S5E10: Writing New York Times Bestselling Fairy Tales for the Screen with Jennifer Donnelly

Sandra Magsamen is a multiple #1 New York Times bestselling author of WELCOME LITTLE ONE: A Love Letter To You, LOOKY LOOKY LITTLE ONE ON THE FARM: A Sweet, Interactive Seek and Find Adventure for Babies and Toddlers, and the new book SILLY SANTA: A Touch-and-Feel Holiday Joke Book Topics: - As a much beloved and best-selling children’s author with over 200 children’s and adult books, and multiple lifestyle brand partnerships, you really have become a household name. Why do you think your work speaks to us and touches so many?  - Your books are known for making meaningful moments for families; by fostering a connection to the heart, how can we build on that connection at home when reading to our children? - Author, artist, art therapist, designer- which hat fits you best?  - You seem to possess limitless creativity; are there any new creative outlets you want to explore?  Website: www.sandramagsamen.com 

Dinesh D’Souza has had a prominent career as a writer, scholar, and public intellectual, and has also become an award-winning filmmaker. Born in India, D’Souza came to the U.S. as an exchange student at the age of 18 and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Dartmouth College. Called one of the “top young public-policy makers in the country,” D’Souza quickly became known as a major force in public policy through his books, speeches, and films. He is the #1 bestselling author of the new book VINDICATING TRUMP, which he also produced into a documentary film. Websites: www.DineshDSouza.com www.VindicatingTrump.com 

Steven Kotler is the Founder of the Flow Research Collective, one of the world's leading experts on Ultimate Human Performance, and #1 New York Times' bestselling author of Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think, Stealing Fire: How Silicon Valley, the Navy SEALs, and Maverick Scientists Are Revolutionizing the Way We Live and Work, The Rise of Superman: Decoding the Science of Ultimate Human Performance, Bold: How to Go Big, Create Wealth and Impact the World, The Future Is Faster Than You Think: How Converging Technologies Are Transforming Business, Industries, and Our Lives, and The Art of Impossible: A Peak Performance Primer. SafetyWing offers travel medical insurance that’s specifically designed for the needs of freelancers, remote workers, and digital nomads, no matter where in the world. They have a truly ambitious mission to create a global social safety net for anyone regardless of where they happened to be born.  With SafetyWing, you’re covered all over the world with one policy. It’s a monthly subscription, so you’re continuously covered, and you can turn it off anytime. Get on on SafetyWing's special offer for Work From Home Show listners here:  https://safetywing.com/?referenceID=26040266&utm_source=26040266&utm_medium=Ambassador Features include: - $0 deductible, meaning you're covered even for the smallest claims (even for US Citizens) - No pre-approval needed, takes five minutes to purchase. You can do it the same day you fly out, or even if your trip has already started. - Pay as you go subscription. Cancel anytime. - Coverage from just a few dollars per day - