby Finger has built a rich world in The Old Place, and I will think of it every time I make toast.” 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 Bobby Finger and I discussed: Growing up in a small Texas town His start in copywriting and freelance journalism Writing screenplays in the margins Becoming a full-time podcaster How to write autofiction with a twist What happens when people leave, and those left behind And a lot more! Show Notes: ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/files! #squarepod ⁠whoweekly.us⁠ ⁠The Old Place By Bobby Finger⁠ (Amazon) Bobby Finger on Instagram Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram <a

Critically acclaimed debut novelist and food writer, Catherine Kurtz, spoke with us about art school, painting life, judging the International Chocolate Awards, and her delicious first book FEAST. Catherine Kurtz is a multidisciplinarian known for her parallel careers in the visual arts, literature, and culinary criticism – including as a judge and educator in the field of chocolate tasting. She is a member of the Guild of Food Writers and a Grand Jury Member of the International Chocolate Awards. Her debut is, Feast, “for fans of Chocolat (show-co-lot, haha, i need this 😂) and Like Water for Chocolate,” and described as a historical novel set at the turn of the 20th century as one young woman navigates the wonders and perils of her remarkable gift: an astonishing sense of taste and smell. Alex Hay, author of The Housekeepers called it, “A beautiful book, vivid and delicious and alive—a story of escape and belonging and one woman's extraordinary gifts, unfolding its mysteries with care, brimming with feeling and stunning prose.” Catherine Kurtz is also a painter represented by The Redfern Gallery in London. Her journalism has been published in a variety of publications including The Spectator’s Scoff, Harvest, ckbk and Celebrated Living. [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 Catherine Kurtz, Milena, and I discussed: How her debut ​​combines her backgrounds as a painter, food writer, and professional chocolate taster Writing a book for The Great British Bake Off on Chocolate Working with rock star turned chef Graham Garrett on his book Sex, Drugs, and Sausage Rolls  Why she took an art school approach to writing The editorial approach to her food-centric writing and debut cover design Her writing philosophy And a lot more! Show Notes: linktr.ee/catherinekurtzart Feast by Catherine Kurtz (Amazon) Catherine Kurtz on Instagram Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/keltonrei

Bestselling author Meg Shaffer spoke with us about paying homage to fairy tales, defending libraries against censorship, and her latest cinematic, genre-bending bestseller, THE BOOK WITCH. Meg Shaffer is the bestselling author of The Lost Story and The Wishing Game, which was a Book of the Month finalist for Book of the Year as well as a Reader’s Digest and Washington Post Best Book of the Year, and has been translated into 23 languages. Shaffer holds an MFA in TV and Screenwriting from Stephens College. Her latest is the instant bestseller The Book Witch, described as a novel that’s part mystery, part love letter to libraries and booksellers, and a direct, timely meditation on book-banning. Booklist called it a “whimsical tale of lost love, family secrets, and how books can change a reader's life” and Kirkus calls it “catnip for anyone who ever wished they could walk around in their favorite book.”  [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 Meg Shaffer, Milena, and I discussed: How she wrote a couple dozen romance novels under her real name The rules set forth in her latest book about entering the worlds of beloved childrens’ series Why the author’s writing is best when she’s having fun Channeling the iconic sci-fi writer Ray Bradbury Why "all books are kids' books if the kid can read" How she aims to make readers appreciate the books they read as children And a lot more! Show Notes: megshaffer.com The Book Witch: A Novel By Meg Shaffer (Amazon) Meg Shaffer Amazon Author Page Meg Shaffer on Instagram Meg Shaffer on Facebook Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram Kelton Reid Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://meg

Acclaimed debut author Darby Bozeman spoke with us about her journey from middle school English teacher to published author, and her debut thriller, SUMMER’S NEVER OVER. Darby Bozeman, originally from Portland, Oregon, relocated to the American South for graduate school, earning a master's degree in teaching from the University of Georgia. Before pivoting to full-time writing, she spent five years as a middle school English teacher. Her dual-timeline debut thriller, Summer’s Never Over (Berkley Trade Original; on sale June 9, 2026), is described as We Were Liars meets God of the Woods, and is set at a summer camp where a counselor died in a suspicious fire five years prior. The book was recently chosen as a June selection for the Book of the Month Club. Publishers Weekly called it an “Impressive debut…an addictive thriller ideal for summer reading.” Bestselling author Ashley Winstead wrote, "Darby Bozeman has the perfect beach read in this sinister summer camp thriller, where the paradisical woods of Dread's Cove hide not only hot bodies and cold waters, but dark secrets.” [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 Darby Bozeman, Milena, and I discussed: How she gleaned inspiration from her teaching The science of narrative writing, including tension building and sentence-level craft Why her book was pitched as “Carly Fortune writing a murder mystery” How she secured an agent and got a two-book deal Why she prefers the coffee shop to her own coffee And a lot more! Show Notes: darbybozeman.com Summer’s Never Over : A Novel By Darby Bozeman (Amazon) Darby Bozeman on Instagram Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram Kelton Reid Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times bestselling and award-winning author John Kenney spoke with us about life as an ad-man, writing humor for The New Yorker, and the paperback release of his latest novel I SEE YOU’VE CALLED IN DEAD. John Kenney is the bestselling author of three novels and four books of poetry, including Love Poems (For Married People), a New York Times bestseller. His first novel, Truth In Advertising, won the Thurber Prize for American Humor. He is a longtime contributor to The New Yorker magazine’s Shouts & Murmurs column. His most recent novel, I See You’ve Called In Dead (available in paperback June 2nd), is described as “The Office meets Six Feet Under meets About a Boy” and was an instant bestseller. The book follows Bud Stanley, an obituary writer who accidentally publishes his own obituary and begins attending strangers' funerals to find meaning of life. In a starred review Booklist said of the book, “I See You’ve Called in Dead is a witty and heartwarming reminder of the bottomless despair, limitless absurdity, and undeniable joy of the human experience.” John Kenney has worked as a copywriter for more than 25 years at Ogilvy, McGarry Bowen, and Publicis. He has created campaigns for American Express, Citi, Chevron, Heineken, and Cadillac, to name a few. [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 John Kenney, Milena, and I discussed: His past life as a high profile copywriter  10 years of rejections from the New Yorker Why he still has impostor syndrome The personal inspiration behind his latest novel Writing self-deprecating poetry Why he’s writing a memoir about rewriting his mother's obituary And a lot more! Show Notes: byjohnkenney.com I See You've Called in Dead by John Kenney (Amazon) John Kenney Amazon Author Page John Kenney on Instagram John Kenney for The New Yorker Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer <a href="https://www.in

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Ruta Sepetys, returns to speak with us about her 12 years of research, ragtime music, and the “fortune and facade” of 1920s Detroit in her adult historical fiction debut, A FORTUNE OF SAND.  Ruta Sepetys is the award-winning and internationally acclaimed, #1 New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction published in over sixty countries and forty languages. Her acclaimed “crossover” YA literature includes the Carnegie Medal-winning Salt to the Sea.  Her latest, A Fortune of Sand (available May 26th), is described as F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Great Gatsby and Amor Towles’ Rules Of Civility meets Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums. The novel follows a wealthy, eccentric family in Detroit’s booming automobile industry and includes a plot twist around stolen jewels.   A Booklist starred review called the book, “A richly detailed portrait of the glittering city and [Detroit’s] dark underbelly. . . . This will appeal to fans of Kate Atkinson’s Shrines of Gaiety and Jennifer Egan’s Manhattan Beach.” Ruta’s books have won or been shortlisted for more than 50 book prizes, and are currently in development for film and television. [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 Ruta Sepetys, Milena, and I discussed: Why she still gets nervous before every book release Finding a writing structure to mimic the volatile energy of The Roaring ‘20s Why she filed FOIA requests and worked with former FBI agents to interpret her research How she co-authored a YA historical mystery with Steve Sheinkin Why she prefers the term "investigation" over "research" Her creative fuel And a lot more! Show Notes: rutasepetys.com A Fortune of Sand: A Novel by Ruta Sepetys (Amazon) Ruta Sepetys Amazon Author Page Ruta Sepetys on Facebook  Ruta Sepetys on Instagram Ruta Sepetys on Twitter Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Review

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Ruta Sepetys, spoke to me about what she learned in the music industry, the secrets to strong, vivid writing, and her non-fiction debut YOU: THE STORY: A Writer’s Guide to Craft Through Memory. Ruta Sepetys is an award-winning and internationally acclaimed, #1 New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction published in over sixty countries and forty languages. Her acclaimed “crossover” YA literature includes the Carnegie Medal-winning Salt to the Sea.  Her latest is the creative guide to writing, You: The Story: A Writer’s Guide to Craft Through Memory (available May 16, 2023), which “... provides aspiring writers with a roadmap to crafting compelling stories by encouraging them to look inward and excavate their own memories in order to discover authentic voices and compelling details.” In a starred review Booklist said of the book, “Part writing guide, part memoir, Sepetys’ fresh, fun handbook is all inspiration.” [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, Ruta Sepetys and I discussed:  What she learned about storytelling working in the music industry Why she’s drawn to underrepresented stories and “history in hiding” How to discover the Four Hs of the "excitement of life" Her intensive research process for each book Why writers need to examine their own lives for authenticity And a lot more! Show Notes: ⁠rutasepetys.com⁠ ⁠You: The Story: A Writer's Guide to Craft Through Memory⁠ by Ruta Sepetys (Amazon) ⁠Ruta Sepetys Amazon Author Page⁠ ⁠Ruta Sepetys on Facebook⁠ ⁠Ruta Sepetys on Instagram⁠ ⁠Ruta Sepetys on Twitter⁠ ⁠Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times bestselling author, Rosie Walsh, returns to speak with us about the power of the writing community, her "work wife" Ashley Audrain, and her latest novel THE ONE DAY YOU WERE MY HUSBAND. Rosie Walsh has lived and traveled all over the world, working as a documentary producer and writer. Her two previous novels, Ghosted and The Love of My Life, were New York Times bestsellers and have sold nearly two million copies worldwide. Her third novel is The One Day You Were My Husband (available May 19th) “asks readers what—and whom—they would give up to return to a first love and to the people they once were.” New York Times bestselling author Clare Leslie Hall called the book “...a heart-wrenching love story and a mystery that shocks and surprises until the very end. A wonderful novel.” [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 Rosie Walsh, Milena, and I discussed: The ongoing "bum fight" that is the writer's life How to create addictive plots that keep readers up at night Why sometimes you have to kill your darlings for that outstanding ending What it was like to do research in Thailand Why no one understands you like another writer And a lot more! Show Notes: ⁠RosieWalsh.com⁠ The One Day You Were My Husband By Rosie Walsh (Amazon) Rosie Walsh Amazon Author Page ⁠Rosie Walsh on Facebook⁠ ⁠Rosie Walsh on Instagram⁠ Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram Kelton Reid Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times bestselling author, Rosie Walsh, talked with me about finding her voice, transitioning from romcom to "emotional thriller," and her latest, The Love of My Life. Rosie Walsh has lived and traveled all over the world, working as a documentary producer and writer. Her American debut, Ghosted, was a New York Times bestseller and has sold more than one million copies worldwide. Her second novel is The Love of My Life, described as a "...stay-up-all-night page-turner. It’s a love story wrapped in a mystery that ... [taps] into our darkest fears about motherhood, family, and trust." Ashley Audrain, New York Times bestselling author of The Push, said of the book, “Walsh’s hugely compelling THE LOVE OF MY LIFE instantly pulls you deep into the interior of a marriage. Part thriller, part mystery, part heart-wrenching love story, this is a treasure...” 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 Rosie Walsh and I discussed: Writing upmarket fiction under a pseudonym Why she starts all of her books with plot How to write a "book that breathes" What it's like to hang out at death cafes The "bum fight" that is the writer's life And a lot more! Show Notes: ⁠RosieWalsh.com⁠ ⁠The Love of My Life: A Novel by Rosie Walsh⁠ (Amazon) ⁠Rosie Walsh on Facebook⁠ ⁠Rosie Walsh on Instagram⁠ ⁠Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer⁠⁠ ⁠⁠diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Kelton Reid Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times bestselling authors and twin sisters Krista and Becca Ritchie spoke with us about their collaborative writing process, career journey from self-publishing to trad bestsellers, and the latest in their “Ritchie-verse,” DANGEROUSLY OURS. ​​Krista and Becca Ritchie are New York Times bestselling authors and identical twins—one a science nerd, the other a comic book geek—whose lifelong passion for writing has made them iconic voices in the contemporary romance world. They have written over 25 novels, including a TikTok sensation, the “Addicted” series. Their latest novel, Dangerously Ours (Berkley Trade Paperback Original; May 12, 2026), is the thrilling conclusion to the “Webs We Weave” series about a dynamic group of young con artists that tackles gritty topics such as addiction, class, and power. New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young called the series, “Fresh, deliciously angsty, and sizzling with slow-burn tension that kept me glued to the pages.” [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 Krista & Becca Ritchie, Milena, and I discussed: Their early love of sharing stories How their Addicted series went viral on BookTok 10 years after initial publication, leading to a traditional publishing deal Why they create interconnected universes with Easter eggs across series How they originally envisioned themselves as TV showrunners The emotional significance of concluding this nostalgic series with a signing in Mystic, Connecticut And a lot more! Show Notes: kbritchie.com Dangerously Ours (Webs We Weave) (May 12, 2026) By Krista & Becca Ritchie Krista & Becca Ritchie Amazon Author Page Krista & Becca Ritchie on TikTok Krista & Becca Ritchie on Facebook Krista & Becca Ritchie on Instagram⁠⁠ Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram <a href="https://www.insta

New York Times bestselling author and renowned historical fiction novelist, Kate Quinn, spoke with us about the importance of libraries, reading for mental health, and a love letter to both in her latest novel, THE ASTRAL LIBRARY. Kate Quinn describes herself as a "librarian fine delinquent turned bestseller" and is celebrated for her meticulously researched historical fiction, often highlighting resilient women in WWI, WWII, and ancient Rome. Key works include The Alice Network, The Huntress, and The Diamond Eye. Her latest, already another NY Times bestseller, is a pivot to magical realism with The Astral Library, a fantasy novel about a secret book sanctuary. NPR called it, “Engrossing, suspenseful, and authentic.” New York Times bestselling author Sarah Penner wrote, “Only Kate Quinn could give us a book this inventive, this fun, and this completely addictive. If you’ve ever wished to tumble straight into your favorite novel, here’s your chance.” [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 Kate Quinn, Milena and I discussed: Her early training as an opera singer A desire to enter the world of Narnia Taking a genre departure into magical realism and fantasy while maintaining her signature character-driven storytelling Why world-building is so important in her work  How libraries represent a living, breathing space for people and their complicated problems And a lot more! Show Notes: katequinnauthor.com  Astral Library: A Novel By Kate Quinn (Amazon) Kate Quinn Amazon Author Page Kate Quinn on Facebook Kate Quinn on Instagram⁠⁠ Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram Kelton Reid Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://mega

Award-winning Australian author Charlotte Wood discussed her journey from local journalist to Booker Prize finalist, her creative process, and the 10th anniversary of her dystopian novel THE NATURAL WAY OF THINGS. Charlotte Wood is the author of seven novels and three non-fiction books. Her last novel Stone Yard Devotional was shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize, listed as a New York Times Notable Book of 2025, Los Angeles Times 15 Best Books of 2025, and one of The Washington Post's best five novels of the year.  Now, for its 10th anniversary, comes a reprint of The Natural Way of Things, a book described as a prescient feminist fable and international classic, “The Handmaid’s Tale for our age” by The Economist, and by #1 New York Times bestselling author Paula Hawkins as “beautiful and savage.” It won the prestigious Stella Prize, the Australian Prime Minister’s Literary Award in Fiction, and was longlisted for many others. Charlotte’s features and essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, Lit Hub, The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Saturday Paper, 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 Charlotte Wood, Milena and I discussed: When she committed herself to becoming a writer Why she never starts out with a big idea The real-life girls' school that inspired The Natural Way of Things How to apply "The George Costanza Approach" to your process The career-changing reception of Stone Yard Devotional The double-edged sword of literary prizes And a lot more! Show Notes: charlottewood.com.au   The Natural Way of Things: A Novel by Charlotte Wood (Amazon) Charlotte Wood Amazon Author Page Charlotte Wood on Instagram⁠⁠ Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram Kelton Reid Instagram Learn more about your ad choices.

