

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 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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Sep 5, 2025 • 31min
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Bonnie Garmus Writes: Redux
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Bonnie Garmus, spoke to me about the evolution of her craft, how her protagonist changed her life, getting blurbed by Stephen King, and the never-ending book tour for her lauded debut LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY.
Bonnie Garmus is a copywriter, creative director, and author of the #1 New York Times bestselling novel, Lessons in Chemistry, named a Best Book of the Year by The New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, Oprah Daily, Entertainment Weekly, and Newsweek.
The book introduced the main character, “Elizabeth Zott, a headstrong, gifted chemist in 1960s California whose career takes a detour when she becomes the unlikely star of a beloved TV cooking show.”
BuzzFeed wrote of the book, “A kicky debut, this book tackles feminism, resilience, and rationalism in a fun and refreshing way.” And Stephen King called it, “witty, sometimes hilarious…the Catch-22 of early feminism.”
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In this file Bonnie Garmus and I discussed:
How her copywriting career supported her fiction writing
Why courses will never make you a writer
Plotters vs Pantsers and why she can't write from an outline
Overcoming a fear of the blank page
Why writing a synopsis is one of The Circles of Hell
Getting a phone call from Academy Award Winner Brie Larson
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
BonnieGarmus.com
Lessons in Chemistry By Bonnie Garmus (Amazon)
Bonnie Garmus on Instagram
Bonnie Garmus on Twitter
Kelton Reid Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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Sep 3, 2025 • 36min
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Josie Silver Writes: Redux
#1 New York Times bestselling author Josie Silver spoke to me about the laptop that changed her life, overcoming adversity early on, and her latest ghost-hunting rom-com CRAZY SPOOKY LOVE.
Josie Silver is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of One Day in December, The Two Lives of Lydia Bird, One Night on the Island, and A Winter in New York, and her books have been published in over 25 languages.
Her latest novel, CRAZY SPOOKY LOVE (September 2, 2025), features a plucky medium, her fame-chasing ex, and an infuriatingly handsome skeptic reporter in a ghost-hunting series full of romance and humor.
Although Josie Silver burst onto the scene with her smash-hit debut romance, One Day in December in 2018, she had published books before—just under a different name, and never in the U.S. She tells me that story here.
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In this file Josie Silver and I discussed:
How she wrote on maternity leave, won a contest, and got an agent
Why she couldn’t imagine doing anything else amidst multiple rejections
The need for authors to reinvent themselves often
How her latest protagonist strolled into her imagination fully formed
Rewriting a previously published work for a new set of editors
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
josiesilver.com
Crazy Spooky Love: A Melody Bittersweet Novel (Melody Bittersweet, 1) – September 2, 2025 – by Josie Silver (Amazon)
Josie Silver Amazon Author Page
Josie Silver on Twitter/X
Josie Silver on Instagram
Kelton Reid Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 29, 2025 • 43min
The Writer Files x Diary of a Book Babe: Vol. 1
#bookstagram influencer, reviewer, and writer Milena Gonzalez (aka Diary of a Book Babe) spoke to me about culling inspiration from the podcast, hyping up her favorite authors, and her latest five-star finds.
This is the first volume of a new format of the show where I’ll be inviting some like-minded friends to talk shop.
Milena Gonzalez graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a double major in Literary Journalism and English. She spent eight years as owner, designer, and screen printer of a small business, Lady & Little.
Milena is a Southern California mom to three kids. She is currently working on her third novel, a psychological suburban thriller. Learn more about her at diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram.
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In this file Milena Gonzalez and I discussed:
Why we both love #1 NY Times bestselling author Bonnie Garmus so much
Quick reviews of the latest releases from NY Times bestselling author Stacy Willingham and debut novelist Penny Zang
How Milena discovers new and established authors to review
The definition of “dark academia”
Where we put all of our TBR stacks
Advice on how to keep going
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
Forget Me Not: A Novel by Stacy Willingham (Amazon)
Doll Parts: A Novel by Penny Zang (Amazon)
Dating After the End of the World by Jeneva Rose (Amazon)
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Bonnie Garmus Writes
How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Priscilla Morris Writes
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Carley Fortune Writes - Redux
How NY Times Bestselling Thriller Writer Riley Sager Writes
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Emily Henry Writes: Part One
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Kelton Reid Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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