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

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How Hemingway Wrote with Prof. Mark Cirino Nov 04, 2022

Show notes

#PodcastersForJustice

"Writing, at its best, is a lonely life." – Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway scholar and author, Professor Mark Cirino, spoke to me about the ethos of the late literary lion, how Hemingway outlived his myth, and his mission to uncover Hem's truest sentence.

Dr. Cirino hosts the popular Hemingway Society-sponsored podcast, One True Podcast. He is also the author of eight books about American literature as a writer or editor. His most recent is One True Sentence: Writers & Readers on Hemingway’s Art (2022), with Michael Von Cannon.

Described as "A selection of the greatest sentences by the master, Ernest Hemingway..." selected and examined by contemporary authors. Publishers Weekly called it “A revelatory compendium ... a rewarding tapestry ... readers are likely to come away with a deepened understanding of—and even awe at—Hemingway’s vast talent.”

Mark Cirino serves as an editor for Kent State University Press’s Reading Hemingway series, and served as a consultant on the film adaptation of Hemingway's "Across the River and into the Trees." He taught creative writing and literature at NYU, and now teaches literature at the University of Evansville.

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In this file Mark Cirino and I discussed:

Why "Writing, at its best, is a lonely life"
The importance of finding your writing community
How The Sun Also Rises made Hem a literary celebrity
The only thing you have to do as a writer
Why each writing project requires new discipline
An open invitation to Bob Dylan
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

Dr. Mark Cirino - Professor and Department Chair
One True Sentence: Writers & Readers on Hemingway’s Art by Mark Cirino and Michael Von Cannon (Amazon)
Mark Cirino Author Page on Amazon
One True Podcast: Hosted by Mark Cirino and produced by Michael Von Cannon
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Robert Crais Writes: Part One Oct 28, 2022

Show notes

#PodcastersForJustice

Award-winning and #1 NY Times bestselling author, Robert Crais, spoke to me about breathing life into the ur detective novel, the legacy of Raymond Chandler, his love of LA, and his latest, "Racing the Light."

Robert Crais is the author of 23 novels, 19 of which feature private investigator Elvis Cole and his laconic ex-cop partner, Joe Pike. The first in the series, The Monkey’s Raincoat, won the Anthony and Macavity Awards and was nominated for the Edgar Award.

The latest is Racing the Light, described as "... a pulse-pounding read and Elvis Cole's most dangerous case yet." Bestselling author David Baldacci called it "... another grand slam for the master storyteller Robert Crais. If there’s a better dynamic duo than Elvis Cole and Joe Pike in all of crime fiction, I’m not aware of it.”

On Reader's Digest's list of "30 new books we can't wait to read in 2022," Kirkus Reviews said that, "... [Crais] keeps the traditional detective novel alive and well."

In a previous life Robert Crais was an Emmy-nominated TV writer/producer and spent several years writing scripts for classic television series like Hill Street Blues, Cagney & Lacey, and Miami Vice.

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In this file Robert Crais and I discussed:

Burning out as a TV writer and chasing the dream of becoming a novelist
Why he never anticipated fame
How his novel LA Requiem changed the trajectory of his career
When your author name gets bigger than the title
Why he'll always be a meticulous outliner
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

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How NY Times Bestselling Mystery Writer Tana French Writes: Redux Oct 21, 2022

Show notes

#PodcastersForJustice

Note: Hey, just a quick note that the podcast is on hiatus this week but we’re bringing back a fan favorite. Here is my interview with the amazing Tana French from late 2020, at the height of the pandemic. Catch you soon and thanks for your support!

The New York Times bestselling crime novelist, Tana French, took a break to talk with me about her early training as an actress, her definition of creativity, and how to write through the tough times.

"I didn't know if I could write a book. I'd written short stories and really galactically bad teenager poetry, but I'd never tried to write a book before." — Tana French

The author has written eight mystery novels and is considered a master of suspense and the modern psychological thriller. Her work has been compared to writers including James Ellroy and Donna Tartt, and has been called "incandescent" by Stephen King, and "absolutely mesmerizing" by Gillian Flynn.

