Bestselling author and award-winning podcaster Barbara DeMarco-Barrett spoke with me about producing 20+ years of Writers on Writing, why writers don’t retire, and her debut noir short story collection POOL FISHING.

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett’s first book Pen on Fire: A Busy Woman’s Guide to Igniting the Writer Within, was an Los Angeles Times bestseller and honored with an American Society of Journalists and Authors Outstanding Book Award.

Her latest book of short stories, Pool Fishing, is “... centered around deviant women …. in a world with characters who live on the fringes of society-physically, psychologically, or financially”. 

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett is creator, executive producer, and host of the award-winning podcast, Writers on Writing, where she interviews authors, agents, and poets. She taught at the UC-Irvine Extension, where she received a Distinguished Instructors award, and is professor of creative writing at Saddleback College’s Emeritus Institute and lecturer at Chapman University.

Her fiction and poetry have been published in Coolest American Stories 2022, CrimeReads, Dark City Crime & Magazine, Serial Magazine, Beach Reads, among others. She was nominated for a Pushcart Prize for her short story, “Rowboat,” in Kelp Journal (Dec. 2023).

Her essays and articles have also been published in The Los Angeles Review of Books, Orange Coast Magazine, Westways, The Los Angeles Times, Writer’s Digest, and Poets & Writers and many others.

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In this file Barbara DeMarco-Barrett and I discussed:

Writing Pen on Fire early in her career

Why she feeds off of the energy of the writing community

How to write a noir short story

Hanging out with Raymond Chandler in Beverly Hills

Why you need to quit the negative self talk and be a good literary citizen

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

barbarademarcobarrett.com 

Writers on Writing podcast

Pool Fishing: Stories by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett (Amazon) 

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett on Facebook

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett on Instagram

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett on Twitter

Kelton Reid Instagram

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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#1 New York Times bestselling author E. Lockhart spoke with us about her past life in academia, falling in love with the YA scene, and returning to the world of TikTok favorite We Were Liars with her latest beachy gothic WE FELL APART.

I am joined by a co-host this week, none other than The Book Babe, Milena Gonzalez.

E. Lockhart is author of #1 New York Times bestsellers We Were Liars (also now a hit original series on Prime Video) and Family of Liars. Her other books include Again Again, Genuine Fraud, and The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks.

Recently celebrating 11 years in print, Lockhart’s We Were Liars has sold more than 2 million copies, become a TikTok sensation, and remained a regular New York Times bestseller since its publication.

Her latest novel returns to the world of We Were Liars with WE FELL APART described as “...an intricate, highly bingeable psychological suspense novel exploring themes of privilege, family legacy, freedom, and parental abandonment.” #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Inheritance Games Jennifer Lynn Barnes called it, “Compulsively readable to the very last page.”

E. Lockhart is also the inventor of DC Comics superhero Whistle: A New Gotham City Hero. She has been a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the National Book Award and an honoree for the Printz Award. She has a PhD in English literature from Columbia University and chaired the committee on Young People's Literature for the National Book Awards. 

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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 E. Lockhart, Milena Gonzalez and I discussed:

The dangers of bottomless espresso

How her process has evolved over the years and across genres

What getting a two-book deal for a YA novel did for her career

Writing the back matter for the new Deluxe Editions of her trilogy

What it was like to Exec. Produce the TV adaptation for We Were Liars

Getting readers to lie about her twist endings

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

emilylockhart.com

We Fell Apart: A We Were Liars Novel by E. Lockhart - Book 3 of 3: We Were Liars (Amazon) 

E. Lockhart Amazon Author Page

Family of Liars: the songs in the novel by E. Lockhart (Spotify)

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jennifer Lynn Barnes Writes: Part One - Redux

E. Lockhart on Instagram

E. Lockhart on Twitter

Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer

diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram

Kelton Reid Instagram

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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In honor of Novel November and every writer who needs 1000 Words, I'm republishing author Jami Attenberg's interview. Keep calm and write on ...

New York Times bestselling author, Jami Attenberg, spoke with me about documenting the process of being a writer online and off, building a global literary movement, and her latest, 1000 Words: A Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All-Year Round.

Jami Attenberg is the New York Times bestselling author of seven books of fiction, including The Middlesteins, All Grown Up, and her recent memoir, I Came All This Way to Meet You. Her work has been published in 16 languages, she is the founder of the annual #1000WordsofSummer project and maintains the popular Craft Talk newsletter.

Jami Attenberg’s latest is 1000 Words: A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round. “Inspired by [her] wildly popular literary movement #1000WordsofSummer, this writer’s guide features encouraging essays on creativity, productivity, and writing from [over 50] acclaimed authors including Roxane Gay, Lauren Groff, Celeste Ng, Meg Wolitzer, and Carmen Maria Machado.”

Lit Hub said of the book, “It will be the new Bird by Bird, you heard it here first.” A Booklist, Starred Review called it “A fantastic set of essays… Readers of this collection will feel surrounded and bolstered by like-minded people who have been in the trenches.”

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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 Jami Attenberg and I discussed:

The blessing and the curse of knowing you’re a writer 

How she built an online writing community into a literary movement

Her tongue-in-cheek approach to the craft

The reason she uses the seasons as a metaphor for writers

How to harness the power of write-alongs

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

⁠JamiAttenberg.com⁠

⁠1000wordsofsummer.substack.com⁠

⁠1000 Words: A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round⁠ by Jami Attenberg (Amazon)

⁠Jami Attenberg Amazon Author Page⁠

⁠Jami Attenberg on Twitter⁠

⁠Jami Attenberg on Instagram⁠

⁠Kelton Reid on Twitter⁠

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#bookstagram influencer, reviewer, and writer Milena Gonzalez (aka Diary of a Book Babe) returns to speak to me about hanging out with Jeneva Rose and Penny Zang, her latest five-star finds, and her top book pick of 2025.

