- 36 minutes 52 secondsHow National Book Award-Winner and NYT Bestselling Author Elizabeth Acevedo Writes
New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Acevedo spoke with us about her journey from National Poetry Slam champion to winning the the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, and her new YA novel, ANGER IS ONLY A SHADOW.
Elizabeth Acevedo is a renowned poet and New York Times-bestselling author of Clap When You Land, With the Fire on High and The Poet X, which won the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, the Michael L. Printz Award, and the Pura Belpré Award, among many others.
Her first YA novel in six years, Anger Is Only a Shadow, is her most personal offering yet. Inspired by her experience leading poetry workshops for girls awaiting adjudication at the Youth Services Center in D.C., as well as loving and caring for someone with schizophrenia.
Publishers Weekly, in a Starred Review called the book “...a striking and nuanced portrait of the realities of juvenile detention and mental illness.”
Elizabeth is a National Poetry Slam champion and holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Maryland.
[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 Elizabeth Acevedo, Milena, and I discussed:
How she performed in ~100 poetry shows/year, visiting nearly every U.S. state over 2 years
The impostor syndrome she felt during her MFA in poetry
What it felt like to go from “slinging chapbooks” to having a publisher
Why she still reads every novel aloud to herself before submission
How she alternates between the two manuscripts in 2–3 week blocks to maintain perspective
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
Anger Is Only a Shadow by Elizabeth Acevedo (Amazon)
Elizabeth Acevedo Amazon Author Page
Elizabeth Acevedo 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
16 October 2026, 7:00 am - 33 minutes 8 secondsHow Bestselling Author Isabel Cañas Writes: Part One - Redux
Mexican-American writer and historian, Isabel Cañas, spoke to me about how to binge-write a novel, her fear of the dark, and swinging for the fences with her gothic debut "The Hacienda."
Isabel is a speculative fiction writer, and world traveler – currently working on her Ph.D. dissertation in medieval Islamic literature – who writes fiction inspired by her research and heritage.
Her debut novel is the highly-anticipated gothic, The Hacienda, "... a haunted house story with a Latinx refresh .... partly inspired by a home Isabel lived in when she was a child — one she still believes to this day is haunted."
Described by The Washington Post as, “[A] gothic tale of doomed love and vengeful spirits." NY Times bestselling author Roshani Chokshi called the book, “A hypnotic, sinister tale that is equal parts terrifying and luxurious ... a nightmare lined with velvet.”
In this file Isabel Cañas and I discussed:
- Writing fantasy fan fiction and her convoluted juvenilia
- Why horror demands vulnerability from the author
- On haunted houses and ghosts of colonialism and diaspora
- Zero-drafting
- How to write 4000 words a day
- And a lot more!
Stay calm and write on ...
Show Notes:
The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas [Amazon]
Isabel Cañas 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
14 October 2026, 4:12 pm - 40 minutes 12 secondsHow Bestselling Debut Novelist Andre Hardy Writes
Bestselling crime novelist and former NFL running back Andre Hardy spoke with us about the slim odds of going from professional athlete to published novelist, writing through therapy, and his debut, TEAR THE CITY DOWN.
Andre Hardy is a critically acclaimed debut crime novelist, former NFL running back, and a member of the International Thriller Writers.
Described as a novel for fans of S.A. Cosby and Walter Mosley, TEAR THE CITY DOWN follows Coltrane Davis, a fixer for a crooked political kingmaker who wants out of the life and a chance to be present for his daughter.
New York Times bestselling author Ace Atkins called it, “A kickass debut from a bold new voice in crime fiction…. This novel is the stuff of lean, mean, California dreams."
Andre’s essays, interviews, and critical analysis have been published in L.A. Tribe Magazine, Lunch Ticket, and The Los Angeles Review of Books.
[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 Andre Hardy, Milena, and I discussed:
How he found writing after his NFL career
Channeling the spirit of John Coltrane
Why writers need to subdue the inner critic
What he learned chasing his debut novel
The thick skin needed to pursue greatness
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
Tear the City Down by Andre Hardy (Amazon)
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
9 October 2026, 7:00 am - 44 minutes 38 secondsHow NY Times Bestselling Author China Miéville Writes
New York Times bestselling author China Miéville spoke with us about his career origins, philosophy on genre, practical writing advice, and the grueling evolution of his latest novel, THE ROUSE.
China Miéville is an award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of fiction and nonfiction. His novels include The City & The City, Embassytown, and Perdido Street Station. A recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship for fiction, he has won the World Fantasy, Hugo, and Arthur C. Clarke awards, among others.
China’s latest novel, The Rouse, is a decade-spanning epic about a secret military unit trying to channel supernatural forces. The 1,200+ page novel 20 years in the making, has been described by peers as his magnum opus — a label he accepts with humility but did not coin himself.
China Miéville has a PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics and
his nonfiction includes a study of international law and a history of the Russian Revolution.
[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 China Miéville, Milena, and I discussed:
How he finally completed his 20-year labor of love
Why the writing process made him ill at points
On genre jumping, and literary fiction vs. "other stuff” snobbery
Why he believes that revealing that a book has a twist is "violence" against the reader's experience
How to trick yourself into writing a novel
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
The Rouse by China Miéville (Amazon)
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 October 2026, 11:43 pm - 40 minutes 45 secondsHow #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jeneva Rose Writes: Part Two
#1 New York Times bestselling author Jeneva Rose returns to speak with us about motherhood and creativity, her transition from thrillers to horror, and her highly anticipated novella collection, SOMETIMES I SCARE MYSELF.
Thriller icon 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 bestseller and horror debut, Sometimes I Scare Myself: A Collection of Horror, is described as three novellas spanning the horror-comedy, haunted house, and slasher subgenres.
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, and I discussed:
How she channeled postpartum anxiety into her latest
The biggest difference between writing horror vs. thrillers
Her favorite place to do secret book signings
When we can expect to see The Perfect Marriage adaptation
Her philosophy on persevering through rejection
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
Sometimes I Scare Myself: A Collection of Horror by Jeneva Rose (Amazon)
Jeneva Rose 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 September 2026, 2:56 am - 40 minutes 10 secondsHow #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jeneva Rose Writes: Part One - Redux
#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:
Dating After the End of the World– October 1, 2025 by Jeneva Rose (Amazon)
Jeneva Rose 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
22 September 2026, 10:21 pm - 37 minutes 50 secondsHow Bestselling Author Ellen O’Clover Writes
Bestselling author Ellen O’Clover spoke with us about her career as a copywriter, her writing process, making the transition from YA to adult romance, and her latest novel IF NOT YOU.
Ellen O’Clover is the acclaimed author of The Heartbreak Hotel—a BOTM selection, instant indie bestseller, and one of NPR’s 2025 “Books We Love.” She studied creative writing at Johns Hopkins University.
Her latest novel, If Not You, is described as an “...honest and heartfelt love story [with] the witty, down-to-earth, timeless vibes of the classic 90s and 2000s rom-coms.”
Rachel Lynn Solomon, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Extracurricular, said of the author, “Ellen O'Clover is one of my favorite writers — her books leave me in perpetual awe….The romance genre is radically lucky to have Ellen's voice in it.”
[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 Ellen O’Clover, Milena, and I discussed:
Getting a blurb from our friend Jodi Picoult
Why she made the shift from pantser to plotter
How she crafts her emotionally driven fiction
What she mined from her copywriting career for the latest
Meeting your readers where they are
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
If Not You By Ellen O’Clover (Amazon)
Ellen O’Clover 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
18 September 2026, 7:00 am - 37 minutes 10 secondsHow #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jodi Picoult Writes: Part Two
#1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult returns to speak with us about her research process, writing habits, book bans, recurring characters, and her 30th novel, HOLLOW BONES.
Jodi Picoult is the award-winning and bestselling author of 30 novels, including most recently the #1 bestseller By Any Other Name. Her landmark novel 19 MINUTES was recently named the most banned book in the United States in a report by PEN America.
Her 30th novel is Hollow Bones, also a #1 bestseller, and a book that “explores mothers and daughters, gender bias in healthcare, and catastrophe and consequence.”
In a starred review, Kirkus called the book, “An intricate, twisty family drama spanning decades . . . Fans of My Sister’s Keeper will . . . be glad to hear a character from that book is back. . . . The queen of social activist novels has done it again.”
With over 60 million books in print, Jodi's books have been translated into forty languages. Her co-adaptation of the musical Austenland is currently in development.
[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 Jodi Picoult, Milena, and I discussed:
Why she took and failed a lie detector test researching her latest book
The never-ending book tour and surviving on one meal a day
How she defends free speech while maintaining 1.5M social media followers
Why there’s no silver bullet after finishing a book and signing with an agent
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
Hollow Bones: A Novel By Jodi Picoult (Amazon)
Jodi Picoult 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 September 2026, 3:30 am - 34 minutes 55 secondsHow #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jodi Picoult Writes: Part One - 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.
[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 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:
By Any Other Name: A Novel By Jodi Picoult (Amazon)
Jodi Picoult Amazon Author Page
WAS SHAKESPEARE A WOMAN? – Elizabeth Winkler for The Atlantic
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
11 September 2026, 7:00 am - 43 minutes 10 secondsHow Critically Acclaimed Debut Novelist Jessica Goldstein Writes
Critically acclaimed debut novelist Jessica Goldstein spoke with us about her career path from teen mag intern to freelance culture writer, time travel, and her nostalgic debut, RETRO.
Jessica M. Goldstein is a journalist, humorist, and longtime contributor to Vulture, where she has recapped ‘Emily in Paris,’ ‘Hacks,’ ‘Wednesday,’ and ‘The White Lotus.’ Her work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Marie Claire, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, and more.
Her highly anticipated debut, Retro, is described as “Party Down meets one of those great George Saunders short stories about how weird and dystopian work is. A little White Lotus, a little Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.”
In a starred review, Kirkus declared the book “a nuanced, biting cautionary tale about how not staying present can erase our very selves.”
Jessica also publishes a weekly Substack newsletter, The Retro Report, where she shares vintage mood-based recommendations for what to read, watch, listen to, meditate on, and obsess over.
[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 Jessica Goldstein, Milena, and I discussed:
The origins of her debut novel and how she snagged an agent
Getting long-listed for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize
Her intense nostalgia for the "Before" times
Why you need to opt out of the imagined timeline of becoming an author
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web
Retro: A Novel By Jessica Goldstein (Amazon)
Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer
diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
10 September 2026, 6:00 pm - 39 minutes 21 secondsHow #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Victoria Aveyard Writes
#1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Aveyard spoke with us about her journey from USC screenwriting to publishing, her writing process, and her upcoming adult fantasy debut, TEMPEST.
Victoria Aveyard is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the RED QUEEN series and the REALM BREAKER trilogy. Her books have sold over eight million copies and been published in more than 40 languages.
Her highly anticipated adult fantasy debut, Tempest, is the first book in The Lyrian Sea duology. Set against the fall of the Golden Age of Piracy, the book follows a former noblewoman facing execution for treason unless she helps the Empire hunt down its greatest enemy.
#1 New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Yarros said of the book, “Victoria Aveyard's first foray into adult fantasy is a triumphant, epic adventure on the high seas. What an exciting, captivating read to spend your weekend with!”
[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 Victoria Aveyard, Milena, and I discussed:
Her deliberate pivot in both creative growth and reader demand
How she sold her debut novel within two weeks of going on submission
The distinct differences between YA and Adult fiction
What her screenwriting background taught her about fast-paced storytelling
Why fanfiction provides writers an early anonymous feedback loop
And a lot more!
Show Notes:
ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web
Tempest : A Novel By Victoria Aveyard (Amazon)
Victoria Aveyard 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
4 September 2026, 7:00 am - More Episodes? Get the App