Bestselling and award-winning author Ramona Ausubel spoke with us about the value of low-residency MFA programs, and how to jumpstart your writing process with her latest book UNSTUCK: 101 Doorways Leading from the Blank Page to the Last Page. Ramona Ausubel is the author of five books, most recently The Last Animal which was a national bestseller and received the National Book Foundation Science + Nature Prize and was a Barnes & Noble book of the month.  She was the recipient of the PEN/USA Fiction Award, the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award and has been a finalist for both the California and Colorado Book Awards, the New York Public Library Young Lions Award, and has had multiple selections as a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice.  Her latest non-fiction, Unstuck: 101 Doorways Leading From the Blank Page to the Last Page is a companion for writers at all stages of the process, and described as a book “… about staying in love with your writing: feeling excited, mischievous, productive, and hopeful—the opposite of being stuck. “ A Most Anticipated Book of 2026 from LitHub, Kirkus Reviews described it as, “An upbeat guide to navigating the writing process . . . Warm-hearted and practical, Ausubel emerges as trustworthy companion for a writer who’s stuck anywhere on the challenging road of creativity. Generous, empathetic, and unfailingly encouraging.” Ramona’s work has been published in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Paris Review daily, One Story, Tin House, The Oxford American, Ploughshares and others. She is a professor at Colorado State University and has taught in the Bennington Writing Seminars, Tin House Writing Workshop, Writing by Writers, the Community of Writers, Bread Loaf Environmental, Writing Workshop Paris and elsewhere. [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 Ramona Ausubel, Milena and I discussed: Why getting stuck is normal and productive rather than something to fear How to fall back in love with your own work Practical exercises to help writers navigate the creative process The magic prompt that never fails Why you need to let "not knowing" to be your companion And a lot more! Show Notes: ramonaausubel.com  UNSTUCK: 101 Doorways Leading from the

Bestselling, Booker Prize-winning author, Anne Enright, spoke to me about eagles and moles, the interior engineering of a novel, her love of Irish poetry, and her latest THE WREN, THE WREN. Anne Enright won the Man Booker Prize and the Irish Fiction Award for her novel The Gathering. She has also been awarded the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Irish Book Awards, and was the first Laureate for Irish Fiction (2015-2018). Her latest novel The Wren, the Wren, was named a Most Anticipated Book of the Year by TIME, The Millions, Literary Hub, and others, and is described as the story of “... three generations of … women who must contend with inheritances―of poetic wonder and of abandonment by a man who is lauded in public and carelessly selfish at home.” The New York Times called it, "... a powerful, thoughtful book by one of the great living writers on the subject of family," and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jennifer Egan said of the book, “The Wren, the Wren is an electrifying romp through language itself―its dizzying possibilities and satisfactions―led by one the most gifted writers working in English today." Anne Enright has also published two books of short stories, her essays on literary themes have appeared in the London Review of Books and The New York Review of Books, and she writes for the books pages of The Irish Times and The Guardian. [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 Enright and I discussed:  The moment of burnout that changed her career How she used to be a night owl scribe Why you shouldn’t over-panic, or over-plan The fallacies of impostor syndrome and inspiration How to create a fictional poet out of thin air Taking a long look at James Joyce across the table And a lot more! Show Notes: ⁠Anne Enright - Wikipedia⁠ ⁠The Wren, the Wren: A Novel⁠ by Anne Enright (Amazon) ⁠Anne Enright Amazon Author Page⁠ ⁠Book Review: ‘The Wren, the Wren,’ by Anne Enright⁠ - The New York Times

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kelly Yang spoke with us about burning out at Harvard Law, navigating Hollywood’s power dynamics, and her adult fiction debut THE TAKE. ​​Kelly Yang is the award-winning and bestselling author of over 15 books for children, teens and adults, including the lauded Front Desk series (Front Desk, Three Keys, Room to Dream, Key Player, Top Story, and Chef’s Secret), New From Here, Finally Seen, Finally Heard, young adult novels  Parachutes and Private Label, as well as the picture books Yes We Will: Asian Americans Who Shaped This Country and Little Bird Laila. Based on Kelly’s childhood experience living and working in a motel as a first-generation immigrant child from China, her debut novel, Front Desk, was named "one of the best books of the 21st century" by Kirkus Reviews. Her adult debut novel, The Take (April 14, 2026), “blends social commentary with psychological suspense, set in contemporary Hollywood, that dives into biohacking, youth-obsessed culture, and the dangerous bargains women make to stay relevant at work.” Marie Claire called it, “One part The Substance, another part The Devil Wears Prada, The Take is a juicy, twisty take on aging, success, and race. Told in a sharp and hilarious voice, The Take is sure to be one of the hottest books of spring.” New York Times bestselling author Grace D. Li called the book, “Breathlessly plotted and fearlessly told, The Take is a timely, incisive examination of ambition, aging, and who gets to tell whose stories in Hollywood.” Kelly has written screenplays and television pilots for Netflix, CBS Studios, and the CW. She and Kate DiCamillo also co-host the StoryKind podcast. [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 Kelly Yang, Milena and I discussed: Why she wasn’t a great law student Teaching creative writing in Hong Kong How her desire to get her kid to read led to a hit series Her weird experiences navigating Hollywood as a baby writer On horrible first drafts and a love of revision The Shy Girl AI controversy And a lot more!  Show Notes: kellyyang.com  The Take by Kelly Yang –

Social media phenom turned author, Liz Tenuto aka “The Workout Witch,” spoke to us about how she discovered somatic healing and being courted by publishers to write her first book WHEN THE BODY SPEAKS. Liz Tenuto is a somatic instructor specializing in healing practices that release the physical effects of stress and trauma. She has a degree in Psychology from UCSB, certifications in Pilates and Reiki, 6 years of mentorship in teaching Feldenkrais by Augusta Moore, and 15 years of hands-on teaching experience. Liz has helped over 200,000 women heal from trauma and long-term stress with her viral online courses, over five million followers across platforms on social media, and over 30 million views on some of her TikTok videos. She has received thousands of testimonials from students. Her first book "Moving Through Trauma: A Somatic Guide To Healing" will be published on April 7th, 2026 by HarperCollins. It’s described as “... a comprehensive guide to understanding how trauma and stress are stored within the body—and how somatic exercises can provide a powerful tool for healing.” Liz has been featured in USA Today, BBC News, Harper's Bazaar France, MSN, NY Weekly, LA Weekly, Shoutout LA, among others. New York Times bestselling author Tori Dunlap said of the author, "Liz has helped millions of women connect to their bodies, relieve pain, and change their lives—[her] book has the ability to do the same for you." [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 Liz Tenuto, Milena and I discussed: Her journey from contemporary dance to somatic healing How she went from zero followers to owning a business with 11 employees and 240,000 students A primer on somatic healing and “bottom up” therapy Her community first approach to her practices How she breaks down advanced neuroscience into bite-sized pieces in a relatable way Why publishing a book is the opposite of social media And a lot more!  Note: Be sure to listen to the end of the podcast for a sample somatic exercise for relaxation! Show Notes: When the Body Speaks: How Somatic Healing Sets You Free – April 7, 2026 by Liz Tenuto (Amazon) ⁠theworkoutwitch.com  L

New York Times bestselling author, Emma Straub, spoke to us about the cognitive dissonance, joy, and research process behind her highly anticipated next novel AMERICAN FANTASY. Emma Straub is the New York Times bestselling author of six books for adults: the novels This Time Tomorrow, All Adults Here, The Vacationers, Modern Lovers, Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures, and the short story collection Other People We Married. She is also the author of a picture book, Very Good Hats. Her books have been published in more than 20 languages. Her latest novel, American Fantasy (Available on Apr 07, 2026), is described as “... an irresistible story about what happens when your teenage fantasy comes true after you’re already an adult.” NAMED A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2026 BY THE NEW YORK TIMES, PEOPLE, TIME, HARPER'S BAZAAR AND OPRAH DAILY #1 New York Times bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid, called it “…a fun, delicious, big-hearted book.” #1 New York Times bestselling author Rainbow Rowell wrote, “You don't have to be a fan of something to love American Fantasy, but if you've ever truly devoted yourself to a boy band or a TV show or even a series of books, you will feel so understood by this novel.” Emma and her husband also own Books Are Magic, the popular independent bookstores in Brooklyn, New York.  [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 Straub, Milena and I discussed: How an annual NKOTB fan cruise inspired the latest Writing a book about time, love, and loss and why her mom called it her "sexiest book" Why you can’t reverse-engineer the perfect novel What happened when her book appeared in Season Three of the White Lotus Hanging out at with Lin-Manuel Miranda And a lot more!  Show Notes: American Fantasy: A Novel – April 7, 2026 by Emma Straub (Bookshop.org) ⁠emmastraub.net⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Emma Straub on Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Emma Straub on Instagram⁠⁠ Milena

Award-winning journalist and author, Ellen Huet, spoke with us about the expose that set off an FBI investigation and the resultant book, EMPIRE OF ORGASM: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult. Ellen Huet is an award-winning investigative journalist who covers technology and Silicon Valley for Bloomberg News. She writes features for Bloomberg Businessweek magazine, and has hosted two seasons of the podcast Foundering… a narrative audio series from Bloomberg Technology. Her first book EMPIRE OF ORGASM: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult (2025), is about the rise and fall of alleged sex cult OneTaste, and “…explore[s] how the group's former employees and customers alleged it was a sex cult that exploited its members financially and sexually.” New York Times bestselling author Ashlee Vance said of the book, “This isn’t just a tale of one cultish company―it’s a mirror held up to tech’s dark side, so full of greed and self-delusion.” Ellen was also featured in a 2022 Netflix documentary about OneTaste called Orgasm, Inc., and her reporting about OneTaste has been cited in the New York Times, the New Yorker, the Wall Street Journal, Vanity Fair, Slate and many other outlets. Trigger warning: This episode includes some explicit descriptions of OneTaste’s practice of orgasmic meditation (OM). [This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ⁠ulys.app/writeabook⁠ to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."] [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 Ellen Huet, Milena and I discussed: Hitting the Crime beat for the SF Chronicle straight out of college The company at the heart of her investigation dubbed "The Whole Foods of sexuality"  Why OneTaste is different than many cults What it was like to finish her passion project after six years of work How to change your mindset about busy work And a lot more!  Show Notes: ellenhuet.com Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult by Ellen Huet (Amazon) <a href="https://www.i

Yale educator and TV writer/producer, Aaron Tracy, returns to chat with us about why truth is stranger than fiction, what it’s like to teach at Yale, and his non-fiction narrative podcast “The Secret Life of Roald Dahl.” Aaron Tracy also teaches “The Art and Craft of Television Drama” as well as “Narrative Podcasts” at Yale University, and his TV credits include Law & Order: SVU, Fairly Legal, and The Tap which Aaron produced alongside one of his heroes, the legendary late Rob Reiner. He is also a Creator, Director, and Exec. Producer of scripted audio dramas for iHeartRadio, Audible, and Spotify, with various production partners including: Supreme: The Battle For Roe, starring Eva Longoria (feat. Maya Hawke and William H. Macy), and Nowhere Man, a noir political thriller Executive Produced by and starring Lee Pace, with co-stars Zosia Mamet, and Chazz Palminteri. His latest production is the hit narrative podcast, “The Secret World of Roald Dahl,” a new series from iHeartMedia, Imagine Entertainment, and Parallax. Created and hosted by Aaron Tracy, it goes beyond the pages of Willy Wonka, Matilda, and the BFG to uncover the stranger truth behind the author himself. Aaron’s debut audio drama, The Coldest Case, a detective thriller starring Aaron Paul, Krysten Ritter, and Alexis Bledel, premiered as the #1 download on Audible in 2021, and has since become the most downloaded show in Audible Plus history. [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 Aaron Tracy, Milena and I discussed: How a former spy and struggling screenwriter became one of the most successful writers for children of all time His evolution from screenwriter to narrative non-fiction podcast An update on Yale’s Narrative Podcasts course in its 3rd year Exciting news about his debut novel The Honeymoon Period Why Roald Dahl was kind of a jerk And a lot more!  Show Notes: The Secret World of Roald Dahl – listentoparallax.com/shows/secretworldofpodcast ⁠How to Write a Bestselling Audio Drama with Writer/Producer Aaron Tracy: Part One⁠⁠

In anticipation of the third part in our series! Yale educator and TV writer/producer, Aaron Tracy, returns to chat with me about surviving the WGA writer’s strike, finally teaching the podcast at Yale, and his latest audio thriller on Audible, Nowhere Man, starring Lee Pace and Zosia Mamet. Aaron Tracy also teaches “The Art and Craft of Television Drama” at Yale University, and his TV credits include Law Murder in Bermuda (feat. Mary-Louise Parker); and many others. His most recent is Nowhere Man, a noir political thriller Executive Produced by and starring Lee Pace, with co-stars Zosia Mamet, and Chazz Palminteri. “Set in the mid-1980s, Nowhere Man is a dark, paranoid thriller about temptation and obsession through the prism of a profession most people don’t even know exists.” Aaron’s debut audio drama, The Coldest Case, a detective thriller starring Aaron Paul, Krysten Ritter, and Alexis Bledel, premiered as the #1 download on Audible in 2021, and has since become the most downloaded show in Audible Plus history. [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 Aaron Tracy and I discussed: Why he loves the ‘80s period pieces How his directing experience has shaped his writing Why he teaches the narrative podcast the same way he teaches Television Drama The two greatest innovations of the modern TV art form  What aspiring TV writers should be reading And a lot more! Show Notes: ⁠How to Write a Bestselling Audio Drama with Writer/Producer Aaron Tracy: Part One⁠ ⁠Yale University – Aaron Tracy⁠ ⁠Aaron Tracy Audible Page⁠ ⁠Amazon Author Page for William Goldman⁠ ⁠St

In anticipation of the third part in our series! Yale educator and TV writer/producer, Aaron Tracy, spoke with me about what it takes to make it as a TV writer, breaking into the audio drama space, producing Audible’s most successful original fiction series, and working on the upcoming “Supreme” with Eva Longoria. Aaron Tracy teaches “The Art and Craft of Television Drama” at Yale University, and his TV credits include Law & Order: SVU, Fairly Legal, The Tap, and Sequestered, a serialized thriller that ran two seasons, for which he was Creator and Executive Producer.  He is also the Creator, Head Writer, and Exec. Producer of scripted audio dramas for iHeartRadio, Audible, and Spotify, with various production partners. These include an underdog NBA story with Steve Nash, a legal thriller with James Patterson, a historical romance with Shonda Rhimes, and a courtroom drama with Eva Longoria. His first show to be released, The Coldest Case, a detective thriller starring Aaron Paul, Krysten Ritter, and Alexis Bledel, premiered as the #1 download on Audible in 2021, and has since become the most downloaded show in Audible Plus history. His audio entertainment company, Parallax, is the home for “prestige scripted audio thrillers and thought-provoking unscripted fare.” [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 Aaron Tracy and I discussed: The two paths available to aspiring TV writers  Why you need to always be pitching ideas How audio dramas harken back to the golden days of radio Landing big stars for "TV shows without the visuals" Working with Rob Reiner How to write for the ear Why the journey is the destination for writers And a lot more! Show Notes: ⁠The Art and Craft of TV Drama with Aaron Tracy: Part Two⁠ ⁠Yale University – Aaron Tracy⁠ ⁠Aaron Tracy Audible Page⁠ ⁠Aaron Tracy on IMdB⁠ ⁠Aaron Tracy on Twitter⁠ Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer⁠ <a href="https://www.instagram.com/diary_of_a

Bestselling and award-winning author, Emma Grey, spoke with us about the long path to publication, the catharsis of writing through grief, and her latest unexpected love story, START AT THE END. Emma Grey is the award-winning author of seven books, including the USA Today and international bestsellers, The Last Love Note and Pictures of You. Her newest book, Start at the End, publishing April 7, 2026, is described as a “...sliding-doors novel … that explores second chances and unwritten endings.” Robinne Lee, author of The Idea of You wrote, "Emma Grey is a talented, beautiful writer, full of wit and wisdom and brilliant observations.” Sarah Damoff, author of The Bright Years called the book “... a tour de force of honest humanity.” Emma’s book Pictures of You won the gold medal in the American Independent Publisher Book Awards. Along with The Last Love Note, it received a starred review from the American Library Association. Both books were selected for two major American book clubs, including the Book of the Month and the Target Book Clubs. Her novels have attracted multiple foreign translations deals, a TV option, and Emma co-wrote a stage musical based on one of her teenage novels, which was selected for Broadway Unplugged in Sydney and by the Homegrown Initiative in Melbourne. [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 Grey, Milena and I discussed: Why writers choose to have homework all the time  Visiting Prince Edward Island to speak about Anne of Green Gables Why every reader takes away a unique thing from your writing How her audience feeds into the writing of each new book Striving for 100 rejections a year to become more resilient The #writingvanlife And a lot more!  Show Notes: emmagrey.com.au Start at the End: A Novel – April 7, 2026 By Emma Grey (Amazon) Emma Grey Amazon Author Page linktr.ee/emmagreyauthor Emma Grey on Facebook Emma Grey on Instagram <a href="https:

Happy pub' day Elizabeth! Award-winning author and journalist Elizabeth Arnott spoke with us about her early studies of serial killers, a wild journalism career, and her latest period-set crime novel THE SECRET LIVES OF MURDERERS' WIVES. Elizabeth Arnott has written critically acclaimed historical fiction as Lizzie Pook (her maiden name). As a journalist, she covered everything from true crime to Arctic exploration and appeared in publications such as The Sunday Times, National Geographic, The New York Times Book Review, and The Guardian among others. She has described her much-anticipated latest historical crime novel as Mad Men with murders, and Lessons in Chemistry with a body count. The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives [available for pre-order and landing March 3, 2026; Berkley Hardcover], is a story that “... centers on three unlikely friends—all former wives of serial killers—and their efforts to solve a string of local killings in 1966 California.” The book was acquired in a heated seven-way auction and named one of “The Best Books for Book Clubs in 2026” by Glamour, and among “The 10 Most-Anticipated Mystery-Thriller Books of 2026” by Marie Claire. Parade wrote of the book, “... a story that feels like Bright Young Women collided with Mindhunter …. a propulsive, period-set whodunit perfect for anyone who loves early criminal profiling and Mad Men-era aesthetics with bite.” [This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to⁠ ⁠ulys.app/writeabook⁠⁠ to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."] [Discover⁠ The Writer Files Extra⁠: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at⁠ writerfiles.fm⁠] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please⁠ click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews⁠. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Elizabeth Arnott, Milena and I discussed: Elizabeth’s early obsession with the film Almost Famous Renting a flat above a brothel in grad school Her freewheeling freelance days traveling the globe for stories When her journalism career hit rock bottom The path to writing about the forgotten victims of violent crimes How to write a novel in six weeks And a lot more! Show Notes: ⁠Elizabeth Arnott on Instagram⁠ ⁠The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives By Elizabeth Arnott⁠

New York Times Notable author and journalist, Emily Listfield, spoke with us about quitting her waitressing job after her first advance, the true value of beta readers, and the rich people behaving badly in her latest thriller REASONS TO LIE.  Emily Listfield is the author of seven previous novels, including a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, It Was Gonna Be Like Paris. She is the former editor-in-chief of Fitness magazine and executive editor of Parade's HealthyStyle. Her writing appears frequently in Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, Allure, the New York Times, and numerous other national publications. Her latest novel, Reasons to Lie (Thomas February 24, 2026)—described as “Gossip Girl meets Law and Order SVU,”—is a propulsive mystery set in the rarefied world of NYC’s elite and shaped by the bonds of female friendship. Oprah Daily included Reasons to Lie among their Most Anticipated Books of 2026. New York Times bestselling author Kate White called the book,“Taut, riveting, and laced with stunning and unsettling revelations…,” and author Elinor Lipman wrote, “REASONS TO LIE is set at the kind of snobby Manhattan school I love to hate. Highly enjoyable, flawlessly written, and highly recommended!” [This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ⁠ulys.app/writeabook⁠ to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."] [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 Listfield, Milena and I discussed: Why some big ideas are best left to marinate The difference between writing short form journalism and the novel How female friendships are at the core to her life and so many other women Why she chose to skewer the world of an elite NY private school How the demands of caregiving pulled her unexpectedly away from her work  Some helpful writerly slogans you can jot down to stick on your laptop And a lot more!  Show Notes: emilylistfield.com  Reasons to Lie – February 24, 2026 By Emily Listfield (Amazon) Emily Listfield Amazon Author Page

In anticiapation of the second part in this series! New York Times bestselling author, Emma Straub, spoke to me about why everything in life is timing, how to write a book for yourself, time travel, and her latest This Time Tomorrow. Emma is the bestselling author of six novels — including All Adults Here, The Vacationers, Modern Lovers, and Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures — the short story collection Other People We Married. Her books have been published in 20 countries.  Her latest, This Time Tomorrow, has been named One of the Most Anticipated Books of 2022 by Vogue, Oprah, Entertainment Weekly, Glamour, Good Housekeeping, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Reader’s Digest, Today, Parade, Thrillist, Pop Sugar, Lithub and more. Described as "...a moving father-daughter story and a playful twist on the idea of time travel," author Michael Chabon called the book "...a beautifully made, elegant music box of a novel that sets in motion its clever clockwork of delight—then breaks your heart with its bittersweet, lingering song.” Emma and her husband also own Books Are Magic, a popular independent bookstore in Brooklyn, New York. [This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to⁠⁠ ⁠ulys.app/writeabook⁠⁠⁠ to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."] [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 Straub and I discussed: Why getting an MFA helped her slow down her writing How she met everyone in publishing at an indie bookshop  The unique perspective of Xennials How to find confidence and pages while being off-balance  Why she'd drink less Olde English if she could go back  And a lot more! Stay calm and write on ... ⁠emmastraub.net⁠ ⁠This Time Tomorrow a Novel by Emma Straub⁠ ⁠'This Time Tomorrow' is the time travel book millennials need⁠ - USA Today ⁠Emma Straub on Facebook⁠ <a href="https://www.instagram.com/emmastr

New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author, Gregg Hurwitz, returns to chat with us about his unflagging curiosity and fascinating research process, how to find your true writing voice, and his 11th Orphan X novel, ANTIHERO. Gregg Hurwitz is the award-winning and internationally bestselling author of 27 novels including the lauded ORPHAN X series. His work has appeared in 33 languages, and the Los Angeles Times called him “... a thriller giant." He is also a New York Times bestselling comic book writer, has written screenplays and TV scripts for many major studios and networks, and is an award-winning documentary producer. He has published numerous academic articles on Shakespeare, taught fiction writing at USC, and currently serves as the Co-President of International Thriller Writers (ITW). His 11th Orphan X novel, Antihero, continues to follow The Nowhere Man, “Evan Smoak [as he] takes on his most complex mission yet―one where he not only has to protect but also avenge, and find a way to balance vengeance with mercy.” The series has been described as, “All Gas. No Breaks," by The Real Book Spy, and Library Journal called the book, "A relentless battle between vengeance and virtue." [This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to⁠ ⁠ulys.app/writeabook⁠⁠ to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."] [Discover⁠ The Writer Files Extra⁠: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at⁠ writerfiles.fm⁠] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please⁠ click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews⁠. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]In this file Gregg Hurwitz, Milena and I discussed: Going on book tour and hanging out with David Duchovny How his prescient contemporary thriller plots come to be His most eye-opening research and future as a cult leader Why writing should be a version of play How fiction can be truer than truth Why writers and  readers connect more with flawed characters   And a lot more!  Show Notes: How NY Times Bestselling Author Gregg Hurwitz Writes: Part One GreggHurwitz.net The Last Orphan By Gregg Hurwitz (Amazon) Gregg Hurwitz Amazon Author Page Gre

Acclaimed debut novelist Rosie Storey spoke with us about her rejection advice for writers, chasing personal authenticity, and the "accidental catfishing" at the heart of DANDELION IS DEAD. Rosie Storey left her corporate career to finish her hotly anticipated debut novel, Dandelion Is Dead. The book received significant buzz in early 2026, including a January 2026 Indie Next selection, an exclusive excerpt on Today.com, an NPR interview, coverage from Reader’s Digest, and optioned for TV, among many others. Described as a “... witty, heart-wrenching debut that follows a woman who starts dating under her late sister’s online profile,” and a “... ‘messy millennial’ story that’s Fleabag meets P.S. I Love You.”  Booklist said of the book, “Storey's debut novel is striking, with staggeringly complex characters and messy situations reminiscent of real life…. filled with intimacy and kindness….Fast-paced but never hurried.” #1 New York Times bestselling author Carley Fortune called it “... the perfect book club book.” Rosie Storey holds a master’s in creative writing, and lives in East London, where she works as a writing coach. She is working on her second book. [This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ⁠ulys.app/writeabook⁠ to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."] [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 Rosie Storey, Milena and I discussed: How it feels to be compared to your heroes The many opportunities she had to give up the writing life Getting support and much-needed advice from her editors early on The importance of pacing for the novel Writing about grief and the societal pressures on men and women Dancing at Studio 54 with Miranda July And a lot more! Show Notes: Rosie Storey on Instagram Dandelion Is Dead: A Novel About Life by Rosie Storey (Amazon) Rosie Storey’s Rejection Advice for Writers TheNovelry.com Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer <a href="https://www.instagram.com/diary_of_a_book_bab

