Write About Now

"We are members of the cult of efficiency, and we're killing ourselves with productivity," says Celeste Headlee, radio host, journalist, and author of the provocative new book: Do Nothing: How To Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving. Celeste argues that for the past few centuries we've been sold a bill of goods that the harder we work, the more successful will be. She encourages us to shift our thinking, break free of our addiction to productivity, and master the art of doing nothing.

Max Brooks has written extensively on pandemics, both in his bestselling novels World War Z and The Zombie Survival Guide, and in his essays for such publications as The Washington Post and The New York Times. On the podcast, he tackles the facts and fiction surrounding the novel coronavirus and what the public should do and not do to stay safe. Brooks also previews his much-anticipated, forthcoming novel Devolution, about a Sasquatch massacre in Washington state.

At the age of 54, author Dani Shapiro took a DNA test and received the shocking news that her father was not her biological father. That discovery led her on a quest to track down her biological father (and half-sister) and unlock the secrets of her own identity, all of which is suspensefully chronicled in her book Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love. Dani is also the host of the popular podcast "Family Secrets" and author of four other memoirs and five novels.

Kerri Maher is the author of two popular biographical fiction novels: The Kennedy Debutante, about Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy, and her latest book, The Girl In White Gloves, which explores the life of Grace Kelly. On the podcast, we talk about how she found her calling in this genre after struggling as a novelist., the challenges of writing fictional stories about real people, and why she thinks all writers have to play the long game. Support the podcast by becoming a patron @ patreon.com/writeaboutnowpodcast

To the outside world, Clare Pooley was living the dream: a high-paying job, good marriage, adorable kids. But behind closed doors, she was a binge drinker and miserable. It wasn't until she started to write a secret blog about her condition that she turned her life around. The blog went viral, Pooley got a book deal, and now she's written a provocative new novel, The Authenticity Project, about finding your authentic voice. This is her story.

As a psychotherapist for the last 20 years, a TV and Radio personality, and an advice columnist in Britain, Philippa Perry has had a successful career offering thoughtful strategies for people struggling through life. Her new book, The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read, turns the focus on parents who are facing all sorts of new challenges raising kids in the 21st Century. Philippa talks about the mistakes most parents make and how to raise a healthy and happy kid.

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Daniel Jones joins the show to talk about his famed New York Times column "Modern Love," which he's been editing for 15 years. Modern Love has morphed into a franchise, which includes three books, a popular podcast, and an original Amazon TV series. Daniel talks about how the column came to be and how he was tapped to edit it. He also gives an inside look at the criteria he uses to sort through the 8000 submission he reads each year to select the best tales of the heart

Guest Peter Mehlman joins the show to talk about writing/producing for the iconic comedy series Seinfeld. Mehlman is the mastermind behind such classic episodes as The Sponge, Yada Yada Yada, and The Implant. He talks about his improbable journey onto the show, the stories behind the gags, and what he learned from creator Larry David. We also talk about Mehlman's new novel #MeAsWell, a hilarious and sad commentary on our current state wokeness.

Novelist Caroline Zancan joins the podcast to talk about her new novel, We Wish You Luck, which is about writers writing at a writing college (could there be a more perfect topic?) Caroline is also a Senior Editor at Henry Holt, so we talk about her perspective from both sides of the desk. Caroline came to New York with no literary connections but lots of talent and ambition. This is the story of how she got to the top.

Mentally Strong People Don’t Do, 13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don’t Do, and 13 Things Mentally Strong Women Don’t Do. Her work has been translated into 33 languages and her TEDx talk has been viewed over 10 million times on YouTube. On this podcast, she talks about what it means to be mentally strong, why it can make for a much better life, and the mistakes writers make that hold them back and keep them from happiness and success.