The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience (Kelton Reid)

#PodcastersForJustice Celebrated designer, Creative Director of Scribe Media, and author, Erin Tyler, spoke with me about how she overcame childhood trauma to become one of the industry's best book cover designers, why this is such an important time in publishing, and book cover fails to avoid. "My relationship with writing is a private one. It's just something that I do every day. It's almost religious for me. Some people meditate or do yoga. I write." — Erin Tyler Over her 20-year career, Erin has designed book covers for multiple New York Times bestselling authors including James Altucher, Ryan Holiday, David Goggins, and Tucker Max. As Creative Director of Scribe Media she helps manage and support "...the best book cover designers in the game ... to create unforgettable covers for authors." Erin recently illustrated and published her own memoir – The Bad One: A Memoir About Growing Up a Goat (short for scapegoat) – the story of her traumatic childhood. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. 1-800-273-8255 Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Erin Tyler and I discussed: Her cathartic journey from designer to author The glut of creative tools now available to authors Why competitive title research is so crucial to the look of your book The "visual math and emotional haiku" that go into a great cover Recent industry trends that get under her skin And why you should feel free to overcommunicate (but not micromanage) with your book cover designer Show Notes: ErinTylerdesign.com The Bad One: A Memoir About Growing Up a Goat by Erin Tyler [Amazon]  ScribeMedia.com Erin Tyler on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice The internationally bestselling author of "domestic suspense" thrillers, Shari Lapena, took a few minutes to chat with me about her circuitous path to success, how she subverts the idea of the perfect "white picket fence" family, and her unique process as a novelist. "I always just start with an idea and write chronologically all the way through to the end. I don't have a plan, but as I go along, ideas present themselves....it's all very organic" — Shari Lapena She's the author of popular "suburban paranoia" thrillers – including The Couple Next Door and Someone We Know – and multiple New York Times and The Sunday Times (London) bestsellers. The Couple Next Door was an international breakout and New York Times bestseller for an astounding 23 consecutive weeks. Her books have been sold in 37 countries and sold more than seven million copies worldwide. Her latest is The End of Her, a book that "... will have readers questioning their spouse’s past and their own judgment as well." #1 NY Times bestselling author Ruth Ware said of the book, “No one does suburban paranoia like Shari Lapena — this slowly unfurling nightmare will have you biting your nails until the end.” Note: This interview was recorded at the end of July, 2020. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Shari Lapena and I discussed: How her process starts from the kernel of a perfect murder Why she intentionally starts out not knowing the ending to her novels Her work ethic, daily routines, and inspiration And rules and no-nonsense advice to getting words on the page Show Notes: ShariLapena.com The End of Her: A Novel by Shari Lapena [Amazon] Shari Lapena Amazon author page Shari Lapena on FaceBook Shari Lapena on Instagram Shari Lapena on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter #PodcastersForJustice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice The bestselling, award-winning novelist, Aris Janigian, had a candid conversation with me about the recently "mandated dystopia," his circuitous path to bestselling author, the city as muse, and what it means to be a transgressive writer. “As a cognitive social psychologist, I can tell you without any hesitation that the human mind really is built for deception.” – Aris Janigian The author of six novels (all without traditional representation), critics hailed his 2012 novel This Angelic Land – set during the 1992 Los Angeles Riots – as "today's necessary book," and his novel Waiting for Lipchitz at Chateau Marmont, spent 17 weeks on the Los Angeles Times bestseller list. Janigian holds a PhD in psychology from the Claremont Graduate School and was formerly Senior Professor of Humanities at the Southern California Institute of Architecture. He was a finalist for Stanford University's William Saroyan Fiction Prize and has been a contributing writer to West, the Los Angeles Times Sunday magazine. The second book of Janigian's Waiting for... trilogy, Waiting for Sophia at Shutters on the Beach, "... is a satirical mashup of Nabokov's Lolita and Dostoevsky's Notes from the Underground." The book has be described as "... an unflinching, deadly serious ... tragic-comic view of male sexuality in the era of #metoo." *Note: This interview was recorded at the beginning of May, 2020. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Aris Janigian and I discussed: The life of a lazy author Why graduate school corrupts good writers Wisdom on the importance of mentorship How the cruel mistress of Los Angeles plays a character in his works The self-censorship of academia And why life is the best teacher Show Notes: ArisJanigian.com Waiting for Sophia at Shutters on the Beach by Aris Janigian [Amazon] Aris Janigian Amazon author page “When the Lunatics Run the Asylum: On Aris Janigian’s “Waiting for Sophia at Shutters on the Beach” - LA Review of Books "Governors should trust mayors and county officials on reopening. California shows why." - Washington Post Aris Janigian on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter #PodcastersForJustice Anti-racism Resources Donate to any of the following: Minnesota Freedom Fund Black Visions Collective Campaign Zero Black Lives Matter Podcasts to subscribe to: 1619 (New York Times) About Race Code Switch (NPR) Intersectionality Matters! hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast Pod For The Cause (from The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights) Pod Save the People (Crooked Media) Seeing White Articles to read: "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Don’t understand the protests? What you’re seeing is people pushed to the edge" | Los Angeles Times 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Award-winning, neo-noir novelist and short story writer, S. A. Cosby, took time to speak with me about his pulp fiction influences, the hard work that went into his 10-year overnight success, and the cinematic timbre of his writing voice. "Writing is like telling yourself a joke for nine months ... and hoping that everybody else gets the punchline."—S. A. Cosby S.A. Cosby's short story, "The Grass Beneath My Feet," won an Anthony Award for Best Short Story, 2019, and his short fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies and magazines. His latest, Blacktop Wasteland, is a reinvention of the noir genre described as "...Ocean’s Eleven meets Drive, with a Southern noir twist ... [the] story of a man pushed to his limits by poverty, race, and his own former life of crime.” Already an Amazon bestseller, the book has received extraordinary trade coverage -- starred reviews, a cover with ALA Booklist, an interview at Publishers Weekly -- and has a bevy of early supporters including legends of the genre Walter Mosley, Dennis Lehane, and Lee Child. “Sensationally good—new, fresh, real, authentic, twisty, with characters and dilemmas that will break your heart. More than recommended.”—Lee Child, bestselling author Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file S. A. Cosby and I discussed: How he amassed such critical acclaim from his heroes The $1 paperbacks that influenced his writing How early advice helped him "go to where the people are" Why he wanted to incorporate the modern, rural, Black Southern experience into his writing The many films that shaped his cinematic prose And how to develop a thick skin, stand up for your work, and defend your dreams! Show Notes: How NY Times Bestselling Novelist S. A. Cosby Writes: Part Two Blacktop Wasteland: A Novel by S. A. Cosby [Amazon] S. A. Cosby Amazon author page  S. A. Cosby on Facebook S. A. Cosby on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter #PodcastersForJustice Anti-racism Resources Donate to any of the following: Minnesota Freedom Fund Black Visions Collective Campaign Zero Black Lives Matter Podcasts to subscribe to: 1619 (New York Times) About Race Code Switch (NPR) Intersectionality Matters! hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast Pod For The Cause (from The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights) Pod Save the People (Crooked Media) Seeing White Articles to read: "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Don’t understand the protests? What you’re seeing is people pushed to the edge" | Los Angeles Times 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this file the award-winning, New York Times bestselling narrative nonfiction author, Andrew Maraniss, returned to chat about what it was like to grow up around so many famous journalists, why he chooses to weave social issues into sports history, and some age-old wisdom on how to beat writer's block. "Just get started.” – Andrew Maraniss Andrew is the son of Pulitzer Prize winning Washington Post journalist and author, David Maraniss, so it's no surprise that he has writing in his blood (and a touch of impostor syndrome). His winding path to bestseller started out as a history writing assignment at Vanderbilt University that only years later became his award-winning book Strong Inside: Perry Wallace and the Collision of Race and Sports in the South. His lauded basketball biography went on to become a bestseller, and received the 2015 Lillian Smith Book Award for civil rights and the RFK Book Awards’ Special Recognition Prize for social justice, the first sports-related book to ever receive either honor. The author's latest, Games of Deception: The True Story of the First U.S. Olympic Basketball Team at the 1936 Olympics in Hitler's Germany, is a Young Adult title that chronicles "...the remarkable true story of the birth of Olympic basketball." The book has been called "An insightful, gripping account of basketball and bias," and investigative journalist and No. 1 bestselling author Bob Woodward called it, "Shocking and triumphant." Andrew is a Visiting Author at Vanderbilt University Athletics and a contributor to ESPN’s TheUndefeated.com. He has appeared on NPR’s All Things Considered, NBC’s Meet The Press, MSNBC’s Morning Joe, ESPN’s Keith Olbermann Show, ESPN Radio, and many others. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And if you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part Two of this file Andrew Maraniss and I discussed: Why narrative nonfiction is so valuable in the fiction-heavy Young Adult genre The importance of embedding relevant social issues into stories for younger audiences Apocryphal wisdom on how to beat writer's block and build momentum How being related to a Pulitzer Prize winning writer might give you impostor syndrome The viral nature of basketball's genesis and rise to international fame And why the writing community and indie bookstores are more vital than ever for important stories Show Notes: Author Accelerator How NY Times Bestselling Nonfiction Author Andrew Maraniss Writes: Part One AndrewMaraniss.com Games of Deception: The True Story of the First U.S. Olympic Basketball Team at the 1936 Olympics in Hitler's Germany Hardcover – by Andrew Maraniss Andrew Maraniss at The Undefeated.com Andrew Maraniss on Instagram Andrew Maraniss on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#BoulderStrong Brooklyn-based designer, artist, and creative director, Jason Naylor, rapped with me about his mission to inspire hope, how to write bite-sized wisdom for an attention-starved world, and why "love is the answer to everything." “Be yourself, be brave, be proud of who you are, be kind, be loving, be happy, and be colorful.” – Jason Naylor As a designer, Jason has won two CLIO bronze medals and a Golden Novum Design Award. But it's his "live life colorfully" credo and independent artwork that have found him fame. Jason's popularity has grown during the pandemic through his inspiring and intensely colorful murals. Jason has worked around the world to brighten communities through his public art installations. His first book is Live Life Colorfully: 99 Ideas to Add Joy, Positivity, and Creativity to Your Life, a "...quirky, illustrated mix of inspiring words, tips and tricks, and challenges from [the] award-winning artist." You may recognize his distinctive style from his collaborations with brands including Coach, Guess, Pepsi, Maybelline, MAC Cosmetics, and more. Stay calm and write on … Note: Watch this space – I’m cooking up some extras for fans of the show in the coming weeks you won’t want to miss including the option to have episodes, extras, and added insights delivered straight to your inbox, and maybe even some Writer Files merch on the way. This week's sponsor is Neuro. Use the code WRITER at checkout for a 15% discount. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Jason Naylor and I discussed: How to create an instantly recognizable (and inspiring) brand Why a splash of color and surprise is what we all need right now His vivid tribute to the essential workers of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Why repetition is key to creativity And more! Show Notes: JasonNaylor.nyc Live Life Colorfully: 99 Ideas to Add Joy, Positivity, and Creativity to Your Life by Jason Naylor (Amazon) The Dream Room - "Fifty Hotel & Suites collaborated with world-renowned artist Jason Naylor..." Jason Naylor on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Internationally bestselling author, Matt Haig, spoke with me about how the novelist became an accidental "mental health expert," why writers need resilience, and the process behind The Midnight Library. "The only reader you're ever going to truly know ... is yourself." – Matt Haig Matt's the author of 20 books including the #1 bestselling memoir, Reasons to Stay Alive, five novels – including How to Stop Time – and several award-winning children’s books. His work has been translated into over 40 languages. His latest novel is The Midnight Library, a runaway, #1 bestseller and reader favorite of 2020. It was a Goodreads Choice Awards Best Fiction Book of 2020, a Best Book of the Year by The Washington Post, Amazon, the New York Public Library, among many others. The New York Times said of the book, "An absorbing ... vision of limitless possibility, of new roads taken, of new lives lived, of a whole different world available to us somehow, somewhere, [perhaps] exactly what’s wanted in these troubled and troubling times.” Stay calm and write on … **Audio excerpted courtesy Penguin Random House Audio from The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, read by Carey Mulligan. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Matt Haig and I discussed: His superhero origins and the blog post that became a book How to write "like no one's watching" Inconsistent routines and the power of deadlines Why writers need to surprise themselves How he got Carey Mulligan to record his audiobook And more! Show Notes: MattHaig.com The Midnight Library: A Novel by Matt Haig (Amazon) Matt Haig Amazon author page On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King Matt Haig on Instagram Matt Haig on Facebook Matt Haig on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times bestselling author and productivity expert, John Zeratsky, made time to chat with me about his mission to help you improve your focus, find greater meaning in your work, and get more out of each day. “All of the old structures and routines are gone.... When we have a schedule for ourselves ... that becomes scaffolding we can stand on, we're free to focus.” — John Zeratsky John studied journalism in college and has spent over 15 years as a designer for tech companies like YouTube and Google. He was also Google Ventures's in-house copywriter, editor, and content strategist. At Google Ventures, he helped develop the design sprint process and worked with close to 200 startups, including Uber, Slack, 23andMe, and Nest. As a result he co-authored the bestseller Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days – written with fellow "Time Dork" Jake Knapp. But they're by no means run-of-the-mill productivity experts, as you'll soon hear. Their latest collaboration is Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day a book described by the bestselling author of The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg, as "A charming manifesto [and] do-it-yourself guide to building smart habits that stick. If you want to achieve more (without going nuts), read this book." Seems only fitting at a time when many of us are WFH (working from home), experiencing cabin fever (or worse), and questioning the future of work itself (i.e. "going nuts"). John is a keynote speaker whose writing has been published by The Wall Street Journal, TIME, Harvard Business Review, Wired, Fast Company, and many other publications. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file John Zeratsky (JZ – no not that Jay-Z) and I discussed: Why your smartphone saps your energy, focus, and attention The origins of the "distraction-free" mindset How to rethink your definition of time Why now is the best time to write that novel Sustainable ways to tune out during a pandemic Why storytelling is still the universal solvent And the importance of recharging your soul Show Notes: MakeTime.blog JohnZeratsky.com Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky [Amazon] John Zeratsky Amazon author page John Zeratsky on LinkedIn John Zeratsky on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Celebrated author, Walter Mosley, took a timeout to chat with me about how he didn't write a sentence he liked until age 35, the sprawling muse of Los Angeles, and his conflicted feelings after winning a big National Book Award. “Write your truth, and believe in it. And if your mother doesn’t like it ... too bad.” – Walter Mosley Walter is the first Black man to receive the National Book Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters for lifetime achievement in writing. The critically acclaimed author, playwright, screenwriter, and producer has written over 60 books including fiction (literary, mystery, and science fiction), writing guides, memoir, a YA novel, has won dozens of prestigious awards (including an Emmy), and been translated into 25 languages. His bestselling historical mysteries feature infamous, hard-boiled detective "Easy" Rawlins, a black PI living in the Watts neighborhood of LA. Blood Grove (Easy Rawlins Book 15) is the latest in that series and described as "... a novel of vast scope and intimate insight, and a soulful call for justice by any means necessary." Walter's work has also been adapted for film and TV including Devil in a Blue Dress (starring Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle and Jennifer Beals) and the HBO production of Always Outnumbered (starring Laurence Fishburne and Natalie Cole). Stay calm and write on ... Discover The Writer Files Extra You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app! As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey. Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox Preview a sample of a podcast at the break from this week's sponsor Look Closer: The Found Fiction Podcast, more at foundfiction.org. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Walter Mosley and I discussed: His winding career path How the apex of post-hippie Los Angeles, California affected his writing What it was like to work with the late, Oscar-nominated filmmaker John Singleton (Boyz N the Hood) Why you need to read your drafts out loud And more! Show Notes: WalterMosley.com Blood Grove (Easy Rawlins Book 15) by Walter Mosley (Amazon) Walter Mosley Amazon author page Writing Los Angeles: A Literary Anthology: A Library of America Special Publication (Amazon) Roger Zelazny Amazon author page Walter Mosley on Facebook Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bonus Episode – Climate Edition: Award-winning investigative journalist and Executive Podcast Producer, Amy Westervelt, spoke to me about her accidental career in climate accountability, the greatest threat to free speech, and her deep dive into the origins of climate denial. Amy Westervelt is an independent investigative climate journalist who has been on the climate beat for more than 20 years, reporting for a wide range of outlets over the years, including Inside Climate News, The Guardian, The Nation, The Intercept, NPR, and many others. She is the Executive Producer of the independent podcast production company Critical Frequency, and in 2021, she helped produce This Land S2—an investigative podcast revealing the forces behind efforts to unravel tribal sovereignty in the U.S.— nominated for a Peabody Award in April 2022. In 2020 she produced Unfinished: Short Creek with Stitcher which was named a best podcast of the year by The New Yorker and The Atlantic She also hosted her award-winning climate podcast Drilled, a Critical Frequency original, and was most recently awarded Covering Climate Now's Journalist of the Year Award 2023, a global journalism collaboration co-founded by Columbia Journalism Review, The Nation, and others. [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 Amy Westervelt and I discussed: Why journalists and protesters are being jailed for speaking out How the early days of climate denialism set the tone for our current dilemma  How to record a hit podcast in your car while your kids sleep Why we need climate fiction storytellers now more than ever And a lot more! Show Notes: Drilled.media Amy Westervelt on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times bestselling creative nonfiction author, Michael Tougias, joined me to talk about how he translated his success in the true survival genre for younger audiences, his unique research processes, and how he captures the "... heroism and humanity of people on life-saving missions..." during maritime disasters. "You've interviewed these people that have lost loved ones ... They're counting on you to tell the story right, and ... as an author you really do feel that pressure." – Michael Tougias Michael has written or co-written 29 books in a multitude of genres, including history, and humor, but found the most success with his popular true survival, creative nonfiction. He's the author of the bestseller The Finest Hours (now a motion picture from Disney starring Chris Pine and Casey Affleck), and Ten Hours Until Dawn (named an Editor's Choice by ALA and praised by Booklist as "the best story of peril at sea since The Perfect Storm"). With his latest "True Rescue Series" – adapted from his popular disaster at sea tales for YA and middle-grade audiences – Tougias is now on a mission to "... ignite the reading passion that he had as a student in young adults." The most recent is Into the Blizzard: Heroism at Sea During the Great Blizzard of 1978, an adaptation of Tougias’ adult book Ten Hours Until Dawn, called “A blockbuster account of tragedy at sea,” by The Providence Journal. The Amazon Best Book of the Month was described by Kirkus Reviews as a "riveting" book that, "Reads like a thriller, suspenseful and ultimately tragic." ** Note: This interview was recorded before the Coronavirus pandemic. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Michael Tougias and I discussed: How he was a "late bloomer" who dreamt of a full-time writing career Why he recommends public speaking for any author or aspiring writer The intense and sometimes heartbreaking research that goes into his true survival and rescue stories Why he likes to always have two projects going at once His take on writer's block, persistence, and why "you can't edit a blank page" And much more ... Show Notes: MichaelTougias.com Into the Blizzard: Heroism at Sea During the Great Blizzard of 1978 [The Young Readers Adaptation] (True Rescue Series) by Michael Tougias [Amazon] Ten Hours Until Dawn by Michael Tougias [Amazon] Michael Tougias' Amazon Author Page Michael Tougias on Facebook Michael Tougias on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice New York Times bestselling and award-winning novelist, Elizabeth George, spoke to me about her exacting research, the discipline of psychological suspense, and interweaving cultural issues into her latest, Something to Hide. Dubbed "an essential writer of popular fiction today” Elizabeth is the recipient of the Anthony Award, the Agatha Award, France’s Grand Prix [graan pree] di Literature, and has been twice nominated for the Edgar Award.  She's best known as the author of the Lynley mystery series that was adapted into the lauded PBS/BBC show – "The Inspector Lynley Mysteries" series – currently streaming on Amazon Prime and others. Her latest, Something to Hide: A Lynley Novel, marks the 21st in that series. The New York Times Book Review called it, "... another intelligent, intricate mystery starring Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley of New Scotland Yard.” Elizabeth is also a philanthropist who, through The Elizabeth George Foundation, "... makes grants to writers and to organizations benefiting disadvantaged youth, particularly in the area of the arts." 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 Elizabeth George and I discussed: Why she approaches the writing craft with the same discipline and perseverance she had as a teacher  How to structure a mystery layer by layer Understanding the editorial process and learning to be a more efficient writer The foundation of any great novel, her secret hacks ... And a lot more!  Show Notes: ElizabethGeorgeOnline.com ElizabethGeorgeFoundation.org Something to Hide: A Lynley Novel by Elizabeth George (Amazon) Mastering the Process by Elizabeth George (Amazon) Elizabeth George Author Page (Amazon) Elizabeth George on Facebook Elizabeth George on Instagram Elizabeth George on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice This week four women with several combined decades of experience in the writing and publishing industries joined me for a roundtable to talk about ... How the last two years have changed how writers and publishers approach their business/craft The difficulties of getting an indie book on the New York Times bestsellers list Self vs. traditional publishing pathways and distribution models How fast do you need to go, speedboat or yacht? Hybrid models for writers Trends for 2022 And resources for aspiring scribes Guests: Angela Engel has more than two decades of experience in sales strategy and business development for companies like Chronicle Books, Dwell Studio, and Moleskine. Angela Engel launched The Collective Book Studio a woman-owned publisher transforming content into beautiful books. thecollectivebook.studio IG: thecollectivebookstudio ibpa-online.org Publishers Marketplace Publisher's Weekly Shelf Awareness Award-winning author Jennifer Irwin’s debut novel, A Dress the Color of the Sky, was published in 2017 and has received rave reviews, won seven book awards, and was optioned for a feature film. jenniferirwinauthor.com A Dress the Color of the Sky by Jennifer Irwin [Amazon Affiliate] - https://amzn.to/3GXlBm7 womensfictionwriters.org nanowrimo.org Richmond-based publisher Kimberley Wells Eley of KWE Publishing, signed an agreement with Morgan James Publishing as an Imprint, opening new doors and possibilities for all her authors. KWE Publishing LLC IG: kwepub morgan-james-publishing.com Women In Publishing Summit Award-winning author & Book Coach Dallas Woodburn is the debut author of the novel The Best Week That Never Happened. A former John Steinbeck Fellow in Creative Writing and a current San Francisco Writers Grotto Fellow, her work has been honored with the Cypress & Pine Short Fiction Award, the international Glass Woman Prize, second place in the American Fiction Prize, and four Pushcart Prize nominations dallaswoodburnauthor.com writeonbooks.org Overflowing Bookshelves podcast Thriving Authors Academy Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators [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] Stay calm and write on ... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Award-winning short story writer and novelist, Kim Fu, spoke to me about speculative vs. science fiction, how to critique the future, and her collection Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century. Kim is the author of two novels and a collection of poetry. Her novel For Today I Am a Boy won the Edmund White Award for Debut Fiction and was a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award, and a New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice.  Her debut story collection, Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century, has been described as "12 unforgettable tales [where] the strange is made familiar and the familiar strange...." It was named a Most Anticipated Book of the Year at LitHub, Electric Lit, Kirkus, The Rumpus and CBC Books, as well as a BuzzFeed and WIRED Pick for a Book You Need to Read This Winter. Kim’s writing has appeared in Granta, the Atlantic, the New York Times, Hazlitt, and the TLS. 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 Kim Fu and I discussed: The challenges of the transition from realism to speculative short stories A criticism of the Metaverse and her love of video games How she channeled the fear and dread of our current dystopia Why she writes in 12-hour sprints The power of pop-up Zoom accountability groups And a lot more!  Show Notes: Kim-Fu.com Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century by Kim Fu (Amazon Affiliate) How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu (Amazon Affiliate) Review: 'Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century,' by Kim Fu Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Critically acclaimed, internationally bestselling novelist, Stephanie Wrobel, spoke to me about her humble beginnings as a copywriter, turning her thesis into a bestseller, and the process of writing This Might Hurt. Stephanie is the author of Darling Rose Gold, an instant bestseller of 2020 that received rave reviews, and was nominated for multiple awards, including the Edgar Award for Best First Novel. Her follow-up is This Might Hurt, described as "...a dark, thrilling novel about two sisters—one trapped in the clutches of a cult, the other in a web of her own lies." New York Times bestselling author of The Push, Ashley Audrain said of the book, "... [a gripping] clever exploration of fear and vulnerability right until the flawless ending—one you’ll most certainly want to talk about.” Stephanie has an MFA from Emerson College and has had short fiction published in the Bellevue Literary Review. 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 Stephanie Wrobel and I discussed: The challenges of writing "the second novel" Researching real-life cults  How she writes a chapter-a-day instead of using word counts Why she loathes the idea of standing desks How to rediscover your love of writing  And a lot more! Show Notes: StephanieWrobel.com This Might Hurt by Stephanie Wrobel (Amazon Affiliate) An author-curated playlist inspired by Stephanie Wrobel's This Might Hurt - Spotify Stephanie Wrobel on Twitter (@stephwrobel) Stephanie Wrobel on Instagram (@stephaniewrobel) Stephanie Wrobel on Facebook Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, C.J. Box, spoke to me about his early years as a small-town reporter, how to write a novel in 3-4 months, and his latest Joe Pickett book, Shadows Reel. C.J. is the author of 30+ novels including 22 Joe Pickett novels, seven stand-alone novels, including The Bitterroots; and the story collection Shots Fired. Over ten million copies of his books have been sold in the U.S. and abroad.  He has won the Edgar, Anthony, a French Prix Calibre.38 and was awarded the 2016 Western Heritage Award for Literature by the National Cowboy Museum, to name only a few.  His latest in the Joe Pickett series is Shadows Reel, and Kirkus said of the book “Joe’s 22nd adventure continues to give good value. Old-school Nazis, newfangled terrorists, Big Sky country—it’s all here.” His books have been translated into 30 languages and two TV series based on his novels are in production (BIG SKY on ABC and JOE PICKETT on Spectrum Originals). He is an Executive Producer for both series. 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 C.J. Box and I discussed: His 20-year, overnight success Why Game Wardens in Wyoming meet more bad guys How to write two books in one The unique research and meticulous plotting that goes into his novels Why he takes time to pay it forward for his fellow scribes Puffing cigars with Mark Twain And a lot more! Show Notes: cjbox.net Shadows Reel (A Joe Pickett Novel Book 22) by C.J. Box (Amazon Affiliate) C.J. Box Author Page (Amazon) C.J. Box on Facebook C.J. Box on Instagram C.J. Box on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice The bestselling author and educator, Jennifer Close, spoke with me about writing her first book on unemployment, how to write a novel in 12 weeks, and her latest, "Marrying the Ketchups."   Jennifer is the bestselling author of Girls in White Dresses, The Smart One, and The Hopefuls. Her latest is Marrying the Ketchups (available from Knopf | April 26, 2022), described as a "comedy of manners about three generations of a Chicago restaurant family," and "... a love letter to shared meals and to the family-owned restaurants we all keep coming back to." Jennifer has an M.F.A. in Fiction from The New School and currently teaches creative writing at Catapult. She worked in New York in print magazines for many years and has taught creative writing at George Washington University. 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 Jennifer Close and I discussed: How writers can use fear as a motivator Why actually "marrying the ketchups" is a little gross What workshopping a novel from start to finish can do for you The difference between scheduling for time vs. word count Why writing doesn't always look like writing And a lot more! Show Notes: Marrying the Ketchups: A novel by Jennifer Close (Amazon Affiliate) Jennifer Close Amazon Author Page (Amazon Affiliate) Let's Not Do that Again by Grant Ginder (Amazon Affiliate) Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott (Amazon Affiliate) 12-Week Novel Draft Generator w/ Instructor Jennifer Close Jennifer Close on Instagram Jennifer Close on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award-winning journalist and acclaimed author, Brandon Presser, spoke to me about his credo as a globetrotter, the Instagram-ification of travel, and his latest non-fiction novel, "The Far Land." Brandon has a degree in art history and architecture from Harvard University, has worked in Paris at the Louvre, in Tokyo as an architectural apprentice, and in Thailand as a scuba diving professional. He has also traveled to over 130 countries, written over 50 travel books, and was awarded a Society of American Travel Writers award for his achievements in guidebook writing. Brandon's latest is The Far Land: 200 Years of Murder, Mania, and Mutiny in the South Pacific, and has been described as a "... thrilling true tale of power, obsession, and betrayal at the edge of the world. " Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks said of the book, “The Far Land swells in the cause and effect of actions of passion. Brandon Presser's fascinating narrative of the relentless consequences of the Bounty mutineers asks: were they brave or damned? They lived so very troubled ever after. You can’t make this stuff up!” Brandon currently contributes to Bloomberg Businessweek and Condé Nast Traveler and could be seen on Bravo's television series, "Tour Group" where he led a group of eclectic travelers around the world. [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 Brandon and I discussed: How the Mutiny on the Bounty became the most notorious maritime event of all time Why travel journalists are like prostitutes How to get a blurb from Tom Hanks His mixed emotions about publication day Having dinner on Marlon Brando's island And a lot more! Show Notes: BrandonPresser.com The Far Land: 200 Years of Murder, Mania, and Mutiny in the South Pacific by Brandon Presser (Amazon Affiliate) Brandon Presser on Instagram Brandon Presser on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice 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 Affiliate) Rosie Walsh on Facebook Rosie Walsh on Instagram Rosie Walsh on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Internationally bestselling and award-winning Danish novelist, Sara Blaedel, spoke to me about overcoming a learning disorder, how to write Nordic Noir, and her latest novel, "A Harmless Lie." Sara has been dubbed Denmark’s “Queen of Crime,” and is the author of the globally bestselling Detective Louise Rick series. Over 3 million copies of Blaedel’s books have sold in Denmark alone, and the author is published in 38 countries. Her most recent hit, and 10th in the Louise Rick series, is A Harmless Lie, described as a "...darkly atmospheric, deeply emotional thriller..."  A.J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author, said of the book, "Sara Blaedel writes novels as twisty as spirals and electric with intelligence. A HARMLESS LIE is a labyrinth of a mystery, dense and dangerous. Come get lost in it." In 2014 Sara was voted Denmark's most popular novelist for the fifth time. She is also a recipient of the Golden Laurel, Denmark's most prestigious literary award. 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 Sara Blaedel and I discussed: Why reading young adult mysteries were her getaway and gateway How the pressures and deadlines of journalism inform her work Inviting new readers into a long-running series Why creativity and eccentricity aren't productive to the writer's life And a lot more! Show Notes: SaraBlaedel.dk A Harmless Lie: A Novel by Sara Blaedel (Amazon Affiliate) Sara Blaedel Amazon Author Page (Amazon Affiliate) Sara Blaedel on Instagram Sara Blaedel on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Award-winning international journalist, author, and serial pundit, Adam Skolnick, returned for a mostly uncensored chat about assholes, mind-altering substances, the craft of writing, and the meaning of Jack Kerouac's 100th birthday.   Adam is an award-winning independent journalist and author covering adventure sports, environmental issues, and civil rights for outlets such as The New York Times, Outside, ESPN, BBC, and Men’s Health, among others.  He is also the author of One Breath, was the ghostwriter and narrator of David Goggins’ bestselling memoir and audiobook Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds, and co-hosts The Rich Roll Podcast, on the "Roll On" edition. Get ready, we cover some ground here and had a lot of fun along the way. Stay calm and write on ... [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] Show Notes: How to Ghostwrite a Bestseller with Author Adam Skolnick: Part One AdamSkolnick.com Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds – by Author David Goggins (Amazon Affiliate) Jack Kerouac Amazon Author Page On the Centenary of Jack Kerouac’s Birth, Rarely Seen Archival Material from His Publisher ‹ Literary Hub The Wet and the Dry: A Drinker's Journey by Lawrence Osborne (Amazon Affiliate) Malorie Kerouac on Instagram Adam Skolnick on Instagram Adam Skolnick on The Rich Roll Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrew Lipstein reads excerpts from "Last Resort," backed by an original Storybound remix with sound design and arrangement by Jude Brewer. Andrew Lipstein is a writer based in Brooklyn. His debut novel "Last Resort" is out now from Farrar, Straus & Giroux in the US, and Weidenfeld & Nicolson in the UK. His second novel will be published in 2023, also by FSG and W&N. He also works on the product design team at Kabbage, a fintech startup, and was previously at Meural, an art tech startup and his writing has appeared in Interview, the Los Angeles Review of Books, The Brooklyn Rail, The Millions, VICE, McSweeney's, The Rumpus, Electric Literature & more. Storybound is hosted by Jude Brewer and brought to you by The Podglomerate and Lit Hub Radio. Let us know what you think of the show on Instagram and Twitter @storyboundpod. Stay calm and write on ... [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] Show Notes: Last Resort: A Novel by Andrew Lipstein (Amazon Affiliate) Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Emmy-nominated screenwriter and author, Sascha Rothchild, spoke to me about her humble beginnings in LA, working with Marc Maron on GLOW, and how to write a "bingeable" thriller like her debut, "Blood Sugar." Sascha has written and produced lauded TV shows including GLOW (2017), The Bold Type (2017), and The Carrie Diaries (2013), and was named Variety's “10 TV Writers to Watch” 2015. Her long-form journalism, "How to Get Divorced by 30," was adapted into both an acclaimed memoir and screenplay for Universal Studios. Her debut novel is Blood Sugar, a psychological, noir thriller, named one of the most anticipated reads of 2022 by PopSugar, BookPage, and Crimereads.  It's described as "...the story of the most likable murderess you will ever meet," and bestselling author Samantha Downing called it “...a fascinating story, wicked sharp writing, and an unforgettable narrator .... [that] needs to be on your 2022 reading list.” In this file Sascha Rothchild and I discussed: The feeling of powerlessness that comes with publishing your debut Why she needs to wake up and write something every day How to write a novel in the gaps What writers need to know about the frustration of the craft Taking Jane Austen to high tea And a lot more! Stay calm and write on ... Show Notes: SaschaRothchild.com Blood Sugar by Sascha Rothchild (Amazon Affiliate) Sascha Rothchild on IMDb Circe by Madeline Miller (Amazon Affiliate)  Sascha Rothchild on Instagram Sascha Rothchild on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Critically acclaimed and award-winning author, Michelle Huneven, talked to me about her former life as an LA food critic, how to write self-referential fiction, and the spiritual detective work behind her latest novel "Search." Michelle's books have been New York Times Notables and finalists for the LA Times Book Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award. She is the recipient of a Whiting Award for Fiction, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and a James Beard Award for feature writing with recipes. Her fifth novel, Search, was named one of the "10 Most Anticipated Fiction Books of 2022" by Kirkus and is described as "... a sharp and funny novel of a congregational search committee, told as a memoir with recipes." Michelle received her MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and teaches creative writing at UCLA. In this file Michelle Huneven and I discussed: How she draws "psychic juice" from her fiction writing What 20 min. a day can do for your writing routine The "ground aversion" writers face to finishing And a lot more! Stay calm and write on ... Show Notes: MichelleHuneven.com Search: A Novel by Michelle Huneven (Amazon Affiliate) Michelle Huneven Amazon Author Page (Amazon Affiliate) My Antonia by Willa Cather (Amazon Affiliate) What She Ate: Six Remarkable Women and the Food That Tells Their Stories by Laura Shapiro (Amazon Affiliate) Michelle Huneven on Instagram Michelle Huneven on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Award-winning author and broadcaster, Elizabeth Day, talked to me candidly about How to Fail, hanging out with Gloria Steinem, genre equality, and how she wrote her compeller, "Magpie." Elizabeth is a novelist, lauded journalist, and host of the chart-topping podcast, How To Fail, which has featured guests including Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Gloria Steinem, and Brene Brown. Her latest novel, Magpie, was published in the UK in September 2021 and became an instant Sunday Times bestseller. Described as "... a taut, psychological suspense novel about a perfect couple and their seemingly perfect roommate...," bestselling author Matt Haig called it "...a clever, suspenseful read with a brilliant central pivot." Elizabeth was a staff feature writer for the Observer for eight years and her writing has appeared in The Telegraph, The Times, the Guardian, New York Magazine, Vogue, Grazia, Elle, and Vanity Fair. She is also a contributing editor for Harper's Bazaar. Stay calm and write on ... In this file Elizabeth Day and I discussed: How failure makes us human Cooking pasta for Stanley Tucci Why we don't call Jonathan Franzen a "Domestic Thriller" writer Writing about the struggles women go through to become mothers Booking an Airbnb to finish her book And a lot more! Show Notes: elizabethdayonline.co.uk Magpie by Elizabeth Day (Amazon Affiliate) Elizabeth Day Amazon Author Page (Amazon Affiliate) Elizabeth Day on Facebook Elizabeth Day on Instagram Elizabeth Day on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Award-winning writer and journalist, Leïla Slimani, spoke to me about the challenges of writing historical fiction, impostor syndrome, and what it's like to live In the Country of Others. “Imagination is the strongest, most powerful human capability. It allows everything: you can move in time, in space, create worlds. That’s what I look for when I write, and when I read, too.” – Leïla Slimani Leïla is the French-Moroccan author of the award-winning, #1 internationally bestselling novel The Perfect Nanny – a New York Times Book Review 10 Best Books of the Year – for which she became the first Moroccan woman to win France’s most prestigious literary prize, the Goncourt. Her latest novel, In the Country of Others (first in a planned trilogy about how women’s lives change over three generations), was named a Best Book of the Summer by Vogue, E Weekly, BuzzFeed, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Town & Country, Observer, The Millions, and Parade. Salman Rushdie said of the book, “The world of this novel—Morocco after World War II, leading up to the revolt against French colonialism—is beautifully created.... An exceptional, powerful novel from this justly celebrated writer,” and The New York Times Book Review wrote, "In the Country of Others . . . lays bare women’s intimate, lacerating experience of war and its consequent trauma.” Leila is also an award-winning journalist and outspoken commentator on women’s and human rights, and a French diplomat to French president Emmanuel Macron for the promotion of the French language and culture. Stay calm and write on ... Discover The Writer Files Extra You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app! As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey. 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 Leïla Slimani and I discussed: Giving voices to the voiceless and time traveling in your work Racial inequality and the global taboos surrounding the history of colonization The importance of coffee and cigarettes to the creative process A writer's guilt, the perils of success... And why writers just need a good glass of (French) red wine Show Notes: Leïla Slimani In the Country of Others: A Novel by Leïla Slimani (Amazon) Leïla Slimani Amazon author page Hey, Creator! Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

International and New York Times bestselling author, Tess Gerritsen, dropped by to chat with me about the role of luck in finding success as a writer, where she draws inspiration for her thrillers, her love-hate relationship with writing for the screen, and her unique creative process. “Make every single chapter feel that somebody is off balance, that something is not right. That is what propels readers to read the next chapter.” – Tess Gerritsen The award-winning author graduated from medical school at the University of California, San Francisco, and began her writing career in earnest while on maternity leave from her work as a physician. She published her first romantic thriller in 1987 and never looked back. Her books have since topped the charts in both the US and abroad, and sold more than 30 million copies in 40 countries. Tess has now written 28 novels, including the acclaimed Rizzoli & Isles series (which inspired the TNT TV series of the same name starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander), as well as both romantic suspense and medical & crime thrillers. Though she's been dubbed the “medical suspense queen,” her latest novel, The Shape of Night, is a departure in genre that Tess describes as an "erotic psychological thriller" with both supernatural and Gothic elements. Publishers Weekly said of the book, “This supernatural thriller from bestseller Gerritsen ranks with the best of her crime fiction. . . .[A] magnetic haunted house story [that] will keep readers riveted from the very first page.” And #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner wrote, "Gerritsen is at her atmospheric best in this spine-tingling tale of a lone woman, an old house, and all the secrets everyone tries to hide.” Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Tess Gerritsen and I discussed: Her winding journey to bestseller and a "ten book" overnight success Why she prefers to pen novels over writing for Hollywood Navigating the mysteries and fairy dust of the publishing industry Tricks to master storytelling in any genre The secret to writing drafts that will never get lost in the cloud And her creativity hacks for beating writer's block Show Notes: Author Accelerator TessGerritsen.com The Shape of Night: A Novel by Tess Gerritsen [Amazon] The 13 Scariest Books Written This Year Tess Gerritsen on Facebook Tess Gerritsen on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award-winning, New York Times bestselling narrative nonfiction author, Andrew Maraniss, stopped by to chat about what it was like to grow up around so many famous journalists, why he chooses to weave social issues into sports history, and some age-old wisdom on how to beat writer's block. "Just get started.” – Andrew Maraniss Andrew is the son of Pulitzer Prize winning Washington Post journalist and author, David Maraniss, so it's no surprise that he has writing in his blood (and a touch of impostor syndrome). His winding path to bestseller started out as a history writing assignment at Vanderbilt University that only years later became his award-winning book Strong Inside: Perry Wallace and the Collision of Race and Sports in the South. His lauded basketball biography went on to become a bestseller, and received the 2015 Lillian Smith Book Award for civil rights and the RFK Book Awards’ Special Recognition Prize for social justice, the first sports-related book to ever receive either honor. The author's latest, Games of Deception: The True Story of the First U.S. Olympic Basketball Team at the 1936 Olympics in Hitler's Germany, is a Young Adult title that chronicles "...the remarkable true story of the birth of Olympic basketball." The book has been called "An insightful, gripping account of basketball and bias," and investigative journalist and No. 1 bestselling author Bob Woodward called it, "Shocking and triumphant." Andrew is a Visiting Author at Vanderbilt University Athletics and a contributor to ESPN’s TheUndefeated.com. He has appeared on NPR’s All Things Considered, NBC’s Meet The Press, MSNBC’s Morning Joe, ESPN’s Keith Olbermann Show, ESPN Radio, and many others. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this file Andrew Maraniss and I discussed: His circuitous path to a full time writing career The untold story of the origins of the first U.S. Olympic basketball team and the young men who played on it Why they were overshadowed by the atmosphere surrounding the Berlin Olympic Games in Nazi Germany The importance of this story (and so many stories like it) in today’s political climate Show Notes: Author Accelerator How NY Times Bestselling Nonfiction Author Andrew Maraniss Writes: Part Two AndrewMaraniss.com Games of Deception: The True Story of the First U.S. Olympic Basketball Team at the 1936 Olympics in Hitler's Germany Hardcover – by Andrew Maraniss Andrew Maraniss at The Undefeated.com Andrew Maraniss on Instagram Andrew Maraniss on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award-winning writer and debut novelist, Abbigail N. Rosewood, joined me to discuss the roller coaster of emotions first-time authors face, how she overcame rejection and uncertainty, and her advice to aspiring scribes on how to rise above the noise. "Seeking representation didn't prepare me well for what was to come..." – Abbigail N. Rosewood Abbigail was born in Vietnam and lived there until the age of 12, so it's no surprise that she tapped into her past as a well for her fiction. After a false start in International Business, she earned an MFA in creative writing from Columbia University where she studied with famed fictionist Gary Shteyngart. Her lauded debut novel, If I Had Two Lives, has been described as "... [The] story [of] a young woman from her childhood in Vietnam to her life as an immigrant in the United States – and the necessary return to her homeland." The Los Angeles Review of Books called it, “... a tale of staggering artistry,” and The New Yorker said "...the novel poignantly conjures the difficulties of reconciling the present with an 'ungraspable history.'" ** Note: This interview was recorded in mid-February, 2020. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Abbigail N. Rosewood and I discussed: Why empathy is so critical in fiction and the human experience The surreal (and fleeting) feeling of holding your first book in print How she was compelled to write the story of a Vietnamese immigrant/protagonist Why rejection is such an integral part of the traditional publishing path The importance of music and coffee to the creative process And the most valuable traits for aspiring writers Show Notes: abbigailrosewood.com If I Had Two Lives – by Abbigail N. Rosewood [Amazon] Abbigail N. Rosewood on Facebook Abbigail N. Rosewood on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award-winning actress, comedian, and screenwriter, Jorjeana Marie, took a break to talk with me about fulfilling her childhood dream of writing for Disney, how writers can rewire their inner-critic, improv as a writing (and life) philosophy, and secrets for beating block and creating countless ideas. “In improv the philosophy is, there are no mistakes.” – Jorjeana Marie The talented multi-hyphenate storyteller started out writing and producing plays during her stint at NYU's Dramatic Writing Program, and has gone on to write for several animated television shows, including a popular kids' series for Disney. Jorjeana is also an actress with extensive film and TV experience, as well as a prolific, award-winning audiobook narrator who has voiced over 300 titles for multiple NY Times bestsellers. She writes and performs comedy regularly on stage at UCB, The Improv, and The Comedy Store, and teaches improvisation to students across the country, including at studios in Hollywood where she's coached writers of all genres. Her recent book, Improv for Writers: 10 Secrets to Help Novelists and Screenwriters Bypass Writer’s Block and Generate Infinite Ideas is aimed at "...Aspiring and professional writers, novelists, screenwriters ... suffering from writer’s block and even those new to the craft." New York Times bestselling author Gayle Forman said of the book, “Jorjeana Marie’s generous, joyful, and oh-so-useful book shows writers—both seasoned and new—how to unleash their creativity and find their best story.” This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page.   If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this file Jorjeana Marie and I discussed: How to use improv to quickly generate some pages What it's like to work with Dave Chapelle and go on stage after Chris Rock Why successful storytelling starts with letting go of expectations How to use time-tested methods of writing on your feet to jumpstart your creativity Why writers need keep it fun to surprise themselves And how constraints and little bit of pressure can be so rewarding Show Notes: Author Accelerator JorjeanaMarie.com Improv for Writers: 10 Secrets to Help Novelists and Screenwriters Bypass Writer's Block and Generate Infinite Ideas by Jorjeana Marie [Amazon] Jorjeana Marie on Facebook Jorjeana Marie on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this file the New York Times bestselling memoirist and journalist, Lisa Brennan-Jobs, returned to talk about her decades long journey to publication, why it's so important to find yourself in the pages, the meaning of memory, and the impostor syndrome that all writers face ... especially the kids of celebrities. "Writing can be the master, it can't be the servant of your time.” – Lisa Brennan-Jobs Lisa is a Brooklyn based writer whose father was the widely worshipped tech pioneer and entrepreneur, Steve Jobs, best known as the co-founder of Apple. Her first book, Small Fry, is her lauded memoir about growing up being shuffled between single parents in Silicon Valley during the 1980s and '90s, always in the orbit of her celebrity dad and struggling artist mom. Small Fry was a New York Times, New Yorker, and People Magazine Top 10 Book of the Year for 2018, and Best Book of the Year for the LA Times, NPR, Amazon, GQ, Vogue (UK), and Publishers Weekly. The book has been called, “Beautiful, literary, and devastating,” by the New York Times Book Review, “A masterly Silicon Valley gothic,” by Vogue, and “Mesmerizing, discomfiting reading,” by The New Yorker. This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And If you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part Two of this file Lisa Brennan-Jobs and I discussed: How being bored and uncomfortable can lead to breakthrough Why the writing process needs to be the master, not the servant, of your time The importance of not rushing to publish How the author minimizes distractions and comparative thinking while she writes What it's like to travel through time and get the things you’ve always longed for How big words can distract from the impact of your story And why you need to write the stories you thought you might take to your grave Show Notes: Author Accelerator How NY Times Bestselling Memoirist Lisa Brennan-Jobs Writes: Part One LisaBrennanJobs.net Small Fry by Lisa Brennan-Jobs [Amazon] Lisa Brennan-Jobs on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this file the multi-hyphenate and bestselling author of over 20 books, Elizabeth Ann Atkins, returned to share her inspiring and winding journey from Pulitzer Prize nominated journalist to groundbreaking novelist, ghostwriter, educator, TV host, and health & wellness expert. "When you write from that intuitive voice, it's your truth. And writing from that is your power." - Elizabeth Ann Atkins She received a Master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University and her writing has appeared in the New York Times, the San Diego Tribune, Essence, Ebony and the Detroit News, for her articles on race which were nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Elizabeth has written 20 books, including novels White Chocolate, Dark Secret (Amazon), and Twilight (a collaboration with Billy Dee Williams), and she's also one half of the indie publishing duo Two Sisters Writing and Publishing, with sibling Catherine, where the two share the mission to promote diverse voices in the book world. Their credo is to "... publish quality anthologies of exceptional short fiction and inspirational nonfiction..." and "... books by authors of color, [and] women writers." They offer consulting, editing, and ghostwriting services as well. Elizabeth has been featured on Oprah, Montel, NPR, Good Morning America Sunday and CBS Evening News, and also co-hosts a weekly TV talk show, MI Healthy Mind, with a focus on mental health and wellness. She is presently working on her memoir. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And if you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part Two of this file Elizabeth Ann Atkins and I discussed: How intuitive writing can give your voice a turbo boost Why unplugging from notifications and the internet is so important to avoid burnout The importance of exercise for staying sane and getting into a flow state How the author juggles multiple deadlines and stays so prolific The power of rituals and routines for productivity How to use self-awareness and naps to supercharge your output And more inspired advice from an author with one amazing laugh Show Notes: Two Sisters Writing and Publishing Elizabeth Ann Atkins' author page on Amazon Power Journal: A 28-Day Challenge (Amazon) Gods Answer is Know by Elizabeth Ann Atkins - Godsanswerisknow.com "Mental training changes brain structure and reduces social stress" - Science Daily Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill (Amazon) Two Sisters Writing - @2sisterswriting on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bestselling novelist, award-winning adventure writer, and journalist, Peter Heller, jumped on the phone to talk 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. "When I read [great] poetry or prose [it] comes through my skin and straight to my heart, and pretty much bypasses my head..." – Peter Heller 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 a notable bestselling author of a half-dozen novels including The Dog Stars – a lauded breakout bestseller, published in 22 languages – The Painter, and Celine (a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize and winner of the Reading the West Book Award, shared in the past by Western writer Cormac McCarthy). His latest novel, Edgar Award Nominee, The River (recently released in paperback), has been called a "... the 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,” and The Denver Post called it, "A fiery tour de force ... terrifying and unutterably beautiful." **A quick note on the audio quality, Peter joined me by phone, and the interview vastly improves after the first two minutes, so please stick with it, it's a great one. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Peter Heller 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: PeterHeller.net The River: A novel by Peter Heller [Amazon] Peter Heller on Amazon Peter Heller on Facebook Kelton Reid on Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this file bestselling author, Kim Petersen, returned to talk with me about tactics to tap into age-old wisdom, quiet your inner critic, get back to basics, rediscover your voice, and recharge your creative batteries. “With how our lifestyles are, and the technology, we seem to have also become more disconnected from ourselves.” – Kim Petersen The award-winning, USA Today Bestselling, Australian author of fantasy, paranormal, and dystopian fiction, writes The Ascended Angels Chronicles, and co-authors the Stone the Crows series. Her latest is a foray into non-fiction titled Creative Writing Energy: Tools to Access Your Higher-Creative Mind - co-authored with colleague, romance writer Catherine Evans. It's been described as a book "...written for creatives about developing pathways to access the higher-creative mind...alternative ways..." and tools for unlocking your creativity. Before you dismiss this episode as a little "woo-woo," I assure you that we dig into the reasons behind the current shift for creatives toward alternative ways of thinking, New Age modalities, and a generation of writers looking to tune-out the noise and live more authentically. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And if you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part Two of this file Kim Petersen and I discussed: Why writers are the bedrock of the long-standing tradition of making meaning of the world How the author incorporates divination into her storytelling process Why prolific writers throughout history have used tools for jumpstarting their creativity How ancient, esoteric practices can unplug your inner critic, FOMO, and beat "resistance" Why getting back in touch with your voice is so important And how to conjure your inner child (no, not by jumping off the garage Kim, lol) Show Notes: Author Accelerator KimPetersen.com WhisperingInkPress.com Creative Writing Energy: Tools to Access Your Higher-Creative Mind [Amazon] CatherineEvansAuthor.com Creative Writing Energy on Patreon Oblique Strategies - created by Brian Eno How millennials replaced religion with astrology and crystals - LA Times Kim Petersen on Facebook Kim Petersen on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Critically-acclaimed debut author, Jocelyn Nicole Johnson, spoke to me about becoming a late-stage "literary debutante," Walmart militias, and the #writinglife as an introvert. Jocelyn is a veteran public school art teacher, whose short story “Control Negro” was anthologized in Best American Short Stories 2018, guest-edited by New York Times bestselling author Roxane Gay, and read live by LeVar Burton as part of PRI’s Selected Shorts series. Her buzzy debut is 2021 Kirkus Prize Finalist, My Monticello, five stories and a novella all set in Virginia. It has been described as a "...precisely imagined [novel exploring] burdened inheritances and extraordinary pursuits of belonging....Set in the near future..." It was selected by National Book award winner Charles Yu as his most anticipated book of the year, hailed as a "masterly feat” by the NY Times, called "electrifying" by Colson Whitehead, and "absolutely unforgettable" by Roxane Gay. Netflix recently bought the title novella "My Monticello" for adaptation and Jocelyn’s writing has appeared in Guernica, The Guardian, Kweli, Joyland, among others, and she has been a fellow at TinHouse, Hedgebrook and VCCA. Stay calm and write on ... Discover The Writer Files Extra You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app! As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey. 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 Jocelyn Nicole Johnson and I discussed: What inspired her quasi-dystopian fiction How she was discovered at a short story reading Why getting tweeted by Roxane Gay was a game-changer How to build a writing community as a wallflower And a lot more! Show Notes: JocelynJohnson.com My Monticello: Fiction By Jocelyn Nicole Johnson (Amazon) 'My Monticello' grapples with the past, present and future of American racism - NPR Jocelyn Nicole Johnson on Facebook Jocelyn Nicole Johnson on Instagram Jocelyn Nicole Johnson on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Award-winning short story writer and debut novelist, Sanjena Sathian, talked to me about the true cost of the American dream, magical realism, and working with Mindy Kaling on the adaptation of Gold Diggers. Sanjena is an Iowa Writers' Workshop grad who started her career as a journalist and reporter in Mumbai and San Francisco. She has had nonfiction bylines in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Food & Wine, The Boston Globe, The San Francisco Chronicle, and more. Her debut novel is Gold Diggers, and is described as, "A magical realist coming-of-age story ... about Indian American identity, community ... and the underside of ambition." Already a Good Morning America Buzz Pick, New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice, and a Vox Bookclub Pick, #1 bestselling author of Little Fires Everywhere, Celeste Ng, said of the book, “Dizzyingly original, fiercely funny, deeply wise.” Stay calm and write on ... Discover The Writer Files Extra You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app! As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey. 