Afleveringen
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New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton returns to speak to me about the unknown nature of early spaceflight, watching The Right Stuff, the Artemis launch, and writing speculative fiction in her latest novel, AN INFINITE LOVE STORY.Chanel Cleeton is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick Next Year in Havana, as well as instant New York Times bestsellers When We Left Cuba, and The Last Train to Key West, among others.Her new historical fiction novel, An Infinite Love Story, is described as Interstellar meets Daisy Jones & the Six: a sweeping dual-timeline novel set against the backdrop of the 1960s Space Race, perfect for readers of Taylor Jenkins Reid, Kate Quinn, and Kristin Hannah.Booklist called it "[A] charming exploration of romantic entanglements during the Space RaceâŠ,â and New York Times bestselling author Kate Quinn said of the book, "Cleeton's most deeply personal and deeply moving book yet! As an Air Force spouse herself, Cleeton paints Vivian's agony for her husband's safety and her frustration with a system built on the unseen labor of its military wives with keen understanding and endless sympathy. Both a tender romantic drama and a fascinating deep dive into the 1960s space race, An Infinite Love Story soars as high as its astronauts."[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm][If youâre a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]In Part Two of this file Chanel Cleeton and I discussed: NASAâs unique use of squawk boxes during the Space RaceHow her IR academic background shaped the Cold War framing throughout her novelWhy managing reveals in speculative fiction is similar to managing multiple timelinesHow to write a tearjerkerWhat sheâs cooking up for her next Cold War novelAnd a lot more!Show Notes:ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, WebGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/files! #squarepodâ ChanelCleeton.comâ An Infinite Love Storyâ By Chanel Cleeton (Amazon)â Chanel Cleeton Amazon Author Pageâ â Chanel Cleeton on Instagramâ â Chanel Cleeton on Facebookâ Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewerdiary_of_a_book_babe on InstagramKelton Reid InstagramKelton Reid on TwitterLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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New York Times bestselling author, Chanel Cleeton, spoke to me about her passion for exploring Cuban-American identity via women's perspectives throughout history, how she plots her popular historical fiction, and her latest novel THE CUBAN HEIRESS.
Chanel Cleeton is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick Next Year in Havana, as well as instant New York Times bestsellers When We Left Cuba, and The Last Train to Key West.
Her most recent historical fiction entry is The Cuban Heiress, described as a novel inspired by true events that “ … follows two women whose lives become intertwined during a fateful journey upon the S.S. Morro Castle—a luxury cruise liner that caught fire and sank on its way from Havana to New York in September 1934”
Booklist wrote of the book, “Nothing is what it seems in Cleeton's latest gripping historical novel.... Handsome con men, clever thieves, desperate rebels, and our valiant heroines all convene on this elegant but doomed ocean liner. Cleeton includes vivid details about the mysterious final voyage of the Morro Castle and provides further reading about this historic disaster.”
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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please â click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviewsâ . And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Chanel Cleeton and I discussed:
How she turned a law degree into a writing career
Why every writer needs to write a terrible first book
The research process of a book-a-year writer
Exploring lesser known events shaping Cuban-American culture
How her characters speak to her in her daily life
Why writers need to dig deep to overcome rejection
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
â ChanelCleeton.comâ
â The Cuban Heiressâ By Chanel Cleeton (Amazon)
â Chanel Cleeton Amazon Author Pageâ
â Chanel Cleeton on Instagramâ
â Chanel Cleeton on Facebookâ
â Kelton Reid on Twitter
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New York Times bestselling author and Shakespeare Professor Emeritus, Eloisa James, spoke with us about balancing literary scholarship with romance writing, leaving academia to write full-time, and her new “gothic adjacent” novel, THE LAST LADY B.
Eloisa James is a New York Times bestselling author who has lead a “double life” as both Mary Bly—a Harvard, Oxford, and Yale-educated Shakespeare professor—and Eloisa James—a powerhouse of historical romance (recognized for her Regency and Georgian-era romances).
