How NY Times Bestselling Author Ashley Audrain Writes

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06/16/23 • 29 min

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

New York Times bestselling author, Ashley Audrain, spoke to me about giving herself permission to write sh*tty first drafts, writing in public, and her second novel THE WHISPERS.

Ashley Audrain’s debut novel, The Push, was a New York Times, Sunday Times (London), #1 international bestseller, and a Good Morning America Book Club pick. It has sold in more than 40 territories, and a limited TV series is currently in development.

Her latest, The Whispers, is described as “ ... a propulsive page-turner about four families whose lives are changed when the unthinkable happens – and what is lost when we give in to our own worst impulses.”

The New York Times Book Review wrote, "Expertly, subtly and powerfully rendered .... [The Whispers] delivers a sucker-punch ending you’ll have to read twice to believe.” And #1 New York Times bestselling author Carley Fortune called it, “[An] electrifying ... razor-sharp page-turner.”

Ashley Audrain previously worked as the publicity director of Penguin Books Canada, and prior to that, worked in public relations.

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In this file, Ashley Audrain and I discussed:

Why she felt intimidated by writers while working in PR
How to write claustrophobic, voyeuristic fiction
Why she is drawn to the darker side of literature
Tapping into the messiness of midlife ennui
How to escape your kids
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

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New York Times bestselling author, Ashley Audrain, spoke to me about giving herself permission to write sh*tty first drafts, writing in public, and her second novel THE WHISPERS.

Ashley Audrain previously worked as the publicity director of Penguin Books Canada, and prior to that, worked in public relations.

[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, Ashley Audrain and I discussed:

Why she felt intimidated by writers while working in PR
How to write claustrophobic, voyeuristic fiction
Why she is drawn to the darker side of literature
Tapping into the messiness of midlife ennui
How to escape your kids
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Previous Episode

How Internationally Bestselling Author Liv Constantine Writes

Internationally bestselling authors, Lynne & Valerie Constantine – AKA Liv Constantine – spoke to me about the importance of writers’ conferences, how to write perfidy with your best friend, and their latest thriller THE SENATOR'S WIFE.

Liv Constantine is the pen name of sisters Lynne and Valerie Constantine who are the WSJ, USA Today, and Internationally bestselling authors of Reese’s Book Club pick The Last Mrs. Parrish, which has sold over 500,000 copies and is soon to be adapted for Netflix

Their latest, The Senator's Wife, is described as “... a psychological thriller that upends the private lives of those who walk the halls of power. Because when you have it all, you have everything to lose.”

#1 New York Times bestselling author A. J. Finn called the book, “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle meets The West Wing, a high-stakes paranoia thriller, slippery as a politician’s handshake, that's both sophisticated and irrepressibly fun.”

Lynne is a former marketing executive with a Master’s degree in Business from Johns Hopkins University who also writes The Jack Logan series under the pen name L.C. Shaw.

Early in her career, Valerie worked in Washington D.C. as a White House Assistant in the President’s Scheduling and Advance Office planning presidential trips and travel.

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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, Lynne, Valerie and I discussed:

How to team up with your sister to write a thriller
Setting a book in the halls of power, Washington, D.C.
How they plot their novels over Zoom
Why they call Thiller Fest their “summer camp”
The importance of freelance editors
And a lot more!

Show Notes:

livconstantine.com
The Senator's Wife by Liv Constantine (Amazon)
Liv Constantine Amazon Author Page
thrillerwriters.org
Liv Constantine on Instagram
Liv Constantine on Facebook
Liv Constantine on Twitter
Kelton Reid on Twitter

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Next Episode

How NY Times Bestselling Author James Swallow Writes: Part Two

New York Times bestselling author, James Swallow, returns to chat with me about the solitary life of a writer, his undying love of ‘80s and ‘90s cinema, why you’re only as good as your last title, and his latest novel DARK HORIZON.

James Swallow is the Award-winning New York Times, Sunday Times, and Amazon #1 bestselling author, former journalist, and British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) nominated scriptwriter who has written for video games, TV, and radio.

His latest, Dark Horizon, is described as stemming from, "A fatal crash and a brutal murder in an English village [that] sets off a deadly chain of events leading from the stormy skies over the Mediterranean to an explosive confrontation on a remote airstrip in North Africa.”

The prolific author of over 50 titles and millions of books in print worldwide has written sci-fi for storied franchises including Star Trek, Dr. Who, Stargate, and is best known for his espionage thrillers.

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In this file, James Swallow and I discussed: