In this lively conversation, bestselling author Brad Meltzer shares his remarkable journey from a debt-ridden writer to literary success, fueled by the kindness of strangers. He explores how ordinary people can inspire extraordinary change, delves into the humanity behind superhero myths, and reveals how negative experiences can ignite creativity. Meltzer emphasizes the power of mentorship, the importance of sharing struggles, and how true magic arises from uplifting others. His insights on creativity and connection are both profound and uplifting.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Teacher's Life-Changing Words
Brad Meltzer credits his ninth grade English teacher for changing his life by telling him, "you can write."
Her belief set him on the path to become a prolific writer despite his family's struggles.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Neighbor's Kindness Saved Family
When Brad's family was at risk of eviction, neighbor Mircea offered her apartment to them.
This act of kindness gave them safety and space during a difficult time.
question_answer ANECDOTE
From Ice Cream to SeaWorld Trainer
Nick Wicket, Brad's former coworker with humble beginnings, fulfilled his dream by training dolphins at SeaWorld.
Seeing his success inspired Brad and showed ordinary people can achieve extraordinary dreams.
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The book is a picaresque tale about two remarkable women, Sofia and Hankus, both from Poland. Sofia is tricked into moving to Buenos Aires, while Hankus escapes from pogroms by passing as a man and becomes an illusionist and escape artist. Their paths intersect through Tutsik Goldenberg, leading to a complex web of love, freedom, and independence.
Make Magic
Make Magic
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Brad Meltzer
The Tenth Justice
Brad Meltzer
The Tenth Justice follows Ben Addison, a young Supreme Court clerk who accidentally reveals a confidential decision to a fraudulent lawyer. The lawyer blackmails Ben, threatening his future. To save himself, Ben turns to his roommates and a fellow clerk, but their efforts to uncover the blackmailer are complicated by internal betrayals and the abuse of power. The novel explores themes of loyalty, power, and deception in Washington D.C.
The First Counsel
Brad Meltzer
The Book of Fate
Brad Meltzer
The Book of Fate is a thriller novel by Brad Meltzer that revolves around a 200-year-old code invented by Thomas Jefferson. The story unfolds when a presidential aide, Ron Boyle, is presumed dead but reappears eight years later, leading to a complex investigation involving ancient Masonic symbols and a decades-old presidential crossword puzzle. The novel explores a modern-day conspiracy that involves the power brokers of Washington, D.C. and the elite of Palm Beach society.
Magic moments do happen in real life. If you ask Brad Meltzer, magic happens when ordinary people choose to do the extraordinary.
Brad is a prolific writer and bestselling author. He’s published over 70 books in nearly every genre you can think of—thriller novels, biographies, children’s books, film and television. He’s written comic books for iconic superheroes like Spider-Man, Superman, and Batman. And in 2024, his commencement speech at the University of Michigan went viral for its simple, powerful message—to shock the world, unleash your kindness.
In this conversation, Brad tells me how his journey from a writer drowning in debt to bestselling author would not have been possible without the extraordinary kindness of a few ordinary strangers. He shares how other people’s negativity can become inspiration, why fictional heroes inspire us so much, and how ordinary people change the world.
A Bit of Optimism 