Eloisa, called “a reigning queen of romance” by CBS Sunday Morning and a newly retired Shakespeare professor, continues to reinvent herself with her latest novel. THE LAST LADY B is a sharp, contemporary take on historical romance and her first foray into near-gothic storytelling—described as Jane Austen meets The White Lotus in the Scottish Highlands.
Publishers Weekly said of the book in a starred review, "As the intrigue ramps up—complete with death, scandalous revelations, criminal allegations, and the potential for supernatural interference—sparks fly …"
Eloisa James inherited a fascination with literature from her father, American Book Award-winning poet Robert Bly; her mother, short story author Carol Bly; and her godfather, Pulitzer Prize winner James Wright.
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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Eloisa James, Milena, and I discussed:
The burnout she experienced as a professor and former head of the Creative Writing program at Fordham University
Why she decided to break the fourth wall and write her latest in first person
What the romance genre offers writers in creative freedom and experimentation
Her Popular course on writing genre fiction “Dragons, Daggers, and Dukes”
How she collaborated with co-author Julia Quinn
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web
Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/files! #squarepod
eloisajames.com
The Last Lady B: A Novel By Eloisa James (Author)
Eloisa James on Facebook
Eloisa James on TikTok
Eloisa James on Instagram
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Kelton Reid Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
New York Times bestselling author and Knopf Executive Editor, Jenny Jackson, spoke with us about balancing life as an #authormom, editing bestsellers, finding standalone books, and her anticipated second novel, THE SHAMPOO EFFECT.
Jenny Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of Pineapple Street, a graduate of Williams College and the Columbia Publishing Course, and a Vice President and Editorial Director of Fiction at Alfred A. Knopf.
Her second novel, The Shampoo Effect (Pamela Dorman Books; June 30), was named a most anticipated book of 2026 by the New York Times, described as “a frothy novel of love, money, sex, and friendship,” [about] “an ambitious young woman [who] insinuates herself into a tight-knit social set, shaking up friendships and marriages in a small seaside town.”
New York Times bestselling author Coco Mellors said, “Jackson has a rare knack for capturing the intensity of old friendships and the way love, jealousy, money, and history combust until everyone is behaving (deliciously) badly.”
Jenny Jackson is a prominent figure in the publishing world, having edited numerous high-profile works, including Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan, Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, and Cormac McCarthy’s final books, among others.
[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]
[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Jenny Jackson, Milena, and I discussed:
Why she has the "shortest resume in all of publishing"
What 23 years at Penguin Random House have taught her
How John Updike inspired her latest
The number of pages it takes her to know if your voice works
Why you need to reject “rise and grind” culture and write whenever you can
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app forâ iOS,â â Android,â â Webâ
Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at â square.com/go/filesâ ! #squarepod
www.jennyjacksonbooks.com
The Shampoo Effect: A Novel by Jenny Jackson (Author)
Jenny Jackson Amazon Author Page
Jenny Jackson on Instagram
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Kelton Reid Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Critically acclaimed novelist and entertainment podcaster, Bobby Finger, returns to speak with us about his weekly word counts, wedding DJs, Who? Weekly, and his latest beach read WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY.
Bobby Finger is the author of The Old Place and Four Squares, and co-creator and cohost of the popular celebrity and entertainment podcast, Who? Weekly, "The podcast that tells you everything you need to know about celebrities you don’t."
His third novel, We Are Gathered Here Today, was named a New York Times Summer's Best Beach Read. It’s described as The Wedding People meets The Celebrants, and a “...sharp and tender story [that] follows a recently engaged gay man who begins to question the idea of marriage while attending his cousin’s chaotic Wild West-themed wedding weekend.”
Booklist called the book “… a perfect read for anyone confused by or suspicious of the wedding-industrial complex, which can leave happy celebrations feeling more like a second full-time job for young lovers.”
Bobby previously worked as a staff writer for the culture website Jezebel from 2015 to 2018 and has contributed extensively to outlets like Vulture and The New York Times.
