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

https://www.megmason.com/

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Oct 30, 2026 51 min

How International Bestselling Author Meg Mason Writes

Show notes

Internationally bestselling author Meg Mason spoke with us about her journalism origins, the winding road to bestseller, how to navigate bad reviews, and her latest novel SOPHIE, STANDING THERE.

Meg Mason is the author of You Be Mother and the critically acclaimed Sorrow and Bliss, which became an international bestseller in 2020. Winner of the British Book Industry Book of the Year, and shortlisted for the Women’s Prize, it has since been translated into more than 30 languages.

Her latest is Sophie, Standing There, set behind the scenes of a literary festival; the novel follows Sophie Pattison, a cheerful but increasingly invisible staffer whose life has quietly unraveled. A starred Library Journal review called the novel “a special treat for book lovers,” and Mason features real authors in the novel.

Ann Patchett praised the book as “a moving examination of what it means to be alone in the world, and what it means to find connection…by turns, heartbreaking, hilarious, and deeply hopeful. Meg Mason is a dazzling talent.”

Meg’s first career was in journalism, beginning at The Times of London, later writing for Vogue, ELLE, GQ, Sunday Style, The New Yorker’s Daily Shouts, among others.

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In this file Meg Mason, Milena, and I discussed:

The viral moment that changed everything for Sorrow and Bliss

How to write in third person ventriloquist

The parasocial reader-author dynamic at the heart of her new book

Hanging out with Ann Patchett

The discipline required to write seriously

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

Sophie, Standing There by Meg Mason [Amazon]

Meg Mason Amazon Author Page⁠

https://almakatsubooks.com/

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Oct 29, 2026 46 min

How NY Times Bestselling Author Alma Katsu Writes

Show notes

New York Times bestselling author Alma Katsu spoke with us about her 30-plus-year career in intelligence, her deep expertise in AI and social media disinformation, and her new techno-horror novel INCARNATE.

Alma Katsu’s books have won and been nominated for multiple prestigious awards, including the Stoker, Goodreads Readers Choice, and International Thriller Writers, and have appeared on numerous Best Books lists, including NPR, the Observer, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Goodreads, and Amazon.

Prior to becoming a full-time novelist, she spent 35 years working as a senior intelligence analyst for several U.S. agencies, including the CIA and NSA.

Her latest is Incarnate, described as a terrifying reimagining of The Picture of Dorian Gray for the internet age. Library Journal wrote of the book, “A deal with the devil is reworked for the online age, with a healthy dose of body horror joining AI. The combination makes the story uniquely terrifying.”

Author of Japanese Gothic, Kylie Lee Baker called it, “A deliciously addictive techno-horror that you can’t look away from.”

Alma’s debut novel, The Taker, was selected by Booklist as one of the top 10 debut novels of 2011. She is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins Writing Program and Brandeis University, where she studied with novelist John Irving.

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In this file Alma Katsu, Milena, and I discussed:

Why intelligence work provided strong preparation for fiction

Her evolution as a writer and path to horror

How she chose Dorian Gray as a framework for her latest

Her concerns with recent developments in social media and generative AI

How she got a Stephen King blurb

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

Incarnate by Alma Katsu [Amazon]

Alma Katsu Amazon Author Page⁠

Alma Katsu on Facebook

Alma Katsu on Substack

Alma Katsu on Instagram⁠⁠

⁠Isabel Cañas Amazon Author Page⁠

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Oct 23, 2026 49 min

How Bestselling Author Isabel Cañas Writes: Part Two

Show notes

Bestselling author and historian Isabel Cañas returned to speak with us about the influence of Latin American history and family lore on her writing, the stakes of historical fiction, and her YA debut, THE HOUSE OF GARDENIAS.

Isabel Cañas is the bestselling and critically acclaimed author of The Hacienda, Vampires of El Norte, and The Possession of Alba Díaz.

Her fourth novel is The House of Gardenias, and her YA debut. “Set in revolutionary-era Mexico, the novel follows sixteen-year-old Minerva Treviño as she escapes an abusive home and begins a new life as a lady's maid to a wealthy widow.”

#1 NY Times-bestselling author Marissa Meyer said of the book, "This is gothic storytelling with teeth: a lyrical and devastating tale of one maid caught in a spiderweb of loyalty, courage, revolution, and monsters both dead and alive."

Isabel holds a doctorate in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations and writes fiction inspired by her research and heritage.

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In Part Two of this file Isabel Cañas, Milena, and I discussed:

“The existential dread” of the week before pub date

How she came of age as a writer during the YA fantasy boom

Why she pivoted to adult horror early in her career

The familial inspiration behind her latest novel

How she walked away from her very first YA offer

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

⁠⁠isabelcanas.com⁠⁠

The House of Gardenias by Isabel Cañas [Amazon]

⁠⁠Isabel Cañas on TikTok⁠

⁠⁠Isabel Cañas on Instagram⁠⁠

https://www.acevedowrites.com/

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Oct 22, 2026 40 min

How National Book Award-Winner and NYT Bestselling Author Elizabeth Acevedo Writes

Show notes

New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Acevedo spoke with us about her journey from National Poetry Slam champion to winning the the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, and her new YA novel, ANGER IS ONLY A SHADOW.

Elizabeth Acevedo is a renowned poet and New York Times-bestselling author of Clap When You Land, With the Fire on High and The Poet X, which won the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, the Michael L. Printz Award, and the Pura Belpré Award, among many others.

Her first YA novel in six years, Anger Is Only a Shadow, is her most personal offering yet. Inspired by her experience leading poetry workshops for girls awaiting adjudication at the Youth Services Center in D.C., as well as loving and caring for someone with schizophrenia.

Publishers Weekly, in a Starred Review called the book “...a striking and nuanced portrait of the realities of juvenile detention and mental illness.”

Elizabeth is a National Poetry Slam champion and holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Maryland.

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In this file Elizabeth Acevedo, Milena, and I discussed:

How she performed in ~100 poetry shows/year, visiting nearly every U.S. state over 2 years

The impostor syndrome she felt during her MFA in poetry

What it felt like to go from “slinging chapbooks” to having a publisher

Why she still reads every novel aloud to herself before submission

How she alternates between the two manuscripts in 2–3 week blocks to maintain perspective

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

Anger Is Only a Shadow by Elizabeth Acevedo (Amazon)

Elizabeth Acevedo Amazon Author Page

Elizabeth Acevedo on Instagram

Isabel Cañas Amazon Author Page

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Oct 16, 2026 37 min

How Bestselling Author Isabel Cañas Writes: Part One - Redux

Show notes

Mexican-American writer and historian, Isabel Cañas, spoke to me about how to binge-write a novel, her fear of the dark, and swinging for the fences with her gothic debut "The Hacienda."

Isabel is a speculative fiction writer, and world traveler – currently working on her Ph.D. dissertation in medieval Islamic literature – who writes fiction inspired by her research and heritage.

Her debut novel is the highly-anticipated gothic, The Hacienda, "... a haunted house story with a Latinx refresh .... partly inspired by a home Isabel lived in when she was a child — one she still believes to this day is haunted."

Described by The Washington Post as, “[A] gothic tale of doomed love and vengeful spirits." NY Times bestselling author Roshani Chokshi called the book, “A hypnotic, sinister tale that is equal parts terrifying and luxurious ... a nightmare lined with velvet.”

In this file Isabel Cañas and I discussed:

• Writing fantasy fan fiction and her convoluted juvenilia
• Why horror demands vulnerability from the author
• On haunted houses and ghosts of colonialism and diaspora
• Zero-drafting
• How to write 4000 words a day
• And a lot more!

Stay calm and write on ...

Show Notes:

⁠isabelcanas.com⁠

⁠The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas⁠ [Amazon]

⁠Isabel Cañas on TikTok

⁠Isabel Cañas on Instagram⁠

https://www.andrehardy.com/

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Oct 14, 2026 33 min

How Bestselling Debut Novelist Andre Hardy Writes

Show notes

Bestselling crime novelist and former NFL running back Andre Hardy spoke with us about the slim odds of going from professional athlete to published novelist, writing through therapy, and his debut, TEAR THE CITY DOWN.

Andre Hardy is a critically acclaimed debut crime novelist, former NFL running back, and a member of the International Thriller Writers.

Described as a novel for fans of S.A. Cosby and Walter Mosley, TEAR THE CITY DOWN follows Coltrane Davis, a fixer for a crooked political kingmaker who wants out of the life and a chance to be present for his daughter.

New York Times bestselling author Ace Atkins called it, “A kickass debut from a bold new voice in crime fiction…. This novel is the stuff of lean, mean, California dreams."

Andre’s essays, interviews, and critical analysis have been published in L.A. Tribe Magazine, Lunch Ticket, and The Los Angeles Review of Books.

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In this file Andre Hardy, Milena, and I discussed:

How he found writing after his NFL career

Channeling the spirit of John Coltrane

Why writers need to subdue the inner critic

What he learned chasing his debut novel

The thick skin needed to pursue greatness

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

Tear the City Down by Andre Hardy (Amazon)

Andre Hardy on Instagram

https://www.chinamieville.net/

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Oct 9, 2026 40 min

How NY Times Bestselling Author China Miéville Writes

Show notes

New York Times bestselling author China Miéville spoke with us about his career origins, philosophy on genre, practical writing advice, and the grueling evolution of his latest novel, THE ROUSE.

China Miéville is an award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of fiction and nonfiction. His novels include The City & The City, Embassytown, and Perdido Street Station. A recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship for fiction, he has won the World Fantasy, Hugo, and Arthur C. Clarke awards, among others.

China’s latest novel, The Rouse, is a decade-spanning epic about a secret military unit trying to channel supernatural forces. The 1,200+ page novel 20 years in the making, has been described by peers as his magnum opus — a label he accepts with humility but did not coin himself.

China Miéville has a PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics and

his nonfiction includes a study of international law and a history of the Russian Revolution.

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In this file China Miéville, Milena, and I discussed:

How he finally completed his 20-year labor of love

Why the writing process made him ill at points

On genre jumping, and literary fiction vs. "other stuff” snobbery

Why he believes that revealing that a book has a twist is "violence" against the reader's experience

How to trick yourself into writing a novel

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

The Rouse by China Miéville (Amazon)

https://www.jenevarose.com/

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Oct 1, 2026 45 min

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jeneva Rose Writes: Part Two

Show notes

#1 New York Times bestselling author Jeneva Rose returns to speak with us about motherhood and creativity, her transition from thrillers to horror, and her highly anticipated novella collection, SOMETIMES I SCARE MYSELF.

Thriller icon Jeneva Rose is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of several novels, including the multi-million-copy bestseller The Perfect Marriage. Her work has been translated into more than 30 languages and optioned for film and TV.

Her latest bestseller and horror debut, Sometimes I Scare Myself: A Collection of Horror, is described as three novellas spanning the horror-comedy, haunted house, and slasher subgenres.

Jeneva Rose has a background in social media, digital, and email marketing. She became a full-time author in March 2021, and has amassed over one million followers across all social media platforms, including TikTok where she’s known as “Mother Goose.”

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In this file Jeneva Rose, Milena, and I discussed:

How she channeled postpartum anxiety into her latest

The biggest difference between writing horror vs. thrillers

Her favorite place to do secret book signings

When we can expect to see The Perfect Marriage adaptation

Her philosophy on persevering through rejection

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

Sometimes I Scare Myself: A Collection of Horror by Jeneva Rose (Amazon)

Jeneva Rose Amazon Author Page

Jeneva Rose on Facebook

Jeneva Rose on Instagram

Jeneva Rose on TikTok

Jeneva Rose on Twitter

⁠Jeneva Rose Amazon Author Page⁠

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Sep 24, 2026 41 min

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jeneva Rose Writes: Part One - Redux

Show notes

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Jeneva Rose, spoke with us about betting on herself, spurning the crown of “Queen of Twists,” her viral social media fame and latest post-apocalyptic romance, DATING AFTER THE END OF THE WORLD

I am joined by a co-host this week, none other than The Book Babe, Milena Gonzalez.

Jeneva Rose is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of several novels, including the multi-million copy bestseller, The Perfect Marriage. Her work has been translated into more than 30 languages and optioned for film and TV.

