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

Bestselling crime novelist and former NFL running back Andre Hardy spoke with us about the slim odds of going from professional athlete to published novelist, writing through therapy, and his debut, TEAR THE CITY DOWN.

Andre Hardy is a critically acclaimed debut crime novelist, former NFL running back, and a member of the International Thriller Writers.

Described as a novel is for fans of S.A. Cosby and Walter Mosley, TEAR THE CITY DOWN follows Coltrane Davis, a fixer for a crooked political kingmaker who wants out of the life and a chance to be present for his daughter.

New York Times bestselling author Ace Atkins called it, “A kickass debut from a bold new voice in crime fiction…. This novel is the stuff of lean, mean, California dreams."

Andre’s essays, interviews, and critical analysis have been published in L.A. Tribe Magazine, Lunch Ticket, and The Los Angeles Review of Books.

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In this file Andre Hardy, Milena, and I discussed:

How he found writing after his NFL career

Channeling the spirit of John Coltrane

Why writers need to subdue the inner critic

What he learned chasing his debut novel

The thick skin needed to pursue greatness

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

andrehardy.com

Tear the City Down by Andre Hardy (Amazon)

Andre Hardy 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 China Miéville spoke with us about his career origins, philosophy on genre, practical writing advice, and the grueling evolution of his latest novel, THE ROUSE. 

China Miéville is an award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of fiction and nonfiction. His novels include The City & The City, Embassytown, and Perdido Street Station. A recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship for fiction, he has won the World Fantasy, Hugo, and Arthur C. Clarke awards, among others.

China’s latest novel, The Rouse, is a decade-spanning epic about a secret military unit trying to channel supernatural forces. The 1,200+ page novel 20 years in the making, has been described by peers as his magnum opus — a label he accepts with humility but did not coin himself.

China Miéville has a PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics and

his nonfiction includes a study of international law and a history of the Russian Revolution.

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In this file China Miéville, Milena, and I discussed:

How he finally completed his 20-year labor of love

Why the writing process made him ill at points

On genre jumping, and literary fiction vs. "other stuff” snobbery

Why he believes that revealing that a book has a twist is "violence" against the reader's experience

How to trick yourself into writing a novel

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

chinamieville.net

The Rouse by China Miéville (Amazon)

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 Jeneva Rose returns to speak with us about motherhood and creativity, her transition from thrillers to horror, and her highly anticipated novella collection, SOMETIMES I SCARE MYSELF.

Thriller icon 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 bestseller and horror debut, Sometimes I Scare Myself: A Collection of Horror, is described as three novellas spanning the horror-comedy, haunted house, and slasher subgenres.

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.”

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In this file Jeneva Rose, Milena, and I discussed:

How she channeled postpartum anxiety into her latest

The biggest difference between writing horror vs. thrillers 

Her favorite place to do secret book signings

When we can expect to see The Perfect Marriage adaptation

Her philosophy on persevering through rejection

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

jenevarose.com 

Sometimes I Scare Myself: A Collection of Horror 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 Instagram

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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#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.”

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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 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

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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

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#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