[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]
[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Bobby Finger, Milena, and I discussed:
How his latest originally featured a death until his editor suggested everyone live, transforming it into a beach read
Why he changed the book’s setting from fall to June at the`` publisher's request to position as summer release
How a scene from the book became a part of the cover design
The craziest thing he’s ever witnessed at a wedding IRL
His next book and upcoming essay collection written with his podcast co-host
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app forâ iOS,â â Android,â â Webâ
Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at â square.com/go/filesâ ! #squarepod
â whoweekly.usâ
We Are Gathered Here Today By Bobby Fingerâ (Amazon)
Bobby Finger Amazon Author Page
Bobby Finger on Instagram
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Kelton Reid Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Journalist, hit entertainment podcaster, and debut novelist, Bobby Finger, spoke to me about writing for Jezebel, turning a screenplay into a novel, and his debut, "The Old Place."
Bobby Finger is a writer and co-host of the popular celebrity and entertainment podcast, Who? Weekly, "The podcast that tells you everything you need to know about celebrities you don’t."
His debut novel is The Old Place, described as "A bighearted and moving debut about a wry retired schoolteacher whose decade-old secret threatens to come to light and send shockwaves through her small Texas town."
It has been named Washington Post‘s 10 Noteworthy Books for September, People‘s Best New Books, Town & Country’s 45 Must-Read Books of Fall, New York’s 25 Notable New Releases, Kirkus Review‘s 150 Most Anticipated Fall Books, LitHub‘s Most Anticipated Books of 2022, among many others.
New York Times bestselling author Emma Straub said of the book, “I loved being inside this skillful novel—at the planning parties for church fundraisers, learning to drive with a can of beer in the cupholder, and in the heads of some wonderfully tangy old Texan ladies. Bobby Finger has built a rich world in The Old Place, and I will think of it every time I make toast.”
Stay calm and write on ...
â Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inboxâ
If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, â please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviewsâ .
In this file Bobby Finger and I discussed:
Growing up in a small Texas town
His start in copywriting and freelance journalism
Writing screenplays in the margins
Becoming a full-time podcaster
How to write autofiction with a twist
What happens when people leave, and those left behind
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web
Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/files! #squarepod
â whoweekly.usâ
â The Old Place By Bobby Fingerâ (Amazon)
Bobby Finger on Instagram
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Kelton Reid Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Critically acclaimed debut novelist and food writer, Catherine Kurtz, spoke with us about art school, painting life, judging the International Chocolate Awards, and her delicious first book FEAST.
Catherine Kurtz is a multidisciplinarian known for her parallel careers in the visual arts, literature, and culinary criticism – including as a judge and educator in the field of chocolate tasting. She is a member of the Guild of Food Writers and a Grand Jury Member of the International Chocolate Awards.
Her debut is, Feast, “for fans of Chocolat (show-co-lot, haha, i need this đ) and Like Water for Chocolate,” and described as a historical novel set at the turn of the 20th century as one young woman navigates the wonders and perils of her remarkable gift: an astonishing sense of taste and smell.
Alex Hay, author of The Housekeepers called it, “A beautiful book, vivid and delicious and alive—a story of escape and belonging and one woman's extraordinary gifts, unfolding its mysteries with care, brimming with feeling and stunning prose.”
Catherine Kurtz is also a painter represented by The Redfern Gallery in London. Her journalism has been published in a variety of publications including The Spectator’s Scoff, Harvest, ckbk and Celebrated Living.
[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]
[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Catherine Kurtz, Milena, and I discussed:
How her debut ââcombines her backgrounds as a painter, food writer, and professional chocolate taster
Writing a book for The Great British Bake Off on Chocolate
Working with rock star turned chef Graham Garrett on his book Sex, Drugs, and Sausage Rolls
Why she took an art school approach to writing
The editorial approach to her food-centric writing and debut cover design
Her writing philosophy
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
linktr.ee/catherinekurtzart
Feast by Catherine Kurtz (Amazon)
Catherine Kurtz on Instagram
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Kelton Reid Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Bestselling author Meg Shaffer spoke with us about paying homage to fairy tales, defending libraries against censorship, and her latest cinematic, genre-bending bestseller, THE BOOK WITCH.
Meg Shaffer is the bestselling author of The Lost Story and The Wishing Game, which was a Book of the Month finalist for Book of the Year as well as a Reader’s Digest and Washington Post Best Book of the Year, and has been translated into 23 languages. Shaffer holds an MFA in TV and Screenwriting from Stephens College.