Her latest novel is DATING AFTER THE END OF THE WORLD (October 1, 2025), a post-apocalyptic, zombie, enemies-to-lovers romance. Dating After The End of the World was named an Amazon First Reads pick and a #1 New Release in Romantic Comedy.

Jeneva Rose has a background in social media, digital, and email marketing. She became a full-time author in March 2021, and has amassed over one million followers across all social media platforms, including TikTok where she’s known as “Mother Goose.”

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In this file Jeneva Rose, Milena Gonzalez, and I discussed:

How she overcame the odds, and 500 rejections, to sign two major publishing deals

Writing with a new baby on board

Turning hate mail into a laughable social media saga

Her inspiration for the latest

The unwavering support of her husband

Hanging out with Colleen Hoover

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

⁠jenevarose.com⁠

⁠Dating After the End of the World⁠– October 1, 2025 by Jeneva Rose (Amazon)

⁠Jeneva Rose on Facebook⁠

⁠Jeneva Rose on Instagram⁠

⁠Jeneva Rose on TikTok⁠

⁠Jeneva Rose on Twitter⁠

⁠Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer⁠

⁠diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram⁠

⁠Kelton Reid on Twitter⁠

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Sep 22, 2026 40 min

How Bestselling Author Ellen O’Clover Writes

Show notes

Bestselling author Ellen O’Clover spoke with us about her career as a copywriter, her writing process, making the transition from YA to adult romance, and her latest novel IF NOT YOU.

Ellen O’Clover is the acclaimed author of The Heartbreak Hotel—a BOTM selection, instant indie bestseller, and one of NPR’s 2025 “Books We Love.” She studied creative writing at Johns Hopkins University.

Her latest novel, If Not You, is described as an “...honest and heartfelt love story [with] the witty, down-to-earth, timeless vibes of the classic 90s and 2000s rom-coms.”

Rachel Lynn Solomon, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Extracurricular, said of the author, “Ellen O'Clover is one of my favorite writers — her books leave me in perpetual awe….The romance genre is radically lucky to have Ellen's voice in it.”

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In this file Ellen O’Clover, Milena, and I discussed:

Getting a blurb from our friend Jodi Picoult

Why she made the shift from pantser to plotter

How she crafts her emotionally driven fiction

What she mined from her copywriting career for the latest

Meeting your readers where they are

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

https://ellenoclover.com/

If Not You By Ellen O’Clover (Amazon)

Ellen O’Clover Amazon Author Page

Ellen O’Clover on Substack

Ellen O’Clover on TikTok

Ellen O’Clover on Instagram

Jodi Picoult Amazon Author Page

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Sep 18, 2026 38 min

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jodi Picoult Writes: Part Two

Show notes

#1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult returns to speak with us about her research process, writing habits, book bans, recurring characters, and her 30th novel, HOLLOW BONES.

Jodi Picoult is the award-winning and bestselling author of 30 novels, including most recently the #1 bestseller By Any Other Name. Her landmark novel 19 MINUTES was recently named the most banned book in the United States in a report by PEN America.

Her 30th novel is Hollow Bones, also a #1 bestseller, and a book that “explores mothers and daughters, gender bias in healthcare, and catastrophe and consequence.”

In a starred review, Kirkus called the book, “An intricate, twisty family drama spanning decades . . . Fans of My Sister’s Keeper will . . . be glad to hear a character from that book is back. . . . The queen of social activist novels has done it again.”

With over 60 million books in print, Jodi's books have been translated into forty languages. Her co-adaptation of the musical Austenland is currently in development.

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In this file Jodi Picoult, Milena, and I discussed:

Why she took and failed a lie detector test researching her latest book

The never-ending book tour and surviving on one meal a day

How she defends free speech while maintaining 1.5M social media followers

Why there’s no silver bullet after finishing a book and signing with an agent

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

jodipicoult.com

Hollow Bones: A Novel By Jodi Picoult (Amazon)

Jodi Picoult on Facebook

Jodi Picoult on Twitter

Jodi Picoult on Instagram

Jodi Picoult on TikTok

⁠⁠Jodi Picoult Amazon Author Page⁠⁠

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Sep 17, 2026 37 min

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jodi Picoult Writes: Part One - Redux Bonus

Show notes

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Jodi Picoult, spoke with me about writing for Wonder Woman, adapting books for musical theater, and the question of Shakespeare's true authorship in her upcoming novel BY ANY OTHER NAME.

Jodi Picoult is the bestselling author of 30 novels, including landmark titles such as Mad Honey – her most recent 1 million-copy bestseller – Wish You Were Here, A Spark of Light, and Small Great Things. 40 million copies of her books are in print worldwide and have been translated into 34 languages.

Her forthcoming novel is BY ANY OTHER NAME (on sale 8/20; Ballantine), described as a novel about two women, centuries apart – one of whom is the real author of Shakespeare’s plays – who are both forced to hide behind another name.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kristin Hannah said of the book, “You’ll fall in love with Emilia Bassano, the unforgettable heroine based on a real woman that Picoult brings vividly to life in her brilliantly researched new novel.” Elle called it, “[An] inspiring work of feminist literature inspired by real historical accounts.”

Jodi was also co-librettist for the stage musical adaptation of her young adult novel Between the Lines (which premiered Off-Broadway in Summer 2022), the co-librettist of the musical BREATHE, the co-librettist of the musical adaptation of The Book Thief, and she is currently at work on an adaptation of Austenland.

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In this file Jodi Picoult and I discussed:

What's changed and what hasn't for women (in theater) over 400+ years?

The best time to break an arm for an author

How she works in cycles for her books

Why her kids made her write for Wonder Woman

The conundrum of a famous playwright who didn’t own a single book

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

⁠⁠jodipicoult.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠By Any Other Name: A Novel⁠⁠ By Jodi Picoult (Amazon)

⁠⁠WAS SHAKESPEARE A WOMAN?⁠⁠ – Elizabeth Winkler for The Atlantic

⁠⁠Jodi Picoult on Facebook⁠⁠

⁠⁠Jodi Picoult on Twitter⁠⁠

⁠⁠Jodi Picoult on Instagram⁠⁠

⁠⁠Jodi Picoult on TikTok⁠

https://www.jessicamgoldstein.com/

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Sep 11, 2026 35 min

How Critically Acclaimed Debut Novelist Jessica Goldstein Writes

Show notes

Critically acclaimed debut novelist Jessica Goldstein spoke with us about her career path from teen mag intern to freelance culture writer, time travel, and her nostalgic debut, RETRO.

Jessica M. Goldstein is a journalist, humorist, and longtime contributor to Vulture, where she has recapped ‘Emily in Paris,’ ‘Hacks,’ ‘Wednesday,’ and ‘The White Lotus.’ Her work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Marie Claire, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, and more.

Her highly anticipated debut, Retro, is described as “Party Down meets one of those great George Saunders short stories about how weird and dystopian work is. A little White Lotus, a little Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.”

In a starred review, Kirkus declared the book “a nuanced, biting cautionary tale about how not staying present can erase our very selves.”

Jessica also publishes a weekly Substack newsletter, The Retro Report, where she shares vintage mood-based recommendations for what to read, watch, listen to, meditate on, and obsess over.

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In this file Jessica Goldstein, Milena, and I discussed:

The origins of her debut novel and how she snagged an agent

Getting long-listed for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize

Her intense nostalgia for the "Before" times

Why you need to opt out of the imagined timeline of becoming an author

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app foriOS,Android,Web

https://retrotheagency.com/

Retro: A Novel By Jessica Goldstein (Amazon)

The Retro Report on Substack

Jessica Goldstein on Twitter

Jessica Goldstein on Facebook

https://victoriaaveyard.com/

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Sep 10, 2026 43 min

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Victoria Aveyard Writes

Show notes

#1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Aveyard spoke with us about her journey from USC screenwriting to publishing, her writing process, and her upcoming adult fantasy debut, TEMPEST.

Victoria Aveyard is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the RED QUEEN series and the REALM BREAKER trilogy. Her books have sold over eight million copies and been published in more than 40 languages.