Her novels have sold over three million copies and won numerous awards, including the Edgar and Barry awards, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Best Mystery/Thriller, and the Irish Book Award for Crime Fiction.

Her latest bestseller, The Searcher, is her second stand-alone novel, and she was described by The Washington Post as "...the most important crime novelist to emerge in the past 10 years."

Stay tuned for a clip from The Searcher audiobook at the break, “... excerpted courtesy [of] Penguin Random House Audio ... read by Roger Clark.”

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In this file Tana French and I discussed:

Her "galactically" bad poetry
The archaeological dig that inspired “In the Woods,” her Edgar-winning 2007 debut novel
How she came to riff on the Western genre in her latest
And why writers need to fight off the struggle of isolation

Show Notes:

TanaFrench.com
The Searcher: A Novel by Tana French [Amazon]
Tana French Amazon page
The Essential Tana French, The New York Times
Tana French on FaceBook
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Award-Winning Debut Memoirist Prince Shakur Writes Oct 14, 2022

Show notes

#PodcastersForJustice

Award-winning, queer, Jamaican-American writer, videographer, activist, and debut memoirist, Prince Shakur, spoke to me about James Baldwin's legacy, writing towards his father's murder, and his latest, "When They Tell You To Be Good."

Prince Shakur is a freelance journalist, videomaker, and New York Times recognized organizer whose debut memoir, When They Tell You To Be Good, is about his "political coming of age in Obama and Trump’s America." It is a Powell's Holiday Pick for 2022 and a TIME, Poets & Writers, Publishers Weekly, them, The Week, Debutiful, and Book Riot Best “Book of Fall.”

Described as an exploration of "... his radicalization and self-realization through examinations of place, childhood, queer identity, and a history of uprisings," the memoir won the Hurston/Wright Crossover Award and has earned him residencies with Sangam House, La Maison Baldwin, The Studios of Key West, and The Atlantic Center for the Arts.

As a freelance journalist Shakur has penned numerous op-eds, essays, and features in Teen Vogue, Daily Dot, CodaStory, Cultured Magazine, AfroPunk, and more. His writings have been used in university classrooms, including Nikkita Oliver’s Prison Abolition course offered at the University of Washington.

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In this file Prince Shakur and I discussed:

How he hustled as a young freelance journalist
The black, queer, activist experience
Why he feels the need to push past the notion of "bearing witness"
What it's like to navigate anti-blackness abroad
The urgency of artwork in the face of death
Why artist residencies and grants are so important for writers
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

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How Award-Winning NY Times Bestselling Author Deanna Raybourn Writes Oct 07, 2022

Show notes

Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author, Deanna Raybourn, spoke to me about how she still feels like a debut author, why she doesn't read reviews, and her new contemporary thriller "Killers of a Certain Age."

Deanna Raybourn is the author of 19 books including the award-winning, New York Times bestselling Lady Julia Grey series, as well as the USA Today bestselling and Edgar Award-nominated Veronica Speedwell Mysteries, and several stand-alone works.

Her latest is Killers of a Certain Age, described as "a witty contemporary spy thriller perfect for fans of Killing Eve and Ocean’s Eight."

An instant New York Times bestseller and an Amazon Best Book of Month 2022, Buzzfeed said of the book, “This Golden Girls meets James Bond thriller is a journey you want to be part of."

Deanna Raybourn graduated with a double major in English and history from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Stay tuned until the end of the show for a preview of the Audiobook, excerpted courtesy Penguin Random House Audio from Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn, read by Jane Oppenheimer and Christina Delaine.

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In this file Deanna Raybourn and I discussed:

Why her agent told her to stop writing for a whole year
What it feels like to get that first three-book deal
How she came to writing older women doing kick-ass things
When she turns into a feral author in her pajamas
Why writers need to trust their inner voice
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

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How Acclaimed Debut Novelist and Podcaster Bobby Finger Writes: Part One Sep 30, 2022

Show notes

Journalist, hit entertainment podcaster, and debut novelist, Bobby Finger, spoke to me about writing for Jezebel, turning a screenplay into a novel, and his debut, "The Old Place."