Her latest is the instant bestseller The Book Witch, described as a novel that’s part mystery, part love letter to libraries and booksellers, and a direct, timely meditation on book-banning.
Booklist called it a “whimsical tale of lost love, family secrets, and how books can change a reader's life” and Kirkus calls it “catnip for anyone who ever wished they could walk around in their favorite book.”
[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]
[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Meg Shaffer, Milena, and I discussed:
How she wrote a couple dozen romance novels under her real name
The rules set forth in her latest book about entering the worlds of beloved childrens’ series
Why the author’s writing is best when she’s having fun
Channeling the iconic sci-fi writer Ray Bradbury
Why "all books are kids' books if the kid can read"
How she aims to make readers appreciate the books they read as children
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
megshaffer.com
The Book Witch: A Novel By Meg Shaffer (Amazon)
Meg Shaffer Amazon Author Page
Meg Shaffer on Instagram
Meg Shaffer on Facebook
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Kelton Reid Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Acclaimed debut author Darby Bozeman spoke with us about her journey from middle school English teacher to published author, and her debut thriller, SUMMER’S NEVER OVER.
Darby Bozeman, originally from Portland, Oregon, relocated to the American South for graduate school, earning a master's degree in teaching from the University of Georgia. Before pivoting to full-time writing, she spent five years as a middle school English teacher.
Her dual-timeline debut thriller, Summer’s Never Over (Berkley Trade Original; on sale June 9, 2026), is described as We Were Liars meets God of the Woods, and is set at a summer camp where a counselor died in a suspicious fire five years prior. The book was recently chosen as a June selection for the Book of the Month Club.
Publishers Weekly called it an “Impressive debut…an addictive thriller ideal for summer reading.” Bestselling author Ashley Winstead wrote, "Darby Bozeman has the perfect beach read in this sinister summer camp thriller, where the paradisical woods of Dread's Cove hide not only hot bodies and cold waters, but dark secrets.”
[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]
[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Darby Bozeman, Milena, and I discussed:
How she gleaned inspiration from her teaching
The science of narrative writing, including tension building and sentence-level craft
Why her book was pitched as “Carly Fortune writing a murder mystery”
How she secured an agent and got a two-book deal
Why she prefers the coffee shop to her own coffee
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
darbybozeman.com
Summer’s Never Over : A Novel By Darby Bozeman (Amazon)
Darby Bozeman on Instagram
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Kelton Reid Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
New York Times bestselling and award-winning author John Kenney spoke with us about life as an ad-man, writing humor for The New Yorker, and the paperback release of his latest novel I SEE YOU’VE CALLED IN DEAD.
John Kenney is the bestselling author of three novels and four books of poetry, including Love Poems (For Married People), a New York Times bestseller. His first novel, Truth In Advertising, won the Thurber Prize for American Humor. He is a longtime contributor to The New Yorker magazine’s Shouts & Murmurs column.
His most recent novel, I See You’ve Called In Dead (available in paperback June 2nd), is described as “The Office meets Six Feet Under meets About a Boy” and was an instant bestseller. The book follows Bud Stanley, an obituary writer who accidentally publishes his own obituary and begins attending strangers' funerals to find meaning of life.
In a starred review Booklist said of the book, “I See You’ve Called in Dead is a witty and heartwarming reminder of the bottomless despair, limitless absurdity, and undeniable joy of the human experience.”
John Kenney has worked as a copywriter for more than 25 years at Ogilvy, McGarry Bowen, and Publicis. He has created campaigns for American Express, Citi, Chevron, Heineken, and Cadillac, to name a few.
[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]
[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file John Kenney, Milena, and I discussed:
His past life as a high profile copywriter
10 years of rejections from the New Yorker
Why he still has impostor syndrome
The personal inspiration behind his latest novel
Writing self-deprecating poetry
Why he’s writing a memoir about rewriting his mother's obituary
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
byjohnkenney.com
I See You've Called in Dead by John Kenney (Amazon)
John Kenney Amazon Author Page
John Kenney on Instagram
John Kenney for The New Yorker
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Kelton Reid Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Ruta Sepetys, returns to speak with us about her 12 years of research, ragtime music, and the “fortune and facade” of 1920s Detroit in her adult historical fiction debut, A FORTUNE OF SAND.
