Bestselling author Ellen O’Clover spoke with us about her career as a copywriter, her writing process, making the transition from YA to adult romance, and her latest novel IF NOT YOU.

Ellen O’Clover is the acclaimed author of The Heartbreak Hotel—a BOTM selection, instant indie bestseller, and one of NPR’s 2025 “Books We Love.” She studied creative writing at Johns Hopkins University.

Her latest novel, If Not You, is described as an “...honest and heartfelt love story [with] the witty, down-to-earth, timeless vibes of the classic 90s and 2000s rom-coms.”  

Rachel Lynn Solomon, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Extracurricular, said of the author, “Ellen O'Clover is one of my favorite writers — her books leave me in perpetual awe….The romance genre is radically lucky to have Ellen's voice in it.”

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In this file Ellen O’Clover, Milena, and I discussed:

Getting a blurb from our friend Jodi Picoult

Why she made the shift from pantser to plotter

How she crafts her emotionally driven fiction

What she mined from her copywriting career for the latest

Meeting your readers where they are

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

ellenoclover.com

If Not You By Ellen O’Clover (Amazon)

Ellen O’Clover Amazon Author Page

Ellen O’Clover on Substack

Ellen O’Clover on TikTok

Ellen O’Clover on Instagram

Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer

diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram

Kelton Reid Instagram

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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#1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult returns to speak with us about her research process, writing habits, book bans, recurring characters, and her 30th novel, HOLLOW BONES.

Jodi Picoult is the award-winning and bestselling author of 30 novels, including most recently the #1 bestseller By Any Other Name. Her landmark novel 19 MINUTES was recently named the most banned book in the United States in a report by PEN America.

Her 30th novel is Hollow Bones, also a #1 bestseller, and a book that “explores mothers and daughters, gender bias in healthcare, and catastrophe and consequence.”

In a starred review, Kirkus called the book, “An intricate, twisty family drama spanning decades . . . Fans of My Sister’s Keeper will . . . be glad to hear a character from that book is back. . . . The queen of social activist novels has done it again.”

With over 60 million books in print, Jodi's books have been translated into forty languages. Her co-adaptation of the musical Austenland is currently in development.

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In this file Jodi Picoult, Milena, and I discussed:

Why she took and failed a lie detector test researching her latest book

The never-ending book tour and surviving on one meal a day

How she defends free speech while maintaining 1.5M social media followers

Why there’s no silver bullet after finishing a book and signing with an agent

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

jodipicoult.com

Hollow Bones: A Novel By Jodi Picoult (Amazon)

Jodi Picoult Amazon Author Page

Jodi Picoult on Facebook

Jodi Picoult on Twitter

Jodi Picoult on Instagram

Jodi Picoult on TikTok

Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer

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 New York Times bestselling author, Jodi Picoult, spoke with me about writing for Wonder Woman, adapting books for musical theater, and the question of Shakespeare's true authorship in her upcoming novel BY ANY OTHER NAME.

Jodi Picoult is the bestselling author of 30 novels, including landmark titles such as Mad Honey – her most recent 1 million-copy bestseller – Wish You Were Here, A Spark of Light, and Small Great Things. 40 million copies of her books are in print worldwide and have been translated into 34 languages.

Her forthcoming novel is BY ANY OTHER NAME (on sale 8/20; Ballantine), described as a novel about two women, centuries apart – one of whom is the real author of Shakespeare’s plays – who are both forced to hide behind another name.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kristin Hannah said of the book, “You’ll fall in love with Emilia Bassano, the unforgettable heroine based on a real woman that Picoult brings vividly to life in her brilliantly researched new novel.” Elle called it, “[An] inspiring work of feminist literature inspired by real historical accounts.”

Jodi was also co-librettist for the stage musical adaptation of her young adult novel Between the Lines (which premiered Off-Broadway in Summer 2022), the co-librettist of the musical BREATHE, the co-librettist of the musical adaptation of The Book Thief, and she is currently at work on an adaptation of Austenland.

