#PodcastersForJustice
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. "
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 Twitter
Riley Sager on TikTok
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How NY Times Bestselling Thriller Writer Riley Sager Writes

“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.

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Emmy-winning TV journalist and CNN Chief Climate Correspondent, Bill Weir, spoke to me about finding his beat, seeking “hope in a changing world,” and his debut, Life as We Know It (Can Be).
Bill Weir is a veteran anchor, writer, producer, and host who joined CNN in 2013 after a decade of award-winning journalism at ABC News. After writing and hosting four seasons of the primetime CNN Original Series “The Wonder List with Bill Weir,” he was named the first Chief Climate Correspondent in network news in 2019.
His debut book is Life as We Know It (Can Be): Stories of People, Climate, and Hope in a Changing World, described as a “... positive and unabashed approach to exploring the science, politics, and human behavior that must be addressed to solve our most pressing problems.”
New York Times bestselling author and CNN anchor Jake Tapper said of the book, “Bill Weir provides insightful, alarming, but ultimately hopeful coverage of the climate crisis. His new book is a gorgeous love letter to his son but also to Earth and humanity,” and New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Safran Foer called it, “... a clear-eyed, heartfelt argument against despair.”
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In this file Bill Weir and I discussed:
How he incorporates the math and physics of storytelling into his journalism
The “crappy elf” method of writing and penning letters to his kids in the future
Why connection is more important than ever in the “golden age of distraction”
The difference between writing for the screen and the page
When he decided to focus on the dreamers and the doers
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
Bill Weir CNN Chief Climate Correspondent
Life as We Know It (Can Be): Stories of People, Climate, and Hope in a Changing World by Bill Weir (Amazon)
Bill Weir on Facebook
Bill Weir on Instagram
Bill Weir on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How CNN Chief Climate Correspondent Bill Weir Writes

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Tomi Adeyemi, spoke to me about the film adaptation of Children of Blood and Bone, her evolution as a writer, and the final book in her Orisha trilogy, Children of Anguish and Anarchy.
Tomi Adeyemi is the #1 New York Times bestselling, Hugo and Nebula award-winning novelist and screenwriter who was named one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People, Forbes’s 30 Under 30 in Media, and whose website was named one of the 101 Best Websites for writers by Writer’s Digest.
Her Children of Blood and Bone series continues to be a publishing phenomenon, acquired in a heated bidding war with the first two books becoming instant #1 NY Times bestsellers – spending over 150 weeks on the list – and over 1.5 million copies in print to date including recent paperback re-releases.
The Nigerian/American writer graduated from Harvard University with an honors degree in English literature and studied West African mythology, religion, and culture in Salvador, Brazil
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[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 Tomi Adeyemi and I discussed:
Her newly found balance and definition of success as a writer 
Facing rejection early on in her career
How she persevered through meticulous planning
Why her acknowledgments are so lengthy in her long-awaited capstone to her trilogy
What’s next for the superstar
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
tomiadeyemi.com
thewritersroadmap.net
Children of Anguish and Anarchy (Legacy of Orisha, 3) – June 25, 2024 by Tomi Adeyemi (Amazon)
Tomi Adeyemi Amazon Author Page
Tomi Adeyemi on Instagram
Tomi Adeyemi on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Tomi Adeyemi Writes

Stanford Professor, communications expert, and author, Matt Abrahams, spoke with me about tips and tricks to hone your communication skills as a writer, and his award-winning podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart.
Matt Abrahams is a leading expert in communication with decades of expertise as an educator, author, podcast host, and coach. As a Lecturer in Organizational Behavior at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, he teaches popular classes in strategic communication and effective virtual presenting.
He also hosts Stanford Graduate School of Business' Think Fast, Talk Smart – the 2023 Webby Award-winning “Best Business Podcast." The podcast has topped 42 million downloads and has been the #1 Career podcast in over 95 countries.
Matt is the author of two books including Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot, based in part on his hit podcast.
Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestseller, said of the author, "Matt Abrahams has a gift for making complex concepts easy to understand and simple to enact. If you’ve ever struggled to summon the right words at the right time, this book is an essential read.”
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[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 Matt Abrahams and I discussed:
The TED talk that led to a podcast that led to a book 
Why writers need to find their focus through structure
His advice on pitching your book to agents in person
How it’s normal to be nervous; managing anxiety
Why most writers suffer the curses of knowledge and passion
How to nail that first book tour
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
mattabrahams.com
Think Fast Talk Smart: Podcast
Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot By Matt Abrahams (Amazon)
Think Fast Talk Smart on Instagram
Think Fast Talk Smart on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How Stanford Prof. & Comms Expert Matt Abrahams Writes

#1 New York Times bestselling novelist and screenwriter, Ernest Cline, spoke to me about what inspired him to become a novelist, the success of Ready Player One, and his love letter to Austin, Texas, the mostly true tall tale BRIDGE TO BAT CITY.
Ernest Cline is the bestselling author of Ready Player One, Ready Player Two, and Armada,  and co-screenwriter of the film adaptation of Ready Player One, directed by Steven Spielberg.
His debut middle-grade novel, BRIDGE TO BAT CITY (on sale 4/9/24; ages 8 & up), is described as “... a mostly true tall tale about a recently orphaned girl and her mission to help a family of displaced bats find a new home under the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas.”
His books have been published in over fifty countries and have spent more than 100 weeks on The New York Times bestsellers list.
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[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 Ernest Cline and I discussed:
The crazy story behind Stephen King’s Misery
What it was like waiting for a call from Stephen Spielberg
How the author got to see his fiction turned into reality
Making the transition from adult sci-fi to middle grade novels
His shout outs to ET, Roald Dahl, Charles Portis
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Ernest Cline Writes: Part One
Bridge to Bat City by Ernest Cline (Amazon)
Ernest Cline Amazon Author Page
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Ernest Cline Writes: Part Two

#1 New York Times bestselling novelist and screenwriter, Ernest Cline, spoke to me about what inspired him to become a novelist, the success of Ready Player One, and his love letter to Austin, Texas, the mostly true tall tale BRIDGE TO BAT CITY.
Ernest Cline is the bestselling author of Ready Player One, Ready Player Two, and Armada,  and co-screenwriter of the film adaptation of Ready Player One, directed by Steven Spielberg.
His debut middle-grade novel, BRIDGE TO BAT CITY (on sale 4/9/24; ages 8 & up), is described as “... a mostly true tall tale about a recently orphaned girl and her mission to help a family of displaced bats find a new home under the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas.”
His books have been published in over fifty countries and have spent more than 100 weeks on The New York Times bestsellers list.
[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 One of this file Ernest Cline and I discussed:
The signposts on the road to becoming a writer
His change of fortune (and opinion) as a screenwriter
The big idea behind Ready Player One 
Why 90% of Stephen King’s protagonists are school teachers or writers
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Ernest Cline Writes: Part Two
Bridge to Bat City by Ernest Cline (Amazon)
Ernest Cline Amazon Author Page
Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How NY Times Bestselling Thriller Writer Riley Sager Writes

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