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

Critically acclaimed novelist and entertainment podcaster, Bobby Finger, returns to speak with us about his weekly word counts, wedding DJs, Who? Weekly, and his latest beach read WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY. Bobby Finger is the author of The Old Place and Four Squares, and co-creator and cohost of the popular celebrity and entertainment podcast, Who? Weekly, "The podcast that tells you everything you need to know about celebrities you don’t." His third novel, We Are Gathered Here Today, was named a New York Times Summer's Best Beach Read. It’s described as The Wedding People meets The Celebrants, and a “...sharp and tender story [that] follows a recently engaged gay man who begins to question the idea of marriage while attending his cousin’s chaotic Wild West-themed wedding weekend.” Booklist called the book “… a perfect read for anyone confused by or suspicious of the wedding-industrial complex, which can leave happy celebrations feeling more like a second full-time job for young lovers.” Bobby previously worked as a staff writer for the culture website Jezebel from 2015 to 2018 and has contributed extensively to outlets like Vulture and The New York Times. [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 Bobby Finger, Milena, and I discussed: How his latest originally featured a death until his editor suggested everyone live, transforming it into a beach read Why he changed the book’s setting from fall to June at the`` publisher's request to position as summer release How a scene from the book became a part of the cover design The craziest thing he’s ever witnessed at a wedding IRL His next book and upcoming essay collection written with his podcast co-host And a lot more! Show Notes: ⁠whoweekly.us⁠ We Are Gathered Here Today By Bobby Finger⁠ (Amazon) Bobby Finger Amazon Author Page Bobby Finger on Instagram Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram Kelton Reid Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bestselling and award-winning author, Emma Grey, spoke with us about the long path to publication, the catharsis of writing through grief, and her latest unexpected love story, START AT THE END. Emma Grey is the award-winning author of seven books, including the USA Today and international bestsellers, The Last Love Note and Pictures of You. Her newest book, Start at the End, publishing April 7, 2026, is described as a “...sliding-doors novel … that explores second chances and unwritten endings.” Robinne Lee, author of The Idea of You wrote, "Emma Grey is a talented, beautiful writer, full of wit and wisdom and brilliant observations.” Sarah Damoff, author of The Bright Years called the book “... a tour de force of honest humanity.” Emma’s book Pictures of You won the gold medal in the American Independent Publisher Book Awards. Along with The Last Love Note, it received a starred review from the American Library Association. Both books were selected for two major American book clubs, including the Book of the Month and the Target Book Clubs. Her novels have attracted multiple foreign translations deals, a TV option, and Emma co-wrote a stage musical based on one of her teenage novels, which was selected for Broadway Unplugged in Sydney and by the Homegrown Initiative in Melbourne. [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 Emma Grey, Milena and I discussed: Why writers choose to have homework all the time Visiting Prince Edward Island to speak about Anne of Green Gables Why every reader takes away a unique thing from your writing How her audience feeds into the writing of each new book Striving for 100 rejections a year to become more resilient The #writingvanlife And a lot more! Show Notes: emmagrey.com.au Start at the End: A Novel – April 7, 2026 By Emma Grey (Amazon) Emma Grey Amazon Author Page linktr.ee/emmagreyauthor Emma Grey on Facebook Emma Grey on Instagram Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram Kelton Reid Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times Notable author and journalist, Emily Listfield, spoke with us about quitting her waitressing job after her first advance, the true value of beta readers, and the rich people behaving badly in her latest thriller REASONS TO LIE. Emily Listfield is the author of seven previous novels, including a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, It Was Gonna Be Like Paris. She is the former editor-in-chief of Fitness magazine and executive editor of Parade's HealthyStyle. Her writing appears frequently in Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, Allure, the New York Times, and numerous other national publications. Her latest novel, Reasons to Lie (Thomas & Mercer; February 24, 2026)—described as “Gossip Girl meets Law and Order SVU,”—is a propulsive mystery set in the rarefied world of NYC’s elite and shaped by the bonds of female friendship. Oprah Daily included Reasons to Lie among their Most Anticipated Books of 2026. New York Times bestselling author Kate White called the book,“Taut, riveting, and laced with stunning and unsettling revelations…,” and author Elinor Lipman wrote, “REASONS TO LIE is set at the kind of snobby Manhattan school I love to hate. Highly enjoyable, flawlessly written, and highly recommended!” [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."] [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 Emily Listfield, Milena and I discussed: Why some big ideas are best left to marinate The difference between writing short form journalism and the novel How female friendships are at the core to her life and so many other women Why she chose to skewer the world of an elite NY private school How the demands of caregiving pulled her unexpectedly away from her work Some helpful writerly slogans you can jot down to stick on your laptop And a lot more! Show Notes: emilylistfield.com Reasons to Lie – February 24, 2026 By Emily Listfield (Amazon) Emily Listfield Amazon Author Page Emily Listfield on Facebook Emily Listfield on Instagram Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram Kelton Reid Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices