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

New York Times bestselling author, Rosie Walsh, talked with me about finding her voice, transitioning from romcom to "emotional thriller," and her latest, The Love of My Life.

Rosie Walsh has lived and traveled all over the world, working as a documentary producer and writer. Her American debut, Ghosted, was a New York Times bestseller and has sold more than one million copies worldwide.

Her second novel is The Love of My Life, described as a "...stay-up-all-night page-turner. It’s a love story wrapped in a mystery that ... [taps] into our darkest fears about motherhood, family, and trust."

Ashley Audrain, New York Times bestselling author of The Push, said of the book, “Walsh’s hugely compelling THE LOVE OF MY LIFE instantly pulls you deep into the interior of a marriage. Part thriller, part mystery, part heart-wrenching love story, this is a treasure...”

Stay calm and write on ...

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In this file Rosie Walsh and I discussed:

Writing upmarket fiction under a pseudonym

Why she starts all of her books with plot

How to write a "book that breathes"

What it's like to hang out at death cafes

The "bum fight" that is the writer's life

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

⁠RosieWalsh.com⁠

⁠The Love of My Life: A Novel by Rosie Walsh⁠ (Amazon Affiliate)

⁠Rosie Walsh on Facebook⁠

⁠Rosie Walsh 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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New York Times bestselling authors and twin sisters Krista and Becca Ritchie spoke with us about their collaborative writing process, career journey from self-publishing to trad bestsellers, and the latest in their “Ritchie-verse,” DANGEROUSLY OURS.

​​Krista and Becca Ritchie are New York Times bestselling authors and identical twins—one a science nerd, the other a comic book geek—whose lifelong passion for writing has made them iconic voices in the contemporary romance world. They have written over 25 novels, including a TikTok sensation, the “Addicted” series.

Their latest novel, Dangerously Ours (Berkley Trade Paperback Original; May 12, 2026), is the thrilling conclusion to the “Webs We Weave” series about a dynamic group of young con artists that tackles gritty topics such as addiction, class, and power.

New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young called the series, “Fresh, deliciously angsty, and sizzling with slow-burn tension that kept me glued to the pages.”

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In this file Krista & Becca Ritchie, Milena, and I discussed:

Their early love of sharing stories

How their Addicted series went viral on BookTok 10 years after initial publication, leading to a traditional publishing deal

Why they create interconnected universes with Easter eggs across series

How they originally envisioned themselves as TV showrunners

The emotional significance of concluding this nostalgic series with a signing in Mystic, Connecticut

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

kbritchie.com

Dangerously Ours (Webs We Weave) (May 12, 2026) By Krista & Becca Ritchie

Krista & Becca Ritchie Amazon Author Page

Krista & Becca Ritchie on TikTok

Krista & Becca Ritchie on Facebook

Krista & Becca Ritchie 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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New York Times bestselling author and renowned historical fiction novelist, Kate Quinn, spoke with us about the importance of libraries, reading for mental health, and a love letter to both in her latest novel, THE ASTRAL LIBRARY.

Kate Quinn describes herself as a "librarian fine delinquent turned bestseller" and is celebrated for her meticulously researched historical fiction, often highlighting resilient women in WWI, WWII, and ancient Rome. Key works include The Alice Network, The Huntress, and The Diamond Eye.

Her latest, already another NY Times bestseller, is a pivot to magical realism with The Astral Library, a fantasy novel about a secret book sanctuary. NPR called it, “Engrossing, suspenseful, and authentic.”

New York Times bestselling author Sarah Penner wrote, “Only Kate Quinn could give us a book this inventive, this fun, and this completely addictive. If you’ve ever wished to tumble straight into your favorite novel, here’s your chance.”

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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 Kate Quinn, Milena and I discussed:

Her early training as an opera singer

A desire to enter the world of Narnia

Taking a genre departure into magical realism and fantasy while maintaining her signature character-driven storytelling

Why world-building is so important in her work 

How libraries represent a living, breathing space for people and their complicated problems

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

katequinnauthor.com 

Astral Library: A Novel By Kate Quinn (Amazon)

Kate Quinn Amazon Author Page

Kate Quinn on Facebook

Kate Quinn 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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Award-winning Australian author Charlotte Wood discussed her journey from local journalist to Booker Prize finalist, her creative process, and the 10th anniversary of her dystopian novel THE NATURAL WAY OF THINGS.

Charlotte Wood is the author of seven novels and three non-fiction books. Her last novel Stone Yard Devotional was shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize, listed as a New York Times Notable Book of 2025, Los Angeles Times 15 Best Books of 2025, and one of The Washington Post's best five novels of the year. 

Now, for its 10th anniversary, comes a reprint of The Natural Way of Things, a book described as a prescient feminist fable and international classic, “The Handmaid’s Tale for our age” by The Economist, and by #1 New York Times bestselling author Paula Hawkins as “beautiful and savage.” It won the prestigious Stella Prize, the Australian Prime Minister’s Literary Award in Fiction, and was longlisted for many others.

Charlotte’s features and essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, Lit Hub, The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Saturday Paper, among others.

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In this file Charlotte Wood, Milena and I discussed:

When she committed herself to becoming a writer

Why she never starts out with a big idea

The real-life girls' school that inspired The Natural Way of Things

How to apply "The George Costanza Approach" to your process

The career-changing reception of Stone Yard Devotional

The double-edged sword of literary prizes

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

charlottewood.com.au  

The Natural Way of Things: A Novel by Charlotte Wood (Amazon)

Charlotte Wood Amazon Author Page

Charlotte Wood on Instagram⁠⁠

Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer

diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram

Kelton Reid Instagram
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Bestselling and award-winning author Ramona Ausubel spoke with us about the value of low-residency MFA programs, and how to jumpstart your writing process with her latest book UNSTUCK: 101 Doorways Leading from the Blank Page to the Last Page.

Ramona Ausubel is the author of five books, most recently The Last Animal which was a national bestseller and received the National Book Foundation Science + Nature Prize and was a Barnes & Noble book of the month. 

She was the recipient of the PEN/USA Fiction Award, the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award and has been a finalist for both the California and Colorado Book Awards, the New York Public Library Young Lions Award, and has had multiple selections as a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice. 

Her latest non-fiction, Unstuck: 101 Doorways Leading From the Blank Page to the Last Page is a companion for writers at all stages of the process, and described as a book “… about staying in love with your writing: feeling excited, mischievous, productive, and hopeful—the opposite of being stuck. “

A Most Anticipated Book of 2026 from LitHub, Kirkus Reviews described it as, “An upbeat guide to navigating the writing process . . . Warm-hearted and practical, Ausubel emerges as trustworthy companion for a writer who’s stuck anywhere on the challenging road of creativity. Generous, empathetic, and unfailingly encouraging.”

Ramona’s work has been published in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Paris Review daily, One Story, Tin House, The Oxford American, Ploughshares and others. She is a professor at Colorado State University and has taught in the Bennington Writing Seminars, Tin House Writing Workshop, Writing by Writers, the Community of Writers, Bread Loaf Environmental, Writing Workshop Paris and elsewhere.

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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 Ramona Ausubel, Milena and I discussed:

Why getting stuck is normal and productive rather than something to fear

How to fall back in love with your own work

Practical exercises to help writers navigate the creative process

The magic prompt that never fails

Why you need to let "not knowing" to be your companion

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

ramonaausubel.com 

UNSTUCK: 101 Doorways Leading from the Blank Page to the Last Page By Ramona Ausubel – April 14, 2026 (Amazon)

Ramona Ausubel Amazon Author Page

Ramona Ausubel 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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