Award-winning author and journalist Elizabeth Arnott spoke with us about her early studies of serial killers, a wild journalism career, and her latest period-set crime novel THE SECRET LIVES OF MURDERERS' WIVES. Elizabeth Arnott has written critically acclaimed historical fiction as Lizzie Pook (her maiden name). As a journalist, she covered everything from true crime to Arctic exploration and appeared in publications such as The Sunday Times, National Geographic, The New York Times Book Review, and The Guardian among others. She has described her much-anticipated latest historical crime novel as Mad Men with murders, and Lessons in Chemistry with a body count. The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives [available for pre-order and landing March 3, 2026; Berkley Hardcover], is a story that “... centers on three unlikely friends—all former wives of serial killers—and their efforts to solve a string of local killings in 1966 California.” The book was acquired in a heated seven-way auction and named one of “The Best Books for Book Clubs in 2026” by Glamour, and among “The 10 Most-Anticipated Mystery-Thriller Books of 2026” by Marie Claire. Parade wrote of the book, “... a story that feels like Bright Young Women collided with Mindhunter …. a propulsive, period-set whodunit perfect for anyone who loves early criminal profiling and Mad Men-era aesthetics with bite.” [This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ⁠ulys.app/writeabook⁠ to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."] [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Elizabeth Arnott, Milena and I discussed: Elizabeth’s early obsession with the film Almost Famous Renting a flat above a brothel in grad school Her freewheeling freelance days traveling the globe for stories When her journalism career hit rock bottom The path to writing about the forgotten victims of violent crimes How to write a novel in six weeks And a lot more! Show Notes: Elizabeth Arnott on Instagram The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives By Elizabeth Arnott – March 3, 2026 (Amazon) <a href="http

In anticipation of the author's return to the pod ... New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author, Gregg Hurwitz, spoke with me about why all writing is a process of self-discovery, how to humanize a trained assassin, and the latest Orphan X thriller, THE LAST ORPHAN. Gregg Hurwitz is an award-winning and internationally bestselling author of 23 thrillers including the ORPHAN X series. He has been published in 33 languages, and the Los Angeles Times called him “... a thriller giant."  He is also a NY Times bestselling comic book writer, having penned stories for AWA (Knighted and the critically acclaimed anthology NewThink), Marvel (Wolverine, Punisher) and DC (Batman, Penguin). His eighth Orphan X novel is The Last Orphan, the ongoing series featuring The Nowhere Man, “Evan Smoak, a man with skills, resources, and a personal mission to help those with nowhere else to turn. He’s also a man with a dangerous past.” #1 NY Times bestselling author Meg Gardiner said of the book, "Just when I thought the Orphan X novels couldn’t get any better, Gregg Hurwitz takes the series to an even higher level. The Last Orphan is pulse-pounding, heart-stopping, and thought-provoking.” Gregg Hurwitz has written screenplays and TV scripts for many of the major studios and networks, has published poetry, numerous academic articles on Shakespeare, and has taught fiction writing at USC. [This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to⁠ ⁠ulys.app/writeabook⁠⁠ to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."] [Discover⁠ The Writer Files Extra⁠: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at⁠ writerfiles.fm⁠] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please⁠ click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews⁠. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Gregg Hurwitz and I discussed:  The reason he never took a creative writing class Why Orphan X is the culmination of his career Plot as character in motion How every writer’s voice is as distinctive as a fingerprint Writing Batman vs Bruce Wayne and villains vs antagonists Grabbing a bourbon with William Faulkner And a lot more! Show Notes: ⁠GreggHurwitz.net⁠ ⁠The Last Orphan⁠ By Gregg Hurwitz (Amazon) ⁠Gregg Hurwitz Amazon Author Page⁠

#1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz spoke with me about his secret desire to run away with the carnival, struggling as a young writer, finding his voice, the evolution of his process, and his latest novel THE FRIEND OF THE FAMILY. International bestselling author Dean Koontz was a senior in college when he won an Atlantic Monthly fiction competition. He has never looked back. Koontz has written over 120 novels, been published in over 38 countries, and sold an incredible 500 million copies to date.   His masterful suspense thrillers, which blend science fiction, horror, crime and comedy, have earned him worldwide acclaim–and 14 hardback #1 NYT bestsellers–making him one of only a dozen writers to achieve that milestone (incl. One Door Away From Heaven, From the Corner of His Eye, Midnight, Cold Fire, The Bad Place, Hideaway, Dragon Tears, Intensity, Sole Survivor, The Husband, Odd Hours, Relentless, What the Night Knows, and 77 Shadow Street). His latest novel, The Friend of the Family, is described as the story of “A girl liberated from a carnival sideshow [who] discovers her mysterious purpose in a moving novel about family, sacrifice, and transcendent love…” Dean Koontz has been hailed by Rolling Stone as “America’s most popular suspense novelist,” and The New York Times has called his writing “psychologically complex, masterly and satisfying.” Many of his books have been made into films. [This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ⁠ulys.app/writeabook⁠ to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."] [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 Dean Koontz and I discussed: What to do when you’re down and out When he realized he wasn’t a true sci-fi writer The author’s low threshold for boredom and genre-defying work Why he stays away from in-person events  Writing The Friend of the Family and the inspiration behind it Why writers need to find humor in their mistakes Having a nice red wine with Charles Dickens And a lot more! Show Notes: deankoontz.com The Friend of the Family by Dean Koontz – January 20, 2026 (Amazon) <a hre

Listen to a replay of 2025's other 3rd most popular episode (it was a statistical tie)! Bestselling author and literary agent Betsy Lerner spoke with me about being a “late bloomer,” what 35 years in publishing has taught her, and portraying mental illness in her debut novel SHRED SISTERS. Betsy Lerner is the author of the popular advice book to writers, The Forest for the Trees, and the memoirs Food and Loathing and The Bridge Ladies. With Temple Grandin, she is the also co-author of the New York Times bestseller Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns and Abstractions. Her debut novel, Shred Sisters, is described as “... an intimate and bittersweet story exploring the fierce complexities of sisterhood, mental health, loss and love.” The book was longlisted for The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, a New York Times Notable Book of 2024, and a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice and Best Book of the Year So Far, among many other accolades. Betsy received an MFA from Columbia University in Poetry and was selected as one of PEN’s Emerging Writers. She also received the Tony Godwin Publishing Prize for Editors. After working as an editor for 15 years, she became an agent and is currently a partner with Dunow, Carlson and Lerner Literary Agency. [This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to⁠⁠ ⁠ulys.app/writeabook⁠⁠⁠ to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."] [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 Am

Listen to a replay of 2025's 3rd most popular episode! #1 New York Times bestselling author Marissa Meyer spoke with me about cutting her teeth on fanfiction, working briefly in publishing, and THE HAPPY WRITER, a guide to writing with less stress and more JOY. Marissa Meyer is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lunar Chronicles, Heartless, The Renegades Trilogy, and Instant Karma, as well as the graphic novel duology Wires and Nerve. Marissa also created and hosted a popular podcast, The Happy Writer, that inspired her debut writing guide, The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond. Described as, “Applicable to writers in all genres and disciplines—from screenwriters to novelists, journalists to picture book authors, aspiring to many-times published—The Happy Writer is a heartfelt and optimistic guide that will show you the way to a happier writing journey.” Marissa holds a BA in Creative Writing from Pacific Lutheran University and a MA in Publishing from Pace University. [This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to⁠ ⁠ulys.app/writeabook⁠⁠ to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."] [Discover⁠ The Writer Files Extra⁠: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at⁠ writerfiles.fm⁠] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please⁠ click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews⁠. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Marissa Meyer and I discussed: How an overactive imagination led to a lifetime of storytelling What she learned about the author/editor relationship early on  Why optimism has always been a part of her brand How to bring more joy to your writing “process” Embracing lifelong creativity And a lot more! Show Notes: ⁠marissameyer.com⁠ ⁠The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and 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 Instagr