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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 Jodi Picoult and I discussed: 

What's changed and what hasn't for women (in theater) over 400+ years?

The best time to break an arm for an author

How she works in cycles for her books

Why her kids made her write for Wonder Woman

The conundrum of a famous playwright who didn’t own a single book

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

⁠⁠jodipicoult.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠By Any Other Name: A Novel⁠⁠ By Jodi Picoult (Amazon)

⁠⁠Jodi Picoult Amazon Author Page⁠⁠

⁠⁠WAS SHAKESPEARE A WOMAN?⁠⁠ – Elizabeth Winkler for The Atlantic

⁠⁠Jodi Picoult on Facebook⁠⁠

⁠⁠Jodi Picoult on Twitter⁠⁠

⁠⁠Jodi Picoult on Instagram⁠⁠

⁠⁠Jodi Picoult on TikTok⁠

Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer

diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram

Kelton Reid Instagram

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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Critically acclaimed debut novelist Jessica Goldstein spoke with us about her career path from teen mag intern to freelance culture writer, time travel, and her nostalgic debut, RETRO.

Jessica M. Goldstein is a journalist, humorist, and longtime contributor to Vulture, where she has recapped ‘Emily in Paris,’ ‘Hacks,’ ‘Wednesday,’ and ‘The White Lotus.’ Her work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Marie Claire, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, and more.

Her highly anticipated debut, Retro, is described as “Party Down meets one of those great George Saunders short stories about how weird and dystopian work is. A little White Lotus, a little Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.”

In a starred review, Kirkus declared the book “a nuanced, biting cautionary tale about how not staying present can erase our very selves.”

Jessica also publishes a weekly Substack newsletter, The Retro Report, where she shares vintage mood-based recommendations for what to read, watch, listen to, meditate on, and obsess over. 

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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 Jessica Goldstein, Milena, and I discussed:

The origins of her debut novel and how she snagged an agent

Getting long-listed for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize

Her intense nostalgia for the "Before" times

Why you need to opt out of the imagined timeline of becoming an author

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web

jessicamgoldstein.com

retrotheagency.com

Retro: A Novel By Jessica Goldstein (Amazon)

The Retro Report on Substack

Jessica Goldstein on Twitter

Jessica Goldstein on Facebook

Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer

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 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Aveyard spoke with us about her journey from USC screenwriting to publishing, her writing process, and her upcoming adult fantasy debut, TEMPEST.

Victoria Aveyard is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the RED QUEEN series and the REALM BREAKER trilogy. Her books have sold over eight million copies and been published in more than 40 languages.

Her highly anticipated adult fantasy debut, Tempest, is the first book in The Lyrian Sea duology. Set against the fall of the Golden Age of Piracy, the book follows a former noblewoman facing execution for treason unless she helps the Empire hunt down its greatest enemy.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Yarros said of the book, “Victoria Aveyard's first foray into adult fantasy is a triumphant, epic adventure on the high seas. What an exciting, captivating read to spend your weekend with!”

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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 Victoria Aveyard, Milena, and I discussed:

Her deliberate pivot in both creative growth and reader demand

How she sold her debut novel within two weeks of going on submission

The distinct differences between YA and Adult fiction

What her screenwriting background taught her about fast-paced storytelling

Why fanfiction provides writers an early anonymous feedback loop

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web

victoriaaveyard.com

PLOT TWIST podcast

Tempest : A Novel By Victoria Aveyard (Amazon)

Victoria Aveyard Amazon Author Page

Victoria Aveyard on TikTok

Victoria Aveyard on Instagram

Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer

diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram

Kelton Reid Instagram

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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

Acclaimed debut author Kevin C. Morris spoke with us about exploring the Alaskan coastline in search of a mysterious island, his query and publishing journey, and the resultant novel UNTAMED COAST. 

Kevin C. Morris is an engineer, and journalist (with 20 years of long-form writing under his belt), as well as a recreational pilot, boat captain, and entrepreneur based in Portland, Oregon.

His genre-bending debut novel, Untamed Coast, spans three timelines: 1938, the 1980s and 2017, all set along the rugged Alaskan coast, and described as “an atmospheric novel perfect for fans of McConaghy’s Wild Dark Shore, Moore’s God of the Woods, Lawhon’s Frozen River, and Heller’s The Guide.

New York Times bestselling author Kate Quinn said of the book, “Untamed Coast is a bold, intricately plotted debut unfolding against the beauty and danger of the Alaskan wilderness. . . . The timelines coil, the intrigue mounts, but it’s Kevin C. Morris’s vivid evocation of Alaska’s savage beauty that truly shines…”

Kevin spends his summers navigating the Inside Passage to Southeast Alaska—a rugged landscape that fuels both his adventures and his fiction.

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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 Kevin C. Morris, Milena, and I discussed:

The story behind the Radioville mystery that inspired the book

How the novel was won at auction after multiple rewrites

Why his agent found his original query “kind of awful” and how he recovered

Where Morse code became a part of the plot and the structure of the novel

The wildness and beauty of the Alaskan coast as a character

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web

kevincmorris.com 

Untamed Coast: A Novel by Kevin C. Morris (Amazon)

Kevin C. Morris on YouTube

Kevin C. Morris on Facebook

Kevin C. Morris on Instagram

Milena Gonzalez | Writer| Reader | Book Reviewer

diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram

Kelton Reid Instagram

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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

New York Times bestselling author Sarah Pinborough spoke with us about her approach to plotting twists, the stark difference between writing novels and screenplays, and her latest THEY SAY A GIRL DIED HERE.

Sarah Pinborough is the New York Times and Sunday Times #1 bestselling author of international hit Behind Her Eyes, published in over 25 territories worldwide.

Her latest novel, They Say a Girl Died Here, is describe as “a thrilling, genre-bending mystery about two murdered girls, a town with dark secrets, and a race to break a deadly cycle.”

Publishers Weekly called the book, “An addictive tale of Midwestern macabre. . . Pinborough's fierce yet flawed characters are easy to root for, and she doles out the story's shocking secrets at a tantalizing pace. Thriller fans who like it dark will devour this.”

Sarah Pinborough was the 2009 winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Short Story and also the 2010 and 2014 winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Novella, and she has four times been short-listed for Best Novel. She is also a screenwriter who has written for the BBC with multiple adaptations in the works.

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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 Sarah Pinborough, Milena, and I discussed:

Her former life running a strip club

The chance encounter at FantasyCon that led to a three-book deal

How she changes gears while shifting mediums

Why horror is her favorite genre

Hot takes on recent horror films

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web

sarahpinborough.com

They Say a Girl Died Here: A Novel by Sarah Pinborough (Amazon)

Sarah Pinborough Amazon Author Page

Sarah Pinborough on Twitter

Sarah Pinborough on Facebook

Sarah Pinborough on Instagram

Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer

diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram

Kelton Reid Instagram

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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

New York Times bestselling author Nina Simon spoke with us about her unconventional career path, low-overhead creative lifestyle, and her sophomore novel MY SISTER IS GOING TO KILL ME.

Nina Simon is the bestselling author of the hit novel Mother-Daughter Murder Night. A Reese’s Book Club pick and New York Times bestseller, Simon’s debut was an Anthony Award winner, an Indie Next pick, and a Best of 2023 selection for Barnes & Noble, Library Journal, and Amazon.

Her follow-up, My Sister Is Going to Kill Me, is described as a “family-centric, women-led whodunnit about two sisters who work together to find a killer as they raft down the rapids of the Grand Canyon.”

Nita Prose, #1 bestselling author of The Maid series, called the book "A high-octane thriller about two sisters who have to solve a murder ... or die trying. Propulsive and page-turning, this is armchair adventure at its best."

Before turning to fiction, Nina wore many hats: NASA engineer, slam poet, game designer, museum director, and nonprofit CEO.