Ruta Sepetys is the award-winning and internationally acclaimed, #1 New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction published in over sixty countries and forty languages. Her acclaimed “crossover” YA literature includes the Carnegie Medal-winning Salt to the Sea.
Her latest, A Fortune of Sand (available May 26th), is described as F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Great Gatsby and Amor Towles’ Rules Of Civility meets Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums. The novel follows a wealthy, eccentric family in Detroit’s booming automobile industry and includes a plot twist around stolen jewels.
A Booklist starred review called the book, “A richly detailed portrait of the glittering city and [Detroit’s] dark underbelly. . . . This will appeal to fans of Kate Atkinson’s Shrines of Gaiety and Jennifer Egan’s Manhattan Beach.”
Ruta’s books have won or been shortlisted for more than 50 book prizes, and are currently in development for film and television.
[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]
[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Ruta Sepetys, Milena, and I discussed:
Why she still gets nervous before every book release
Finding a writing structure to mimic the volatile energy of The Roaring ‘20s
Why she filed FOIA requests and worked with former FBI agents to interpret her research
How she co-authored a YA historical mystery with Steve Sheinkin
Why she prefers the term "investigation" over "research"
Her creative fuel
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
rutasepetys.com
A Fortune of Sand: A Novel by Ruta Sepetys (Amazon)
Ruta Sepetys Amazon Author Page
Ruta Sepetys on Facebook
Ruta Sepetys on Instagram
Ruta Sepetys on Twitter
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Kelton Reid Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Ruta Sepetys, spoke to me about what she learned in the music industry, the secrets to strong, vivid writing, and her non-fiction debut YOU: THE STORY: A Writer’s Guide to Craft Through Memory.
Ruta Sepetys is an award-winning and internationally acclaimed, #1 New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction published in over sixty countries and forty languages. Her acclaimed “crossover” YA literature includes the Carnegie Medal-winning Salt to the Sea.
Her latest is the creative guide to writing, You: The Story: A Writer’s Guide to Craft Through Memory (available May 16, 2023), which “... provides aspiring writers with a roadmap to crafting compelling stories by encouraging them to look inward and excavate their own memories in order to discover authentic voices and compelling details.”
In a starred review Booklist said of the book, “Part writing guide, part memoir, Sepetys’ fresh, fun handbook is all inspiration.”
[Discover â The Writer Files Extraâ : Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at â writerfiles.fmâ ]
[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please â click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviewsâ . And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file, Ruta Sepetys and I discussed:
What she learned about storytelling working in the music industry
Why she’s drawn to underrepresented stories and “history in hiding”
How to discover the Four Hs of the "excitement of life"
Her intensive research process for each book
Why writers need to examine their own lives for authenticity
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
â rutasepetys.comâ
â You: The Story: A Writer's Guide to Craft Through Memoryâ by Ruta Sepetys (Amazon)
â Ruta Sepetys Amazon Author Pageâ
â Ruta Sepetys on Facebookâ
â Ruta Sepetys on Instagramâ
â Ruta Sepetys on Twitterâ
â Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
New York Times bestselling author, Rosie Walsh, returns to speak with us about the power of the writing community, her "work wife" Ashley Audrain, and her latest novel THE ONE DAY YOU WERE MY HUSBAND.
Rosie Walsh has lived and traveled all over the world, working as a documentary producer and writer. Her two previous novels, Ghosted and The Love of My Life, were New York Times bestsellers and have sold nearly two million copies worldwide.
Her third novel is The One Day You Were My Husband (available May 19th) “asks readers what—and whom—they would give up to return to a first love and to the people they once were.”
New York Times bestselling author Clare Leslie Hall called the book “...a heart-wrenching love story and a mystery that shocks and surprises until the very end. A wonderful novel.”
