

The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience
Kelton Reid
“Learn how acclaimed writers keep the ink flowing, the cursor moving, and avoid writer’s block.”Each week, host Kelton Reid chats with guests like Nobel Prize winner Abdulrazak Gurnah, on life after becoming a laureate; #1 New York Times bestselling author, Emily Henry on her past life as a YA mid-lister; Celebrated author, Walter Mosley, on his conflicted feelings after winning a National Book Award; NY Times bestselling author, Lisa Scottoline, on what she learned from literary lion Philip Roth; #1 NY Times bestselling author Dennis Lehane on what he borrowed from Clint Eastwood; and bestselling author, Matt Haig, on the process behind his novel, The Midnight Library, and serial guest hosts: neuroscientist Michael Grybko, journalist Adam Skolnick, and short story writer Robert Bruce.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 24, 2025 • 36min
How National Book Award Finalist Amber McBride Writes
National Book Award Finalist Amber McBride spoke with me about finding her authentic voice, getting yelled at by kids, near-death experiences and the story behind her latest novel-in-verse THE LEAVING ROOM.
Amber McBride is an award-winning author, poet, and former assistant professor of poetry, writing, and protest literature. Her debut young adult novel, Me (Moth) was a finalist for the National Book Award, 2021 and won the 2022 Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent, among many other accolades.
Her latest YA novel-in-verse is The Leaving Room, also a 2025 National Book Awards Finalist.
“Told from the perspective of a girl hovering between life and death, The Leaving Room is a poignant story about connection, grief, love, and the power of memories.”
Amber McBride’s middle-grade debut, Gone Wolf, won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. She holds an MFA in poetry from Emerson College, and her poetry has been published in Ploughshares, The Rumpus, DecomP Magazine, Provincetown Arts, and more.
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In this file Amber McBride and I discussed:
Overcoming hundreds of rejections early on
Finally quitting her assistant professorship to write full time
How the loss of her grandfather changed her writing
Why anything beyond publishing is icing on the cake
How she creates an entire world with a quarter of the words
Writing while the world sleeps
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
amber-mcbride.com
76th National Book Awards - Young People's Literature - Finalists
The Leaving Room by Amber McBride (Amazon)
Amber McBride Amazon Author Page
Amber McBride on Threads
Amber McBride on TikTok
Amber McBride on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

5 snips
Oct 17, 2025 • 43min
How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Penny Zang Writes
Penny Zang, an English professor and debut novelist of "Doll Parts," dives into the emotional depths of friendship and grief in her writing. She shares her journey of processing loss through morning pages and discusses the influence of Sylvia Plath on her work. Listeners learn about her unique characters and the autobiographical elements woven into her thriller. Penny also emphasizes the importance of community for writers and reveals that her next novel is an 80s Edgar Allan Poe mashup. A captivating discussion on creativity and resilience!

Oct 10, 2025 • 34min
How to Become a Professional Screenwriter with Ted Braun and Melissa Rosenberg
Ted Braun, a WGA-nominated writer and USC professor, and Melissa Rosenberg, renowned for her work on Twilight and Jessica Jones, discuss the new MFA in Screenwriting at Bennington College. They share insights on how diverse experiences shape storytelling and the unique curriculum focusing on mentorship and collaboration. With only 12 students per cohort, the program aims to cultivate original voices in screenwriting. Both guests emphasize the importance of imagination, dedication, and the integration of film studies into crafting compelling narratives.