Listen to a replay of 2025's 2nd most popular episode! Thank you for your ears and we look forward to a raucous writerly 2026 ... Award-winning TV writer/producer turned novelist Georgia Jeffries spoke with me about why Cagney and Lacey was her film school, teaching screenwriting at USC, and the ghosts, grief, and grievance in her debut novel THE YOUNGER GIRL. Georgia Jeffries is the Emmy-nominated TV writer/producer who became the first individual female screenwriter to earn a Writers Guild Award for Episodic Drama for her work on the ground-breaking series Cagney & Lacey. Her debut is The Younger Girl: A Dark Labyrinth of Family Betrayal, based on a true crime. It was described by bestselling author Rachel Howzell Hall as “...historical fiction at its best. … [and] an eye-opening, immersive story about a family, then and now, nearly stripped bare from greed and the steadfast refusal to acknowledge a painful past.” Jeffries has written docudramas and series pilots for CBS, ABC, NBC, HBO, and Showtime and is a professor at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts where she created the first undergraduate screenwriting thesis program at an American university. [This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to⁠ ⁠ulys.app/writeabook⁠⁠ to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."] [Discover ⁠The Writer Files Extra⁠: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at ⁠writerfiles.fm⁠] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please ⁠click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews⁠. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Georgia Jeffries and I discussed: Her early years as a journalist How she received rave rejections on her first attempt at a novel Why she based her debut on true events from her family’s past The throughline of her quest for justice and love of noir fiction Writing genre-bending historical suspense And a lot more! Show Notes:  ⁠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 Instagram ⁠Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices

Cheers! Welcome to our year-end Holiday Party for 2025. How Long Did Famous Novels Take to Write (infographic)? Kafka’s diaries are heartening Why We Should Keep Notebooks (According to Joan Didion) Milena on being more intentional as a reader/writer The last chapter of Stephen Pressfield’s The War of Art and his blurb of Adam’s American Tiger Who couldn’t use 3 years uninterrupted in a cabin in the woods to finish your novel lol Revisiting “Beginner’s Mindset” and the concept of the Duning-Kruger Effect: The “Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive bias where people with low ability in a specific area overestimate their competence, while experts often underestimate theirs, stemming from a lack of self-awareness about their own deficiencies or the complexity of the topic. Essentially, you need some knowledge to realize how much you don't know; the unskilled lack this meta-cognitive ability, leading to inflated confidence, while the skilled recognize the vastness of what's unknown, sometimes leading to underconfidence.” Milena's Two Favorite Books of 2025! Milena read (or listened to) 64 books this year, and her faves all come down to language Joining up with yours truly and our favorite TWF interviews in 2025: Albom, Zang, Lockhart, Skolnick, and Jeneva (freakin) Rose lol, and a shoutout to the most popular episode of the year with Emma Knight We were named one of the “12 Best Writing Podcasts” by LARB, and won a Spotify “2025 Most Shared Show” Award [This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ⁠ulys.app/writeabook⁠ to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."] [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please

Listen to a replay of 2025's most popular episode! New York Times bestselling author, journalist, and entrepreneur Emma Knight spoke to me about finding the courage to write fiction, the Loch Ness Monster of motherhood, and her breakout debut novel The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus. Emma Knight is an author, journalist, Co-Founder and Head of Brand at Greenhouse, an award-winning organic beverage company, and co-author of The Greenhouse Cookbook (2017), a national bestseller. Her debut novel and instant New York Times bestseller, The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus, is described as a “coming-of-age story, part family drama, and part campus novel.” #1 New York Times bestselling author Carley Fortune called the book “A spellbinding debut about friendship, motherhood, first love, and the choices that bind us . . . I couldn’t put it down.” Emma Knight also has an MA in Journalism, and her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Walrus, The Globe and Mail, Literary Hub, and more. [This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to⁠ ⁠ulys.app/writeabook⁠⁠ to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."] [Discover⁠ ⁠⁠The Writer Files Extra⁠: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at⁠ ⁠⁠writerfiles.fm⁠] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please⁠ ⁠⁠click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews⁠. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Emma Knight and I discussed: The contrast of her whirlwind world tour after five years of writing Why you can only write one sentence at a time The process of removing your ego from the work Taking the same advice she shared with her daughters Why it's so much better to make things up for a living And a lot more! Show Notes: ⁠The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus⁠ by Emma Knight (Amazon) ⁠Emma Knight talks how debut novel is a metaphor for motherhood⁠ - Today ⁠Emma Knight on Instagram⁠ Kelton Reid Instagram⁠ <a href="https://x.com

Part 1 of 2 Throwback to a Pre-Pandemic podcast! Pete has some big news on the radar … The New York Times bestselling novelist, award-winning adventure writer, and journalist, Peter Heller, spoke with me about his early life as a starving poet, breaking into journalism, how he makes things up for a living, and what it's like to be compared to your heroes. Peter is a longtime contributor to NPR, and a former contributing editor at Outside Magazine, Men’s Journal, and National Geographic Adventure. He received an MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop in fiction and poetry, is the author of four nonfiction books, and winner of the National Outdoor Book Award for Literature. Heller is also a notable bestselling author of a half-dozen novels including The Dog Stars – a lauded breakout bestseller, now published in 22 languages – The Painter, and Celine (a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize that won the prestigious Reading the West Book Award, shared in the past by Western writer Cormac McCarthy). His latest novel, and Edgar Award Nominee, The River, has been called a "... heart-pounding survival story of .... two college students on a wilderness canoe trip – [and] a gripping tale of a friendship tested by fire, white water, and violence." The New York Times called The River, “[A] modern-day survival tale .... [with] the urgency of a thriller.” [This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to⁠ ⁠ulys.app/writeabook⁠⁠ to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."] [Discover⁠ The Writer Files Extra⁠: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at⁠ writerfiles.fm⁠] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please⁠ click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews⁠. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Peter and I discussed: How the author channels his fictional characters The only way to start a novel Why once you start "making it up" you can never go back Productivity hacks for writing 1000 words a day, rain or shine The importance of connecting with your  #writingcommunity And fantastic advice from other award-winning authors to help you relax and let it rip    Show Notes: The River: A novel⁠ by Peter Heller [Amazon] peterhellera

Part 2 of 2 Bestselling author and award-winning journalist Adam Skolnick returns to chat with us about the mystery of the creative process, why timing is everything in crafting a story, and his much-anticipated debut novel, AMERICAN TIGER. I am joined by my co-host Milena Gonzalez. Adam Skolnick is an author and award-winning journalist who covers travel, adventure and endurance sports, and the environment. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Outside, Wired, Lonely Planet, and Men's Health. He's the author of One Breath: Freediving, Death and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits, and the ghostwriter and audiobook narrator of the bestselling David Goggins memoirs, Can't Hurt Me and Never Finished. A frequent contributor on The Rich Roll Podcast, he lives in Southern California where he was born and raised. His debut novel, American Tiger (available for preorder now, out  December 2, 2025), “Based on true events, rooted in the stunning Southern California landscape, and populated with vivid characters, [the book] is more than a frantic tiger hunt. It's about a child's quest for self-discovery, her stoic father's struggle to come to terms with their past, and the innate wildness of every living thing.” New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert said of the author, "Adam Skolnick is a tireless investigator of the human experience, writes like a dream, and American Tiger is a gorgeous, subtly subversive yarn ringing with truth." [This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ⁠ulys.app/writeabook⁠ to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."] [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In Part Two of this file Adam Skolnick, Milena Gonzalez and I discussed: Why the journey of becoming a dad changed the scope and tenor of his novel The only way to write something great Telling his moving story from a unique point of view  The many paths to publication Receiving signs from the universe And a lot more! Show Notes: americantigerbook.com American Tiger by Adam Skolnick (Amazon) adamskol

Part 1 of 2 Bestselling author and award-winning journalist Adam Skolnick spoke with us about earning his 10,000 hours, living with yours truly in a trailer in the mountains, and his much-anticipated debut novel, AMERICAN TIGER. I am joined by my co-host Milena Gonzalez. Adam Skolnick is an author and award-winning journalist who covers travel, adventure and endurance sports, and the environment. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Outside, Wired, Lonely Planet, and Men's Health. He's the author of One Breath: Freediving, Death and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits, and the ghostwriter and audiobook narrator of the bestselling David Goggins memoirs, Can't Hurt Me and Never Finished. A frequent contributor on The Rich Roll Podcast, he lives in Southern California where he was born and raised. His debut novel, American Tiger (available for preorder now, out  December 2, 2025), “Based on true events, rooted in the stunning Southern California landscape, and populated with vivid characters, [the book] is more than a frantic tiger hunt. It's about a child's quest for self-discovery, her stoic father's struggle to come to terms with their past, and the innate wildness of every living thing.” Ann Napolitano, New York Times bestselling author of Hello Beautiful, wrote that the book,  “Gripped me from the first page. Rarely have I read a novel with such an exquisite sense of place.” [This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ulys.app/writeabook to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."] [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In Part One of this file Adam Skolnick, Milena Gonzalez and I discussed: His latest adventures and his next non-fiction book What it was like to go through a horrible dry spell as a writer The evolution of his process from non-fiction to fiction Our superhero origin story How he wrote and published a true labor of love And a lot more! Show Notes: americantigerbook.com American Tiger by Adam Skolnick – December 2, 2025 (Amazon) adamskolnick.substack.com</a

#1 New York Times bestselling author Mitch Albom spoke with us about his humble beginnings as a sports journalist, the origins of Tuesdays with Morrie, and the universal themes he explores in his latest novel TWICE. I am joined by a co-host this week, none other than The Book Babe, Milena Gonzalez. Mitch Albom is the internationally acclaimed author of 12 New York Times bestselling books. He is best known for Tuesdays with Morrie, the best-selling memoir of all time, which tells the story of his college professor, Morrie Schwartz. His books have collectively sold 42 million copies worldwide; have been published in 51 territories in 48 languages around the world; and have been made into Emmy Award-winning and critically-acclaimed TV movies. His latest novel, Twice, is described as “... a stunning love story that dares to explore how our unchecked desires might mean losing what we’ve had all along.” Time magazine wrote of the author, “Think of Mitch Albom as the Babe Ruth of popular literature, hitting the ball out of the park every time he’s at bat.” Mitch Albom is also a journalist, screenwriter, playwright, radio and television broadcaster, musician, and philanthropist. [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 Mitch Albom, Milena Gonzalez and I discussed: Learning the art of storytelling at the dinner table as a kid His past life as a musician playing nightclubs in Greece, and dive bars in NY How he didn't write a word until he was 23 years old Writing Tuesdays with Morrie and the hurricane of notoriety that followed What it’s like to play in a band with Stephen King and James McBride The different writers from different eras that have influenced his career Why you need to swim in the water of creativity as a writer And a lot more! Show Notes: mitchalbom.com  Twice by Mitch Albom Mitch Albom Amazon Author Page Mitch Albom on Facebook Mitch Albom on Instagram Mitch Albom on Twitter Milena Gon

Bestselling author and award-winning podcaster Barbara DeMarco-Barrett spoke with me about producing 20+ years of Writers on Writing, why writers don’t retire, and her debut noir short story collection POOL FISHING. Barbara DeMarco-Barrett’s first book Pen on Fire: A Busy Woman’s Guide to Igniting the Writer Within, was an Los Angeles Times bestseller and honored with an American Society of Journalists and Authors Outstanding Book Award. Her latest book of short stories, Pool Fishing, is “... centered around deviant women …. in a world with characters who live on the fringes of society-physically, psychologically, or financially”.  Barbara DeMarco-Barrett is creator, executive producer, and host of the award-winning podcast, Writers on Writing, where she interviews authors, agents, and poets. She taught at the UC-Irvine Extension, where she received a Distinguished Instructors award, and is professor of creative writing at Saddleback College’s Emeritus Institute and lecturer at Chapman University. Her fiction and poetry have been published in Coolest American Stories 2022, CrimeReads, Dark City Crime & Magazine, Serial Magazine, Beach Reads, among others. She was nominated for a Pushcart Prize for her short story, “Rowboat,” in Kelp Journal (Dec. 2023). Her essays and articles have also been published in The Los Angeles Review of Books, Orange Coast Magazine, Westways, The Los Angeles Times, Writer’s Digest, and Poets & Writers and many others. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Barbara DeMarco-Barrett and I discussed: Writing Pen on Fire early in her career Why she feeds off of the energy of the writing community How to write a noir short story Hanging out with Raymond Chandler in Beverly Hills Why you need to quit the negative self talk and be a good literary citizen And a lot more! Show Notes: barbarademarcobarrett.com  Writers on Writing podcast Pool Fishing: Stories by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett (Amazon)  Barbara DeMarco-Barrett on Facebook <u

#1 New York Times bestselling author E. Lockhart spoke with us about her past life in academia, falling in love with the YA scene, and returning to the world of TikTok favorite We Were Liars with her latest beachy gothic WE FELL APART. I am joined by a co-host this week, none other than The Book Babe, Milena Gonzalez. E. Lockhart is author of #1 New York Times bestsellers We Were Liars (also now a hit original series on Prime Video) and Family of Liars. Her other books include Again Again, Genuine Fraud, and The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks. Recently celebrating 11 years in print, Lockhart’s We Were Liars has sold more than 2 million copies, become a TikTok sensation, and remained a regular New York Times bestseller since its publication. Her latest novel returns to the world of We Were Liars with WE FELL APART described as “...an intricate, highly bingeable psychological suspense novel exploring themes of privilege, family legacy, freedom, and parental abandonment.” #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Inheritance Games Jennifer Lynn Barnes called it, “Compulsively readable to the very last page.” E. Lockhart is also the inventor of DC Comics superhero Whistle: A New Gotham City Hero. She has been a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the National Book Award and an honoree for the Printz Award. She has a PhD in English literature from Columbia University and chaired the committee on Young People's Literature for the National Book Awards.  [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 E. Lockhart, Milena Gonzalez and I discussed: The dangers of bottomless espresso How her process has evolved over the years and across genres What getting a two-book deal for a YA novel did for her career Writing the back matter for the new Deluxe Editions of her trilogy What it was like to Exec. Produce the TV adaptation for We Were Liars Getting readers to lie about her twist endings And a lot more! Show Notes: emilylockhart.com We Fell Apart: A We Were Liars Novel by E. Lockhart - Book 3 of 3: We Were Liars (Amazon)  E. Lockhart Amazon Author Page

In honor of Novel November and every writer who needs 1000 Words, I'm republishing author Jami Attenberg's interview. Keep calm and write on ... New York Times bestselling author, Jami Attenberg, spoke with me about documenting the process of being a writer online and off, building a global literary movement, and her latest, 1000 Words: A Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All-Year Round. Jami Attenberg is the New York Times bestselling author of seven books of fiction, including The Middlesteins, All Grown Up, and her recent memoir, I Came All This Way to Meet You. Her work has been published in 16 languages, she is the founder of the annual #1000WordsofSummer project and maintains the popular Craft Talk newsletter. Jami Attenberg’s latest is 1000 Words: A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round. “Inspired by [her] wildly popular literary movement #1000WordsofSummer, this writer’s guide features encouraging essays on creativity, productivity, and writing from [over 50] acclaimed authors including Roxane Gay, Lauren Groff, Celeste Ng, Meg Wolitzer, and Carmen Maria Machado.” Lit Hub said of the book, “It will be the new Bird by Bird, you heard it here first.” A Booklist, Starred Review called it “A fantastic set of essays… Readers of this collection will feel surrounded and bolstered by like-minded people who have been in the trenches.” [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 Jami Attenberg and I discussed: The blessing and the curse of knowing you’re a writer  How she built an online writing community into a literary movement Her tongue-in-cheek approach to the craft The reason she uses the seasons as a metaphor for writers How to harness the power of write-alongs And a lot more! Show Notes: ⁠JamiAttenberg.com⁠ ⁠1000wordsofsummer.substack.com⁠ ⁠1000 Words: A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round⁠ by Jami Attenberg (Amazon) ⁠Jami Attenberg Amazon Author Page⁠ ⁠Jami Attenberg on Twitter⁠ ⁠Jami Attenb