[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]
[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Rosie Walsh, Milena, and I discussed:
The ongoing "bum fight" that is the writer's life
How to create addictive plots that keep readers up at night
Why sometimes you have to kill your darlings for that outstanding ending
What it was like to do research in Thailand
Why no one understands you like another writer
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
â RosieWalsh.comâ
The One Day You Were My Husband By Rosie Walsh (Amazon)
Rosie Walsh Amazon Author Page
â Rosie Walsh on Facebookâ
â Rosie Walsh on Instagramâ
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Kelton Reid Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
New York Times bestselling author, Rosie Walsh, talked with me about finding her voice, transitioning from romcom to "emotional thriller," and her latest, The Love of My Life.
Rosie Walsh has lived and traveled all over the world, working as a documentary producer and writer. Her American debut, Ghosted, was a New York Times bestseller and has sold more than one million copies worldwide.
Her second novel is The Love of My Life, described as a "...stay-up-all-night page-turner. It’s a love story wrapped in a mystery that ... [taps] into our darkest fears about motherhood, family, and trust."
Ashley Audrain, New York Times bestselling author of The Push, said of the book, “Walsh’s hugely compelling THE LOVE OF MY LIFE instantly pulls you deep into the interior of a marriage. Part thriller, part mystery, part heart-wrenching love story, this is a treasure...”
Stay calm and write on ...
[Discover â The Writer Files Extraâ : Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at â writerfiles.fmâ ]
[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please â click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviewsâ . 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:
â RosieWalsh.comâ
â The Love of My Life: A Novel by Rosie Walshâ (Amazon)
â Rosie Walsh on Facebookâ
â Rosie Walsh on Instagramâ
â Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewerâ â
â â diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagramâ â
â â Kelton Reid Instagramâ â
â â Kelton Reid on Twitter
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New York Times bestselling authors and twin sisters Krista and Becca Ritchie spoke with us about their collaborative writing process, career journey from self-publishing to trad bestsellers, and the latest in their âRitchie-verse,â DANGEROUSLY OURS.ââKrista and Becca Ritchie are New York Times bestselling authors and identical twinsâone a science nerd, the other a comic book geekâwhose lifelong passion for writing has made them iconic voices in the contemporary romance world. They have written over 25 novels, including a TikTok sensation, the âAddictedâ series.Their latest novel, Dangerously Ours (Berkley Trade Paperback Original; May 12, 2026), is the thrilling conclusion to the âWebs We Weaveâ series about a dynamic group of young con artists that tackles gritty topics such as addiction, class, and power.New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young called the series, âFresh, deliciously angsty, and sizzling with slow-burn tension that kept me glued to the pages.â[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm][If youâre a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]In this file Krista & Becca Ritchie, Milena, and I discussed:Their early love of sharing storiesHow their Addicted series went viral on BookTok 10 years after initial publication, leading to a traditional publishing dealWhy they create interconnected universes with Easter eggs across seriesHow they originally envisioned themselves as TV showrunnersThe emotional significance of concluding this nostalgic series with a signing in Mystic, ConnecticutAnd a lot more!Show Notes:kbritchie.comDangerously Ours (Webs We Weave) (May 12, 2026) By Krista & Becca RitchieKrista & Becca Ritchie Amazon Author PageKrista & Becca Ritchie on TikTokKrista & Becca Ritchie on FacebookKrista & Becca Ritchie on Instagramâ â Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewerdiary_of_a_book_babe on InstagramKelton Reid InstagramKelton Reid on TwitterLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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New York Times bestselling author and renowned historical fiction novelist, Kate Quinn, spoke with us about the importance of libraries, reading for mental health, and a love letter to both in her latest novel, THE ASTRAL LIBRARY.
Kate Quinn describes herself as a "librarian fine delinquent turned bestseller" and is celebrated for her meticulously researched historical fiction, often highlighting resilient women in WWI, WWII, and ancient Rome. Key works include The Alice Network, The Huntress, and The Diamond Eye.
Her latest, already another NY Times bestseller, is a pivot to magical realism with The Astral Library, a fantasy novel about a secret book sanctuary. NPR called it, “Engrossing, suspenseful, and authentic.”