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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 Nina Simon, Milena, and I discussed:

Her pivot from “museum visionary” to crime fiction 

The cancer diagnosis in her family that prompted her to write her debut novel

How she turned the natural splendor of the Grand Canyon into a locked-room mystery

Her writing process and living off the grid

Engineering a low-expense lifestyle to buy creative freedom

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web

NinaKSimon.com

My Sister Is Going to Kill Me: A Novel (Signed) by Nina Simon - Bookshop Santa Cruz

My Sister Is Going to Kill Me: A Novel by Nina Simon (Amazon)

Nina Simon Amazon Author Page

Nina Simon on Substack

Nina Simon on Facebook

Nina Simon on Instagram

Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer

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 international bestselling author Raphael Montes spoke with us about his dual career in TV and fiction, finding commercial success while maintaining authenticity, and the US publication of his hit book THE SECRET DINNER.

Raphael Montes is the internationally acclaimed, #1 bestselling Brazilian thriller writer best known for The Secret Dinner, a dark and provocative novel set in Rio de Janeiro described as "a mixture of Alfred Hitchcock's suspense with Quentin Tarantino's black comedy.” He is published in over 25 countries with over 8 million copies sold.

Set in Copacabana, The Secret Dinner—a biting, dark satire of foodie culture, wealth excess, and youth desperation—is landing in the US for the first time and has been named a summer most-anticipated by Crimereads, in addition to two mentions in The New York Times.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Riley Sager said of the book, "The Secret Dinner is a potent combination of gallows humor, Hitchcockian suspense, and trenchant social commentary. Bold and bloody, it's a thriller with real bite." 

Also a screenwriter, Raphael is the showrunner of Scars of Beauty—the most-watched original show on HBO Max in Latin America—and Netflix’s award-winning series Good Morning, Verônica.

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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 Raphael Montes, Milena, and I discussed:

How he leveraged early Bookstagram and BookTok to great success

The themes of power, ambition, food, and class behind The Secret Dinner

Switching between screenwriting and fiction to beat writer’s block

Why he believes literature should provoke moral questions and self-reflection in readers

How he broke into TV after producers noticed the filmic quality of his second novel

Drinking dry gin martinis with Patricia Highsmith

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web

RaphaelMontes.com

The Secret Dinner: A Novel by Raphael Montes (Amazon)

Raphael Montes Amazon Author Page

Raphael Montes on TikTok

Raphael Montes on Instagram

Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer

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 New York Times bestselling author Karin Slaughter spoke with us about her writing origins, cabin-based creative process, TV adaptations, and her new novel THE SECRETS WE HIDE, a follow-up to #1 hit WE ARE ALL GUILTY HERE. 

Karin Slaughter is one of the world's most popular crime thriller writers, a fixture on bestseller lists who has written more than 25 novels. Her work consistently tops the charts and We Are All Guilty Here was her first #1 on the New York Times list.

The follow up is to that hit novel is her latest thriller in the North Falls series, The Secrets We Hide. Publishers Weekly wrote of the author, "Slaughter remains as skilled as ever at probing the darker side of life in Georgia." 

Karin is published in 120 countries with over 40 million copies sold. The TV series based on her novel PIECES OF HER debuted at #1 worldwide on Netflix, and her beloved Will Trent series is now in its fourth season with ABC.

She also wrote the limited series adaptation of The Good Daughter for Peacock, and is the founder of the Save the Libraries project—a nonprofit that supports libraries.

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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 Karin Slaughter, Milena, and I discussed:

How she was incentivized to write about dark subjects at a young age

The core advice that helps her keep the words flowing

Why she writes in sprints that break her brain

Where the kernel of her idea for the sequel to We Are All Guilty Here began

How to stay prolific by challenging yourself as a writer

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web

(00:00) [THE SECRETS WE HIDE] 

karinslaughter.com

The Secrets We Hide : A Novel By Karin Slaughter (Amazon)

Karin Slaughter Amazon Author Page

Karin Slaughter on Facebook

Karin Slaughter on Instagram

Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer

diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram

Kelton Reid Instagram

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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