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

New York Times bestselling debut author, Ana Reyes, spoke with me about the importance of the writing community, the evolution of a haunting tale from graduate thesis to instant bestseller, and her first thriller “The House in the Pines.”
Ana Reyes is the bestselling author of Reese's Book Club pick The House in the Pines, her debut psychological thriller.
Described by New York Times bestselling author Riley Sager as, "Powerfully eerie and atmospheric, The House in the Pines is a compelling mix of psychological thriller and dark fairy tale."
An Amazon Best Book of January 2023 review also described it as “... an absorbing, cleverly plotted story of female friendship, loyalty repaid, maternal love, and the powerful desire to unlock secrets, even in the face of evil.”
Ana Reyes has an MFA from Louisiana State University and her work has appeared in Bodega, Pear Noir!, The New Delta Review, and others.
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In this file Ana Reyes and I discussed:

How her work and process evolved over the seven years to publication

Writing through and into the symptoms of withdrawal

Why teaching is the best education for writers

Weaving cultural heritage and magical realism into her work

Embracing the thriller genre

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

anareyeswriter.com


The House in the Pines a Novel By Ana Reyes (Amazon)

Ana Reyes on Instagram

Ana Reyes on Facebook

Ana Reyes on Twitter

Kelton Reid on Twitter


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Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author and screenwriter, Grady Hendrix, spoke with me about getting serious about horror, turning genre tropes on their head, and his latest “How to Sell a Haunted House.”
Grady Hendrix is an award-winning novelist, screenwriter, and journalist best known for My Best Friend’s Exorcism (adapted into a feature film by Amazon Studios), and the New York Times bestsellers The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires, and The Final Girl Support Group.
His latest is How to Sell a Haunted House, an #1 Indie Next List pick, described as a “...novel that explores the way your past—and your family—can haunt you like nothing else.” The New York Times called it a “…gripping, wildly entertaining exploration of childhood horrors,” and Esquire called it “... an authentically frightening, genuinely funny reconfiguration of what a haunted house can be.”
New York Times bestselling author Chuck Wendig said of the book, “A spirited nightmare story about death, but also, what comes after: grief, guilt, family secrets, and estate administration. Oh, also, did I mention the evil puppets?” 
Grady Hendrix’s work is currently in multiple phases of adaptation at HBO and others, for both feature film and streaming.
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In this file Grady Hendrix and I discussed:

How his novel about a haunted Scandinavian furniture store launched his fiction career

Perseverance and writing what you know

Stripping down the horror genre to its core

The importance of sucky drafts 

Why haunted house stories are always about families

And a lot more!

Show Notes:


How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix (Amazon)

Grady Hendrix Amazon Author Page

Gradyhendrix.com

The Smell of Fear - How To Sell A Haunted House Candle

Grady Hendrix on Facebook

Grady Hendrix on Twitter

Kelton Reid on Twitter


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Academy Award-nominated screenwriter and debut novelist, Iris Yamashita, spoke to me about working with Clint Eastwood, her journey from Hollywood to publishing, and falling down the rabbit hole with her first mystery “City Under One Roof.”
Iris Yamashita has been working in Hollywood for over 15 years and was nominated for a “Best Original Screenplay” Oscar for the movie Letters from Iwo Jima (directed by Clint Eastwood).
Her debut novel is City Under One Roof, described as “Alice in Wonderland meets Fargo,” and, “The ultimate locked room mystery, [the novel] drops readers into an isolated, snowy town and is perfect for fans of Twin Peaks, Mare of Easttown, and Broadchurch.”
A Publishers Weekly starred review noted, “Unusual topography plays a major role in screenwriter Yamashita’s atmospherically charged debut….This distinctively original perspective on a ‘community of stragglers, oddballs, and recluses’ heralds the arrival of a major new talent.”
#1 New York Times bestselling author C.J. Box called the book, “A compulsive page-turner that’s both atmospheric and claustrophobic at the same time.”
Iris continues to work in Hollywood, developing for both film and streaming media. She has taught screenwriting at UCLA and the American Film Institute.
Stay tuned until the end of the show for a preview of the Audiobook, excerpted courtesy Penguin Random House Audio from City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita, read by Aspen Vincent, Shannon Tyo, and Anna Caputo.
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In this file Iris Yamashita and I discussed:

How she kept her dream of becoming a novelist alive

The reverse path from TV pilot to novel

What her transition from the movie world to the book world was like

Why nothing is precious

Vomit drafting

Finding flow state versus slow state

And a lot more!

