How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jim Butcher Writes: Redux
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Jim Butcher, spoke with me about how he outlined a hit 20-novel series (years before he had an agent), why all steampunks wear goggles, and the second book in his Cinder Spires series, THE OLYMPIAN AFFAIR.
Jim Butcher is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Dresden Files, the Codex Alera, and the Cinder Spires novels.
The long-anticipated second novel in his Cinder Spires series is The Olympian Affair, described by the author as “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen meets Sherlock meets Hornblower,” in a series “... about noble families, magic-wielding warriors, and airship battles.”
Library Journal called it “... an exciting epic fantasy, set in the sky and filled with airships, magic, and the connections of blood and found family." And New York Times bestselling author David Weber said of the book, “It’s steampunk meets magic with a dose of sci-fi for seasoning.”
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In this file, Jim Butcher and I discussed:
Why “breaking into print is an arduous and discouraging process”
The Genre Fiction Novel class that changed his writing for good
Keeping your writing time sacred
When your fans become your boss
How to write a “steam opera”
His most important legacy as a writer
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
jim-butcher.com
The Olympian Affair (The Cinder Spires Book 2) by Jim Butcher (Amazon)
Jim Butcher Amazon Author Page
Jim Butcher on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How NY Times Bestselling Author Antony Johnston Writes
New York Times bestselling author Antony Johnston, spoke to me about falling backwards into video game writing, meeting Atomic Blonde’s Charlize Theron, and his new interactive whodunit Can You Solve the Murder?
Antony Johnston is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of over fifty books, graphic novels, and comic series, including the popular Dog Sitter Detective murder mysteries. He adapted his graphic novel, The Coldest City, into the multi-million-dollar blockbuster movie Atomic Blonde, which he also co-produced.
His latest novel, Can You Solve the Murder? (Penguin Books; On Sale: 7/1), is described as “An interactive whodunit where you choose which suspects to question, which leads to follow, and ultimately, who to accuse.”
Kirkus Reviews wrote of the book, “A Choose Your Own Adventure–style novel for willing and agile grownups….as interactive as readers who don’t play video games are likely to find.”
Antony is also a celebrated video games writer, and is credited with many franchise-defining titles, and a former vice chair of the Crime Writers’ Association.
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In this file Antony Johnston and I discussed:
How writing graphic novels and comics lead to a 20-year parallel career in video games
Why the Atomic Blonde adaptation gave him space to write novels
His love of storytelling and having never taken a creative writing course
Bringing the video games and crime writing worlds together
How to write and publish an interactive “game book”
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
antonyjohnston.com
Can You Solve the Murder?: An Interactive Crime Novel by Antony Johnston (Amazon)
Antony Johnston: Solving This Crime Is No Cakewalk - Writer’s Digest Interview
The Organized Writer
Antony Johnston on Bluesky
Antony Johnston on Threads
Antony Johnston on Twitter/X
Antony Johnston on Facebook
Antony Johnston on Mastodon
Antony Johnston on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Anne Lamott Writes: Redux
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Anne Lamott, spoke with me about 40 years of teaching writing, how to write more bravely, on sh*tty first drafts, and sharing hacks she’s learned over her career at the Writers Rising 2024 retreat.
Anne Lamott is the author of 20 books, including New York Times bestsellers Help, Thanks, Wow; Dusk, Night, Dawn; Traveling Mercies; and Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, as well as seven novels.
Her latest book, Somehow: Thoughts on Love was a #1 New York Times bestseller. Publishers Weekly praised “…her ability to distill complex truths with a deceptive lightness” in their starred review.
Anne is a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, an inductee to the California Hall of Fame, and was recently a columnist for The Washington Post. She has taught at UC Davis, writing conferences across the country, and is currently an artist in residence at A Writing Room Collective.
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In this file Anne Lamott and I discussed:
The debt of honor that is the writing life
Why you don’t have to know everything to finish your book
What it was like getting inducted into the California Hall of Fame next to Mark Zuckerberg and Serena Williams
The importance of accountability for staying on track
Why you need to stop not writing and get your butt in the chair
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
Writers Rising 2024
awritingroom.com
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott (Amazon)
Somehow: Thoughts on Love By Anne Lamott (Amazon)
Anne Lamott Amazon Author Page
Anne Lamott on Twitter
Anne Lamott on Facebook
Anne Lamott on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jodi Picoult Writes: Redux
#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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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
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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How to Build a Meaningful Author Platform with Nicole Meier and Gretchen Schaffer of Book Works
Experts Nicole Meier and Gretchen Schaffer, the duo behind Book Works, spoke to me about how to build a meaningful author platform, and how they empower authors through book coaching and branding expertise.
Nicole Meier is a certified book coach and the author of four novels, as well as the host of The Whole Writer podcast for emerging writers. Her books have been recognized by Booklist, Refinery29, BookBub, and Popsugar.
Gretchen Schaffer, is a PR strategist with experience at Adobe, Microsoft, Meta, and Sony, who now helps authors build strong platforms and pitch strategies.
Together, they guide fiction writers in establishing their brand, connecting with readers, and confidently pitching their work in the literary world.
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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 Nicole Meier, Gretchen Schaffer, and I discussed:
Where the duo step in at the “deer in the headlights moment” for authors
The overwhelm from the contradictory and ever-changing path to publishing
Building a community one reader at a time
The intersection of creative practice and career sustainability
Why you need to go tell one person that you're a writer this week
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
bookworks.co
Book Works Substack Newsletter
The Whole Writer podcast
Book Works on Instagram
Kelton Reid on Twitter
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About The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience
“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.
Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience, Every Outfit and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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