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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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

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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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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

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#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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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

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#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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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

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Novelist, veteran screenwriter, and longtime Blue Bloods showrunner Kevin Wade spoke with us about the challenges of transitioning across writing mediums, storytelling principles, and book two of his debut crime series, ONE GOOD EYE.

Kevin Wade is the Golden Globe and the Writers Guild of America nominated screenwriter of movies including the seven-time Oscar nominated comedy Working Girl (1988), True Colors (1991) starring John Cusack and James Spader, the Tom Selleck comedy Mr. Baseball (1992), Ivan Reitman's Junior (1994), the epic romance Meet Joe Black (1998),  and the rom-com Maid in Manhattan (2002).

In 2010, he joined the rookie CBS drama Blue Bloods as a writer, and in 2011 he became its showrunner and executive producer for the entire 14-year run.

His latest release is the follow-up to his debut crime novel Johnny Careless, a book author John Sanford called a “fast-moving classic crime novel,” and that was shortlisted for the Edgar Best First Novel Award.

One Good Eye is the second in the Police Chief Jeep Mullane series and Library Journal said of the author, “Wade delivers another compelling literary mystery. His characters feel intimately real...and Jeep remains a deeply engaging protagonist...With sharp prose and a vivid sense of place on Long Island’s Gold Coast, Wade’s second…book will have readers eager to read more stories about Jeep and his community."

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In this file Kevin Wade, Milena, and I discussed:

What his early aspirations as an actor in NYC taught him about playwriting

How he had his first screenplay turned into a hit movie by a legendary director

Why he wrote his debut novel during the Writers Guild strike

The biggest challenges of moving from TV writing to the novel

His favorite advice from Elmore Leonard's Ten Rules for Writers

How to write relatable characters

Classic advice from literary lions

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

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

One Good Eye: A Jeep Mullane Novel (The Jeep Mullane Series, 2) by Kevin Wade (Amazon)

Kevin Wade Amazon Author Page

Kevin Wade on IMDb

Kevin Wade 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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New York Times bestselling author Gillian McAllister spoke with us about how to deal with rejection, deleting full drafts, the business side of adaptations, and her latest US release, the thriller THAT NIGHT.

Gillian McAllister is the internationally bestselling author of Wrong Place Wrong Time, Just Another Missing Person, Famous Last Words, and others. Her novels have been selected by both Read with Jenna and Reese’s Book Club, and she has become one of today’s most celebrated voices in psychological suspense.

Her latest US release is That Night (already adapted into a Netflix series), a novel that follows a family’s dream vacation in Italy that spirals into a nightmare. 

New York Times bestselling author Emily Henry said of Gillian, “McAllister is the best at putting her characters in impossible situations and making her readers not only contemplate but feel what it would be like to find themselves in those situations.”

Gillian graduated with an English degree before working as a lawyer. She is also the creator and co-host of the popular Honest Authors podcast.

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In this file Gillian McAllister, Milena, and I discussed:

Her law background and path to publication

How she wrote close to 400K words before breaking through

Why she plans novels via synopsis and keeps her early drafts private

Business advice on how to talk to publishers once you’ve sold a book

The real reason so many lawyers become crime writers

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

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

gillianmcallister.com

The Honest Authors’ Podcast

That Night: A Novel by Gillian McAllister (Amazon)

Gillian McAllister Amazon Author Page

Gillian McAllister Facebook

Gillian McAllister 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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Bestselling author and storytelling expert Abbie Emmons spoke with us about topping 600K YouTube followers, helping writers craft emotionally resonant narratives, and her new writing guide MAKE YOUR STORY MATTER.

Abbie Emmons is the popular YouTube creator behind the channel Make Your Story Matter. For over seven years, she has been sharing her wisdom on YouTube (@abbieemmons), where she teaches writers how to make their stories matter by harnessing the power and psychology of storytelling to transform their ideas into masterpieces

Her latest book, Make Your Story Matter: An Interactive Guide to Unlocking Your Brain's Storytelling Power and Writing a Book Readers Love (releasing August 11, 2026), “... [offers a] simple but powerful 3-step framework for storytelling that’s rooted in psychology called the Who, What, Why Method.”

Jessica Brody, bestselling author of Save The Cat! Writes a Novel, wrote of the book, "Understanding why stories move us is one of the most powerful things a writer can learn. Make Your Story Matter brings the psychology and heart of storytelling to life in a way that will transform how you think about your characters and your craft." 

Her online learning platform, Abbie’s Story University, has thousands of students worldwide. Through monthly live lectures and in-depth courses, Abbie offers comprehensive instruction on creative writing, editing, publishing, and more.

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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 Abbie Emmons, Milena, and I discussed:

Her three-pillar framework for crafting compelling stories

How to make your characters relatable 

Why writers struggle with motivation and writing slumps despite having great ideas

What “writing ugly” can do for your productivity

How to create a conversation around your book

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

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

abbieemmonsauthor.com

abbiesstoryuniversity.com

Make Your Story Matter: An Interactive Guide to Unlocking Your Brain's Storytelling Power and Writing a Book Readers Love by Abbie Emmons (Amazon)

Abbie Emmons on YouTube

Abbie Emmons on Facebook

Abbie Emmons 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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New York Times bestselling author Laura Moriarty spoke with us about her teaching philosophy as a creative writing professor, the craft of historical fiction, and the research process behind her latest novel, SUNLIGHT FINDS YOU.

Laura Moriarty is the New York Times bestselling author of The Chaperone, The Center of Everything, The Rest of Her Life, While I'm Falling, and a Creative Writing Professor at the University of Kansas.

Her latest novel is Sunlight Finds You, described as a book that “explores the fervor of young love, the shock of parental betrayal, and the long-term consequences of adolescent choices.” 

A Kirkus starred review wrote of the work, “Moriarty has an unusual gift for voice, a spark that can turn a novel about ordinary events into something compelling…A rich, rewarding slice of history that should remind us how important it is for women to have choices of all kinds.”

Laura Moriarty received her master's degree from the University of Kansas and was awarded the George Bennett Fellowship for Creative Writing at Phillips Exeter Academy.

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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 Laura Moriarty, Milena, and I discussed:

Her early career in social work and how she almost became a doctor

Why she loves working with graduate students on their WIPs

The research process that went into Sunlight Finds You

What changing the POV can do for your narrative

How incorporating psychological authenticity over modern values can improve historical fiction

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

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

english.ku.edu/people/laura-moriarty

Sunlight Finds You: A Novel by Laura Moriarty (Amazon)

Laura Moriarty Amazon Author Page

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

Bestselling memoirist, chef, and former restaurateur Sarma Melngailis spoke with us about her much-loved restaurant, Pure Food and Wine, reclaiming her narrative post Bad Vegan, and her eight-year journey writing THE GIRL WITH THE DUCK TATTOO.

Sarma Melngailis is the founder of One Lucky Duck and co-creator of the acclaimed New York City restaurant Pure Food and Wine. Her notorious story of scandal and betrayal was the subject of the Netflix docuseries Bad Vegan—a series that left much of her story misrepresented.

Her bestselling memoir, The Girl with the Duck Tattoo, is described as a “reclamation” and “... a raw, unflinching memoir of how one smart, driven woman went from building a dream to being ensnared in a cult of one.”

Sarma is the author of cookbooks Living Raw Food and the co-author of Raw Food/Real World, and is currently in production on a new docuseries while working to re-launch her businesses. She is also graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and the French Culinary Institute

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In Part Two of this file Sarma Melngailis, Milena, and I discussed:

Her professional journey from the French Culinary Institute to celebrity restaurateur

Reclaiming her narrative from sensationalist and biased media coverage 

How she continues to examine the psychology of manipulation

Reliving some of the trauma of her experience by recording the audiobook

Her thoughts on resurrecting Pure Food and Wine 

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

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

Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/files! #squarepod

sarmaraw.com

linktr.ee/sarmamelngailis

The Girl with the Duck Tattoo: A Memoir by Sarma Melngailis (Amazon)

Sarma Melngailis 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