Her highly anticipated adult fantasy debut, Tempest, is the first book in The Lyrian Sea duology. Set against the fall of the Golden Age of Piracy, the book follows a former noblewoman facing execution for treason unless she helps the Empire hunt down its greatest enemy.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Yarros said of the book, “Victoria Aveyard's first foray into adult fantasy is a triumphant, epic adventure on the high seas. What an exciting, captivating read to spend your weekend with!”

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In this file Victoria Aveyard, Milena, and I discussed:

Her deliberate pivot in both creative growth and reader demand

How she sold her debut novel within two weeks of going on submission

The distinct differences between YA and Adult fiction

What her screenwriting background taught her about fast-paced storytelling

Why fanfiction provides writers an early anonymous feedback loop

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app foriOS,Android,Web

PLOT TWIST podcast

Tempest : A NovelBy Victoria Aveyard (Amazon)

Victoria Aveyard Amazon Author Page

Victoria Aveyard on TikTok

Victoria Aveyard on Instagram

https://kevincmorris.com/

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Sep 4, 2026 39 min

How Acclaimed Debut Author Kevin C. Morris Writes Bonus

Show notes

Acclaimed debut author Kevin C. Morris spoke with us about exploring the Alaskan coastline in search of a mysterious island, his query and publishing journey, and the resultant novel UNTAMED COAST.

Kevin C. Morris is an engineer, and journalist (with 20 years of long-form writing under his belt), as well as a recreational pilot, boat captain, and entrepreneur based in Portland, Oregon.

His genre-bending debut novel, Untamed Coast, spans three timelines: 1938, the 1980s and 2017, all set along the rugged Alaskan coast, and described as “an atmospheric novel perfect for fans of McConaghy’s Wild Dark Shore, Moore’s God of the Woods, Lawhon’s Frozen River, and Heller’s The Guide.

New York Times bestselling author Kate Quinn said of the book, “Untamed Coast is a bold, intricately plotted debut unfolding against the beauty and danger of the Alaskan wilderness. . . . The timelines coil, the intrigue mounts, but it’s Kevin C. Morris’s vivid evocation of Alaska’s savage beauty that truly shines…”

Kevin spends his summers navigating the Inside Passage to Southeast Alaska—a rugged landscape that fuels both his adventures and his fiction.

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In this file Kevin C. Morris, Milena, and I discussed:

The story behind the Radioville mystery that inspired the book

How the novel was won at auction after multiple rewrites

Why his agent found his original query “kind of awful” and how he recovered

Where Morse code became a part of the plot and the structure of the novel

The wildness and beauty of the Alaskan coast as a character

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app foriOS,Android,Web

Untamed Coast: A Novelby Kevin C. Morris (Amazon)

Kevin C. Morris on YouTube

Kevin C. Morris on Facebook

Kevin C. Morris on Instagram

https://sarahpinborough.com/

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Sep 3, 2026 46 min

How NY Times Bestselling Author Sarah Pinborough Writes

Show notes

New York Times bestselling author Sarah Pinborough spoke with us about her approach to plotting twists, the stark difference between writing novels and screenplays, and her latest THEY SAY A GIRL DIED HERE.

Sarah Pinborough is the New York Times and Sunday Times #1 bestselling author of international hit Behind Her Eyes, published in over 25 territories worldwide.

Her latest novel, They Say a Girl Died Here, is describe as “a thrilling, genre-bending mystery about two murdered girls, a town with dark secrets, and a race to break a deadly cycle.”

Publishers Weekly called the book, “An addictive tale of Midwestern macabre. . . Pinborough's fierce yet flawed characters are easy to root for, and she doles out the story's shocking secrets at a tantalizing pace. Thriller fans who like it dark will devour this.”

Sarah Pinborough was the 2009 winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Short Story and also the 2010 and 2014 winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Novella, and she has four times been short-listed for Best Novel. She is also a screenwriter who has written for the BBC with multiple adaptations in the works.

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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, pleaseclick FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file Sarah Pinborough, Milena, and I discussed:

Her former life running a strip club

The chance encounter at FantasyCon that led to a three-book deal

How she changes gears while shifting mediums

Why horror is her favorite genre

Hot takes on recent horror films

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app foriOS,Android,Web

They Say a Girl Died Here: A Novel by Sarah Pinborough (Amazon)

Sarah Pinborough Amazon Author Page

Sarah Pinborough on Twitter

Sarah Pinborough on Facebook

Sarah Pinborough on Instagram

Nina Simon Amazon Author Page

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Aug 28, 2026 45 min

How NY Times Bestselling Author Nina Simon Writes

Show notes

New York Times bestselling author Nina Simon spoke with us about her unconventional career path, low-overhead creative lifestyle, and her sophomore novel MY SISTER IS GOING TO KILL ME.

Nina Simon is the bestselling author of the hit novel Mother-Daughter Murder Night. A Reese’s Book Club pick and New York Times bestseller, Simon’s debut was an Anthony Award winner, an Indie Next pick, and a Best of 2023 selection for Barnes & Noble, Library Journal, and Amazon.

Her follow-up, My Sister Is Going to Kill Me, is described as a “family-centric, women-led whodunnit about two sisters who work together to find a killer as they raft down the rapids of the Grand Canyon.”

Nita Prose, #1 bestselling author of The Maid series, called the book "A high-octane thriller about two sisters who have to solve a murder ... or die trying. Propulsive and page-turning, this is armchair adventure at its best."

Before turning to fiction, Nina wore many hats: NASA engineer, slam poet, game designer, museum director, and nonprofit CEO.

[DiscoverThe Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox athttps://mailchi.mp/b93a5bdd9b99/writer-files-extrahttp://writerfiles.fm]

[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, pleaseclick FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file Nina Simon, Milena, and I discussed:

Her pivot from “museum visionary” to crime fiction

The cancer diagnosis in her family that prompted her to write her debut novel

How she turned the natural splendor of the Grand Canyon into a locked-room mystery

Her writing process and living off the grid

Engineering a low-expense lifestyle to buy creative freedom

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app foriOS,Android,Web

http://ninaksimon.com

My Sister Is Going to Kill Me: A Novel (Signed) by Nina Simon - Bookshop Santa Cruz

My Sister Is Going to Kill Me: A Novel by Nina Simon (Amazon)

Nina Simon on Substack

Nina Simon on Facebook

Nina Simon on Instagram

Raphael Montes Amazon Author Page

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Aug 27, 2026 43 min

How #1 International Bestselling Author Raphael Montes Writes

Show notes

#1 international bestselling author Raphael Montes spoke with us about his dual career in TV and fiction, finding commercial success while maintaining authenticity, and the US publication of his hit book THE SECRET DINNER.

Raphael Montes is the internationally acclaimed, #1 bestselling Brazilian thriller writer best known for The Secret Dinner, a dark and provocative novel set in Rio de Janeiro described as "a mixture of Alfred Hitchcock's suspense with Quentin Tarantino's black comedy.” He is published in over 25 countries with over 8 million copies sold.

Set in Copacabana, The Secret Dinner—a biting, dark satire of foodie culture, wealth excess, and youth desperation—is landing in the US for the first time and has been named a summer most-anticipated by Crimereads, in addition to two mentions in The New York Times.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Riley Sager said of the book, "The Secret Dinner is a potent combination of gallows humor, Hitchcockian suspense, and trenchant social commentary. Bold and bloody, it's a thriller with real bite."

Also a screenwriter, Raphael is the showrunner of Scars of Beauty—the most-watched original show on HBO Max in Latin America—and Netflix’s award-winning series Good Morning, Verônica.

[DiscoverThe Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox athttps://mailchi.mp/b93a5bdd9b99/writer-files-extrahttp://writerfiles.fm]

[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, pleaseclick FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file Raphael Montes, Milena, and I discussed:

How he leveraged early Bookstagram and BookTok to great success

The themes of power, ambition, food, and class behind The Secret Dinner

Switching between screenwriting and fiction to beat writer’s block

Why he believes literature should provoke moral questions and self-reflection in readers

How he broke into TV after producers noticed the filmic quality of his second novel

Drinking dry gin martinis with Patricia Highsmith

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app foriOS,Android,Web

RaphaelMontes.com

The Secret Dinner: A Novel by Raphael Montes (Amazon)

Raphael Montes on TikTok

Raphael Montes on Instagram