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

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kelly Yang spoke with us about burning out at Harvard Law, navigating Hollywood’s power dynamics, and her adult fiction debut THE TAKE.

​​Kelly Yang is the award-winning and bestselling author of over 15 books for children, teens and adults, including the lauded Front Desk series (Front Desk, Three Keys, Room to Dream, Key Player, Top Story, and Chef’s Secret), New From Here, Finally Seen, Finally Heard, young adult novels  Parachutes and Private Label, as well as the picture books Yes We Will: Asian Americans Who Shaped This Country and Little Bird Laila.

Based on Kelly’s childhood experience living and working in a motel as a first-generation immigrant child from China, her debut novel, Front Desk, was named "one of the best books of the 21st century" by Kirkus Reviews.

Her adult debut novel, The Take (April 14, 2026), “blends social commentary with psychological suspense, set in contemporary Hollywood, that dives into biohacking, youth-obsessed culture, and the dangerous bargains women make to stay relevant at work.”

Marie Claire called it, “One part The Substance, another part The Devil Wears Prada, The Take is a juicy, twisty take on aging, success, and race. Told in a sharp and hilarious voice, The Take is sure to be one of the hottest books of spring.”

New York Times bestselling author Grace D. Li called the book, “Breathlessly plotted and fearlessly told, The Take is a timely, incisive examination of ambition, aging, and who gets to tell whose stories in Hollywood.”

Kelly has written screenplays and television pilots for Netflix, CBS Studios, and the CW. She and Kate DiCamillo also co-host the StoryKind podcast.

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In this file Kelly Yang, Milena and I discussed:

Why she wasn’t a great law student

Teaching creative writing in Hong Kong

How her desire to get her kid to read led to a hit series

Her weird experiences navigating Hollywood as a baby writer

On horrible first drafts and a love of revision

The Shy Girl AI controversy

And a lot more! 

Show Notes:

kellyyang.com 

The Take by Kelly Yang – April 14, 2026 (Amazon)

Listen to Storykind Podcast

Kelly Yang 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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Social media phenom turned author, Liz Tenuto aka “The Workout Witch,” spoke to us about how she discovered somatic healing and being courted by publishers to write her first book WHEN THE BODY SPEAKS.

Liz Tenuto is a somatic instructor specializing in healing practices that release the physical effects of stress and trauma. She has a degree in Psychology from UCSB, certifications in Pilates and Reiki, 6 years of mentorship in teaching Feldenkrais by Augusta Moore, and 15 years of hands-on teaching experience.

Liz has helped over 200,000 women heal from trauma and long-term stress with her viral online courses, over five million followers across platforms on social media, and over 30 million views on some of her TikTok videos. She has received thousands of testimonials from students.

Her first book "Moving Through Trauma: A Somatic Guide To Healing" will be published on April 7th, 2026 by HarperCollins. It’s described as “... a comprehensive guide to understanding how trauma and stress are stored within the body—and how somatic exercises can provide a powerful tool for healing.”

Liz has been featured in USA Today, BBC News, Harper's Bazaar France, MSN, NY Weekly, LA Weekly, Shoutout LA, among others.

New York Times bestselling author Tori Dunlap said of the author, "Liz has helped millions of women connect to their bodies, relieve pain, and change their lives—[her] book has the ability to do the same for you."

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In this file Liz Tenuto, Milena and I discussed:

Her journey from contemporary dance to somatic healing

How she went from zero followers to owning a business with 11 employees and 240,000 students

A primer on somatic healing and “bottom up” therapy

Her community first approach to her practices

How she breaks down advanced neuroscience into bite-sized pieces in a relatable way

Why publishing a book is the opposite of social media

And a lot more! 

Note: Be sure to listen to the end of the podcast for a sample somatic exercise for relaxation!

Show Notes:

When the Body Speaks: How Somatic Healing Sets You Free – April 7, 2026 by Liz Tenuto (Amazon)

⁠theworkoutwitch.com 

Liz Tenuto on TikTok

Liz Tenuto on YouTube

Liz Tenuto on Facebook

Liz Tenuto 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, Emma Straub, spoke to us about the cognitive dissonance, joy, and research process behind her highly anticipated next novel AMERICAN FANTASY.

Emma Straub is the New York Times bestselling author of six books for adults: the novels This Time Tomorrow, All Adults Here, The Vacationers, Modern Lovers, Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures, and the short story collection Other People We Married. She is also the author of a picture book, Very Good Hats. Her books have been published in more than 20 languages.

Her latest novel, American Fantasy (Available on Apr 07, 2026), is described as “... an irresistible story about what happens when your teenage fantasy comes true after you’re already an adult.”

NAMED A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2026 BY THE NEW YORK TIMES, PEOPLE, TIME, HARPER'S BAZAAR AND OPRAH DAILY

#1 New York Times bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid, called it “…a fun, delicious, big-hearted book.” #1 New York Times bestselling author Rainbow Rowell wrote, “You don't have to be a fan of something to love American Fantasy, but if you've ever truly devoted yourself to a boy band or a TV show or even a series of books, you will feel so understood by this novel.”

Emma and her husband also own Books Are Magic, the popular independent bookstores in Brooklyn, New York. 

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In this file Emma Straub, Milena and I discussed:

How an annual NKOTB fan cruise inspired the latest

Writing a book about time, love, and loss and why her mom called it her "sexiest book"

Why you can’t reverse-engineer the perfect novel

What happened when her book appeared in Season Three of the White Lotus

Hanging out at with Lin-Manuel Miranda

And a lot more! 

Show Notes:

American Fantasy: A Novel – April 7, 2026 by Emma Straub (Bookshop.org)

⁠emmastraub.net⁠⁠

⁠⁠Emma Straub on Facebook⁠⁠

⁠⁠Emma Straub 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 journalist and author, Ellen Huet, spoke with us about the expose that set off an FBI investigation and the resultant book, EMPIRE OF ORGASM: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult.

Ellen Huet is an award-winning investigative journalist who covers technology and Silicon Valley for Bloomberg News. She writes features for Bloomberg Businessweek magazine, and has hosted two seasons of the podcast Foundering… a narrative audio series from Bloomberg Technology.

Her first book EMPIRE OF ORGASM: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult (2025), is about the rise and fall of alleged sex cult OneTaste, and “…explore[s] how the group's former employees and customers alleged it was a sex cult that exploited its members financially and sexually.”

New York Times bestselling author Ashlee Vance said of the book, “This isn’t just a tale of one cultish company―it’s a mirror held up to tech’s dark side, so full of greed and self-delusion.”

Ellen was also featured in a 2022 Netflix documentary about OneTaste called Orgasm, Inc., and her reporting about OneTaste has been cited in the New York Times, the New Yorker, the Wall Street Journal, Vanity Fair, Slate and many other outlets.

Trigger warning: This episode includes some explicit descriptions of OneTaste’s practice of orgasmic meditation (OM).

[This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ⁠ulys.app/writeabook⁠ to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."]

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In this file Ellen Huet, Milena and I discussed:

Hitting the Crime beat for the SF Chronicle straight out of college

The company at the heart of her investigation dubbed "The Whole Foods of sexuality" 

Why OneTaste is different than many cults

What it was like to finish her passion project after six years of work

How to change your mindset about busy work

And a lot more! 

Show Notes:

ellenhuet.com

Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult by Ellen Huet (Amazon)

Ellen Huet 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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Yale educator and TV writer/producer, Aaron Tracy, returns to chat with us about why truth is stranger than fiction, what it’s like to teach at Yale, and his non-fiction narrative podcast “The Secret Life of Roald Dahl.”

Aaron Tracy also teaches “The Art and Craft of Television Drama” as well as “Narrative Podcasts” at Yale University, and his TV credits include Law & Order: SVU, Fairly Legal, and The Tap which Aaron produced alongside one of his heroes, the legendary late Rob Reiner.

He is also a Creator, Director, and Exec. Producer of scripted audio dramas for iHeartRadio, Audible, and Spotify, with various production partners including: Supreme: The Battle For Roe, starring Eva Longoria (feat. Maya Hawke and William H. Macy), and Nowhere Man, a noir political thriller Executive Produced by and starring Lee Pace, with co-stars Zosia Mamet, and Chazz Palminteri.

His latest production is the hit narrative podcast, “The Secret World of Roald Dahl,” a new series from iHeartMedia, Imagine Entertainment, and Parallax. Created and hosted by Aaron Tracy, it goes beyond the pages of Willy Wonka, Matilda, and the BFG to uncover the stranger truth behind the author himself.

Aaron’s debut audio drama, The Coldest Case, a detective thriller starring Aaron Paul, Krysten Ritter, and Alexis Bledel, premiered as the #1 download on Audible in 2021, and has since become the most downloaded show in Audible Plus history.

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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 Aaron Tracy, Milena and I discussed:

How a former spy and struggling screenwriter became one of the most successful writers for children of all time

His evolution from screenwriter to narrative non-fiction podcast

An update on Yale’s Narrative Podcasts course in its 3rd year

Exciting news about his debut novel The Honeymoon Period

Why Roald Dahl was kind of a jerk

And a lot more! 

Show Notes:

The Secret World of Roald Dahl – listentoparallax.com/shows/secretworldofpodcast

⁠How to Write a Bestselling Audio Drama with Writer/Producer Aaron Tracy: Part One⁠⁠

⁠⁠Yale University – Aaron Tracy⁠⁠

⁠⁠Aaron Tracy Audible Page⁠⁠

⁠⁠Aaron Tracy on IMdB⁠⁠

Aaron Tracy on Twitter⁠⁠

Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer

diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram

Kelton Reid Instagram

Kelton Reid on Twitter
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