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

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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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

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Eddie Huang on Substack

Canal Street Dreams Podcast

Shit your pants link!

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
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#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!

Acclaimed debut novelist Austin Taylor spoke with us about the pressure cooker of Harvard life, studying AI law in the heart of Silicon Valley, and the inspiration behind her debut set in the biotech startup world of NOTES ON INFINITY.

Austin Taylor graduated from Harvard University in 2021 with a joint degree in Chemistry and English. She is currently pursuing a JD at Stanford Law School as a Knight-Hennessy Scholar, with a focus on generative AI, copyright, and authorship.

Her debut novel, Notes on Infinity, was named an Oprah Daily “Best Summer Read,” a Zibby Owens’ “Summer Read,” a Goodreads “Hottest Debut of 2025,” and is inspired in part by her undergraduate studies, peers, and lab work in Harvard’s chemistry department.

Booklist wrote of the book, "With a trajectory that echoes that of Elizabeth Holmes’ Theranos, Taylor's debut provides an insider's glimpse into the high-stakes Ivy League climate and the potentially devastating personal consequences for those caught up in ambition beyond their abilities."

Austin is also a private pilot, a registered Maine guide, and a bassist.

[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 Austin Taylor, Milena, and I discussed:

What it was like to grow up on a dairy farm in Maine

Writing her debut novel during her gap year

How The Social Network helped her capture the "momentum and excitement” of startup life

Her morning ritual and daily word counts

Why bad writing days are "almost always because [she’s] not reading enough" good stuff

Balancing law school and writing her sophomore novel

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

austintaylorwrites.com

Notes on Infinity: A Novel by Austin Taylor

Austin Taylor 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