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Kelton Reid

“Learn how acclaimed writers keep the ink flowing, the cursor moving, and avoid writer’s block.”
Each week, host Kelton Reid chats with guests like Nobel Prize winner Abdulrazak Gurnah, on life after becoming a laureate; #1 New York Times bestselling author, Emily Henry on her past life as a YA mid-lister; Celebrated author, Walter Mosley, on his conflicted feelings after winning a National Book Award; NY Times bestselling author, Lisa Scottoline, on what she learned from literary lion Philip Roth; #1 NY Times bestselling author Dennis Lehane on what he borrowed from Clint Eastwood; and bestselling author, Matt Haig, on the process behind his novel, The Midnight Library, and serial guest hosts: neuroscientist Michael Grybko, journalist Adam Skolnick, and short story writer Robert Bruce.

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

#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

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jeneva Rose Writes

#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. 

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

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Lev Grossman Writes: Redux

New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of romantic suspense, Jayne Ann Krentz, returns to speak with me about how she’s published over 120 novels, her advocacy of the merits of romantic fiction, and her latest mystery, THE SHOP ON HIDDEN LANE.

Dubbed “The Queen of romantic suspense” and a trailblazer of paranormal romance, Jayne Ann Krentz is the author of over 50 New York Times bestsellers. She has written contemporary romantic suspense novels under that name and futuristic and historical romance novels under the pseudonyms Jayne Castle and Amanda Quick, respectively.

Her latest novel is THE SHOP ON HIDDEN LANE (available for preorder from Berkley; on sale January 6, 2026), described as “... a romantic mystery filled with intergenerational family rivalries, paranormal suspense, tension-filled romance, and a pulse-pounding conspiracy.”

Jayne Ann Krentz was the editor of and a contributor to Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women: Romance Writers on the Appeal of the Romance, a non-fiction essay collection that won the prestigious Susan Koppelman Award for Feminist Studies. Krentz was also the inspiration for, and first recipient of, the Romantic Times Jane Austen Award, created to "honor those in the romance community who have significantly impacted [the] genre"

[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 Jayne Ann Krentz and I discussed:

Overcoming rejection early on

Why she would caution new authors against launching multiple brands under different names

The rise of Romantasy

Her inspiration for the “paranormal twist with a psychic vibe”

Writing plots that don’t require forensic science

The importance of storytelling for future generations

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

jayneannkrentz.com

The Shop on Hidden Lane – January 6, 2026 by Jayne Ann Krentz (Amazon)

Jayne Ann Krentz Amazon Author Page

Jayne Castle Amazon Author Page

Jayne Ann Krentz on Facebook

Jayne Ann Krentz on Instagram

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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

How NY Times Bestselling Author Jayne Ann Krentz Writes: Part Two

New York Times bestselling thriller writer Riley Sager, spoke to me about why he publishes under a pen name, how to write Hitchcockian suspense, and his latest "The House Across the Lake."

Riley Sager is the bestselling author of six novels, most recently Home Before Dark and Survive the Night. His award-winning first novel, Final Girls, was a national and international bestseller that has been published in 30 countries.

His latest novel, The House Across the Lake, has been named a most anticipated summer book by People, E! News, PureWow, CNN.com, CrimeReads, and many others. 

It's been described by CrimeReads as "... a psychological thriller version of The Great Gatsby, featuring binoculars for more accurate across-the-lake spying, smaller gatherings for a shorter list of suspects, and a truly bat**** twist for more satisfying consumption."

The House Across the Lake was inspired by Riley's "... own pandemic escapes to a cabin in rural Vermont [and] oozes with slow-burn Hitchcockian suspense before building to a finale that will leave readers reeling. "

[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]

Stay calm and write on ...

 In this file Riley Sager and I discussed:

 The albatross of bad sales early in your career

 Why his process changes from book to book

 How to turn common genre tropes on their head

 What happens to his social life as deadlines loom

 Taking inspiration from classic film

 And a lot more!

Show Notes:

⁠rileysagerbooks.com⁠

⁠The House Across the Lake: A Novel⁠ by Riley Sager (Amazon Affiliate)

⁠Riley Sager Amazon Author Page⁠ (Amazon Affiliate)

⁠Riley Sager on Facebook⁠

⁠Riley Sager on Instagram⁠

⁠Riley Sager on TikTok⁠

⁠Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How NY Times Bestselling Thriller Writer Riley Sager Writes: Redux

New York Times bestselling and award-winning psychological thriller writer, Chevy Stevens, returns to speak with me about writing dark subjects, running out of scary humans, and her latest “home invasion on wheels,” THE HITCHHIKERS.

Chevy's debut novel Still Missing became a New York Times bestseller and winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for Best First Novel in 2010.

Her popular books, including Those Girls — which Stephen King called “Incredibly scary and suspenseful” — have been published in over thirty countries and optioned for film and TV. 

New York Times bestselling author Karin Slaughter described her eighth novel, another standalone thriller titled THE HITCHHIKERS (available for pre-order and on-sale 10/7) as "A frightening and viscerally chilling road-trip-gone-wrong story."

[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 Part Two of this file Chevy Stevens and I discussed:

How not all Canadians are friendly

Starting books with something innocent that morphs into terror

Why writing is like dating

Her love of the nostalgia of ‘70s Hollywood

Why Poltergeist is the scariest movie of all time

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

chevystevens.com 

The Hitchhikers: A Novel Hardcover – October 7, 2025 by Chevy Stevens (Amazon)

Chevy Stevens Amazon Author Page

Chevy Stevens on Facebook

Chevy Stevens on Instagram

Chevy Stevens on Twitter

Kelton Reid on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How NY Times Bestselling Author Chevy Stevens Writes: Part Two

Award-winning, New York Times bestselling psychological thriller writer, Chevy Stevens, spoke to me about her life as a recluse, dreaming in prose, scaring the King, and her latest, Dark Roads.

Chevy's debut novel Still Missing went on to become a New York Times bestseller and winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for Best First Novel in 2010.

Her popular books, including Those Girls – which Stephen King called “Incredibly scary and suspenseful,” – have been published in more than thirty countries and optioned for film.

Her seventh novel, the standalone thriller, Dark Roads, has been described as an "instant classic" by #1 New York Times bestselling author C. J. Box. Author Gillian Flynn has called Chevy's work both "Gripping ... [and] unforgettable."

Stay calm and write on ...

 Discover The Writer Files Extra 

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You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!

As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, the chance to get TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" t-shirts anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below and take our AuthorPods podcasting course survey.

⁠Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox⁠

 If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, 

 In this file Chevy Stevens and I discussed: 

 Why writers need to be protective of their (daydreaming) time

 The romanticization of the writing life

 Tossing novel drafts in the trash bin

 The real-life "Highway of Tears" and a legacy of broken promises

 How to write a proper prologue, your first 50 pages ...

 And a lot more

 Show Notes: 

 ⁠ChevyStevens.com⁠

 
⁠Dark Roads: A Novel⁠ by Chevy Stevens (Amazon)

 ⁠Chevy Stevens Amazon author page⁠

 ⁠Chevy Stevens on Facebook⁠

 ⁠Chevy Stevens on Instagram⁠

 ⁠Chevy Stevens on Twitter⁠

 ⁠Kelton Reid on Twitter

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

How NY Times Bestselling Author Chevy Stevens Writes: Part One - Redux

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Bonnie Garmus, spoke to me about the evolution of her craft, how her protagonist changed her life, getting blurbed by Stephen King, and the never-ending book tour for her lauded debut LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY.

Bonnie Garmus is a copywriter, creative director, and author of the #1 New York Times bestselling novel, Lessons in Chemistry, named a Best Book of the Year by The New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, Oprah Daily, Entertainment Weekly, and Newsweek.

The book introduced the main character, “Elizabeth Zott, a headstrong, gifted chemist in 1960s California whose career takes a detour when she becomes the unlikely star of a beloved TV cooking show.”

BuzzFeed wrote of the book, “A kicky debut, this book tackles feminism, resilience, and rationalism in a fun and refreshing way.” And Stephen King called it, “witty, sometimes hilarious…the Catch-22 of early feminism.”

[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 Bonnie Garmus and I discussed: 

 How her copywriting career supported her fiction writing

 Why courses will never make you a writer

 Plotters vs Pantsers and why she can't write from an outline

 Overcoming a fear of the blank page

 Why writing a synopsis is one of The Circles of Hell

 Getting a phone call from Academy Award Winner Brie Larson

 And a lot more! 

Show Notes:

 ⁠BonnieGarmus.com⁠

 
⁠Lessons in Chemistry⁠ By Bonnie Garmus (Amazon)

 ⁠Bonnie Garmus on Instagram⁠

 ⁠Bonnie Garmus on Twitter⁠

 Kelton Reid Instagram

 ⁠Kelton Reid on Twitter

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

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Bonnie Garmus Writes: Redux

#1 New York Times bestselling author Josie Silver spoke to me about the laptop that changed her life, overcoming adversity early on, and her latest ghost-hunting rom-com CRAZY SPOOKY LOVE.

Josie Silver is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of One Day in December, The Two Lives of Lydia Bird, One Night on the Island, and A Winter in New York, and her books have been published in over 25 languages.

Her latest novel, CRAZY SPOOKY LOVE (September 2, 2025), features a plucky medium, her fame-chasing ex, and an infuriatingly handsome skeptic reporter in a ghost-hunting series full of romance and humor.

Although Josie Silver burst onto the scene with her smash-hit debut romance, One Day in December in 2018, she had published books before—just under a different name, and never in the U.S. She tells me that story here.

[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 Josie Silver and I discussed:

How she wrote on maternity leave, won a contest, and got an agent

Why she couldn’t imagine doing anything else amidst multiple rejections

The need for authors to reinvent themselves often

How her latest protagonist strolled into her imagination fully formed

Rewriting a previously published work for a new set of editors

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

⁠josiesilver.com⁠

⁠Crazy Spooky Love: A Melody Bittersweet Novel (Melody Bittersweet, 1)⁠ – September 2, 2025 – by Josie Silver (Amazon)

⁠Josie Silver Amazon Author Page⁠

⁠Josie Silver on Twitter/X⁠

⁠Josie Silver on Instagram⁠

⁠Kelton Reid Instagram

⁠Kelton Reid on Twitter⁠
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Josie Silver Writes: Redux

#bookstagram influencer, reviewer, and writer Milena Gonzalez (aka Diary of a Book Babe) spoke to me about culling inspiration from the podcast, hyping up her favorite authors, and her latest five-star finds.

This is the first volume of a new format of the show where I’ll be inviting some like-minded friends to talk shop.

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.

[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 Milena Gonzalez and I discussed:

Why we both love #1 NY Times bestselling author Bonnie Garmus so much

Quick reviews of the latest releases from NY Times bestselling author Stacy Willingham and debut novelist Penny Zang

How Milena discovers new and established authors to review

The definition of “dark academia”

Where we put all of our TBR stacks

Advice on how to keep going

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer

Forget Me Not: A Novel by Stacy Willingham (Amazon)

Doll Parts: A Novel by Penny Zang (Amazon)

Dating After the End of the World by Jeneva Rose (Amazon)

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Bonnie Garmus Writes

How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Priscilla Morris Writes

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Carley Fortune Writes - Redux

How NY Times Bestselling Thriller Writer Riley Sager Writes

How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Emily Henry Writes: Part One

diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram

Kelton Reid Instagram

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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

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

#1 Sunday Times bestselling author Stuart MacBride spoke to me about playing god, why there are no shortcuts for writers, and his latest Logan McRae novel THIS HOUSE OF BURNING BONES.

Stuart MacBride is the Sunday Times No.1 bestselling author of the Logan McRae and Ash Henderson novels. He’s also published standalones, novellas, short stories, and a “... slightly twisted children’s picture book.”

His latest novel, THIS HOUSE OF BURNING BONES, is the 13th in the popular Logan McRae series. “A gritty police procedural that perfectly blends dry humor and psychological elements, this brand-new installment in the Logan McRae series celebrates 20 years since the beloved detective's first appearance in Cold Granite (2005).”

The Washington Post wrote of the book, "Though part of a series, this novel stands successfully on its own, its characters fleshed out and in full possession of their idiosyncrasies."

Lee Child, New York Times bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series, said, "Stuart MacBride is an automatic must-read for me . . . always fast, hard, authentic – and different." 

[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 Stuart MacBride and I discussed:

Why your first novel will definitely be crap

How finally getting his first agent went sideways

The decision to have his protagonist age in real time

Taking a five-year hiatus from the popular DI Logan McRae series

Why he writes his novels as screenplays first

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

stuartmacbride.com

This House of Burning Bones (Logan McRae, 13) by Stuart MacBride (Amazon)

Stuart MacBride Amazon Author Page

Stuart MacBride on Facebook

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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

How NY Times Bestselling Author Chevy Stevens Writes: Part Two

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