Show Notes:


City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita (Amazon)

www.irisyamashita.com

Iris Yamashita on Facebook

Iris Yamashita on Instagram

Kelton Reid on Twitter


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Acclaimed debut novelist, Kai Thomas, spoke to me about writing historical fiction that interweaves Black and Indigenous cultures, the power of storytelling, keeping grounded in his work, and his novel “In the Upper Country.”
Kai Thomas is a writer, carpenter, and land steward of Soul Fire Farm a community-centered “… farm committed to uprooting racism and seeding sovereignty in the food system.”
His debut novel is In the Upper Country and described as “... an unforgettable story that unearths the tangled fates of two resilient women from different generations with different pasts …. as they reveal the deeply connected histories of Black and Indigenous peoples of North America and their relationship to the land around them.”
A Publishers Weekly starred review called it, “... [a] mesmerizing debut [that] explores freedom, family, and the interconnections between white, Black, and Indigenous communities in 1859 Canada….”
Stay calm and write on ...
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In this file Kai Thomas and I discussed:

How an MFA program helped him find his confidence as a writer

The importance of mentorship, peer evaluation, and fiction workshops for honing his debut

Gleaning inspiration from his own cultural heritage and an old photograph

Exploring lesser-known chapters of history

Finding a balance between research and writing

Trusting the process

And a lot more!

Show Notes:


In the Upper Country by Kai Thomas (Amazon)

KaiThomasAuthor.com

SOUL FIRE FARM

Kelton Reid on Twitter


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Award-winning and NY Times bestselling author, Jayne Ann Krentz, spoke to me about how persistence has defined her career, why you need to describe your core story in three words, and her latest thriller, “Sleep No More.”
Jayne Ann Krentz is the author of over 50 consecutive New York Times bestsellers with over 40 million copies of her books in print. She currently writes under three pseudonyms and her award-winning books have earned her the title of “Queen of Romantic Suspense.”
Her latest is Sleep No More, the first novel of the Lost Night Files series, described as a “... new romantic suspense trilogy about a night that changed three women forever—but that none of them can remember.”
Kirkus Reviews called the book, “A richly layered mystery full of pleasing paranormal elements from a master of the genre,” and Booklist wrote, in a starred review, “[Krentz] skillfully [taps] into the current vogue for true-crime podcasts with her heroine’s side hustle while at the same giving a clever nod to the eternal appeal of the Gothic …”
Jayne Ann earned a BA in history from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and went on to obtain a Master’s degree in library science from San Jose State University in California.
Stay calm and write on ...
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In this file Jayne Ann Krentz and I discussed:

Her warnings against using multiple pseudonyms

How she invented the Futuristic Romance subgenre

Finding her niche and why each writer has a unique universe

Why she doesn't love police procedurals

Leaning into dreams and the paranormal

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

JayneAnnKrentz.com


Sleep No More by Jayne Ann Krentz (Amazon)

Jayne Ann Krentz Amazon Author Page

Jayne Ann Krentz on Instagram

Jayne Ann Krentz on Facebook

Jayne Ann Krentz Twitter

Kelton Reid on Twitter


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Award-winning indie journalist and author, Adam Skolnick, returns to discuss the “virus of dissatisfaction,” writing for modern-day samurai David Goggins, and their latest journey to bestseller with “Never Finished,” the sequel to a bestselling memoir.
Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within is the follow-up to Can’t Hurt Me, David Goggins’ smash hit memoir. It’s been described as a tour of David’s “... Mental Lab, where he developed the philosophy, psychology, and strategies that enabled him to learn that what he thought was his limit was only his beginning and that the quest for greatness is unending.”
Adam is an award-winning independent journalist and author covering adventure sports, environmental issues, and civil rights for outlets such as The New York Times, Outside, ESPN, BBC, and Men’s Health, among others. 
Adam is also the author of One Breath, has narrated David Goggins’ bestselling audiobooks, and co-hosts The Rich Roll Podcast, on the "Roll On" edition.
This is the last episode of the year but we’ll be back soon with more inspiration from your favorite authors. Happy Holidays!
Stay calm and write on ...
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In Part Three of this file Adam Skolnick and I discussed:

How the sequel to a memoir hit #1 on Amazon and Audible in its week

Battling Michelle Obama (once again)

The pressure of publishing a follow-up to a longtime bestseller 

“Goggins Grad School” and the pursuit of greatness

Why ghostwriters need to stay out of the way, be a servant to the story…

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

AdamSkolnick.com


Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within – by David Goggins (Amazon)


Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds – by David Goggins (Amazon)

Adam Skolnick on Instagram

Adam Skolnick on The Rich Roll Podcast

A Mostly Uncensored Chat with Award-Winning Journo Adam Skolnick

21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers: Part One

21 Productivity Hacks from 21 Prolific Writers: Part Two

Kelton Reid on Twitter


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