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

#PodcastersForJustice Award-winning writer, commentator, and Professor of Media Studies at Georgetown University, Christopher Chambers, chatted with me about why there's never been a better time to break through as a writer of color, unreliable narrators and the 2nd person POV, and writing for Marvel's Black Panther franchise. Christopher Chambers is a professor of media studies and novelist whose books include A Prayer for Deliverance and Sympathy for the Devil, the graphic anthology (with Gary Phillips) The Darker Mask, and PEN/Malamud-nominated story, "Leviathan." His writing was included in the anthology The Obama Inheritance: 15 Stores of Conspiracy Noir, which won numerous awards including the Anthony Award. His latest novel is Scavenger: A Mystery, set in Washington D.C.'s underbelly where "... a Black homeless man must quickly learn the ropes of being a detective after [being framed] for a brutal crime he didn’t commit." Publishers Weekly called the book, a “... no-holds-barred crime novel . . . a 21st-century twist on traditional hardboiled noir,” and friend of the pod, writer S.A. Cosby, called it "wholly original." Professor Chambers is an honors graduate of Princeton University and the University of Baltimore School of Law, where he was the first African American in the Law Review. He's a regular commentator/contributor on media and culture issues on SiriusXM Radio, ABC News, MSNBC, and HuffPost. Stay tuned for a special offer from this week's sponsor Neuro. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Christopher Chambers and I discussed: Why he didn't want to be the next Scott Turow How to incorporate today's confluence of societal crises into your writing What it's like to be invited to write about Wakanda Why the writing life equates to isolation And more! Show Notes: Christopher Chambers Scavenger: A Mystery by Christopher Chambers (Amazon) Christopher Chambers Amazon author page Christopher Chambers on Instagram Christopher Chambers on FaceBook Christopher Chambers on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice The international bestselling thriller writer of the Dexter series, Jeff Lindsay, chatted with me about his previous life in the dramatic arts, marrying into literary royalty, and what it's like to hang out with actor Andy Garcia. "I thought I was creating a bad guy. And I was trying to make him just interesting and likeable enough to keep people reading .... I was glad it took off like it did, but it was always a shock to me that people actually liked Dexter." — Jeff Lindsay Jeff is the New York Times bestselling author of the Dexter novels – which debuted in 2004 with Darkly Dreaming Dexter – adapted by Showtime into the popular TV series that ran for eight seasons. His latest novel is Fool Me Twice, second in the Riley Wolfe series, about "... a master thief that targets the wealthiest 0.1 percent." Publishers Weekly said of the series in a starred review, “Fans of the Ocean’s Eleven film franchise will be eager for more.” Jeff has also spent time as an actor, comedian, and playwright. Stay tuned for a special offer from this week's sponsor Neuro. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Jeff Lindsay and I discussed: The signs that pointed to being a writer What it's like to be married to a Hemingway On moral ambiguity, famous last words, and enduring antiheroes The return of 'Dexter' to the small screen A memorable dinner with Armistead Maupin And more! Show Notes: Jeff Lindsay Fool Me Twice by Jeff Lindsay [Amazon] Jeff Lindsay Amazon author page Showtime’s plans for bringing back Dexter for a limited series Jeff Lindsay on FaceBook Jeff Lindsay on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author Dani Shapiro, chatted with me about the Groundhog's Day effect of the pandemic, the transition from fiction to memoir, and the hidden power of Family Secrets. "There's no check the boxes kind of 'career development,' or anything like that, that exists in the creative life. People think that there is, and that they're not doing it right. And there's no right." — Dani Shapiro Dani is the author of 10 books including the instant New York Times bestselling memoir, Inheritance, which was published in 2019. Her other books include the memoirs Hourglass, Still Writing, Devotion, and Slow Motion, and five novels including Black & White and Family History. Inheritance won the 2019 National Jewish Book Award, was named one of Wired’s top Science books of 2019 and a best book of 2019 by Vanity Fair. It was also a book club pick for Now Read This, the PBS NewsHour’s book club with The New York Times. “A meditation on what it means to live in a time when secrecy, anonymity, and mystery are vanishing.” — The New Yorker Dani has taught at Columbia and New York University, is the co-founder of the Sirenland Writers Conference in Positano, Italy, and teaches writing workshops around the world. In early 2019, Dani launched an original podcast, Family Secrets, in collaboration with iHeartMedia. An iTunes Top 10 podcast, the series features "...stories from guests who — like Dani — have uncovered life-altering and long-hidden secrets from their families’ past." Stay tuned for a special offer from this week's sponsor Neuro. NOTE: Our apologies for any audio issues with our podcast guest interview. We hope it doesn't distract from the important message of this episode. Thank you! If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Dani Shapiro and I discussed: How to change the rhythm of your day to spark creativity Her mentors and awakening to her writing voice Learning to write in public (and find an agent the right way) On throwing out hundreds of pages The power of storytelling in the aftermath of family trauma And much more! Show Notes: DaniShapiro.com Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love by Dani Shapiro [Amazon] Dani Shapiro Amazon author page ‎Family Secrets on Apple Podcasts William Faulkner's Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech C.1950 The Essay on Self Reliance - Ralph Waldo Emerson Dani Shapiro on Instagram Dani Shapiro on Facebook Dani Shapiro on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice The award-winning mystery writer and popular crime novelist, Craig Johnson, spoke with me about his long-running Longmire series, shotgun self-realization, and how to write good books. "How am I ever gonna get seen? Write good books." — Craig Johnson Craig is the New York Times bestselling author of the Longmire mysteries, the bedrock of the hit Netflix series of the same name. His latest novel is the 16th Sheriff Walt Longmire murder mystery, Next to Last Stand, a story that centers around Custer’s Last Fight, one of the most viewed paintings in American history. "Custer's Last Fight was copied and distributed by Anheuser-Busch at a rate of over two million copies a year and destroyed in a fire at the 7th Cavalry Headquarters in Fort Bliss, Texas, in 1946 . . . Or was it?" In a starred review, Library Journal said of the book, "... Johnson lightens the atmosphere in this complex, thought-provoking mystery that highlights art and Western history, emphasizing the contrast between Native accounts and white history." Craig is also the recipient of the Western Writers of America Spur Award for fiction, the Mountain & Plains Independent Booksellers Association's Reading the West Book Award for fiction, the Nouvel Observateur Prix du Roman Noir, and the Prix SNCF du Polar. If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Craig Johnson and I discussed: Why he chose to feature veterans in his latest book The wisdom behind "Choose a job you love..." How to host a virtual book tour event His special relationship with the cast and crew of the Longmire TV series And more! Show Notes: CraigAllenJohnson.com Next to Last Stand: A Longmire Mystery by Craig Johnson [Amazon] Craig Johnson Amazon author page Tinderbox: Soldier of Indira by Lou Diamond Phillips [Amazon] Craig Johnson on FaceBook Craig Johnson on Instagram Craig Johnson on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice The internationally bestselling thriller writer, Emily Schultz, spoke with me about recollections of coming of age as a Gen-Xer, her creative process in multiple mediums, and how to funnel emotion onto the page. "You have to be able to take your own emotions and experiences and translate them into a fictional story. If you can pull on the truths that you know, you can bring them to the reader." — Emily Schultz Emily is the co-founder of the literary magazine Joyland and is the author of The Blondes, an international bestseller named a Best Book of 2015 by NPR, BookPage, and Kirkus Reviews. Her latest novel is Little Threats, described as a "...taut whodunit and a haunting snapshot of the effects of a violent crime [that] tells the story of a woman who served 15 years in prison for murder ... and now it's time to find out if she's guilty." The book was named an Apple Books Best of November 2020 pick. Booklist said of the book, "Fans of Tana French, Kimberly Belle, and Orange is the New Black will fall under this book's spell. . . Terse and tense, Little Threats investigates righteous anger, teenage angst, and the enormity of setting the record straight." Emily’s writing has appeared in Elle, Slate, Vice, Hazlitt, Prairie Schooner, and many others. She is also a producer at the indie media company Heroic Collective where she recently released a complimentary podcast adaptation of The Blondes. Stay tuned for a clip from the Little Threats audiobook at the break, “... excerpted courtesy [of] Penguin Random House Audio ... read by Dylan Moore and Ariadne Meyers.” Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Emily Schultz and I discussed: The influential literary magazine she helped co-found How to get an "accidental" blurb from Stephen King The pandemic's effect on her creative process How to pull on the truths you know and bring them to your readers And what to do when you don't have access to resources as a writer Show Notes: EmilySchultz.com Little Threats by Emily Schultz - [Amazon] Emily Schultz Amazon page Joyland literary magazine Emily Schultz on FaceBook Emily Schultz on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Internationally bestselling author, publisher, and founder of Lifestyle Entrepreneurs Press, Jesse Krieger, took time to chat with me about disruptions to the publishing industry, the intersection of creativity and commerce, and marketing and promotion strategies for self-published authors. "Learn what you need to know, to do what you love to do, so you can be the person you want to be" — Jesse Krieger Jesse has signed publishing deals on two different continents and navigated the path of becoming a bestselling author twice. He has been featured on over 50 media outlets for his bestselling book Lifestyle Entrepreneur. He has also published 100+ books during his six-year tenure as founder and publisher of Lifestyle Entrepreneurs Press, a boutique, hybrid model publishing house. “Their mission is to deliver a world-class publishing experience for authors – which they accomplish through their done-for-you publishing service – focused primarily on personal development, entrepreneurship, self-help, and healthy lifestyles.” Through their unique distribution and sales models, and a focus on helping authors on each phase of the publishing journey, they strive to provide both higher quality work and resultant royalties. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Jesse Krieger and I discussed: How books get published: traditional vs. hybrid publishing Why he doesn't recommend starting a publishing company Best practices for non-fiction authors thinking of writing a book The most common mistakes he sees authors make How to write a great book that will stand the test of time Why you can't anticipate where your audience will find you And much more! Show Notes: Lifestyle Entrepreneurs Press Lifestyle Entrepreneur: Live Your Dreams, Ignite Your Passions and Run Your Business From Anywhere in The World by Jesse Krieger [Amazon] Publishizer.com Lifestyle Entrepreneurs Press on Facebook Lifestyle Entrepreneurs Press on Instagram Jesse Krieger on LinkedIn Jesse Krieger on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice Celebrated designer, Creative Director of Scribe Media, and author, Erin Tyler, spoke with me about how she overcame childhood trauma to become one of the industry's best book cover designers, why this is such an important time in publishing, and book cover fails to avoid. "My relationship with writing is a private one. It's just something that I do every day. It's almost religious for me. Some people meditate or do yoga. I write." — Erin Tyler Over her 20-year career, Erin has designed book covers for multiple New York Times bestselling authors including James Altucher, Ryan Holiday, David Goggins, and Tucker Max. As Creative Director of Scribe Media she helps manage and support "...the best book cover designers in the game ... to create unforgettable covers for authors." Erin recently illustrated and published her own memoir – The Bad One: A Memoir About Growing Up a Goat (short for scapegoat) – the story of her traumatic childhood. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. 1-800-273-8255 Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Erin Tyler and I discussed: Her cathartic journey from designer to author The glut of creative tools now available to authors Why competitive title research is so crucial to the look of your book The "visual math and emotional haiku" that go into a great cover Recent industry trends that get under her skin And why you should feel free to overcommunicate (but not micromanage) with your book cover designer Show Notes: ErinTylerdesign.com The Bad One: A Memoir About Growing Up a Goat by Erin Tyler [Amazon]  ScribeMedia.com Erin Tyler on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice New York Times Notable author, Bryan Washington, dropped by to chat about how his short stories garnered so much acclaim, what cuisine tells us about the larger narrative around sharing a meal, and why writers need to ignore the publishing marketplace. "A reading itself can feel more akin to a set list. You adjust your set list based on the context in which you're performing. I think of the reading ... as being interconnected with the text, but its own singular entity." — Bryan Washington The author published the award-winning story collection Lot in 2019 which garnered him – to name only a few – a National Book Award 5 Under 35 honor, the Dylan Thomas Prize, a Lambda Literary Award, numerous best-of-the-year lists, and one of President Barack Obama’s favorite books of 2019. His debut novel is Memorial, and it too earned a NY Times notable spot, a Good Morning America Book Club Pick, and was named a Best Book of the Year by The Washington Post, TIME, O, the Oprah Magazine, Esquire, Harper's Bazaar, and others. It's described as "A funny and profound story about family in all its strange forms, joyful and hard-won vulnerability, becoming who you're supposed to be, and the limits of love." The author described Memorial as a "gay slacker dramedy." NPR called it, “A masterpiece,” and The Washington Post said of the book “No other novel this year captures so gracefully the full palette of America.” A24 has already purchased the rights to Memorial, with Washington writing the adaptation for television. Bryan has written for The New Yorker, The New York Times, The New York Times Magazine, Buzzfeed, Vulture, The Paris Review, McSweeney’s Quarterly, Tin House, One Story, Bon Appetit, GQ, The Awl, and Catapult. Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Bryan Washington and I discussed: Trying to pin down the intangible definition of "home" How the author irons out the creases in his prose Why writers are like stand-up comedians His involvement with the adaptation of his novel for the small screen And why you need to just sit down and start writing Show Notes: BryWashing.com Memorial: A Novel by Bryan Washington [Amazon] Bryan Washington on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter #PodcastersForJustice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice The New York Times bestselling crime novelist, Tana French, took a break to talk with me about her early training as an actress, her definition of creativity, and how to write through the tough times. "I didn't know if I could write a book. I'd written short stories and really galactically bad teenager poetry, but I'd never tried to write a book before." — Tana French The author has written eight mystery novels and is considered a master of suspense and the modern psychological thriller. Her work has been compared to writers including James Ellroy and Donna Tartt, and has been called "incandescent" by Stephen King, and "absolutely mesmerizing" by Gillian Flynn. Her novels have sold over three million copies and won numerous awards, including the Edgar and Barry awards, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Best Mystery/Thriller, and the Irish Book Award for Crime Fiction. Her latest bestseller, The Searcher, is her second stand-alone novel, and she was described by The Washington Post as "...the most important crime novelist to emerge in the past 10 years." Stay tuned for a clip from The Searcher audiobook at the break, “... excerpted courtesy [of] Penguin Random House Audio ... read by Roger Clark.” Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Tana French and I discussed: Her "galactically" bad poetry The archaeological dig that inspired “In the Woods,” her Edgar-winning 2007 debut novel How she came to riff on the Western genre in her latest And why writers need to fight off the struggle of isolation Show Notes: TanaFrench.com The Searcher: A Novel by Tana French [Amazon] Tana French Amazon page The Essential Tana French, The New York Times Tana French on FaceBook Kelton Reid on Twitter #PodcastersForJustice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#PodcastersForJustice The New York Times bestselling Southern crime writer, Ace Atkins, took a minute to talk with me about his superhero origins as a journalist, the complicated, dark history of the American South, and the challenge and thrill of changing POVs in the novel. "Make sure you're picking [your genre and subject] for the right reason, that you're picking something that's your personal obsession. When you do that you're never really working, you're really just having fun." — Ace Atkins The author has written 26 books, including ten in his country noir, Quinn Colson series, and eight bestselling novels in the continuation of Robert B. Parker’s iconic Spenser series. He has been nominated for every major award in crime fiction, including the Edgar three times. HBO recently optioned his Quinn Colson novels for a series that's currently in development and Ace's second novel for the Robert B. Parker estate, Wonderland, was made into the film "Spenser Confidential" starring Mark Wahlberg and directed by Peter Berg. The former newspaper reporter (and SEC football player) also writes essays and investigative pieces for publications including Garden & Gun, The Wall Street Journal, and Outside Magazine. The Revelators is the 10th Quinn Colson Novel a series Men’s Journal called, "The Deep South’s true detective," and NY Times bestselling author Megan Abbott dubbed, “Ace Atkins’ Quinn Colson series is, quite simply, the best in crime fiction today..." Stay tuned for a clip from The Revelators audiobook at the break, “... excerpted courtesy [of] Penguin Random House Audio ... read by MacLeod Andrews.” Please help us learn more about you by completing this short 7-question survey If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews. In this file Ace Atkins and I discussed: How his writing has been influenced by '70s noir Why his latest work echoes social issues of the deep South The music that helps him create Dinner with Dashiell Hammett And how to pick the best genre for your writing voice! Show Notes: AceAtkins.com The Revelators (A Quinn Colson Novel) by Ace Atkins [Amazon] Ace Atkins Amazon author page Ace Atkins on FaceBook Ace Atkins on Instagram Ace Atkins on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter #PodcastersForJustice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices