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

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. " [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] 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

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." [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 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

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 ... Discover The Writer Files Extra ⁠⁠ You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app! As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey. ⁠Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox⁠ If you’re a fan of The Writer Files,  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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#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.” [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 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#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. [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 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

#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. [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 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#1 Sunday Times bestselling author Stuart MacBride spoke to me about playing god, why there are no shortcuts for writers, and his latest Logan McRae novel THIS HOUSE OF BURNING BONES. Stuart MacBride is the Sunday Times No.1 bestselling author of the Logan McRae and Ash Henderson novels. He’s also published standalones, novellas, short stories, and a “... slightly twisted children’s picture book.” His latest novel, THIS HOUSE OF BURNING BONES, is the 13th in the popular Logan McRae series. “A gritty police procedural that perfectly blends dry humor and psychological elements, this brand-new installment in the Logan McRae series celebrates 20 years since the beloved detective's first appearance in Cold Granite (2005).” The Washington Post wrote of the book, "Though part of a series, this novel stands successfully on its own, its characters fleshed out and in full possession of their idiosyncrasies." Lee Child, New York Times bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series, said, "Stuart MacBride is an automatic must-read for me . . . always fast, hard, authentic – and different."  [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 Stuart MacBride and I discussed: Why your first novel will definitely be crap How finally getting his first agent went sideways The decision to have his protagonist age in real time Taking a five-year hiatus from the popular DI Logan McRae series Why he writes his novels as screenplays first And a lot more! Show Notes: stuartmacbride.com This House of Burning Bones (Logan McRae, 13) by Stuart MacBride (Amazon) Stuart MacBride Amazon Author Page Stuart MacBride on Facebook Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Acclaimed debut novelist and English Professor Priscilla Morris spoke to me about finding her voice, and the germ of an idea that became her labor of love, acclaimed debut novel BLACK BUTTERFLIES. Priscilla Morris is a British author and lecturer whose debut novel, Black Butterflies, was shortlisted for a number of major awards. Critics described Black Butterflies as “a story of strife and hope set during the conflict in the Balkans in the early '90s,” and it was shortlisted in 2023 for: the Women’s Prize for Fiction, the RSL Ondaatje Prize, among others, and chosen as an Indie Fiction Book of the Month. Black Butterflies is a finalist for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize 2025 (winners to be announced in September). Priscilla teaches creative writing in Ireland and studied Spanish, Italian and social anthropology at Cambridge University and creative writing at the University of East Anglia, where she earned her PhD. [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 Priscilla Morris and I discussed: How her Grandfather’s funeral planted the seed that became her novel Why art helps overcome the tragedies of war Writing a love letter to the place she spent a part of her formative childhood How to cultivate a balanced disposition toward your work over time Why writing is a long game And a lot more! Show Notes: priscillamorris.org Black Butterflies: A Novel by Priscilla Morris (Amazon) Priscilla Morris on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, returned to chat about why bestsellers stick around for years, why fiction is perfectly geared for the human mind, and her latest YA thriller, THE GRANDEST GAME. Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 25 acclaimed young adult novels, including The Inheritance Games series (over 3 million copies sold), Little White Lies, Deadly Little Scandals, The Lovely and the Lost, and The Naturals series. Her latest is another #1 New York Times bestseller, The Grandest Game (Volume 1) “... a new series that brings readers deeper into the lush, romantic, and puzzle-filled world of the #1 bestselling Inheritance Games series, set a year after we last saw Avery and the Hawthornes.” Jen is a Fulbright Scholar with advanced degrees in psychology, psychiatry, and cognitive science including a Ph.D. from Yale University, and “...is one of the world's leading experts on the psychology of fandom and the cognitive science of fiction and the imagination.” [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 Jennifer Lynn Barnes and I discussed:  Juggling a book launch, edits, and revisions for three new books How to reboot a hit series to capture the same energy as the original Why she approaches writing as both a scientist and an author How she uses lists of her favorite tropes to unlock her scenes More theories on why readers love fiction And a lot more! Show Notes:  ⁠How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jennifer Lynn Barnes Writes: Part One⁠ ⁠Jenniferlynnbarnes.com⁠ ⁠The psychology of fiction with Jennifer Lynn Barnes | Re:Thinking with Adam Grant⁠ - TED Audio Collective ⁠The Grandest Game (Volume 1) (The Grandest Game, 1)⁠ By Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Amazon)⁠ ⁠⁠Jennifer Lynn Barnes Amazon Author Page⁠ ⁠⁠Jennifer Lynn Barnes on Twitter⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, spoke to me about how to write seven novels in 18 months, the psychology of fiction and fandom, and her latest YA mystery, THE BROTHERS HAWTHORNE. Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 20 acclaimed young adult novels, including The Inheritance Games trilogy, Little White Lies, Deadly Little Scandals, The Lovely and the Lost, and The Naturals series. Her latest is The Brothers Hawthorne, described as “Knives Out-esque” by Publishers Weekly, it is a story of [two brothers] “Drawn into twisted games on opposite sides of the globe, [who] —with the help of their brothers and the girl who inherited their grandfather’s fortune—must dig deep to decide who they want to be and what each of them will sacrifice to win.” Jen is a Fulbright Scholar with advanced degrees in psychology, psychiatry, and cognitive science including a Ph.D. from Yale University, and “...is one of the world's leading experts on the psychology of fandom and the cognitive science of fiction and the imagination.” [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 Jennifer Lynn Barnes and I discussed:  Her study of autism and why neurodivergents rely so heavily on story How her bestselling trilogy went viral on TikTok Why she writes for reluctant readers How to write mysteries with intricate puzzles, twists, turns, and reveals Her theories on why readers love fiction And a lot more! Show Notes: ⁠Jenniferlynnbarnes.com⁠ ⁠The psychology of fiction with Jennifer Lynn Barnes | Re:Thinking with Adam Grant⁠ - TED Audio Collective ⁠The Brothers Hawthorne⁠ By Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Amazon) ⁠Jennifer Lynn Barnes Amazon Author Page⁠ ⁠Jennifer Lynn Barnes on Twitter⁠ ⁠Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices