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

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.

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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

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DanielKraus.com

Angel Down (Pulitzer Prize Winner): A Novel by Daniel Kraus (Amazon)

The Sixth Nik by Daniel Kraus (Amazon)

Daniel Kraus Amazon Author Page

Daniel Kraus 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, 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.

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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 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

Eddie Huang on Substack

Canal Street Dreams Podcast

“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

Eddie Huang 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

#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

katedicamillo.com

Kate DiCamillo Amazon Author Page

Kate DiCamillo on Facebook

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

New York Times best selling author Dan Heath has a podcast called What It’s Like to Be... where he explores the world of work one profession at a time. It's a fascinating show for all those times when we've met someone with an interesting job and wondered what their day is actually like. We hope you enjoy What It's Like To Be... as much as we do!

New York Times best selling author Dan Heath has a podcast called What It’s Like to Be... where he explores the world of work one profession at a time. It's a fascinating show for all those times when we've met someone with an interesting job and wondered what their day is actually like. We hope you enjoy What It's Like To Be... as much as we do!