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 Sanjena Sathian and I discussed: Skewering myths of the "model minority" The literary legacies of Indian translators and magical realism How Mindy Kaling is approaching the TV adaptation of her book The writing life, an antidote to narcissism, and the definition of "vomit-drafter" Show Notes: Sanjena.com Gold Diggers: A Novel by Sanjena Sathian [Amazon] Mindy Kaling’s Kaling International To Adapt Sanjena Sathian’s Novel ‘Gold Diggers’ For TV Sanjena Sathian Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this file the international bestselling hybrid author and crime novelist, Adam Croft, returned to chat with me from overseas about the processes, productivity hacks, and professionalism that have helped him become one of the most successful independently published authors in the world, and why writers need to develop a business mindset to do the same. "Writing more books is going to earn you more money, and that should always be your priority.” – Adam Croft Adam's previous career was as a freelance designer and editor, but his hard work and persistence over ten years have helped him become one of the biggest selling authors of the last decade. How did Adam go on to sell close to two million books in over 120 countries in such a short time? We'll dig into his inspiring story, including the stories behind his breakthrough worldwide bestseller Her Last Tomorrow, and his crime thriller Knight & Culverhouse series, which knocked J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child off the top spot in Canada only weeks after Her Last Tomorrow was also #1 in the same country. His multiple bestsellers have also made him an authority on indie publishing, and he's been featured on BBC television, BBC Radio, the BBC World Service, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, The Bookseller and many other media outlets. Adam now shares his unique expertise of the craft at The Indie Author Mindset where he offers to help "... authors cut through the overwhelming — and often conflicting — information that’s out there [with] solid help and information." And Adam was kind enough to drop some of that wisdom here for you today, so I’ll tease the promo code I’ve also put in the show notes – WRITERFILES – for a 50% discount on every course at The Indie Author Mindset just for listeners of this show. Simply go to courses.indieauthormindset.com and pop that in there. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of the Writer Files is brought to you by Words Matter by Wix. Looking for that burst of inspiration to break your writer's block? Or maybe you just need some quick grammar and style tips? Words Matter has tons of articles to help you become a better writer, plus invites to intensive in-person writing workshops. Visit wix.com/wordsmatter/blog to learn more.   If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here, and you can find all previous episodes of the show in the archives at writerfiles.fm, and find the last 100 eps on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you tune in), and in the show notes. Stay tuned ... In Part Two of this file Adam Croft and I discussed: Why the author doesn't sit still or look back The uphill battle ahead for aspiring indie authors How Adam stays organized and energized as an author slash entrepreneur The productivity hacks that help him stay prolific Why writers need to treat their craft with the respect it deserves And cutting through the bullsh*t of self-publishing Show Notes: Words Matter by Wix Use promo code WRITERFILES for 50% discount on any of Adam's online courses at The Indie Author Mindset 'The Writer's Brain' on Procrastination: Part One AdamCroft.net Partners in Crime podcast The Indie Author Mindset on Facebook The Indie Author Mindset The Indie Author Mindset: How Changing Your Way of Thinking Can Transform Your Writing Career by Adam Croft [Amazon] Adam Croft Readers Group on Facebook Adam Croft on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice The international bestselling thriller writer of the Dexter series, Jeff Lindsay, chatted with me about his previous life in the dramatic arts, marrying into literary royalty, and what it's like to hang out with actor Andy Garcia. "I thought I was creating a bad guy. And I was trying to make him just interesting and likeable enough to keep people reading .... I was glad it took off like it did, but it was always a shock to me that people actually liked Dexter." — Jeff Lindsay Jeff is the New York Times bestselling author of the Dexter novels – which debuted in 2004 with Darkly Dreaming Dexter – adapted by Showtime into the popular TV series that ran for eight seasons. His latest novel is Fool Me Twice, second in the Riley Wolfe series, about "... a master thief that targets the wealthiest 0.1 percent." Publishers Weekly said of the series in a starred review, “Fans of the Ocean’s Eleven film franchise will be eager for more.” Jeff has also spent time as an actor, comedian, and playwright. Stay tuned for a special offer from this week's sponsor Neuro. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Jeff Lindsay and I discussed: The signs that pointed to being a writer What it's like to be married to a Hemingway On moral ambiguity, famous last words, and enduring antiheroes The return of 'Dexter' to the small screen A memorable dinner with Armistead Maupin And more! Show Notes: Jeff Lindsay Fool Me Twice by Jeff Lindsay [Amazon] Jeff Lindsay Amazon author page Showtime’s plans for bringing back Dexter for a limited series Jeff Lindsay on FaceBook Jeff Lindsay on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Editor-in-Chief of Terrain.org, Simmons Buntin, helped me celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day by discussing why we need strong writing voices now more than ever, how to deal with the current "infodemic" of misinformation, and resources for starting your own revolution. “The voices in this essential anthology are anything but silent. Indeed, they are voices of hope, habitat, defiance, and, most importantly, democracy. Lend your ears, and then your own voice.” — Simmons Buntin Simmons has a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the CU, Denver, and an MFA in creative writing from the University of Arizona, so it's no surprise that he found the intersection of "... the built and natural environments [something he calls] 'the soul of place'." As the editor-in-chief of Terrain.org, a nonprofit literary magazine that explores just that, he publishes works that examine how our environment influences us in profound ways. He's also the co-editor of a new collection titled Dear America: Letters of Hope, Habitat, Defiance, and Democracy (Trinity University Press, April 22, 2020), described as a "patriotic anthology" that includes hundreds of writers, poets, artists, scientists, and political activists of all ages. The more than 130 impassioned letters to America are calls to action for common ground and conflict resolution with a focus on the environment and social justice. Lauded author and environmentalist, Bill McKibben, said of the book, “These letters come from a deep, real love of this place, and they imagine willing, receptive readers on the other end. We need a series of miracles looking forward, and this is one.” Simmons is the author of 2 books of poetry, Riverfall, and Bloom, and also Unsprawl: Remixing Spaces as Places (co-authored with Ken Pirie). He has published poetry, essays, and technical articles in publications as varied as Edible Baja Arizona, North American Review, Kyoto Journal, and Bulletin of Science, Technology, and Society. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Simmons Buntin and I discussed: How he became the editor-in-chief of Terrain.org The origin story of the "Dear America" letter Why bringing together so many impassioned writing voices is vital to our planet right now How the 2020 Presidential election will have a huge impact on climate change (and democracy) Why we need to question the direction of our nation and our part as patriots And why it's more important than ever to be active, not passive Show Notes: Terrain.org Dear America: Letters of Hope, Habitat, Defiance, and Democracy NRDC ACLU The Union of Concerned Scientists Terrain.org on Facebook Terrain.org on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Critically-acclaimed debut author, Jean Chen Ho, spoke to me about the art of nonlinear storytelling, the shifting POVs in her novel Fiona and Jane, and the value of a strong writing community. Jean was born in Taiwan and grew up in Southern California. She is a doctoral candidate in creative writing and literature at the University of Southern California – where she is a Dornsife Fellow in fiction – and has an MFA from UNLV. Her much-anticipated debut novel is a collection of linked stories titled Fiona and Jane. Booklist called it "tender and timeless," a book that "...explores the intimate facets of female friendship, Asian American immigrant experiences in Los Angeles and New York, and the debilitating power of family traumas.” Bestselling author Alexander Chee wrote, “Fiona and Jane is a high wire act. . . .Jean Chen Ho’s brilliant debut is as assured as what must surely follow.” And Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen, called it, “A knockout of a book.” Jean's writing has also been published in The Georgia Review, GQ, Harper's Bazaar, Guernica, The Rumpus, Apogee, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, and others. Stay calm and write on ... Discover The Writer Files Extra You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app! As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, links to TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" coffee mugs anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey. 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 Jean Chen Ho and I discussed: Why writers shouldn't pick up their phones until noon The rigors and routines of editing How going to Happy Hour and talking about writing ... counts as writing! The loneliness of being a writer Deadlines, accountability, the importance of writing groups And a lot more! Show Notes: Jean-Chen-Ho.com Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen Ho Jean Chen Ho on Instagram Jean Chen Ho on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice The creator, executive producer, and showrunner of the award-winning TV series The Handmaid’s Tale, Bruce Miller, spoke with me about his storied career as a TV writer/producer, what it's like to work with author Margaret Atwood, and adapting a modern classic for the small screen. The Emmy award-winning TV writer and producer has worked on dozens of shows and movies (including Medium, Eureka, Alphas, and The 100), and got his start working on NBC's long-running hit ER in the early '90s. Miller's adaptation of Margaret Atwood's prescient, critically acclaimed 1985 novel, The Handmaid’s Tale – considered by many to be a modern classic of dystopian literature – is a drama about a "... totalitarian society [that] subjects fertile women, called 'Handmaids,' into child-bearing slavery." In its first season, the show won multiple Emmy awards – including Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for Miller – and became the first on a streaming platform to win an Emmy for Outstanding Series (beating out nominees House of Cards, The Crown, Stranger Things from Netflix, HBO’s Westworld, AMC’s Better Call Saul, and NBC’s This Is Us). "Handmaid’s” has gone on to win the Peabody Award; a Golden Globe for Best Television Series, Drama; Critics Choice Award for Best Drama Series; the PGA Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama; two WGA Awards, for Best Drama Series and Best New Series; was honored by AFI as one of the top ten TV programs of the year, and garnered dozens of Emmy nominations. The show has been picked up for a fourth season by Hulu. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Bruce Miller and I discussed: How getting "fired" from so many gigs helped his career The brilliance of Margaret Atwood and the influence it had on both the writer and the adaptation Why TV production is all about schedule and writing is the opposite A day in the life of a TV writer Why he doesn't believe in tables in the writer's room And the one thing you have to be able to do when you get your big break Show Notes: Bruce Miller on IMDb The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu Bruce Miller on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter #PodcastersForJustice Anti-racism Resources Donate to any of the following: Minnesota Freedom Fund Black Visions Collective Campaign Zero Black Lives Matter Podcasts to subscribe to: 1619 (New York Times) About Race Code Switch (NPR) Intersectionality Matters! hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast Pod For The Cause (from The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights) Pod Save the People (Crooked Media) Seeing White Articles to read: "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Don’t understand the protests? What you’re seeing is people pushed to the edge" | Los Angeles Times 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice The #1 New York Times bestselling author, Mark Greaney, dropped by to chat about hanging out with Tom Clancy at The Pentagon, the elements of a great spy novel, and the latest in The Gray Man series. "Even if you finish a whole book and it doesn't get published, I promise you you're a much better author at the end of that process than you were at the beginning..." – Mark Greaney Mark's debut international thriller, The Gray Man, was published in 2009 and became a national bestseller and highly sought-after Hollywood property. He's released ten in that series to date including the #1 New York Times bestseller One Minute Out. The Gray Man series has drawn comparisons to giants of the field including Brad Thor, Daniel Silva, and – of course – Tom Clancy. Mark is also the #1 New York Times bestselling author or co-author of seven Tom Clancy novels – he co-wrote Clancy’s final three Jack Ryan thrillers prior to his passing. Mark's latest outing with The Gray Man is Relentless, a book bestselling author Lee Child called, “Hard, fast, and unflinching — exactly what a thriller should be.” Netflix recently announced an adaptation of the first book in The Gray Man series, starring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans. Stay calm and write on ... And Stay Tuned: I’m cooking up some extras for fans of the show in the coming weeks you won’t want to miss including the option to have episodes, extras, and added insights delivered straight to your inbox, and maybe even some Writer Files merch on the way. Preview a sample of a podcast at the break from this week's sponsor Look Closer: The Found Fiction Podcast, more at foundfiction.org. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews. In this file Mark Greaney and I discussed: His 15 year, overnight success How his extensive research differs from book to book What it's like to work with the Russo brothers (best known for their Marvel films) Why writers need to relax and enjoy the process And more! Show Notes: MarkGreaneybooks.com Relentless (Gray Man) by Mark Greaney (Amazon) Mark Greaney Amazon author page Mark Greaney on Instagram Mark Greaney on Facebook Mark Greaney on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Award-winning, New York Times bestselling psychological thriller writer, Chevy Stevens, spoke to me about her life as a recluse, dreaming in prose, scaring the King, and her latest, Dark Roads. Chevy's debut novel Still Missing went on to become a New York Times bestseller and winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for Best First Novel in 2010. Her popular books, including Those Girls – which Stephen King called “Incredibly scary and suspenseful,” – have been published in more than thirty countries and optioned for film. Her seventh novel, the standalone thriller, Dark Roads, has been described as an "instant classic" by #1 New York Times bestselling author C. J. Box. Author Gillian Flynn has called Chevy's work both "Gripping ... [and] unforgettable." Stay calm and write on ... Discover The Writer Files Extra You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app! As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey. 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 Chevy Stevens and I discussed: Why writers need to be protective of their (daydreaming) time The romanticization of the writing life Tossing novel drafts in the trash bin The real-life "Highway of Tears" and a legacy of broken promises How to write a proper prologue, your first 50 pages ... And a lot more Show Notes: ChevyStevens.com Dark Roads: A Novel by Chevy Stevens (Amazon) Chevy Stevens Amazon author page Chevy Stevens on Facebook Chevy Stevens on Instagram Chevy Stevens on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to another special edition of The Writer Files focused squarely on creativity and how to keep the creative juices flowing under duress. New York Times bestselling author, Austin Kleon, returned to talk about his journey, a wariness of technology, and his new book. "Writers aren't born, they are made." - Austin Kleon Austin Kleon has been deemed “one of the most interesting people on the Internet” (The Atlantic Magazine), and he is “a writer who draws,” best known for illustrated creativity manifestos Steal Like an Artist and Show Your Work! His latest, Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad (Amazon), is the third book in his "box set." It offers ten simple, timeless, practical "...rules for how to stay creative, focused, and true to yourself — for life." Important messages for writers. His work has been translated into over twenty languages and featured on NPR’s Morning Edition, PBS Newshour, and The Wall Street Journal. Mr. Kleon speaks about “creativity in the digital age” for organizations as varied as Pixar, Google, SXSW, TEDx, and The Economist. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews In Part One of this two part file Austin Kleon and I discussed: How to stay inspired in crazy times Why life is hard and creative work is harder How to think of creativity like the movie Groundhog's Day Why you should stay mindful and 'practice in public' The importance of lists, rituals, routines, and writing every day And the authors that have shaped Austin's skepticism of technology and his creative journey Show Notes: This podcast is produced solely by yours truly and New Media Dojo, my production moniker, and I'm incredibly thankful to you for your continued listenership and loyalty. Please leave us a comment or question and visit the archives at writerfiles.fm where I humbly ask you to support the show with an anonymous, secure donation to help us keep going with more great writerly content. For listeners who donate $25 or more and leave me a message, I will include your name and the type of writing you're working on, on air or in the show notes. Just head over to writerfiles.fm and click the Donate button. Thank you, sincerely – Kelton Support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation How to Stay Creative with Bestselling Author Austin Kleon: Part Two AustinKleon.com Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad by Austin Kleon (Amazon) Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon Show Your Work! by Austin Kleon How Bestselling Author Austin Kleon Writes: Part One Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey 'The Writer's Brain' on Productivity vs. Creativity: Part One How WNYC Podcast Host and Author of 'Bored and Brilliant' Manoush Zomorodi Writes Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman  (Amazon) The Real World of Technology by Ursula M. Franklin Austin Kleon on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to a special edition of the show we traditionally call “Writer Porn.” To kick off 2020 we have a very enlightening show for you that you're not going to want to miss. It’s an exclusive look into the process behind not only how a writer gets paid to ghostwrite a title for a celebrity, but also the writing, research, and indie publishing of a book that has sat on top of the Amazon charts for over a year! Did it beat Michelle Obama in 2019? TK “If you’re struggling to figure out what to write, it means you don’t know what you want to say." – Adam Skolnick Note: We had to get special permission from the incredible human and author, David Goggins, to share this story – so this is truly an exclusive – but it’s no secret that the book was written by my good friend. A huge thank you to Mr. Goggins and his spirit, generosity, and ethos. From ideation of his bestselling book Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds – by Author David Goggins – to publishing with Lioncrest, and the experimental new media formats like an audiobook/podcast and beyond, this is a glimpse behind the camouflage curtain. “In Can't Hurt Me, [Goggins] shares his astonishing life story and reveals that most of us tap into only 40% of our capabilities. He calls this The 40% Rule, and his story illuminates a path that anyone can follow to push past pain, demolish fear, and reach their full potential.” The writer (or ghostwriter) is an award-winning international journalist, author, serial pundit, and “bad penny” Adam Skolnick, our own international correspondent. Adam’s narrative nonfiction book is available in paperback — One Breath: Freediving, Death, and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits — is based on his award-winning New York Times sports coverage of the death of the greatest American freediver of all time. The book has been compared to other classics of extreme sports journalism — like Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air, and National Geographic Traveller called it “A vicarious thrill that you can enjoy in a little over 300 pages ... unless you read it in the bath...” The Writer Files is now available on Alexa! Because Apple Podcasts are available on Alexa-enabled Amazon devices in the United States, now all you have to do is say, "Alexa, play The Writer Files on Apple Podcasts." She will probably grant your wish ;-) Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Adam Skolnick and I discussed: A definition of ghostwriting How Adam got tapped to ghostwrite for author and endurance athlete David Goggins Why Goggins turned down a major book publishing deal and decided to self-publish (with Adam still attached) The Joe Rogan effect for authors How Adam made the decision to help write David's story And the unique research and drafting process that went into a bestseller ... Show Notes: Words Matter by Wix How We Built the Wix Brand Voice Author Accelerator Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds – by Author David Goggins [Amazon] AdamSkolnick.com 21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers: Part One Adam Skolnick on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author, educator, and award-winning architect, Donald M. Rattner, stopped by this week to expound on invaluable research into the latest psychology and productivity studies to offer practical tips for designing your writing space for maximum creative output. “Unfortunately, once you go down this rabbit hole, you could go on and on forever...” – Donald M. Rattner Donald has an art history degree from Columbia (where he graduated with honors), and a Masters of Architecture from Princeton. He's now the founder of an award-winning architecture firm and a "Creativity Architect" whose work (on the psychology of creative spaces) has been featured on CNN, in The New York Times, Work Design Magazine, Better Humans, Town & Country, and many others. His latest book, My Creative Space: How to Design Your Home to Stimulate Ideas and Spark Innovation, offers "48 Techniques to Boost Your Creativity at Home, According to Science." The book has a coffee table slash textbook feel to it and includes "... over 200 high-quality photos of interiors from around the world, [from] top-tier architects, designers, and creatives." So guess what we're going to dig into today? A quick note, I'm changing up the format of the show to present longer episodes presented in a single part, as opposed to two-parters split for a shorter, drive-time experience. Reach out on Twitter or over at the writerfiles.fm if you like the longer episode format better, I appreciate your feedback. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Donald M. Rattner and I discussed: The often disparate and misleading definitions of creativity Why writers have such a unique relationship to their creative space Science-based techniques to boost your creative output Secrets behind why creativity is a 24-hour occupation The optimal noise and clutter levels for idea generation Why nature plays such a critical role in creativity and productivity And so much more! Show Notes: DonaldRattner.com My Creative Space: How to Design Your Home to Stimulate Ideas and Spark Innovation by Donald M. Rattner [Amazon] Donald M. Rattner on Medium  Donald M. Rattner on Facebook Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prominent book editor-turned-author, Peter Guzzardi, spent some time with me this week to discuss how he pulled back the curtain on the writer's life, finding courage in front of the blank screen, and important lessons from the Yellow Brick Road for creatives. "One thing I love about this work is the variety. I’ve edited novels by authors as different as Ruth Rendell and Martin Amis, memoirs by Tony Curtis...and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar..." – Peter Guzzardi Peter has been a professional book editor for nearly 40 years. After getting his start in marketing, writing catalog copy in New York City, he moved to the editorial side where he eventually took the reins at Harmony Books, an imprint of Random House, Inc. Mr. Guzzardi has worked with some incredibly talented authors over the years, including Stephen Hawking on A Brief History of Time, Deepak Chopra on dozens of books, Douglas Adams on his Hitchhiker novels, Carol Burnett, Martin Amis, Arianna Huffington, and even Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Like so many aspiring writers who "swear they're going to finally write that book," Peter decided to throw his hat in the ring and write about the wisdom he'd accumulated on his own journey. The result of that hard work is his recently published Emeralds of Oz: Life Lessons From Over the Rainbow, an apropos title for 2019, the 80th anniversary of the film classic, The Wizard of Oz. Emeralds of Oz is a book in the "...tradition of All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten ... life lessons drawn from the most beloved movie of all time," and Carol Burnett said, "I loved this book as much as I loved the movie." This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this file Peter Guzzardi and I discussed: How he came to rub elbows with so many celebrity authors The unique skillsets of great editors and their importance to the publishing industry Why the challenges the author faced birthing his own book were so different than he could have imagined How he found courage in front of the blank page The importance of crappy first drafts and turning off your inner critic Show Notes: PeterGuzzardi.com Emeralds of Oz: Life Lessons from Over the Rainbow by Peter Guzzardi [Amazon] The Wizard of Oz at 80: how the world fell under its dark spell - Luiza Sauma for The Guardian Peter Guzzardi on Instagram Peter Guzzardi on Twitter Peter Guzzardi on Facebook Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the second part of a year-end retrospective with award-winning indie journalist and author, Adam Skolnick, who returns to rap with me about show highlights from the last half of 2023, hot takes, and shootin’ the breeze. Adam Skolnick is an award-winning independent journalist and author covering adventure sports, environmental issues, and civil rights for outlets such as The New York Times, Outside, ESPN, BBC, and Men’s Health, among others.  Adam is co-author of Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within, the follow-up to David Goggins’ smash hit memoir Can’t Hurt Me. Adam is also the author of One Breath, has narrated David Goggins’ bestselling audiobooks, and co-hosted The Rich Roll Podcast, on the "Roll On" edition. [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 Adam Skolnick and I discussed: How Literary Critic & Publishing Insider Bethanne Patrick Writes: Part Two: The sui generis of the Colleen Hoover effect How Award-Winning Climate Journalist Amy Westervelt Writes: Why more writers need to set their stories in the real world How Booker Prize-Winning Author Anne Enright Writes: The moment of burnout that changed her career How National Book Award Winner & Bestselling Author James McBride Writes: Why  some writers find no joy in being well-known How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Emily Henry Writes: Part Two: What it feels like to live inside a lightning strike Show Notes: Best of 2023 - Hot Takes and Shootin’ the Breeze with Adam Skolnick: Part One AdamSkolnick.com Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within – by David Goggins (Amazon) Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds – by David Goggins (Amazon) Adam Skolnick on Instagram A Mostly Uncensored Chat with Award-Winning Journo Adam Skolnick 21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers: Part One 21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers: Part Two Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Attenberg on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The international bestselling hybrid author and crime novelist, Adam Croft, spoke with me from overseas about the processes, productivity hacks, and professionalism that have helped him become one of the most successful independently published authors in the world, and why writers need to develop a business mindset to do the same. "Writing more books is going to earn you more money, and that should always be your priority.” – Adam Croft Adam's previous career was as a freelance designer and editor, but his hard work and persistence over ten years have helped him become one of the biggest selling authors of the last decade. How did Adam go on to sell close to two million books in over 120 countries in such a short time? We'll dig into his inspiring story, including the stories behind his breakthrough worldwide bestseller Her Last Tomorrow, and his crime thriller Knight & Culverhouse series, which knocked J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child off the top spot in Canada only weeks after Her Last Tomorrow was also #1 in the same country. His multiple bestsellers have also made him an authority on indie publishing, and he's been featured on BBC television, BBC Radio, the BBC World Service, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, The Bookseller and many other media outlets. Adam now shares his unique expertise of the craft at The Indie Author Mindset where he offers to help "... authors cut through the overwhelming — and often conflicting — information that’s out there [with] solid help and information." And Adam was kind enough to drop some of that wisdom here for you today. Stay tuned for Part Two of this series for a promo code just for Writer Files listeners! Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of the Writer Files is brought to you by Words Matter by Wix. Looking for that burst of inspiration to break your writer's block? Or maybe you just need some quick grammar and style tips? Words Matter has tons of articles to help you become a better writer, plus invites to intensive in-person writing workshops. Visit wix.com/wordsmatter/blog to learn more.   If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this file Adam Croft and I discussed: The nine book "overnight success" How Adam's past life as a freelancer and small business owner helped him in self-publishing The three facets of a successful indie author mindset Why the author's not interested in chasing the latest gold rush And what it's like to outsell your heroes Show Notes: Words Matter by Wix AdamCroft.net Partners in Crime podcast The Indie Author Mindset on Facebook The Indie Author Mindset The Indie Author Mindset: How Changing Your Way of Thinking Can Transform Your Writing Career by Adam Croft [Amazon] Adam Croft Readers Group on Facebook Adam Croft on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

President of Manhattan-based literary agency Lucinda Literary turned author, Lucinda Halpern, returns to chat with me about how to crack the code of publishing, the four types of writers who get book deals, and her latest book Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author. Lucinda Halpern is a literary agent with over 15 years of experience securing book deals with Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette, Macmillan, and now the author of Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author. (available for preorder now and landing 2/6/2024, Hay House - wherever fine books are sold) “Packed with interviews from best-selling authors and leading book editors Get Signed is the indispensable roadmap you need … to get noticed and become a published author.” #1 New York Times best-selling author Adam Grant said of the book, “Lucinda Halpern has written the definitive guide to attracting an agent and laying the groundwork for a book well worth publishing.” She represents a range of New York Times and internationally bestselling authors in the categories of business, health, lifestyle, popular science, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and upmarket fiction. Her classes and coaching programs have been taught to hundreds of writers worldwide. Stay tuned until the end of our interview for Lucinda’s special gift for listeners. [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 Lucinda Halpern and I discussed: How her full-circle journey to becoming a published author has made her a better agent Why having a book editor is like lying naked on the table at the doctor's office The best way to diagnose what's wrong with your book How she is still myth-busting publishing Why a book for everyone is a book for no one And a lot more! Show Notes: GetSignedBook.com Download Lucinda’s free author training lucindaliterary.com Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author By Lucinda Halpern (Amazon) Myth-Busting Book Publishing with Agent Lucinda Halpern: Part One Lucinda Halpern on Twitter Lucinda Halpern on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Military thriller author, Joshua Hood, stopped by the podcast to talk with me about being given the keys to the Bentley of Robert Ludlum's storied writing legacy, the military toughness that's written into his own stories, and how impostor syndrome doesn't phase him. "In my career, I've had almost every bad thing that could happen to a writer ... happen to a writer." – Joshua Hood Joshua was an English major at the University of Memphis before joining the military where he spent five years in the 82nd Airborne Division. As a team leader in the 3-504 Parachute Infantry Regiment in Iraq (2005-2006), the author conducted combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also served as a squad leader with the 1-508th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Afghanistan (2007-2008) and he was decorated for valor in Operation Furious Pursuit. Hood is also a decorated "life-saving" sniper team leader who was on a full-time SWAT team in Memphis, Tennessee, and he has conducted countless stateside operations with the FBI, ATF, DEA, Secret Service, and US Marshals. His background and expertise lend to the popularity of his own Search and Destroy military thriller series, and also made him a shoo-in to reboot the brilliant legacy of the late Robert Ludlum (1927-2001), a literary legend whose books have sold in the hundreds of millions. Joshua kicked off a new series inspired by Ludlum's Bourne universe with Robert Ludlum's The Treadstone Resurrection, a book that #1 New York Times bestselling author Mark Greaney called, “An intense and electrifying espionage adventure [and] ... a worthy addition to the Ludlum bookshelf.” Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Joshua Hood and I discussed: How The Hobbit lured him into a lifelong love of books and writing Why writers are more than just people who jot down (ransom) notes How he was handed the keys to the opportunity of a lifetime His meticulous research and writing process How bad "writing" luck can build resolve and character And what it means to him to honor the legend of Robert Ludlum Show Notes: JoshuaHoodBooks.com Robert Ludlum's The Treadstone Resurrection by Joshua Hood [Amazon] Joshua Hood's Amazon Author Page Joshua Hood on Facebook Joshua Hood on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice The internationally bestselling thriller writer, Emily Schultz, spoke with me about recollections of coming of age as a Gen-Xer, her creative process in multiple mediums, and how to funnel emotion onto the page. "You have to be able to take your own emotions and experiences and translate them into a fictional story. If you can pull on the truths that you know, you can bring them to the reader." — Emily Schultz Emily is the co-founder of the literary magazine Joyland and is the author of The Blondes, an international bestseller named a Best Book of 2015 by NPR, BookPage, and Kirkus Reviews. Her latest novel is Little Threats, described as a "...taut whodunit and a haunting snapshot of the effects of a violent crime [that] tells the story of a woman who served 15 years in prison for murder ... and now it's time to find out if she's guilty." The book was named an Apple Books Best of November 2020 pick. Booklist said of the book, "Fans of Tana French, Kimberly Belle, and Orange is the New Black will fall under this book's spell. . . Terse and tense, Little Threats investigates righteous anger, teenage angst, and the enormity of setting the record straight." Emily’s writing has appeared in Elle, Slate, Vice, Hazlitt, Prairie Schooner, and many others. She is also a producer at the indie media company Heroic Collective where she recently released a complimentary podcast adaptation of The Blondes. Stay tuned for a clip from the Little Threats audiobook at the break, “... excerpted courtesy [of] Penguin Random House Audio ... read by Dylan Moore and Ariadne Meyers.” Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Emily Schultz and I discussed: The influential literary magazine she helped co-found How to get an "accidental" blurb from Stephen King The pandemic's effect on her creative process How to pull on the truths you know and bring them to your readers And what to do when you don't have access to resources as a writer Show Notes: EmilySchultz.com Little Threats by Emily Schultz - [Amazon] Emily Schultz Amazon page Joyland literary magazine Emily Schultz on FaceBook Emily Schultz on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Emmy-nominated TV writer and professor, Sandy Fries, joined me this week to talk about the lessons he learned over his storied, 20-year career in Hollywood, and how he wrote hundreds of popular TV episodes, including Star Trek: The Next Generation, NBC’s Quantum Leap, and Spider-Man: The Animated [TV] Series. "We all have cracks, the sun shines through those cracks, and through those cracks is how one human being connects to another." – Sandy Fries Sandy has rubbed elbows with an incredible assortment of media moguls including Sam Simon, co-creator of The Simpsons – who gave Sandy his first break – Marvel's Stan Lee, Star Trek's Gene Rodenberry, and Chuck Lorre of The Big Bang Theory fame. He's written for almost every TV genre and has had feature film and television development deals with Warner Brothers and Dick Clark Productions throughout his career. In addition to his Emmy nod he recently won the 101 Best Written TV Series in the History of Television award from the Writer’s Guild of America, for Star Trek: The Next Generation. Sandy continues to write and share his wisdom with students as a Professor of Film and Mass Communication at the College of DuPage. He recently poured many of his life lessons into the book, Secrets Your Textbook Will Not Tell You: About TV, Movies and Life, "... a view of Mass Communication, Film and TV from the down and dirty perspective [of] over twenty years..." in the industry. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey A quick note, I'm changing up the format of the show to present longer episodes presented in a single part, as opposed to two-parters split for a shorter, drive-time experience. Reach out on Twitter or over at writerfiles.fm if you like the longer episode format better, I appreciate your feedback. In this file Sandy Fries and I discussed: Why his most revered TV writing credit is a cartoon How Sandy ditched his job in advertising and got a big break The writing life and lessons learned from master storytellers and titans of the TV industry Down-to-earth life advice and secrets to nailing that pitch meeting Stories behind his friendship with Stan Lee, and why Spider-Man was such a big hit How he missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime And how to persevere through good times and bad Show Notes: Sandy Fries on IMDB Secrets Your Textbook Will Not Tell You: About TV, Movies and Life by Sandy Fries [Amazon] Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Internationally bestselling thriller author, Samantha Downing, took a break to chat about her "20-year, overnight" success, writing psychopaths, and how to write a novel in six months. Samantha's debut novel, My Lovely Wife – about a married couple teaming up to commit murder – was a #1 international bestseller that earned Edgar and ITW Thriller Award nominations and an Amazon Best Thriller of the Month selection. Her latest bestseller, psychological thriller, For Your Own Good, has been called “A perfect summer book,” by NPR and described as "...a twisted and compulsively readable spin on the teacher-student relationship." New York Times bestselling author B.A. Paris called it, a "... wonderfully dark, twisty and compelling thriller set in a prestigious private school." And the book has been recently optioned by Robert Downey Jr. and Greg Berlanti for a series adaptation at HBO Max. Stay calm and write on ... Discover The Writer Files Extra You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app! As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey. 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 Samantha Downing and I discussed: Why she chose to showcase the insular world of an elite private school as the setting for her latest How psychopaths tend to hide in plain sight Her unique creative process and how she cranks out pages Why there are stacks of unfinished manuscripts she never goes back to And why writers need to love the craft and be ready when opportunity knocks Show Notes: SamanthaDowning.com For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing Samantha Downing Amazon author page A Sickness Spreads, A Parent Dies, And A Mystery Unfolds In 'For Your Own Good' – NPR Samantha Downing on Facebook Samantha Downing on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this file the award-winning novelist, speaker, and activist Talia Carner spoke with me about the intensive research processes that go into her novels, why she chose fiction to write about global social issues, the real-life crisis happening right before our eyes, and what we can do about it. “I take a skeleton out of the closet and dance with it. The skeleton being the many social issues around the globe that vie for attention.” – Talia Carner Ms. Carner writes suspense novels with a social message and her latest historical novel, The Third Daughter, aims to turn the issue of sex trafficking into real-world activism. Talia's mission is to transform the lessons of the past into action in the present. Her fifth book has been described as, “A frightening journey into the New World of the late 1800s, told by a trusting young woman lured from Russia and forced into prostitution in Buenos Aires.” Before becoming a professional novelist the author had a corporate career in the magazine business, started her own business as a marketing consultant for Fortune 500 companies, was a counselor and lecturer for the Small Business Administration, and even a member of the United States Information Agency. Talia is a popular international speaker who has keynoted close to 300 events on pressing social issues facing women around the globe. To learn more about human trafficking in the USA – and what you can do to help stop it – you can find a wealth of information that the author has provided for us in her article here: Take Action Against Trafficking This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And if you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part Two of this file Talia Carner and I discussed: Why fiction writers are like comedians The importance of historical fiction for unearthing the skeletons in society’s closet The current crisis of sex trafficking, not only abroad, but right here in the US How we can educate and protect our children Why we need to apply lessons from the past to enact change now And her two big pieces of advice for aspiring fiction writers Show Notes: Author Accelerator How to Write Impactful Historical Fiction with Award-Winning Author Talia Carner: Part One TaliaCarner.com The Third Daughter: A Novel by Talia Carner [Amazon] Take Action Against Trafficking Protect Now, an educational program against sex trafficking taught in schools “The Man From Buenos Aires” by Sholem Aleichem (Translated from Hebrew by Talia Carner) Talia Carner on Facebook Talia Carner on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this file the prolific, award-winning, #1 New York Times and international bestselling author, Sherrilyn Kenyon, returned to talk about what it's like to be a literary legend with over 70 million copies of her books in print in over 100 countries. "When the characters have chosen you ... you need to go tell their stories, because nobody else can do it, and they picked you for the job. Are you really going to disappoint them?" - Sherrilyn Kenyon Sherrilyn is considered one of the most popular and influential writers in the world and the multi-genre author is best known for urban fantasy and paranormal romance, including her popular Dark-Hunters series (Amazon), now also a NY Times bestselling manga. Since her debut in the mid-90s she has placed more than 80 novels on the NY Times list in all formats and genres, including YA, children’s books, coloring books, historical romance (under the pen name Kinley MacGregor), and even graphic novels – her Lords of Avalon novels were adapted by Marvel. Ms. Kenyon's path to bestselling novelist was winding one, as you'll hear, but through all the ups and downs she has cultivated an incredibly loyal fan community who call themselves Menyons who even design tattoos in honor of her more popular genre-bending books. Her latest bestseller in the expansive Dark-Hunters series, titled Stygian, is described as a "...blend of tortured heroes, strong heroines, [and] historical mythology...." Stygian was named one of best Science Fiction & Fantasy of the year by Kobo and Publishers Weekly has called her work, "A delicious balance of suspense and sensuality." This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And If you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part Two of this file Sherrilyn Kenyon and I discussed: Why she prefers her PC over a Mac Her unique workflow and organizational hacks for keeping all of her characters and worlds straight Why her intense workload and work ethic require "combat napping" On viewing creativity as an adventure How great writers make a human connection (and a huge shoutout to copywriters) And the author's great advice on storytelling and your obligation to the characters who choose you Show Notes: Author Accelerator Audible is Offering a Free Audiobook Download with a 30-day Trial: Grab Your Free Audiobook Here – audibletrial.com/writerfiles How New York Times Bestselling Author Sherrilyn Kenyon Writes: Part One Sherrilyn Kenyon's Amazon Author Page Stygian: A Dark-Hunter Novel by Sherrilyn Kenyon SherrilynKenyon.com Sherrilyn Kenyon on Facebook Sherrilyn Kenyon on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Award-winning author and essayist, Vanessa Veselka, spoke to me about her transformation as an artist, writing out of necessity, and the journey from nervy debut to National Book Award longlist. Vanessa is the author of the debut novel Zazen, which won the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize in 2012. Her second novel, The Great Offshore Grounds, was longlisted for the National Book Award for Fiction 2020, and winner of the Oregon Book Awards' Ken Kesey Award for Fiction. The book has been described by author Roxane Gay as “A magnificent beast of a novel.... One of the rare novels that understands the realities of American poverty,” and was named one of "The 10 Best Books of 2020," by Vulture. Vanessa's short stories have appeared in Tin House and ZYZZYVA, and her nonfiction in GQ, The Atlantic, Smithsonian, The Atavist, and was included in Best American Essays and the anthology Bitchfest: Ten Years of Cultural Criticism. Stay calm and write on ... Discover The Writer Files Extra You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app! As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" coffee mugs anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey. 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 Vanessa Veselka and I discussed: Suffering and the itinerant life of an artist The novel as a democratic artform Why writers need to stand their ground and trust their intuition How to find magic in your writing process Protecting your most productive time And a lot more! Show Notes: VanessaVeselka.com The Great Offshore Grounds: A novel By Vanessa Veselka (Amazon) Zazen By Vanessa Veselka (Amazon) Vanessa Veselka on Facebook Vanessa Veselka on Instagram Vanessa Veselka on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice #1 NY Times bestselling author and famed criminal lawyer, Marcia Clark, dropped by to chat about the perils of celebrity, how she got her start as a TV producer, and the highs and lows of the writing process. *This is another double-episode, with a surprise (12-year-old) debut author you won't want to miss. "It's no big surprise that Marcia Clark knows her way around a courtroom and a murder mystery—but she's also a terrific writer and storyteller."—James Patterson Marcia has been a practicing criminal lawyer since 1979 – she joined the LA District Attorney's office in '81 – and served as a prosecutor for the high-profile trials of Robert Bardo (convicted of killing actress Rebecca Schaeffer), and most notably, O. J. Simpson. She co-wrote the #1 New York Times bestseller Without a Doubt, which chronicled her work on the Simpson trial. Marcia writes the bestselling crime fiction series centered on a morally ambiguous criminal defense attorney, Samantha Brinkman. Her latest is the conclusion of that critically acclaimed thriller series, Final Judgment (Samantha Brinkman). It debuted in 2016 with the publication of #1 Amazon bestseller Blood Defense. “The plot twists are both plausible and shocking in this intelligent page-turner. Fans of whodunits featuring ethical dilemmas will be pleased.” —Publishers Weekly Marcia's been a frequent commentator on Today, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, and MSNBC, and a legal correspondent for Entertainment Tonight. Stay-tuned for this double-episode including a debut crime novelist who shares her story of rejection, stereotypes, and finding your voice. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Marcia Clark and I discussed: How the author embraced "write what you know" How to outline ripped-from-the-headlines novels Why she misses being a prosecutor in the '80s The future of publishing And how to take a deep breath and keep going! Show Notes: MarciaClarkBooks.com Final Judgment (Samantha Brinkman) by Marcia Clark Marcia Clark's Amazon author page Marcia Clark Investigates The First 48 The Black Sisterhood Files by Kristina Naydonova Marcia Clark on Facebook Marcia Clark on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter #PodcastersForJustice Anti-racism Resources Donate to any of the following: Minnesota Freedom Fund Black Visions Collective Campaign Zero Black Lives Matter Podcasts to subscribe to: 1619 (New York Times) About Race Code Switch (NPR) Intersectionality Matters! hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast Pod For The Cause (from The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights) Pod Save the People (Crooked Media) Seeing White Articles to read: "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Don’t understand the protests? What you’re seeing is people pushed to the edge" | Los Angeles Times 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award-winning novelist, speaker, and activist Talia Carner spoke with me about the intensive research processes that go into her novels, why she chose fiction to write about global social issues, the real-life crisis happening right before our eyes and what we can do about it. “I take a skeleton out of the closet and dance with it. The skeleton being the many social issues around the globe that vie for attention.” – Talia Carner Ms. Carner writes suspense novels with a social message and her latest historical novel, The Third Daughter, aims to turn the issue of sex trafficking into real-world activism. Talia's mission is to transform the lessons of the past into action in the present. Her fifth book has been described as, “A frightening journey into the New World of the late 1800s, told by a trusting young woman lured from Russia and forced into prostitution in Buenos Aires.” Before becoming a professional novelist the author had a corporate career in the magazine business, started her own business as a marketing consultant for Fortune 500 companies, was a counselor and lecturer for the Small Business Administration, and even a member of the United States Information Agency. Talia is a popular international speaker who has keynoted close to 300 events on pressing social issues facing women around the globe. To learn more about human trafficking in the USA – and what you can do to help stop it – you can find a wealth of information that the author has provided for us in her article here: Take Action Against Trafficking This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this file Talia Carner and I discussed: How the writer's natural form of expression is somewhere in the 100,000 word range Why historical fiction is so challenging to write well How she used researchers to trace details of landmarks long forgotten What it's like to channel characters from the distant past and write prose incorporating other languages What sparks the ideation that fuels her writing mission And why writers need to cull ideas from issues that move them most Show Notes: Author Accelerator How to Write Impactful Historical Fiction with Award-Winning Author Talia Carner: Part Two TaliaCarner.com The Third Daughter: A Novel by Talia Carner [Amazon] Take Action Against Trafficking Protect Now, an educational program against sex trafficking taught in schools Talia Carner on Facebook Talia Carner on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Acclaimed, award-winning Mexican author and critic, Juan Pablo Villalobos, spoke with me from Barcelona, Spain about making difficult subjects accessible to young adults, the challenge of shifting from fiction to non-fiction, and why finding the right voice and POV is so important to telling your story. “If you know perfectly where you're going, the reader will feel the same ... he or she will get bored.” – Juan Pablo Villalobos The tragicomic, avant-garde author (known to his friends as J.P.) has published film and literary criticism, short stories, and award-winning novels now translated into 15 languages. His novels include Down the Rabbit Hole, shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award (2011), as well as I Don’t Expect Anyone to Believe Me, a Herralde Prize (2016) winner soon to be published in English. New York Times bestselling author Roxane Gay has called his writing “Excellent satire ... hilarious and smart, [that] takes on class in Mexico ... in a really useful way.” The author's latest is a departure into Young Adult, narrative non-fiction titled The Other Side: Stories of Central American Teen Refugees Who Dream of Crossing the Border. In a Kirkus starred review the heavily researched – and very timely book – was called, "A ... compilation of stories from unaccompanied Central American teen refugees who make tremendous sacrifices to cross the U.S.-Mexico border." Told in short vignettes, the author spoke with me about how he employed the narrative techniques of fiction in order to protect the protagonists’ identities and to address the difficult subject matter gathered in interviews, and inspired by immigrant minors seeking asylum from both violence and poverty. This is, quite obviously, the last show of the year and thank you for all of your support in 2019. Happy New Year! We'll be back with some incredible interviews in 2020, including an exclusive with a chart-topping ghostwriter who you may know (spoiler alert: he's been a recurring guest on the show), a self-publishing phenom, an Emmy Award-winning TV writer, an expert on optimizing your creative space or office, a NY Times bestselling suspense writer, and way more neuroscience for your brain! Also, The Writer Files is now available on Alexa! Because Apple Podcasts are available on Alexa-enabled Amazon devices in the United States, now all you have to do is say, "Alexa, play The Writer Files on Apple Podcasts." She will probably grant your wish ;-) Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Juan Pablo Villalobos and I discussed: The importance of unpredictability, point of view, and surprising yourself as a writer Why writing is (still) rewriting How the author told the stories of asylum seekers in the first person, and the challenging research process behind his latest work The power of literature for sharing difficult subjects with young readers How the author revisited Kurt Vonnegut's writing only after being compared to him And advice to scribes on why every writer's process should be unique Show Notes: Author Accelerator The Other Side: Stories of Central American Teen Refugees Who Dream of Crossing the Border by Juan Pablo Villalobos [Amazon] Juan Pablo Villalobos – Amazon author page Juan Pablo Villalobos on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award-winning New York Times, Sunday Times, and Amazon #1 bestselling author, James Swallow, spoke with me about his superhero origin story, how he found success channeling his own anger, and the most important lessons he's learned along the way. "I try to make the details as authentic as I possibly can ... because a lot of the action in my books is 'heightened reality.'" – James Swallow James is a former journalist and British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) nominated scriptwriter who has written for video games, TV, and radio. The prolific author of over 50 books – who has written sci-fi for storied franchises including Star Trek, Dr. Who, and Stargate – is best known for his espionage thrillers. His Marc Dane series – with over 750,000 books in print worldwide – includes novels Nomad, Exile, Ghost, Shadow, and his forthcoming novel Rogue, the fifth in the bestselling series featuring "Britain's answer to Jason Bourne," out May 28th (from Zaffre Books). If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file James Swallow and I discussed: Why the pandemic feels like "almost the end of the world" The renaissance of "high-speed, low-drag" thrillers inspired by the '80s His theories on the fallibility of action heroes How his journalism and TV writing experience set him up for success Why writers are always writing ... even when they're not His greatest influences And much more! Show Notes: www.jswallow.com Rogue by James Swallow [Amazon] James Swallow on Amazon  James Swallow on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Bestselling author and award-winning social psychologist, Ron Friedman, spoke to me about how remarkable artists and writers reverse engineer breakouts, and his new book Decoding Greatness. Ron is an expert on human motivation and founder of ignite80, a consulting firm that crunches data in neuroscience, human physiology, and behavioral economics to "...help smart leaders build extraordinary workplaces." His latest work of non-fiction is the bestseller, Decoding Greatness: How the Best in the World Reverse Engineer Success described as "...a game-changing approach to mastering new skills and succeeding faster." New York Times bestselling author of Deep Work, Cal Newport, said of the book, "Read this book if you want to upgrade from working hard to actually producing results that matter." Accounts of Ron's research have appeared on NPR, in major newspapers, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Guardian, and magazines such as Harvard Business Review and Psychology Today. Stay calm and write on ... Discover The Writer Files Extra You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app! As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey. 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 Ron Friedman and I discussed: How copying can make you more creative or help you out of a rut Vonnegut’s six basic story structures Hidden patterns in great writing of any genre How to avoid the "uncanny valley" of novelty Why you need to create a private museum of inspiration And more! Show Notes: RonFriedmanPhD.com DecodingGreatnessBook.com Decoding Greatness: How the Best in the World Reverse Engineer Success by Ron Friedman [Amazon] ignite80.com On Writing by Stephen King [Amazon] Story by Robert McKee [Amazon] Ron Friedman on Facebook Ron Friedman on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Co-hosts of the top international podcast "What You Will Learn," Adam Ashton and Adam Jones, spoke to me about why writers should (and can) read more, how to turn a podcast into a book, and The Sh*t They Never Taught You. What You Will Learn became Australia's #1 Book Podcast with over 4 million downloads, 300 episodes, and interviews with some of the biggest non-fiction authors in the business (including Seth Godin). The Adams pledged to deliver "The Best Bits From The Best (Non-Fiction) Books" weekly on their show, and now they've distilled their collective knowledge even further into their own book. Their compendium, The Sh*t They Never Taught You, offers "... takeaways from over a hundred of the world’s greatest thinkers, capturing lessons in personal development, career, business, personal finances, human nature, history, and philosophy." Stay calm and write on ... Discover The Writer Files Extra You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app! As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey. 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 the Adams and I discussed: Everything from growth mindset, GTD, to The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People The formulas for reading more with greater retention Why turning a podcast into a book isn't easy The importance of sticky notes, marginalia, life-changing books... And a lot more Show Notes: What You Will Learn What You Will Learn on Apple Podcasts The Sh*t They Never Taught You: What You Can Learn From Books (Amazon) The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Amazon) Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene (Amazon) What You Will Learn on Facebook What You Will Learn Instagram What You Will Learn Twitter  Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author, educator, book coach and founder of Author Accelerator, Jennie Nash, joined me this week in a special edition of the show dedicated to unearthing tools and strategies for writers on the winding, sometimes daunting journey, to finishing your big, scary book. "Writing a book is like childbirth." - Jennie Nash Jennie started her career in publishing at Random House and has over 30 years experience in all facets of the industry. She also taught at the UCLA Extension Writers' Program for 12 years and has spoken at writing conferences across the country. She's the author of seven books including a self-help book for writers – The Writer's Guide to Agony and Defeat (Amazon) – and has written hundreds of magazine articles for national publications. For nearly a decade now Jennie has been coaching authors "from inspiration to publication" (including Lisa Chron, author of Wired for Story and Story Genius, and Sam Polk, author of For the Love of Money: A Memoir), helping them to land top New York agents and book deals with major publishers. As the founder of Author Accelerator, described as "A personal trainer for your writing life," she and her team of book coaches now provide writers the blueprint so often lacking in the traditional publishing world ... including the tools, nurturing, and encouragement needed to finish their work and get it into the world successfully. In a serendipitous turn of events, after this interview Author Accelerator became a sponsor of this show, and I'll tell you all about a resource they've created just for listeners of this show during our chat. This conversation is tailor-made for writers just starting out or well along on your journey to publish. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this two part file Jennie Nash and I discussed: Why the stages of writing a book are like the stages of grief How Jennie came up with a winning formula for helping writers bring their books to life The questions so many writers forget to ask before they start writing their book The frustrations and roadblocks authors run up against in the middle of a book How to make meaningful progress toward finishing Creativity and the myth of the lone genius And why writers can't wait around to be picked Show Notes: Author Accelerator The Writer's Guide to Agony and Defeat: The 43 Worst Moments in the Writing Life and How to Get Over Them by Jennie Nash (Amazon) For the Love of Money: A Memoir by Sam Polk Wired for Story: The Writer's Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence by Lisa Cron Daisy Jones & The Six: A Novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid Author Accelerator on Facebook Jennie Nash on Twitter Author Accelerator on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation      Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Bestselling novelist, Nick Petrie, spoke with me about keeping your sanity as a writer, the importance of boredom for creativity, and how to write a thriller series. Nick's the award-winning author of the critically acclaimed Peter Ash series. His debut novel, The Drifter, won the ITW Thriller and Barry Awards, and was nominated for the Edgar, Anthony, and Hammett Awards. He won a 2016 Literary Award from the Wisconsin Library Association and was named one of Apple’s 10 Writers to Read in 2017. Light It Up was named the Best Thriller of 2018 by Apple Books and has been nominated for a Barry Award. His latest is The Breaker, the sixth in his award-winning series featuring Peter Ash, the war veteran struggling with PTSD who travels the US, "... stumbling into mysteries that only a man with his unique skill set can solve." #1 New York Times bestselling author C.J. Box said of the book, "Nonstop action at a machine-gun pace. If you aren't reading Nick Petrie, now is the time to start." Stay calm and write on ... If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews. In this file Nick Petrie and I discussed: His 25-year overnight success The challenges of running a business and writing a book a year How to "keep the faith" The rituals and routines that keep him going William Gibson's genius And more! Show Notes: NickPetrie.com The Breaker (A Peter Ash Novel) by Nick Petrie (Amazon) Nick Petrie Amazon author page Neuromancer by William Gibson (Amazon) The Gone World by Tom Sweterlitsch (Amazon) Nick Petrie on Facebook Nick Petrie on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice The award-winning mystery writer and popular crime novelist, Craig Johnson, spoke with me about his long-running Longmire series, shotgun self-realization, and how to write good books. "How am I ever gonna get seen? Write good books." — Craig Johnson Craig is the New York Times bestselling author of the Longmire mysteries, the bedrock of the hit Netflix series of the same name. His latest novel is the 16th Sheriff Walt Longmire murder mystery, Next to Last Stand, a story that centers around Custer’s Last Fight, one of the most viewed paintings in American history. "Custer's Last Fight was copied and distributed by Anheuser-Busch at a rate of over two million copies a year and destroyed in a fire at the 7th Cavalry Headquarters in Fort Bliss, Texas, in 1946 . . . Or was it?" In a starred review, Library Journal said of the book, "... Johnson lightens the atmosphere in this complex, thought-provoking mystery that highlights art and Western history, emphasizing the contrast between Native accounts and white history." Craig is also the recipient of the Western Writers of America Spur Award for fiction, the Mountain & Plains Independent Booksellers Association's Reading the West Book Award for fiction, the Nouvel Observateur Prix du Roman Noir, and the Prix SNCF du Polar. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Craig Johnson and I discussed: Why he chose to feature veterans in his latest book The wisdom behind "Choose a job you love..." How to host a virtual book tour event His special relationship with the cast and crew of the Longmire TV series And more! Show Notes: CraigAllenJohnson.com Next to Last Stand: A Longmire Mystery by Craig Johnson [Amazon] Craig Johnson Amazon author page Tinderbox: Soldier of Indira by Lou Diamond Phillips [Amazon] Craig Johnson on FaceBook Craig Johnson on Instagram Craig Johnson on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of another special edition of The Writer Files focused squarely on creativity and how to keep the creative juices flowing under duress, New York Times bestselling author, Austin Kleon, returned to talk about his journey, a wariness of technology, and his new book. "Do good work and share it with people." - Austin Kleon Austin Kleon has been deemed “one of the most interesting people on the Internet” (The Atlantic Magazine), and he is “a writer who draws,” best known for illustrated creativity manifestos Steal Like an Artist and Show Your Work! His latest, Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad (Amazon), is the third book in his "box set." It offers ten simple, timeless, practical "...rules for how to stay creative, focused, and true to yourself — for life." Important messages for writers. His work has been translated into over twenty languages and featured on NPR’s Morning Edition, PBS Newshour, and The Wall Street Journal. Mr. Kleon speaks about “creativity in the digital age” for organizations as varied as Pixar, Google, SXSW, TEDx, and The Economist. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And If you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer’s Brain you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part Two of this two part file Austin Kleon and I discussed: Why unplugging is so important for writers A return to the importance of 'productive procrastination' The unsolvable tension for creatives between connection and disconnection The author's love of being lazy Why we need to redefine productivity The zen of Getting Things Done How 'you can be woke without waking to the news' Show Notes: This podcast is produced solely by yours truly and New Media Dojo, my production moniker, and I'm incredibly thankful to you for your continued listenership and loyalty. Please leave us a comment or question and visit the archives at writerfiles.fm where I humbly ask you to support the show with an anonymous, secure donation to help us keep going with more great writerly content. For listeners who donate $25 or more and leave me a message, I will include your name and the type of writing you're working on, on air or in the show notes. Just head over to writerfiles.fm and click the Donate button. Thank you, sincerely – Kelton Please click the donate button to support the podcast with a secure PayPal donation How to Stay Creative with Bestselling Author Austin Kleon: Part One AustinKleon.com Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad by Austin Kleon (Amazon) Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon (Amazon) Show Your Work! by Austin Kleon How Bestselling Author Austin Kleon Writes: Part One Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl Getting Things Done by David Allen 'The Writer's Brain' on Productivity vs. Creativity: Part One Austin Kleon on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of another special edition of The Writer Files called "The Writer's Brain," a guest series with neuroscientist Michael Grybko, we dig further into the dreaded procrastination – a malady we all battle – what it is, how science looks at it, the difference between constructive and destructive procrastination, and some tips on how to overcome it. "Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow." – Mark Twain We're all guilty of it, let's be honest, it's really normal to procrastinate. Who among us hasn't waited until the last minute to do something tedious or uncomfortable like contest a speeding ticket, study for a test? Today, you're far more likely to grab your smartphone and search longingly for those little red notification flags from a social media app, or to pop open a rainbow colored game for that quick hit of dopamine your brain loves so much. I'm guilty of dusting and straightening every shelf and book in my office until they look conspicuously like modern art before I'll sit down to write an important email or a blog post. The truth is that procrastination is built into the human condition -- clearly we can't do everything on our to-do lists at the same time -- but why has it become so frowned upon in our culture of late? And how can we reframe procrastination since we know it's so integral to the creative process? Luckily, research scientist Michael Grybko returned to the podcast to help me find some answers from the perspective of neuroscience. Stay tuned ... This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And If you’ve missed previous episodes of 'The Writer's Brain' you can find them all in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part Two of this file Michael Grybko and I discuss: Why your inner-critic, stress, and anxiety hijack your productivity so easily Practical tips for breaking out of the wicked feedback loop of procrastination How social media, FOMO, and notifications mess with your self esteem and ability to focus Why we need to take breaks, practice mindfulness, and be nicer to ourselves How to trick yourself into being more productive And how to short circuit your amygdala, change your habits, and bootstrap incremental progress toward your goals The Show Notes: Author Accelerator Challenges on the Writer's Journey with Prominent Book Editor Peter Guzzardi: Part One Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear [Amazon] Procrastination: A Scientific Guide on How to Stop Procrastinating Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst by Robert M. Sapolsky Why Your Procrastination Might Not Be as Bad as You Think Why Your Brain Loves Procrastination ‘The Writer’s Brain’ on Productivity vs. Creativity: Part One The Best of 'The Writer's Brain' Part One: Creativity The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Two: Empathy The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Three: Storytelling The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Four: Writer’s Block The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Five: Fake News The Writer's Brain on Impostor Syndrome: Part One Productivity vs. Creativity, the Content Creator’s Catch-22 Rethink Your Definition of Productivity to Squash Uninspired Filler How to Outsmart Writer s Block with Neuroscience Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the donate button to support the podcast with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Award-winning journalist and bestselling biographer, Laurence Leamer, spoke to me about getting banned from Mar a Lago, why book proposals are a con job, and Truman Capote's Women (and terminal writer's block). Laurence is best known as the New York Times bestselling author of multiple celebrity biographies, including the trilogy, The Kennedy Women, The Kennedy Men, and Sons of Camelot. His latest, Capote's Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era, was named one of 2021's Most Anticipate Books in People, The New York Post, and Town & Country. The book has been described as an in-depth exploration of "...the complex web of relationships and scandalous true stories behind Truman Capote's never-published final novel, Answered Prayers..." Publishers Weekly wrote of the book, “Biographer Leamer (The Kennedy Women) showcases his knack for telling a rattling good tale in this vivid look at Truman Capote’s failed attempt to write ‘the greatest novel of the age.’ . . . This juicy story delivers.” Stay calm and write on ... Discover The Writer Files Extra You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app! As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, links to TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" coffee mugs anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey. 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 Laurence Leamer and I discussed: The advice, "If your books aren't controversial, you're doing it wrong" Why writers always answer the phone on the first ring Over-research and God's greatest gift to writers The difference between living and dead biography subjects And a lot more! Show Notes: Leamer.com Laurence Leamer - Wikipedia Capote's Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era By Laurence Leamer (Amazon) Laurence Leamer Author Page (Amazon) Laurence Leamer on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter 5eAZShcQzjRgNX13Y5a1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to another special edition of The Writer Files called "The Writer's Brain," a guest series with neuroscientist Michael Grybko, and in this episode we dig into the dreaded procrastination – a malady we all battle – what it is, how science looks at it, the difference between constructive and destructive procrastination, and some tips on how to overcome it. "To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan, and not quite enough time." - Leonard Bernstein We're all guilty of it, let's be honest, it's really normal to procrastinate. Who among us hasn't waited until the last minute to do something tedious or uncomfortable like contest a speeding ticket, study for a test? Today, you're far more likely to grab your smartphone and search longingly for those little red notification flags from a social media app, or to pop open a rainbow-colored game for that quick hit of dopamine your brain loves so much. I'm guilty of dusting and straightening every shelf and book in my office until they look conspicuously like modern art before I'll sit down to write an important email or a blog post. The truth is that procrastination is built into the human condition -- clearly, we can't do everything on our to-do lists at the same time -- but why has it become so frowned upon in our culture of late? And how can we reframe procrastination since we know it's so integral to the creative process? Luckily, research scientist Michael Grybko returned to the podcast to help me find some answers from the perspective of neuroscience. Stay tuned ... This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you missed previous episodes of The Writer's Brain you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part One of this file Michael Grybko and I discuss: The creative upside to "present bias" and delay How neuroscience defines procrastination Why writers often struggle with the bad kind How your brain's emotional, stress, and impulse responses can derail your productivity Why smartphones, shrinking attention spans, and "social acceleration" make it so hard to get meaningful work done And helpful hints on how to get out of that wicked feedback loop and back on track The Show Notes: 'The Writer's Brain' on Procrastination: Part Two Why Your Procrastination Might Not Be as Bad as You Think ‘The Writer’s Brain’ on Productivity vs. Creativity: Part One The Best of 'The Writer's Brain' Part One: Creativity The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Two: Empathy The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Three: Storytelling The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Four: Writer’s Block The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Five: Fake News The Writer's Brain on Impostor Syndrome: Part One ‘The Writer’s Brain’ on Impostor Syndrome: Part Two Rethink Your Definition of Productivity to Squash Uninspired Filler How to Outsmart Writer s Block with Neuroscience Kelton Reid on Twitter Support the podcast with a secure PayPal donation   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times bestselling author, Joseph Finder, took a timeout to talk with me about how to write prescient, cutting-edge suspense, his writing rituals, overcoming impostor syndrome, and how to come to terms with a business built on rejection. "My objective is not to present research...my objective is to make people turn the pages." – Joseph Finder The award-winning author is known for his "cutting-edge suspense ripped straight from the headlines." He's written 16 novels and counting, including Judgment, The Switch, Guilty Minds, The Fixer, Suspicion, and the international bestseller Killer Instinct. Two of his bestselling novels – Paranoia and High Crimes – have been turned into major motion pictures, and Vanished, Finder's instant bestseller, introduced readers to “private spy” Nick Heller. His latest is House on Fire: A Novel (A Nick Heller Novel), focusing on "... a wealthy family who owns a pharmaceutical company at the epicenter of the opioid crisis." The Washington Post said of the book, the thriller “Takes ‘ripped from the headlines’ to a new level," and The New York Times called Finder, "The master of a complex suspense formula." He is a founding member of the International Thriller Writers, as well as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Association of Former Intelligence Officers. He is a graduate of Yale College and the Harvard Russian Research Center. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey This episode of the Writer Files is brought to you by Words Matter by Wix. Looking for that burst of inspiration to break your writer's block? Or maybe you just need some quick grammar and style tips? Words Matter has tons of articles to help you become a better writer, plus invites to intensive in-person writing workshops. Visit wix.com/wordsmatter/blog to learn more.   If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Joseph Finder and I discussed: How setting himself a hard deadline helped him publish his first novel Powerful motivating factors for believable character development Why a writer's research needs to be like an iceberg Turning your writing into a ritual for success Why every novel presents its own unique challenges And the perils of selling the rights to a long-running fictional character Show Notes: Words Matter by Wix Creating Quality Content - Part 1: Research & Planning JosephFinder.com House on Fire: A Novel (A Nick Heller Novel) - by Joseph Finder [Amazon] America's Opioid Epidemic - NPR's Throughline Podcast Joseph Finder on Facebook Joseph Finder on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Decorated speculative fiction and YA author and pundit, Charlie Jane Anders, chatted with me about the genesis of storytelling, how to weather 20 years of rejection, write through hard times, and her latest how-to for writers Never Say You Can’t Survive. "Being a writer doesn't have to mean you have a cool haircut and live in Brooklyn and go to fancy literary parties. It can mean that you're just someone who enjoys making up stories ... you don't even have to publish them." – Charlie Jane Anders Charlie Jane's novel Victories Greater Than Death – the first book in a new young-adult trilogy, April, 2021 – and 2019's Locus Award winner The City in the Middle of the Night – named one of the year's best books by the Guardian and others and optioned for TV by Sony. Her 2016 novel, All the Birds in the Sky, was #5 on Time Magazine's list of the year's 10 best novels, and won the Nebula, Locus and Crawford awards. Her latest is Never Say You Can’t Survive, a book about how to use creative writing to get through hard times. It's described as "... a practical guide to storytelling [and a] ... a manual for creativity in unprecedented times." Charlie Jane's fiction and journalism have appeared in the New York Times, The Washington Post, Slate, McSweeney's, Mother Jones, Boston Review, Tor.com, Tin House, WIRED magazine, and many other places. Her TED Talk, "Go Ahead, Dream About the Future" has been viewed over 2M times. She also co-hosts the Hugo Award-winning podcast Our Opinions Are Correct with Annalee Newitz. Stay calm and write on ... Discover The Writer Files Extra You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app! As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey. 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 Charlie Jane Anders and I discussed: The importance of why "we all contain multitudes" Impostor syndrome and rubbing elbows with famous authors Her creative chameleon characteristics And why writers need to juxtapose the small and personal against the huge and epic Stay calm and write on ... Show Notes: CharlieJaneAnders.com Never Say You Can't Survive by Charlie Jane Anders Charlie Jane Anders Amazon author page Our Opinions Are Correct the Hugo Award-winning podcast TED Talk, "Go Ahead, Dream About the Future" welovebookstores.org Charlie Jane Anders on Facebook Charlie Jane Anders on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Award-winning author, poet, and Emmy-nominee, Patrick Hicks, joined me this week to talk about his unique research process, how stories choose their authors, and how to talk about The Holocaust. "Whatever scares you to write... that's what you should be writing." – Patrick Hicks Patrick is the award-winning author of over ten books, including The Collector of Names, Adoptable, This London, and the critically acclaimed novel, The Commandant of Lubizec. He is the Writer-in-Residence at Augustana University as well as a faculty member at the MFA program at Sierra Nevada University. He has been published widely in literary journals including Ploughshares, Prairie Schooner, Guernica, The Utne Reader, and many others. His poetry has appeared on NPR, The PBS NewsHour, and American Life in Poetry. The Emmy-nominated writer also hosts a weekly radio broadcast Poetry from Studio 47 that airs on NPR affiliates. Note: I’m cooking up some extras for fans of the show in the coming weeks you won’t want to miss including the option to have episodes, extras, and added insights delivered straight to your inbox, and maybe even some Writer Files merch on the way. Stay calm and write on … This week's sponsor is Neuro. Use the code WRITER at checkout for a 15% discount. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Patrick Hicks and I discussed: A roadmap to making a living as a writer How he used grants to fund the research for his latest novel Note-taking and travel for historically accurate writing What it's like to get blurbed by your heroes The circularity and universality of the human condition across eras Why great writing should always be your end goal And more! Show Notes: PatrickHicks.org In The Shadow of Dora by Patrick Hicks (Amazon) Ulysses by James Joyce (Amazon) Poetry from Studio 47 How Grant Money Funded the Research and Writing of My First Two Novels (and how it could help you too) A prized poet, Hicks nominated for an Emmy Patrick Hicks on Facebook Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Award-winning short story writer and novelist, Sarah Pinsker, talked to me about neural implants, meeting Ursula Le Guin, and her latest, We Are Satellites. Sarah Pinsker is the 2019 Nebula Award winner for Best Novel for A Song For a New Day. The lauded and eerily prescient novel was "...Set in our near-future world following a virus and violent attacks that led people to limit almost all interaction to the virtual space." Sound familiar? Her latest is We Are Satellites was named One of Buzzfeed’s Best Science Fiction Books of Spring 2021 and described as "...a fascinating novel that explores how technologies can transform family dynamics.” Sarah’s also a multi-hyphenate singer/songwriter whose Nebula and Sturgeon award-winning short fiction has appeared in Asimov’s, F&SF, as well as numerous other magazines, best-of anthologies, and been translated into multiple languages. Stay tuned after the interview for a sample of the We Are Satellites audiobook, excerpted courtesy of Penguin Random House Audio, read by Bernadette Dunne. Stay calm and write on ... Discover The Writer Files Extra You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app! As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey. 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 Sarah Pinsker and I discussed: The heartache and thrill of getting rejection letters at age 13 Her pandemic productivity blues Why she buys every indie, small press, sci-fi collection And how taking a walk can coax the words to come Show Notes: SarahPinsker.com We Are Satellites by Sarah Pinsker [Amazon] A Song for a New Day by Sarah Pinsker [Amazon] Sarah Pinsker Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice The New York Times bestselling crime novelist, Tana French, took a break to talk with me about her early training as an actress, her definition of creativity, and how to write through the tough times. "I didn't know if I could write a book. I'd written short stories and really galactically bad teenager poetry, but I'd never tried to write a book before." — Tana French The author has written eight mystery novels and is considered a master of suspense and the modern psychological thriller. Her work has been compared to writers including James Ellroy and Donna Tartt, and has been called "incandescent" by Stephen King, and "absolutely mesmerizing" by Gillian Flynn. Her novels have sold over three million copies and won numerous awards, including the Edgar and Barry awards, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Best Mystery/Thriller, and the Irish Book Award for Crime Fiction. Her latest bestseller, The Searcher, is her second stand-alone novel, and she was described by The Washington Post as "...the most important crime novelist to emerge in the past 10 years." Stay tuned for a clip from The Searcher audiobook at the break, “... excerpted courtesy [of] Penguin Random House Audio ... read by Roger Clark.” Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Tana French and I discussed: Her "galactically" bad poetry The archaeological dig that inspired “In the Woods,” her Edgar-winning 2007 debut novel How she came to riff on the Western genre in her latest And why writers need to fight off the struggle of isolation Show Notes: TanaFrench.com The Searcher: A Novel by Tana French [Amazon] Tana French Amazon page The Essential Tana French, The New York Times Tana French on FaceBook Kelton Reid on Twitter #PodcastersForJustice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Award-winning Irish author, Ruth Gilligan, spoke to me about researching the gothic wilds of Ireland, how to engineer a thriller, and her latest, The Butchers' Blessing. Ruth Gilligan is a writer and academic from Dublin and was the youngest person ever to top the Irish Bestsellers’ List. She has published five books and her most recent novel, The Butchers' Blessing, (published as The Butchers in the UK) is described as a "...haunting and unforgettable thriller brimming with secrecy, tradition, and superstition...". It won the 2022 Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize, whose judges called it "...a page-turning, roller coaster of a read.” B&N Reads called the book, "An achingly beautiful novel of family, tradition, Ireland and the deep secrets buried in all three," and it received a Starred review from Publishers Weekly. Ruth contributes literary reviews to the Irish Independent, Guardian, TLS, and LA Review of Books. She's also a Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Birmingham and is an ambassador for the global storytelling charity Narrative 4. Stay calm and write on ... Discover The Writer Files Extra You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app! As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, links to TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" coffee mugs anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below... 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 Ruth Gilligan and I discussed: How a high school writing exercise turned into a bestseller The in-depth (four-year) research process behind her latest Why her meticulous plotting is like architectural engineering How to write a thriller from four unique POVs Why writers always need to set themselves greater challenges And a lot more! Show Notes: RuthGilligan.com The Butchers’ Blessing: A Novel by Ruth Gilligan Narrative 4 Ruth Gilligan on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice President and Founder of Manhattan-based agency Lucinda Literary, Lucinda Halpern, gave me an insider’s take on why literary agents can't just be deal-makers anymore. Lucinda Halpern is a literary, lecture, and PR agent with over 15 years of experience on both the corporate and agency sides of publishing. Specializing in "books that change the way people work, behave, and live," she represents authors writing in the categories of business, health, lifestyle, popular science, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and upmarket fiction. Her agency, Lucinda Literary, boasts a roster of authors including New York Times bestselling authors Susan Peirce Thompson (Bright Line Eating), Chris Bailey (The Productivity Project; Hyperfocus), Cait Flanders (The Year of Less), Paul Jarvis (Company of One), the new work of Nicola Kraus (The Nanny Diaries) and Jake Wood (Once a Warrior). She also shares publishing insights and motivation for writers and hosts both live and online programs for aspiring authors. Stay calm and write on ... Discover The Writer Files Extra You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app! As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey. 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 Lucinda Halpern and I discussed: Her mission statement, ethos, and the future of publishing How good agents build lifelong marriages with their authors Why you don't have to be famous to get published Counterintuitive tips about the industry The old-fashioned art of crafting a book And more! Show Notes: Ready to get your book noticed? Get Lucinda's essential guide for writers: The 6 Things Every Book Pitch Needs – Click here to receive your guide: lucindaliterary.com/subscribe How to Land a Book Deal with Agent & Author Lucinda Halpern: Part Two Lucinda Literary on Medium Lucinda Literary on Facebook Lucinda Literary on Instagram Lucinda Literary on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of this file the top-ranked New York literary agent, Mark Gottlieb – of Trident Media Group – returned to enlighten me about all things publishing including what it's like to work at one of the world's leading agencies, how to stand out as a writer, and the kinds of projects he's looking for right now. "When approaching a publisher without that built-in platform, all you can really say to them is this is a great book. Please make an editorial evaluation." - Mark Gottlieb Mark grew up around books and bestselling authors, and the writing life had an influence on him from an early age. Inspired to go into the family business, he graduated with a degree in writing, literature & publishing, and began his career at Penguin. He's since gone on to become one of the top-ranked agents on Publishers Marketplace and has represented numerous award-winning and New York Times bestselling authors. Trident Media Group is a prominent New York agency that represents a diverse stable of over 1,000 bestselling and emerging authors across a wide range of genres in fiction and nonfiction. Mark has optioned books for both film and TV and is actively building a client list of authors at TMG. He previously ran their audiobook department, and has worked in foreign rights. He has a passion for working directly with authors to help them manage and build their careers using the unique resources available to him at one of the world's leading literary agencies. If you're interested in an insider's take on how to get traditionally published today, stick around, this is a good one. This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And If you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer Files you can find them all in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in. In Part Two of this file Mark Gottlieb and I discussed: How to stand out as a writer today (including the importance of platform, timing, and talent) Why authors can't put the cart before the horse and the difference between selling non-fiction and fiction manuscripts The secrets of successful authors that aspiring writers can steal How a literary agent can improve an author's marketing and promotion plan The most critical time leading up to your "book's birthday" All the different ways big agencies think of your work beyond the book deal And Mark's sage advice and tips for authors ready to seek representation Show Notes: Author Accelerator Publishing Secrets from Top NY Literary Agent Mark Gottlieb: Part One Mark Gottlieb at Trident Media Group Trident Media Group Trident Media Group: Submissions Link LiteraryAgentMarkgottlieb.com - Mark's blog with author resources about all things writing, literature and publishing Publishers Marketplace How Professional Comedy Writer & Author James Breakwell Writes: Part One The Long Flight Home by Alan Hlad Autocomplete: The Book by Justin Hook Mark Gottlieb on Instagram Mark Gottlieb on Facebook Mark Gottlieb on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Internationally bestselling author, Matt Haig, spoke with me about how the novelist became an accidental "mental health expert," why writers need resilience, and the process behind The Midnight Library. "The only reader you're ever going to truly know ... is yourself." – Matt Haig Matt is the author of 20 books, including the #1 bestselling memoir Reasons to Stay Alive, five novels, including How to Stop Time, and several award-winning children’s books. His work has been translated into over 40 languages. His latest novel is The Midnight Library, a runaway, #1 bestseller and reader favorite of 2020. It was a Goodreads Choice Awards Best Fiction Book of 2020, a Best Book of the Year by The Washington Post, Amazon, the New York Public Library, among many others. The New York Times said of the book, "An absorbing ... vision of limitless possibility, of new roads taken, of new lives lived, of a whole different world available to us somehow, somewhere, [perhaps] exactly what’s wanted in these troubled and troubling times.” Stay calm and write on … **Audio excerpted courtesy Penguin Random House Audio from The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, read by Carey Mulligan. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Matt Haig and I discussed: His superhero origins and the blog post that became a book How to write "like no one's watching" Inconsistent routines and the power of deadlines Why writers need to surprise themselves How he got Carey Mulligan to record his audiobook And more! Show Notes: MattHaig.com The Midnight Library: A Novel by Matt Haig (Amazon) Matt Haig Amazon author page On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King Matt Haig on Instagram Matt Haig on Facebook Matt Haig on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt Haig reads an excerpt from The Midnight Library, backed by an original Storybound remix with Robert Wynia, and sound design and arrangement by Jude Brewer. Robert Wynia is a founding member of the Portland band Floater. Known for their progressive concept albums, Floater is famous for incorporating stylized storytelling. Wynia also releases music under his own name and released his book Night Walks with its own accompanying soundtrack in 2020. Storybound comes to you from The Podglomerate and Lit Hub Radio. Season 4 is some of their most inspired work yet, so be sure to subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or wherever you tune in. Matt Haig is the author of 20 books including the #1 bestselling memoir, Reasons to Stay Alive, five novels – including How to Stop Time – and several award-winning children’s books. His work has been translated into over 40 languages. His latest novel is The Midnight Library, a runaway, #1 bestseller and reader favorite of 2020. It was a Goodreads Choice Awards Best Fiction Book of 2020, a Best Book of the Year by The Washington Post, Amazon, the New York Public Library, among many others. The New York Times said of the book, "An absorbing ... vision of limitless possibility, of new roads taken, of new lives lived, of a whole different world available to us somehow, somewhere, [perhaps] exactly what’s wanted in these troubled and troubling times.” Stay calm and write on … [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] Show Notes: How NY Times Bestselling Author Matt Haig Writes MattHaig.com The Midnight Library: A Novel by Matt Haig (Amazon) Matt Haig Amazon author page Matt Haig on Instagram Matt Haig on Facebook Matt Haig on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

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

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

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

The internationally bestselling author of over 35 novels, Jeffery Deaver, took a few minutes to discuss his advice on how to write emotionally engaging fiction, the merits of plotters vs. pantsers, and a 5-step process for writing your novel. "Rejection is just a speed bump ... it's not a brick wall. Keep at it." – Jeffery Deaver Jeffery is a former journalist, musician, and attorney best known for his Lincoln Rhyme series – now a hit NBC TV show – and the novel, The Bone Collector, adapted for the big screen starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. The "master of suspense" has been nominated for seven Edgar Awards and gone on to sell 50 million books worldwide, translated into 35 languages. His latest thriller is a sequel to The Never Game – The Goodbye Man (A Colter Shaw Novel Book 2) – and once again features Colter Shaw, a rugged survivalist and "reward-seeker." One of Bookpage's "Most Anticipated Mysteries and Thrillers" of 2020, Publishers Weekly said of the book, “Deaver balances suspense and plausibility perfectly ... This is a perfect jumping-on point for readers new to one of today’s top contemporary thriller writers.” Stay calm and write on ... 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 Jeffery Deaver and I discussed: Why suspense writers are like airline pilots Wisdom from Joyce Carol Oates and the importance of outlining How having your novel read aloud to you can improve your prose A simple formula for writing "roller-coaster" fiction And much more! Show Notes: JefferyDeaver.com How NY Times Bestselling Thriller Writer Jeffery Deaver Writes: Part Two The Goodbye Man (A Colter Shaw Novel) by Jeffery Deaver [Amazon] Jeffery Deaver Amazon author page NaturalReader app Jeffery Deaver on Instagram  Jeffery Deaver on Facebook Jeffery Deaver on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Award-winning documentarian, Mimi deGruy, joined me and author Adam Skolnick for a deep dive into the genesis of her documentary exploring the legacy and environmental activism of her late husband, trailblazing ocean filmmaker Mike deGruy. “When Mike died, I felt like he left in mid-conversation, and I knew that he had so much more to say,” – Mimi deGruy Mike deGruy was a lauded filmmaker, biologist, and activist, who pushed the boundaries of cinematography and diving technology to explore never-before-seen ocean life and share it with the world. "In 2012, deGruy died tragically at age 60 in a helicopter crash in Australia while filming for [Academy Award® winning] director James Cameron." – KCRW The documentary, “Diving Deep: The Life and Times of Mike deGruy” was crowd-funded, directed, produced, and written by Mimi, Mike’s widow and filmmaking partner. "Told through the eyes of his wife ... the film celebrates [Mike’s] life, career, and what he passionately believed: we are destroying the ocean before we even know what’s there." The Hollywood Reporter said about the film: “It [succeeds] as a touching personal reminiscence and as an understated but effective environmental manifesto.” The film opened the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in 2019, and won Best Film at the Ocean Film Festival, Audience Favorite at the Aspen Mountain Film Festival, and many other awards. It is available across all platforms including Apple TV/iTunes and Amazon rentals. Adam Skolnick is the award-winning journalist and author covering adventure sports, environmental issues, travel, and human rights for The New York Times and other outlets. He is the author of One Breath: Freediving, Death and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits, the ghostwriter and narrator of David Goggins’ smash hit memoir and audiobook Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds, and he is a co-host on the Rich Roll Podcast. As a bonus, Adam and I kick off the show by discussing the legacy of Beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Stay calm and write on ... Discover The Writer Files Extra You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app! As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey. Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox Preview a sample of a podcast at the break from this week's sponsor Look Closer: The Found Fiction Podcast, more at foundfiction.org. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews. In this file Mimi deGruy, Adam Skolnick, and I also discussed: Why friends and family described Mike as a "human exclamation mark" The single piece of footage that inspired Mimi to make the documentary How the BP oil spill cemented the filmmaker's life mission The fascinating arc of Mike's career Why his spirit was undeterred by a rare shark attack And more! Show Notes: “Diving Deep: The Life and Times of Mike deGruy” Diving Deep on Facebook Diving Deep on Instagram Diving Deep on Twitter AdamSkolnick.com Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds – by Author David Goggins [Amazon] One Breath: Freediving, Death and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits - by Adam Skolnick [Amazon] How to Ghostwrite a Bestseller with Author Adam Skolnick: Part One Adam Skolnick on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice The New York Times bestselling Southern crime writer, Ace Atkins, took a minute to talk with me about his superhero origins as a journalist, the complicated, dark history of the American South, and the challenge and thrill of changing POVs in the novel. "Make sure you're picking [your genre and subject] for the right reason, that you're picking something that's your personal obsession. When you do that you're never really working, you're really just having fun." — Ace Atkins The author has written 26 books, including ten in his country noir, Quinn Colson series, and eight bestselling novels in the continuation of Robert B. Parker’s iconic Spenser series. He has been nominated for every major award in crime fiction, including the Edgar three times. HBO recently optioned his Quinn Colson novels for a series that's currently in development and Ace's second novel for the Robert B. Parker estate, Wonderland, was made into the film "Spenser Confidential" starring Mark Wahlberg and directed by Peter Berg. The former newspaper reporter (and SEC football player) also writes essays and investigative pieces for publications including Garden & Gun, The Wall Street Journal, and Outside Magazine. The Revelators is the 10th Quinn Colson Novel a series Men’s Journal called, "The Deep South’s true detective," and NY Times bestselling author Megan Abbott dubbed, “Ace Atkins’ Quinn Colson series is, quite simply, the best in crime fiction today..." Stay tuned for a clip from The Revelators audiobook at the break, “... excerpted courtesy [of] Penguin Random House Audio ... read by MacLeod Andrews.” Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Ace Atkins and I discussed: How his writing has been influenced by '70s noir Why his latest work echoes social issues of the deep South The music that helps him create Dinner with Dashiell Hammett And how to pick the best genre for your writing voice! Show Notes: AceAtkins.com The Revelators (A Quinn Colson Novel) by Ace Atkins [Amazon] Ace Atkins Amazon author page Ace Atkins on FaceBook Ace Atkins on Instagram Ace Atkins on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter #PodcastersForJustice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Journalist and Founder of the bestselling Six-Word Memoirs series, Larry Smith, spoke to me about his evolution as a journalist, TEDxing the Six-Word Memoir, and famous micro-memoirists. In the early days of Twitter, with a single tweet in 2006 – “Can you describe your life in six words?" – Larry Smith launched what would go on to become a runaway global phenomenon. The Six-Word Memoir Project has gone on to become a bestselling series of books, live event programs, a board game, and a popular lesson plan taught by teachers around the world. The 10th book in the series, A Terrible, Horrible, No Good Year: Hundreds of Stories on the Pandemic, offers a snapshot of unique viewpoints of kids, parents, and teachers sharing their six-word pandemic stories. The book also features numerous notable contributors including Piper Kerman (Smith’s wife and author of Orange Is the New Black), W. Kamau Bell (CNN commentator and comedian), Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat, Pray, Love), and many others. Stay calm and write on ... Discover The Writer Files Extra You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app! As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey. 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 Larry Smith and I discussed: Interning with Dave Eggers at SF Weekly and launching Smith Magazine Shortened attention spans and the influence of Ernest Hemingway The power of storytelling for processing complex emotions Why writers need to get outside and take a walk And a lot more Show Notes: A Terrible, Horrible, No Good Year: Hundreds of Stories on the Pandemic by Six-Word Memoirs [Amazon] sixwordmemoirs.com sixwordsmith.com sixinschools.com Larry Smith on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prolific, award-winning, #1 New York Times and international bestselling author, Sherrilyn Kenyon, joined me this week to talk about what it's like to be a literary legend with over 70 million copies of her books in print in over 100 countries. "To me, the characters are why I write. They're family. And I love the worlds." - Sherrilyn Kenyon Sherrilyn is considered one of the most popular and influential writers in the world and the multi-genre author is best known for urban fantasy and paranormal romance, including her popular Dark-Hunters series (Amazon), now also a NY Times bestselling manga. Since her debut in the mid-90s she has placed more than 80 novels on the NY Times list in all formats and genres, including YA, children’s books, coloring books, historical romance (under the pen name Kinley MacGregor), and even graphic novels – her Lords of Avalon novels were adapted by Marvel. Ms. Kenyon's path to bestselling novelist was winding one, as you'll hear, but through all the ups and downs she has cultivated an incredibly loyal fan community who call themselves Menyons who even design tattoos in honor of her more popular genre-bending books. Her latest bestseller in the expansive Dark-Hunters series, titled Stygian, is described as a "...blend of tortured heroes, strong heroines, [and] historical mythology...." Stygian was named one of best Science Fiction & Fantasy of the year by Kobo and Publishers Weekly has called her work, "A delicious balance of suspense and sensuality." This episode of The Writer Files is brought to you by the team at Author Accelerator. Author Accelerator book coaches give writers feedback, accountability, and support while you write, so you can get that your idea out of your head and onto the page. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In Part One of this file Sherrilyn Kenyon and I discussed: How she started out as one of the first female web developers in the '90s Why the author's determination and resilience through good times and bad led to her success (and superstition) How she stays sane, focused, and organized writing hundreds of characters across multiple genres (and how she still finds her car keys) On writer's block and why the author set aside an unfinished book for ten years before finishing it Show Notes: Author Accelerator Audible is Offering a Free Audiobook Download with a 30-day Trial: Grab Your Free Audiobook Here – audibletrial.com/writerfiles How New York Times Bestselling Author Sherrilyn Kenyon Writes: Part Two Sherrilyn Kenyon's Amazon Author Page Stygian: A Dark-Hunter Novel by Sherrilyn Kenyon SherrilynKenyon.com Sherrilyn Kenyon on Facebook Sherrilyn Kenyon on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Please click the PayPal Donate button to support The Writer Files with a secure PayPal donation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices