No Write Way with V. E. Schwab

S4E3- Trapping Mona Awad: Something scented with Tom Ford’s Rose Prick

Some books tilt the world just slightly off its axis and dare you to find your footing. This week, I’m joined by Mona Awad, author of Bunny and Rouge, whose stories feel at once unsettling and luminous. We talk about the poem she once wrote for a class, one her teacher loved so much it terrified her into dropping the course, and how that early moment shaped her relationship with risk and praise. We wander into our shared desire to invite fantasy and magic into the real world, and the way our minds can feel like haunted houses crowded with every character we’ve ever written. We talk about long walks as part of her drafting process, the strange alchemy of revision, and the quiet power of clothing in her books.  PS. If you need us we will be under a cozy blanket watching Ru Paul’s Drag Race. Follow No Write Way on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nowritewaypodcast?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr] V.E. Schwab’s Website [http://veschwab.com] Mona Awad's Website [https://monaawadauthor.com/] Credits: Host: V.E. Schwab Producer/Editor/Mixer: Jenna Maurice

S4 E2- Trapping Kennedy Ryan: The simple promise of 8 hours of sleep

Some books arrive as love stories and leave you thinking about much more. This week, I’m joined by Kennedy Ryan, bestselling author of Can’t Get Enough and Before I Let Go, for a conversation that feels less like an interview and more like gabbing with a very wise bestie. We talk about the fragility of success, the realities of moving between traditional and self-publishing (and why she’s done both—more than once), and the way her novels operate as Trojan horses: sweeping romances that carry big, necessary conversations about justice, equity, and identity. Kennedy also shares how her background in journalism shapes her work, from the deep research phase that anchors each book to the responsibility she feels when writing stories meant to spark discourse. It’s thoughtful, honest, and deeply human—and a reminder that love stories can do much more than “that thing.” Links: Follow No Write Way on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nowritewaypodcast?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr] V.E. Schwab’s Website [http://veschwab.com] Kennedy Ryan’s Website [https://kennedyryanwrites.com/] Credits: Host: V.E. Schwab Producer/Editor/Mixer: Jenna Maurice

S4 E1- Trapping Matt Dinniman: A Hippopotamus, Bass Strings, and Pizza-Blasted Goldfish

Some books feel like an escape hatch you didn’t know you needed. For the first episode of Season 4, I sat down with Matt Dinniman, author of the wildly popular Dungeon Crawler Carl series and his latest novel, Operation Bounce House. Matt calls himself a “psycho pantser” (affectionately), and he lives up to the title, walking me through a writing process that’s as wild and inventive as his stories—one that sometimes even leaves room for reader input. We talk about writing without a map: trusting chaos, breaking rules, and finding momentum by charging toward the thing you know isn’t going to happen. Matt shares his unconventional, sometimes delightfully unhinged process, how surprise keeps him writing, why play is often the surest way through a block, and his untraditional approach to rights—what he chooses to keep, what he lets go, and why ownership matters to him. Welcome to Season 4. Follow No Write Way on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nowritewaypodcast?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr] https://mattdinniman.com/ V.E. Schwab's website [https://www.veschwab.com/] Credits: Host: V. E. Schwab Producer / Editor / Mixer: Jenna Maurice

Summoning V. E. Schwab: a cup of black tea, a freshly rolled joint, a pair of running shoes, and a jigsaw puzzle

Plot twist—I’m the guest this week. And there’s no one I’d rather hand the reins to than my BFF (and producer of this podcast), Jenna. We get into the details of my writing process—from early research to finding the right title—and talk about the kinds of fantasy I’m drawn to, and why. We explore how setting functions as a character in my stories, the balance between realism and the fantastical, and the logic behind how my worlds work. Also, yes, we talk about mermaids. Because the ocean is still mostly unexplored, and hope is a powerful thing.

Summoning Laura Steven: A flat white, a perfect pastry, and a chess match she's not favored to win

This week, we summon Laura Steven, author of The Exact Opposite of Okay and Our Infinite Fates, for a thoughtful and refreshingly frank conversation. She walks us through the slow-burn nature of her creative process, opens up about the very real highs and lows of life in publishing, and reminds us that believing in yourself can be its own kind of survival skill. It’s a deep dive into persistence, perspective, and the long game of storytelling.