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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[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:

Diving deeper down the Doll Parts rabbit hole

Our future chat with #1 New York Times-bestselling author of We Were Liars, E. Lockhart

Emily Henry’s Netflix adaptation

The importance of finding other voices and your writing community

Adam Skolnick’s return to the podcast

My rapid-fire AMA with Milena

A few gratuitous F-bombs

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer

The Writer Files x Diary of a Book Babe: Vol. 1

Doll Parts: A Playlist by Penny Zang (Spotify)

How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Penny Zang Writes

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jeneva Rose Writes

How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Jinwoo Park Writes

diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram

Kelton Reid Instagram

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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

National Book Award Finalist Amber McBride spoke with me about finding her authentic voice, getting yelled at by kids, near-death experiences and the story behind her latest novel-in-verse THE LEAVING ROOM.

Amber McBride is an award-winning author, poet, and former assistant professor of poetry, writing, and protest literature. Her debut young adult novel, Me (Moth) was a finalist for the National Book Award, 2021 and won the 2022 Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent, among many other accolades.

Her latest YA novel-in-verse is The Leaving Room, also a 2025 National Book Awards Finalist.

“Told from the perspective of a girl hovering between life and death, The Leaving Room is a poignant story about connection, grief, love, and the power of memories.”

Amber McBride’s middle-grade debut, Gone Wolf, won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. She holds an MFA in poetry from Emerson College, and her poetry has been published in Ploughshares, The Rumpus, DecomP Magazine, Provincetown Arts, and more.

[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 Amber McBride and I discussed:

Overcoming hundreds of rejections early on

Finally quitting her assistant professorship to write full time

How the loss of her grandfather changed her writing

Why anything beyond publishing is icing on the cake

How she creates an entire world with a quarter of the words

Writing while the world sleeps

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

amber-mcbride.com 

76th National Book Awards - Young People's Literature - Finalists

The Leaving Room by Amber McBride (Amazon)

Amber McBride Amazon Author Page

Amber McBride on Threads

Amber McBride on TikTok

Amber McBride on Instagram

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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

Acclaimed debut novelist Penny Zang spoke with us about making friendship bracelets for readers, why the world doesn’t stop when you lose a loved one, hanging out with Sylvia Plath, and her psychological thriller DOLL PARTS

I am joined by a co-host this week, none other than The Book Babe, Milena Gonzalez.

Penny Zang is an English professor at Greenville Technical College and the debut author of DOLL PARTS, described as “... a dark, poetic, dual-timeline psychological thriller that blends sad girl lit and feminist horror with a heavy dose of 90s grunge nostalgia.”

International bestselling author Samantha Downing said of the book, "Doll Parts is the most mesmerizing and original book I’ve read in a long time. It’s eerie and addictive, a story that pulls you in and won’t let go," and Library Journal wrote, “Zang’s compelling debut delves insightfully into topics such as friendship, grief, and Plath’s place in literature...”

Penny Zang holds an MFA in Creative Writing from West Virginia University and is the 2024 Elizabeth Boatwright Coker fiction fellow via the South Carolina Academy of Authors. Her work has appeared in New Ohio Review, Louisville Review, Superstition Review, Potomac Review, and South 85, among others.

[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 Penny Zang, Milena Gonzalez, and I discussed:

How she formed the #5AMWritersClub

Writing as a form of grief after losing a good friend

Reminding her parents that her fiction didn’t really happen

Wending pop culture iconography into her work

Why finding your writing community is so important

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

pennyzang.com 

Doll Parts: A Novel by Penny Zang (Amazon)

Penny Zang on Facebook

Penny Zang on Instagram

Penny Zang 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

WGA-nominated writer, director and USC professor Ted Braun, and TV and film writer and exec. producer Melissa Rosenberg, joined me to talk about reimagining screenwriting education with the MFA in Screenwriting at Bennington College.

Ted Braun is the Program’s Director and the WGA-nominated writer and director of Darfur Now, Betting on Zero, and Viva Maestro. He is a Professor of Screenwriting and Joseph Campbell Endowed Chair of Cinematic Ethics at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and was named one of Variety’s Top Ten Teachers in Film and TV in 2018.

Melissa Rosenberg is a writer and executive producer known for Twilight, Jessica Jones, and a 1986 graduate of Bennington College, where she is now a Trustee. She helped create and showrun Jessica Jones and adapted the Twilight film series, while also serving as head writer for Dexter.

Bennington College will admit just 12 gifted, driven writers—students who are serious about building a body of work and launching a professional screenwriting career—to their inaugural class of The MFA in Screenwriting.

Braun notes, “We’re looking for students with imagination and hunger—those who want to develop a foundation for a decades-long screenwriting career.”

The MFA in Screenwriting at Bennington College prepares writers for a life as creative and professional leaders in the evolving landscape of film and television. This low-residency, two-year program combines the academic depth of a liberal arts education with the rigorous preparation needed for a career in screenwriting.

Learn more at bennington.edu/screenwriting Applications are due by December 1st, 2025.

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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 Ted Braun, Melissa Rosenberg and I discussed:

How life as a screenwriter starts with material that is unique and alive to you

A one-of-a-kind screenwriting MFA, a low-residency program that yields six major pieces of work for TV and film, and why it is “perfectly suited to our times”

Bennington’s legacy of influential writers

Why we need strong, original cinematic voices now more than ever

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

bennington.edu/screenwriting

Ted Braun on IMDb

Melissa Rosenberg on IMDb

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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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. 

[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 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

#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.”

[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 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

#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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[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 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

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