- 52 minutes 35 secondsHow #1 International Bestselling Author Raphael Montes Writes
#1 international bestselling author Raphael Montes spoke with us about his dual career in TV and fiction, finding commercial success while maintaining authenticity, and the US publication of his hit book THE SECRET DINNER.
Raphael Montes is the internationally acclaimed, #1 bestselling Brazilian thriller writer best known for The Secret Dinner, a dark and provocative novel set in Rio de Janeiro described as "a mixture of Alfred Hitchcock's suspense with Quentin Tarantino's black comedy.” He is published in over 25 countries with over 8 million copies sold.
Set in Copacabana, The Secret Dinner—a biting, dark satire of foodie culture, wealth excess, and youth desperation—is landing in the US for the first time and has been named a summer most-anticipated by Crimereads, in addition to two mentions in The New York Times.
#1 New York Times bestselling author Riley Sager said of the book, "The Secret Dinner is a potent combination of gallows humor, Hitchcockian suspense, and trenchant social commentary. Bold and bloody, it's a thriller with real bite."
Also a screenwriter, Raphael is the showrunner of Scars of Beauty—the most-watched original show on HBO Max in Latin America—and Netflix’s award-winning series Good Morning, Verônica.
[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 Raphael Montes, Milena, and I discussed:
How he leveraged early Bookstagram and BookTok to great success
The themes of power, ambition, food, and class behind The Secret Dinner
Switching between screenwriting and fiction to beat writer’s block
Why he believes literature should provoke moral questions and self-reflection in readers
How he broke into TV after producers noticed the filmic quality of his second novel
Drinking dry gin martinis with Patricia Highsmith
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web
The Secret Dinner: A Novel by Raphael Montes (Amazon)
Raphael Montes Amazon Author Page
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
21 August 2026, 7:00 am - 36 minutes 34 secondsHow #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Karin Slaughter Writes
#1 New York Times bestselling author Karin Slaughter spoke with us about her writing origins, cabin-based creative process, TV adaptations, and her new novel THE SECRETS WE HIDE, a follow-up to #1 hit WE ARE ALL GUILTY HERE.
Karin Slaughter is one of the world's most popular crime thriller writers, a fixture on bestseller lists who has written more than 25 novels. Her work consistently tops the charts and We Are All Guilty Here was her first #1 on the New York Times list.
The follow up is to that hit novel is her latest thriller in the North Falls series, The Secrets We Hide. Publishers Weekly wrote of the author, "Slaughter remains as skilled as ever at probing the darker side of life in Georgia."
Karin is published in 120 countries with over 40 million copies sold. The TV series based on her novel PIECES OF HER debuted at #1 worldwide on Netflix, and her beloved Will Trent series is now in its fourth season with ABC.
She also wrote the limited series adaptation of The Good Daughter for Peacock, and is the founder of the Save the Libraries project—a nonprofit that supports libraries.
[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 Karin Slaughter, Milena, and I discussed:
How she was incentivized to write about dark subjects at a young age
The core advice that helps her keep the words flowing
Why she writes in sprints that break her brain
Where the kernel of her idea for the sequel to We Are All Guilty Here began
How to stay prolific by challenging yourself as a writer
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web
(00:00) [THE SECRETS WE HIDE]
The Secrets We Hide : A Novel By Karin Slaughter (Amazon)
Karin Slaughter Amazon Author Page
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
20 August 2026, 3:00 am - 44 minutes 27 secondsHow Acclaimed Author & Screenwriter Kevin Wade Writes
Novelist, veteran screenwriter, and longtime Blue Bloods showrunner Kevin Wade spoke with us about the challenges of transitioning across writing mediums, storytelling principles, and book two of his debut crime series, ONE GOOD EYE.
Kevin Wade is the Golden Globe and the Writers Guild of America nominated screenwriter of movies including the seven-time Oscar nominated comedy Working Girl (1988), True Colors (1991) starring John Cusack and James Spader, the Tom Selleck comedy Mr. Baseball (1992), Ivan Reitman's Junior (1994), the epic romance Meet Joe Black (1998), and the rom-com Maid in Manhattan (2002).
In 2010, he joined the rookie CBS drama Blue Bloods as a writer, and in 2011 he became its showrunner and executive producer for the entire 14-year run.
His latest release is the follow-up to his debut crime novel Johnny Careless, a book author John Sanford called a “fast-moving classic crime novel,” and that was shortlisted for the Edgar Best First Novel Award.
One Good Eye is the second in the Police Chief Jeep Mullane series and Library Journal said of the author, “Wade delivers another compelling literary mystery. His characters feel intimately real...and Jeep remains a deeply engaging protagonist...With sharp prose and a vivid sense of place on Long Island’s Gold Coast, Wade’s second…book will have readers eager to read more stories about Jeep and his community."
[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 Kevin Wade, Milena, and I discussed:
What his early aspirations as an actor in NYC taught him about playwriting
How he had his first screenplay turned into a hit movie by a legendary director
Why he wrote his debut novel during the Writers Guild strike
The biggest challenges of moving from TV writing to the novel
His favorite advice from Elmore Leonard's Ten Rules for Writers
How to write relatable characters
Classic advice from literary lions
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web
One Good Eye: A Jeep Mullane Novel (The Jeep Mullane Series, 2) by Kevin Wade (Amazon)
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
14 August 2026, 7:00 am - 42 minutes 17 secondsHow NY Times Bestselling Author Gillian McAllister Writes
New York Times bestselling author Gillian McAllister spoke with us about how to deal with rejection, deleting full drafts, the business side of adaptations, and her latest US release, the thriller THAT NIGHT.
Gillian McAllister is the internationally bestselling author of Wrong Place Wrong Time, Just Another Missing Person, Famous Last Words, and others. Her novels have been selected by both Read with Jenna and Reese’s Book Club, and she has become one of today’s most celebrated voices in psychological suspense.
Her latest US release is That Night (already adapted into a Netflix series), a novel that follows a family’s dream vacation in Italy that spirals into a nightmare.
New York Times bestselling author Emily Henry said of Gillian, “McAllister is the best at putting her characters in impossible situations and making her readers not only contemplate but feel what it would be like to find themselves in those situations.”
Gillian graduated with an English degree before working as a lawyer. She is also the creator and co-host of the popular Honest Authors podcast.
[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 Gillian McAllister, Milena, and I discussed:
Her law background and path to publication
How she wrote close to 400K words before breaking through
Why she plans novels via synopsis and keeps her early drafts private
Business advice on how to talk to publishers once you’ve sold a book
The real reason so many lawyers become crime writers
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web
That Night: A Novel by Gillian McAllister (Amazon)
Gillian McAllister Amazon Author Page
Gillian McAllister on Instagram
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
13 August 2026, 3:01 am - 41 minutes 49 secondsHow to Make Your Story Matter with Storytelling Expert Abbie Emmons
Bestselling author and storytelling expert Abbie Emmons spoke with us about topping 600K YouTube followers, helping writers craft emotionally resonant narratives, and her new writing guide MAKE YOUR STORY MATTER.
Abbie Emmons is the popular YouTube creator behind the channel Make Your Story Matter. For over seven years, she has been sharing her wisdom on YouTube (@abbieemmons), where she teaches writers how to make their stories matter by harnessing the power and psychology of storytelling to transform their ideas into masterpieces
Her latest book, Make Your Story Matter: An Interactive Guide to Unlocking Your Brain's Storytelling Power and Writing a Book Readers Love (releasing August 11, 2026), “... [offers a] simple but powerful 3-step framework for storytelling that’s rooted in psychology called the Who, What, Why Method.”
Jessica Brody, bestselling author of Save The Cat! Writes a Novel, wrote of the book, "Understanding why stories move us is one of the most powerful things a writer can learn. Make Your Story Matter brings the psychology and heart of storytelling to life in a way that will transform how you think about your characters and your craft."
Her online learning platform, Abbie’s Story University, has thousands of students worldwide. Through monthly live lectures and in-depth courses, Abbie offers comprehensive instruction on creative writing, editing, publishing, and more.
[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 Abbie Emmons, Milena, and I discussed:
Her three-pillar framework for crafting compelling stories
How to make your characters relatable
Why writers struggle with motivation and writing slumps despite having great ideas
What “writing ugly” can do for your productivity
How to create a conversation around your book
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web
Make Your Story Matter: An Interactive Guide to Unlocking Your Brain's Storytelling Power and Writing a Book Readers Love by Abbie Emmons (Amazon)
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
7 August 2026, 7:00 am - 49 minutes 27 secondsHow NY Times Bestselling Author Laura Moriarty Writes
New York Times bestselling author Laura Moriarty spoke with us about her teaching philosophy as a creative writing professor, the craft of historical fiction, and the research process behind her latest novel, SUNLIGHT FINDS YOU.
Laura Moriarty is the New York Times bestselling author of The Chaperone, The Center of Everything, The Rest of Her Life, While I'm Falling, and a Creative Writing Professor at the University of Kansas.
Her latest novel is Sunlight Finds You, described as a book that “explores the fervor of young love, the shock of parental betrayal, and the long-term consequences of adolescent choices.”
A Kirkus starred review wrote of the work, “Moriarty has an unusual gift for voice, a spark that can turn a novel about ordinary events into something compelling…A rich, rewarding slice of history that should remind us how important it is for women to have choices of all kinds.”
Laura Moriarty received her master's degree from the University of Kansas and was awarded the George Bennett Fellowship for Creative Writing at Phillips Exeter Academy.
[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 Laura Moriarty, Milena, and I discussed:
Her early career in social work and how she almost became a doctor
Why she loves working with graduate students on their WIPs
The research process that went into Sunlight Finds You
What changing the POV can do for your narrative
How incorporating psychological authenticity over modern values can improve historical fiction
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web
english.ku.edu/people/laura-moriarty
Sunlight Finds You: A Novel by Laura Moriarty (Amazon)
Laura Moriarty Amazon Author Page
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
5 August 2026, 7:00 am - 35 minutes 56 secondsHow Bestselling Author Sarma Melngailis Writes: Part Two
Bestselling memoirist, chef, and former restaurateur Sarma Melngailis spoke with us about her much-loved restaurant, Pure Food and Wine, reclaiming her narrative post Bad Vegan, and her eight-year journey writing THE GIRL WITH THE DUCK TATTOO.
Sarma Melngailis is the founder of One Lucky Duck and co-creator of the acclaimed New York City restaurant Pure Food and Wine. Her notorious story of scandal and betrayal was the subject of the Netflix docuseries Bad Vegan—a series that left much of her story misrepresented.
Her bestselling memoir, The Girl with the Duck Tattoo, is described as a “reclamation” and “... a raw, unflinching memoir of how one smart, driven woman went from building a dream to being ensnared in a cult of one.”
Sarma is the author of cookbooks Living Raw Food and the co-author of Raw Food/Real World, and is currently in production on a new docuseries while working to re-launch her businesses. She is also graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and the French Culinary Institute
[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 Sarma Melngailis, Milena, and I discussed:
Her professional journey from the French Culinary Institute to celebrity restaurateur
Reclaiming her narrative from sensationalist and biased media coverage
How she continues to examine the psychology of manipulation
Reliving some of the trauma of her experience by recording the audiobook
Her thoughts on resurrecting Pure Food and Wine
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web
Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/files! #squarepod
The Girl with the Duck Tattoo: A Memoir by Sarma Melngailis (Amazon)
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
31 July 2026, 7:00 am - 35 minutes 23 secondsHow Bestselling Author Sarma Melngailis Writes: Part One
Bestselling memoirist, chef, and former restaurateur Sarma Melngailis spoke with us about her much-loved restaurant, Pure Food and Wine, reclaiming her narrative post Bad Vegan, and her eight-year journey writing THE GIRL WITH THE DUCK TATTOO.
Sarma Melngailis is the founder of One Lucky Duck and co-creator of the acclaimed New York City restaurant Pure Food and Wine. Her notorious story of scandal and betrayal was the subject of the Netflix docuseries Bad Vegan—a series that left much of her story misrepresented.
Her bestselling memoir, The Girl with the Duck Tattoo, is described as a “reclamation” and “... a raw, unflinching memoir of how one smart, driven woman went from building a dream to being ensnared in a cult of one.”
Sarma is the author of cookbooks Living Raw Food and the co-author of Raw Food/Real World, and is currently in production on a new docuseries while working to re-launch her businesses. She is also graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and the French Culinary Institute
[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 One of this file Sarma Melngailis, Milena, and I discussed:
How she knew she would write the book while serving time at Rikers Island
The Art of Memoir as part of the healing process
When she knew the book would become an investigation and a cautionary tale
How memory plays tricks on us
Why she chose to publish her memoir independently
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web
Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/files! #squarepod
The Girl with the Duck Tattoo: A Memoir by Sarma Melngailis (Amazon)
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
30 July 2026, 3:30 am - 47 minutes 56 secondsHow Pulitzer Winner & NY Times Bestselling Author Daniel Kraus Writes
New York Times bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize winner Daniel Kraus spoke with us about book promotion as an introvert, writing two books a year, his creative process, and his first sci-fi novel, THE SIXTH NIK.
Daniel Kraus is a New York Times bestselling novelist, screenwriter, and 2026 Pulitzer Prize winner for fiction for his novel Angel Down. His novel Whalefall received a front-cover review in The New York Times Book Review, won the Alex Award, was an Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist, and was named a Best Book of Year by NPR, The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and more.
His latest novel is The Sixth Nik, “Perfectly aligned for readers of Iain M. Banks’s The Culture series and Ursula K. Le Guin’s “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas”, The Sixth Nik is a galaxy-spanning adventure,” that Booklist called “Strange and intense and impossible to look away from … sf at its most daring.”
Daniel Kraus coauthored The Shape of Water with Guillermo del Toro, based on the same idea the two created for the Oscar-winning film. Also with del Toro, Kraus coauthored Trollhunters, which was adapted into the Emmy Award–winning Netflix series.
Kraus has won the Bram Stoker Award, Scribe Award, two Odyssey Awards (for both Rotters and Scowler), and has appeared multiple times as Library Guild selections, and more. Kraus’s work has been translated into over 25 languages.
[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 Daniel Kraus, Milena, and I discussed:
How he overcame the productivity “delays” of winning a Pulitzer Prize
When he sensed the momentum shift in his writing career
The distinctive honor he shares with Cormac McCarthy
Adapting Whalefall for the big screen
His first foray into science fiction
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web
Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/files! #squarepod
Angel Down (Pulitzer Prize Winner): A Novel by Daniel Kraus (Amazon)
The Sixth Nik by Daniel Kraus (Amazon)
Daniel Kraus Amazon Author Page
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
24 July 2026, 7:00 am - 54 minutes 18 secondsHow NY Times Bestselling Author Eddie Huang Writes
New York Times bestselling author, filmmaker, and decorated chef Eddie Huang spoke with us about his origins as a writer, the pivot from memoir to autofiction, and the personal transformation behind his debut novel COME UNDONE.
Eddie Huang is a chef, restaurateur, food personality, filmmaker, and polmath widely recognized for his bestselling memoir, Fresh Off the Boat, which inspired the hit ABC sitcom of the same name. Anthony Bourdain wrote of the book, “Mercilessly funny and provocative, Fresh Off the Boat is also a serious piece of work.”
Eddie recently published his fiction debut, Come Undone: A Novel, described as “a sharp, emotionally raw exploration of love, masculinity, and self-destruction.”
“A subversively funny first novel, the bestselling author of Fresh Off the Boat delivers a portrait of a haunted manchild and his messy search for love…”
Eddie is also a co-owner of BaoHaus, a restaurant in the East Village of Lower Manhattan, and was previously the host of “Huang's World” for Viceland. He wrote and directed the feature film Boogie (2021) and released the documentary Vice Is Broke (2024). He now co-hosts a popular lifestyle podcast alongside his wife, Natashia Perrotti, Canal Street Dreams.
[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 Eddie Huang, Milena, and I discussed:
Why Good Will Hunting changed his life
The decade of self-doubt that followed runaway hit Fresh Off the Boat
How autofiction allowed him to access an emotional truth without the constraints of memoir
On not being Cormac McCarthy
What Anthony Bourdain's death meant to him personally
His key literary influences
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web
Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/files! #squarepod
“I Immediately Sh*t My Pants”: Eddie Huang’s Book Tour Confessions
Come Undone: A Novel by Eddie Huang (Amazon)
Eddie Huang Amazon Author Page
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
23 July 2026, 3:39 am - 42 minutes 53 secondsHow Newberry Medalist and #1 NYT Bestselling Author Kate DiCamillo Writes
#1 New York Times bestselling author and two-time Newbery Medal winner Kate DiCamillo spoke with us about overcoming rejection early on, her workmanlike process, and how she stays grounded after more than 25 years in the craft.
Kate DiCamillo is a celebrated author of children's fiction, and famously one of only seven authors to win two Newbery Medals for her outstanding contributions to American children's literature.
Because of Winn-Dixie—her debut novel—became a runaway bestseller and snapped up a Newbery Honor. Since then she has written for a wide range of ages, received countless awards, has nearly 49 million books in print worldwide, and been translated into 41 languages.
Kate has multiple new books this year, and is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the beloved classic, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.
The Chicago Tribune wrote of the author, “DiCamillo has carved out a distinct place as one of her generation’s most beloved writers.”
There are popular feature film versions of some of her classic novels, including Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux, Flora & Ulysses, The Tiger Rising, and The Magician’s Elephant.
Kate is also a literacy advocate and a Library of Congress National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Emerita.
[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 Kate DiCamillo, Milena, and I discussed:
Why all roads lead to the coffee maker
Her morning ritual and daily page counts
What she tells students about being relentless
How each book presents a unique challenge for her
Hanging out with friend Ann Patchett at Parnassus Books
Why writers need to show up every day
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web
Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/files! #squarepod
Kate DiCamillo Amazon Author Page
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
17 July 2026, 7:00 am - More Episodes? Get the App