New York Times bestselling author Sarah Penner wrote, “Only Kate Quinn could give us a book this inventive, this fun, and this completely addictive. If you’ve ever wished to tumble straight into your favorite novel, here’s your chance.”
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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Kate Quinn, Milena and I discussed:
Her early training as an opera singer
A desire to enter the world of Narnia
Taking a genre departure into magical realism and fantasy while maintaining her signature character-driven storytelling
Why world-building is so important in her work
How libraries represent a living, breathing space for people and their complicated problems
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
katequinnauthor.com
Astral Library: A Novel By Kate Quinn (Amazon)
Kate Quinn Amazon Author Page
Kate Quinn on Facebook
Kate Quinn on Instagramâ â
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Kelton Reid Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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Award-winning Australian author Charlotte Wood discussed her journey from local journalist to Booker Prize finalist, her creative process, and the 10th anniversary of her dystopian novel THE NATURAL WAY OF THINGS.
Charlotte Wood is the author of seven novels and three non-fiction books. Her last novel Stone Yard Devotional was shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize, listed as a New York Times Notable Book of 2025, Los Angeles Times 15 Best Books of 2025, and one of The Washington Post's best five novels of the year.
Now, for its 10th anniversary, comes a reprint of The Natural Way of Things, a book described as a prescient feminist fable and international classic, “The Handmaid’s Tale for our age” by The Economist, and by #1 New York Times bestselling author Paula Hawkins as “beautiful and savage.” It won the prestigious Stella Prize, the Australian Prime Minister’s Literary Award in Fiction, and was longlisted for many others.
Charlotte’s features and essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, Lit Hub, The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Saturday Paper, among others.
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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Charlotte Wood, Milena and I discussed:
When she committed herself to becoming a writer
Why she never starts out with a big idea
The real-life girls' school that inspired The Natural Way of Things
How to apply "The George Costanza Approach" to your process
The career-changing reception of Stone Yard Devotional
The double-edged sword of literary prizes
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
charlottewood.com.au
The Natural Way of Things: A Novel by Charlotte Wood (Amazon)
Charlotte Wood Amazon Author Page
Charlotte Wood on Instagramâ â
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Kelton Reid Instagram
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Bestselling and award-winning author Ramona Ausubel spoke with us about the value of low-residency MFA programs, and how to jumpstart your writing process with her latest book UNSTUCK: 101 Doorways Leading from the Blank Page to the Last Page.
Ramona Ausubel is the author of five books, most recently The Last Animal which was a national bestseller and received the National Book Foundation Science + Nature Prize and was a Barnes & Noble book of the month.
She was the recipient of the PEN/USA Fiction Award, the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award and has been a finalist for both the California and Colorado Book Awards, the New York Public Library Young Lions Award, and has had multiple selections as a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice.
Her latest non-fiction, Unstuck: 101 Doorways Leading From the Blank Page to the Last Page is a companion for writers at all stages of the process, and described as a book “… about staying in love with your writing: feeling excited, mischievous, productive, and hopeful—the opposite of being stuck. “
A Most Anticipated Book of 2026 from LitHub, Kirkus Reviews described it as, “An upbeat guide to navigating the writing process . . . Warm-hearted and practical, Ausubel emerges as trustworthy companion for a writer who’s stuck anywhere on the challenging road of creativity. Generous, empathetic, and unfailingly encouraging.”
Ramona’s work has been published in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Paris Review daily, One Story, Tin House, The Oxford American, Ploughshares and others. She is a professor at Colorado State University and has taught in the Bennington Writing Seminars, Tin House Writing Workshop, Writing by Writers, the Community of Writers, Bread Loaf Environmental, Writing Workshop Paris and elsewhere.
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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Ramona Ausubel, Milena and I discussed:
Why getting stuck is normal and productive rather than something to fear
How to fall back in love with your own work
Practical exercises to help writers navigate the creative process
The magic prompt that never fails
Why you need to let "not knowing" to be your companion
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
ramonaausubel.com
UNSTUCK: 101 Doorways Leading from the Blank Page to the Last Page By Ramona Ausubel – April 14, 2026 (Amazon)
Ramona Ausubel Amazon Author Page
Ramona Ausubel on Instagramâ â
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Kelton Reid Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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Bestselling, Booker Prize-winning author, Anne Enright, spoke to me about eagles and moles, the interior engineering of a novel, her love of Irish poetry, and her latest THE WREN, THE WREN.
Anne Enright won the Man Booker Prize and the Irish Fiction Award for her novel The Gathering. She has also been awarded the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Irish Book Awards, and was the first Laureate for Irish Fiction (2015-2018).
Her latest novel The Wren, the Wren, was named a Most Anticipated Book of the Year by TIME, The Millions, Literary Hub, and others, and is described as the story of “... three generations of … women who must contend with inheritancesâof poetic wonder and of abandonment by a man who is lauded in public and carelessly selfish at home.”
The New York Times called it, "... a powerful, thoughtful book by one of the great living writers on the subject of family," and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jennifer Egan said of the book, “The Wren, the Wren is an electrifying romp through language itselfâits dizzying possibilities and satisfactionsâled by one the most gifted writers working in English today."
Anne Enright has also published two books of short stories, her essays on literary themes have appeared in the London Review of Books and The New York Review of Books, and she writes for the books pages of The Irish Times and The Guardian.
[Discover â The Writer Files Extraâ : Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at â writerfiles.fmâ ]
[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please â click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviewsâ . And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Anne Enright and I discussed:
The moment of burnout that changed her career
How she used to be a night owl scribe
Why you shouldn’t over-panic, or over-plan
The fallacies of impostor syndrome and inspiration
How to create a fictional poet out of thin air
Taking a long look at James Joyce across the table
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
â Anne Enright - Wikipediaâ
â The Wren, the Wren: A Novelâ by Anne Enright (Amazon)
â Anne Enright Amazon Author Pageâ
â Book Review: ‘The Wren, the Wren,’ by Anne Enrightâ - The New York Times
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
â diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagramâ
â Kelton Reid Instagramâ
â Kelton Reid on Twitter
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#1 New York Times bestselling author Kelly Yang spoke with us about burning out at Harvard Law, navigating Hollywood’s power dynamics, and her adult fiction debut THE TAKE.
ââKelly Yang is the award-winning and bestselling author of over 15 books for children, teens and adults, including the lauded Front Desk series (Front Desk, Three Keys, Room to Dream, Key Player, Top Story, and Chef’s Secret), New From Here, Finally Seen, Finally Heard, young adult novels Parachutes and Private Label, as well as the picture books Yes We Will: Asian Americans Who Shaped This Country and Little Bird Laila.
Based on Kelly’s childhood experience living and working in a motel as a first-generation immigrant child from China, her debut novel, Front Desk, was named "one of the best books of the 21st century" by Kirkus Reviews.
Her adult debut novel, The Take (April 14, 2026), “blends social commentary with psychological suspense, set in contemporary Hollywood, that dives into biohacking, youth-obsessed culture, and the dangerous bargains women make to stay relevant at work.”
Marie Claire called it, “One part The Substance, another part The Devil Wears Prada, The Take is a juicy, twisty take on aging, success, and race. Told in a sharp and hilarious voice, The Take is sure to be one of the hottest books of spring.”
New York Times bestselling author Grace D. Li called the book, “Breathlessly plotted and fearlessly told, The Take is a timely, incisive examination of ambition, aging, and who gets to tell whose stories in Hollywood.”
Kelly has written screenplays and television pilots for Netflix, CBS Studios, and the CW. She and Kate DiCamillo also co-host the StoryKind podcast.
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[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]
In this file Kelly Yang, Milena and I discussed:
Why she wasn’t a great law student
Teaching creative writing in Hong Kong
How her desire to get her kid to read led to a hit series
Her weird experiences navigating Hollywood as a baby writer
On horrible first drafts and a love of revision
The Shy Girl AI controversy
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
kellyyang.com
The Take by Kelly Yang – April 14, 2026 (Amazon)
Listen to Storykind Podcast
Kelly Yang on Instagramâ â
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Kelton Reid Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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