Bobby Finger is a writer and co-host of the popular celebrity and entertainment podcast, Who? Weekly, "The podcast that tells you everything you need to know about celebrities you don’t."

His debut novel is The Old Place, described as "A bighearted and moving debut about a wry retired schoolteacher whose decade-old secret threatens to come to light and send shockwaves through her small Texas town."

It has been named Washington Post‘s 10 Noteworthy Books for September, People‘s Best New Books, Town & Country’s 45 Must-Read Books of Fall, New York’s 25 Notable New Releases, Kirkus Review‘s 150 Most Anticipated Fall Books, LitHub‘s Most Anticipated Books of 2022, among many others.

New York Times bestselling author Emma Straub said of the book, “I loved being inside this skillful novel—at the planning parties for church fundraisers, learning to drive with a can of beer in the cupholder, and in the heads of some wonderfully tangy old Texan ladies. Bobby Finger has built a rich world in The Old Place, and I will think of it every time I make toast.”

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In this file Bobby Finger and I discussed:

Growing up in a small Texas town
His start in copywriting and freelance journalism
Writing screenplays in the margins
Becoming a full-time podcaster
How to write autofiction with a twist
What happens when people leave, and those left behind
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

whoweekly.us

The Old Place By Bobby Finger (Amazon)

⁠Bobby Finger 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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How Award-Winning & Bestselling Author A.M. Homes Writes Sep 23, 2022

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Bestselling, award-winning author A.M. Homes, spoke to me about getting sued by J.D. Salinger, the irony of winning the Women's Prize for Fiction, and her latest "The Unfolding."

A.M. Homes is a TV producer, art critic, and the author of 13 books, including the bestselling memoir The Mistress’s Daughter. Her last novel, May We Be Forgiven, was the winner of the 2013 Women’s Prize for Fiction.

Her latest novel is The Unfolding, described as a "... darkly comedic alternative history that takes us into the heart of a fractured family living in a divided country."

New York Times bestselling author Salman Rushdie called the book, “A terrific black comedy, written almost entirely in pitch-perfect dialogue, that feels terrifyingly close to the unfunny truth.”

A.M. Homes was a Co-Executive Producer and Writer on David E. Kelly and Stephen King’s, Mr. Mercedes, and a writer/producer of the Showtime series The L Word.

Her work has been translated into 22 languages and appears frequently in Art Forum, Harpers, Granta, McSweeney's, The New Yorker, The New York Times, and Zoetrope. She is a Contributing Editor to Vanity Fair, Bomb and Blind Spot, and she has taught in the Creative Writing Program at Princeton.

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In this file A.M. Homes and I discussed:

Her early struggles with dyslexia
Why awards and votes of confidence are so important for writers
How she helped hire Dennis Lehane to write for Mr. Mercedes
Her strange obsession with George Washington and her claim to Capitol Hill
How to write your way out of a jam
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

amhomesbooks.com
The Unfolding: A Novel by A.M. Homes (Amazon)
A.M. Homes on Facebook
A.M. Homes on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Award-Winning & Bestselling Author Candice Carty-Williams Writes Sep 16, 2022

Show notes

#PodcastersForJustice

Bestselling, award-winning author Candice Carty-Williams, spoke to me about the tragicomic nature of being, winning "Book of the Year" at the British Book Awards, and her latest "People Person."

Candice Carty-Williams is a TV producer, culture writer, and author of the international bestseller Queenie, a book that was named a best book of the year by NPR, TIME, PARADE, The Guardian, Good Housekeeping, Marie Claire, and many others.

She also became the first black woman to win the "Book of the Year" award at the British Book Awards for Queenie in 2020.

Her latest novel is People Person, a book described as an "... insightful novel about the power of family — even when they seem like strangers." The Guardian called it, “A big-hearted story of a young woman coming to terms with her complicated London family from the author of the game-changing Queenie.”

Candice created and launched the Guardian 4th Estate BAME Short Story Prize in 2016, the first initiative of its kind in book publishing for underrepresented writers.

She has written for The Guardian, i-D, Vogue, every iteration of The Sunday Times (London), BEAT magazine, Black Ballad, and more.

Her original drama, "Champion," will be airing on BBC One in the U.K., and on Netflix globally, in 2023.

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In this file Candice Carty-Williams and I discussed:

Her early career in book marketing and the disparities she saw in publishing
The inciting incident that inspired her latest
How to balance humor and depth in fiction
Why tragedy plus time equals comedy
Great advice from Toni Morrison
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

candicecartywilliams.com
People Person By Candice Carty-Williams (Amazon)
Guardian 4th Estate BAME Short Story Prize
Candice Carty-Williams on Instagram
Candice Carty-Williams on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Award-Winning Journalist & Debut Memoirist Casey Parks Writes Sep 09, 2022

Show notes

#PodcastersForJustice

Award-winning journalist and debut memoirist, Casey Parks, spoke to me about her lifelong reverence for journalism, the emotional cost of writing a memoir, and her debut "Diary of a Misfit."

Casey Parks is a reporter for The Washington Post who covers gender and family issues. She spent a decade at The Oregonian writing about race and LGBTQ+ issues and was a finalist for the Livingston Award.

A former Spencer Fellow at Columbia University, Parks was awarded the 2021 J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Award for her debut memoir, Diary of a Misfit: A Memoir and a Mystery.

Described as "... a sweeping journalistic saga about sexuality and gender, family trauma and the redemptive force of love...," Publishers Weekly – in a starred review – called the book, “A tantalizing blend of personal history and reportage .... A brilliantly rendered and complex portrait of Southern life alongside a tender exploration of queer belonging [and] a marvel to witness.”

Casey's articles have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, The Oxford American, ESPN, USA Today, and The Nation.

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In this file Casey Parks and I discussed:

Earning $50 per story at the outset of her career ...
... to working in a virtual newsroom for The Washington Post
Why that first byline in the New Yorker changes everything
Asking permission to tell the stories of ghosts
Why you can never take "no" as the final answer
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

caseyparks.com
Diary of a Misfit: A Memoir and a Mystery By Casey Parks (Amazon)
Casey Parks for The Washington Post
In the Deep South, a Search for Queer Identity - The New York Times Book Review
Casey Parks on Facebook
Casey Parks on Instagram
Casey Parks on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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How Nobel Prize-Winning Author Abdulrazak Gurnah Writes Sep 02, 2022

Show notes

#PodcastersForJustice

2021 winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, Abdulrazak Gurnah, spoke to me about life after becoming a laureate, the difference between authors and writers, and his latest novel "Afterlives."

The Nobel Prize in Literature 2021 was awarded to Abdulrazak Gurnah "for his uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents"

The Tanzanian-born British novelist and Professor Emeritus of English at the University of Kent, has written short stories, essays, and ten novels including Paradise (shortlisted for the Booker Prize), By the Sea (longlisted for the Booker Prize and a finalist for the LA Times Book Award), and Desertion.

His latest novel, Afterlives, has been described as "... a sweeping, multi-generational saga of displacement, loss, and love, set against the brutal colonization of east Africa"

The New York Times Book Review called the author, "... a master of the art form who understands human failings in conflicts both political and intimate — and how these shortcomings create afflictions from which nations and individuals continue to suffer, needlessly, generation after generation."

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Discover The Writer Files Extra

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In this file Abdulrazak Gurnah and I discussed:

Finding global readers and acclaim two years after the UK release of his latest book
The irony of becoming a Nobel laureate in literature
Why he always writes the final episode first
The intergenerational trauma of war and how he chooses his protagonists
Why you may be in the wrong business
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

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