Oct 3, 2025 • 37min
How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Jinwoo Park Writes
Award-winning, acclaimed debut novelist Jinwoo Park spoke to me about breaking out of a creative rut, writing as “self-therapy,” cracking the #BookTok code, and his literary espionage thriller OXFORD SOJU CLUB
Jinwoo Park is a Korean Canadian writer based in Montreal. He completed a master's degree in creative writing at the University of Oxford, and currently works as a marketer in the tech industry.
His first novel, Oxford Soju Club, is a literary espionage thriller exploring themes of identity and the Korean diaspora. Park's manuscript for Oxford Soju Club won the Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers' Award in 2021.
A Booklist starred review wrote of the book, “In stylistically rich prose, the author carefully portrays complex characters, distilling the intricate workings of the Korean psyche with riveting tension. Under the cover of a compelling espionage drama…”
Jinwoo is also a literary translator and received the LTI Korea Translation Award for Aspiring Translators in 2023.
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In this file Jinwoo Park and I discussed:
How his notes from "self-therapy" became a breakout book
Posting to TikTok every day to build a following
Sharing a name with a character from K-Pop Demon Hunters
In rewriting his debut novel five times to distill it to its essence
What authenticity means to him
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
jinwoo-park.com
Oxford Soju Club by Jinwoo Park (Amazon)
Jinwoo Park on Instagram
Jinwoo Park on TikTok
Jinwoo Park on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 26, 2025 • 40min
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jeneva Rose Writes
#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 Amazon Author Page
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 24, 2025 • 33min
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Lev Grossman Writes: Redux
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Lev Grossman, spoke to me about his tenure at Time magazine, how The Magicians poked holes in Narnia and Potter, and reimagining a legend with THE BRIGHT SWORD: A Novel of King Arthur.
Lev Grossman is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Magicians trilogy—The Magicians, The Magician King, and The Magician’s Land—which has been published in 30 countries and adapted as a TV show that ran for five seasons on SYFY.
His latest novel is THE BRIGHT SWORD: A Novel of King Arthur, named a Best Summer Read by The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Time, Vulture, Esquire, Boston Globe, Elle, Town & Country, Seattle Times, New York Post, Lit Hub, and many others.
George R. R. Martin, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Game of Thrones said of the book, “If you love King Arthur as much as I do, you’ll love Lev Grossman’s The Bright Sword, a fresh and engrossing take on the Matter of Britain featuring a colorful cast of Round Table knights who don’t often get as much story time as they deserve. The creator of The Magicians has woven another spell.”
Lev has written two critically acclaimed novels for children, and the screenplay for the movie The Map of Tiny Perfect Things, a finalist for the Critic’s Choice awards (based on his short story).
He also worked as a staff writer at Time magazine, and has written essays and articles for Vanity Fair, the Believer, the Village Voice, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Salon, Slate, Wired, Entertainment Weekly, Buzzfeed, NPR, and many others.
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In this file Lev Grossman and I discussed:
How he talked his way into writing for Time magazine
The evolution of his career from journalist to novelist
Breaking through with middle-grade fantasy and The Magicians
How he “got into the weeds” with his latest Arthurian tome
World-building for streaming vs. collaborating on the graphic novel
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
levgrossman.com
The Bright Sword: A Novel of King Arthur by Lev Grossman (Amazon)
Lev Grossman Amazon Author Page
Lev Grossman on Facebook
Lev Grossman on Instagram
Lev Grossman on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 19, 2025 • 36min
How NY Times Bestselling Author Jayne Ann Krentz Writes: Part Two
New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of romantic suspense, Jayne Ann Krentz, returns to speak with me about how she’s published over 120 novels, her advocacy of the merits of romantic fiction, and her latest mystery, THE SHOP ON HIDDEN LANE.
Dubbed “The Queen of romantic suspense” and a trailblazer of paranormal romance, Jayne Ann Krentz is the author of over 50 New York Times bestsellers. She has written contemporary romantic suspense novels under that name and futuristic and historical romance novels under the pseudonyms Jayne Castle and Amanda Quick, respectively.
Her latest novel is THE SHOP ON HIDDEN LANE (available for preorder from Berkley; on sale January 6, 2026), described as “... a romantic mystery filled with intergenerational family rivalries, paranormal suspense, tension-filled romance, and a pulse-pounding conspiracy.”
Jayne Ann Krentz was the editor of and a contributor to Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women: Romance Writers on the Appeal of the Romance, a non-fiction essay collection that won the prestigious Susan Koppelman Award for Feminist Studies. Krentz was also the inspiration for, and first recipient of, the Romantic Times Jane Austen Award, created to "honor those in the romance community who have significantly impacted [the] genre"
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In this file Jayne Ann Krentz and I discussed:
Overcoming rejection early on
Why she would caution new authors against launching multiple brands under different names
The rise of Romantasy
Her inspiration for the “paranormal twist with a psychic vibe”
Writing plots that don’t require forensic science
The importance of storytelling for future generations
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
jayneannkrentz.com
The Shop on Hidden Lane – January 6, 2026 by Jayne Ann Krentz (Amazon)
Jayne Ann Krentz Amazon Author Page
Jayne Castle Amazon Author Page
Jayne Ann Krentz on Facebook
Jayne Ann Krentz on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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Sep 17, 2025 • 33min
How NY Times Bestselling Thriller Writer Riley Sager Writes: Redux
New York Times bestselling thriller writer Riley Sager, spoke to me about why he publishes under a pen name, how to write Hitchcockian suspense, and his latest "The House Across the Lake."
Riley Sager is the bestselling author of six novels, most recently Home Before Dark and Survive the Night. His award-winning first novel, Final Girls, was a national and international bestseller that has been published in 30 countries.
His latest novel, The House Across the Lake, has been named a most anticipated summer book by People, E! News, PureWow, CNN.com, CrimeReads, and many others.
It's been described by CrimeReads as "... a psychological thriller version of The Great Gatsby, featuring binoculars for more accurate across-the-lake spying, smaller gatherings for a shorter list of suspects, and a truly bat**** twist for more satisfying consumption."
The House Across the Lake was inspired by Riley's "... own pandemic escapes to a cabin in rural Vermont [and] oozes with slow-burn Hitchcockian suspense before building to a finale that will leave readers reeling. "
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Stay calm and write on ...
In this file Riley Sager and I discussed:
The albatross of bad sales early in your career
Why his process changes from book to book
How to turn common genre tropes on their head
What happens to his social life as deadlines loom
Taking inspiration from classic film
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
rileysagerbooks.com
The House Across the Lake: A Novel by Riley Sager (Amazon Affiliate)
Riley Sager Amazon Author Page (Amazon Affiliate)
Riley Sager on Facebook
Riley Sager on Instagram
Riley Sager on TikTok
Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 12, 2025 • 41min
How NY Times Bestselling Author Chevy Stevens Writes: Part Two
New York Times bestselling and award-winning psychological thriller writer, Chevy Stevens, returns to speak with me about writing dark subjects, running out of scary humans, and her latest “home invasion on wheels,” THE HITCHHIKERS.
Chevy's debut novel Still Missing became 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 over thirty countries and optioned for film and TV.
New York Times bestselling author Karin Slaughter described her eighth novel, another standalone thriller titled THE HITCHHIKERS (available for pre-order and on-sale 10/7) as "A frightening and viscerally chilling road-trip-gone-wrong story."
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In Part Two of this file Chevy Stevens and I discussed:
How not all Canadians are friendly
Starting books with something innocent that morphs into terror
Why writing is like dating
Her love of the nostalgia of ‘70s Hollywood
Why Poltergeist is the scariest movie of all time
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
chevystevens.com
The Hitchhikers: A Novel Hardcover – October 7, 2025 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

Sep 10, 2025 • 40min
How NY Times Bestselling Author Chevy Stevens Writes: Part One - Redux
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 ...
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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
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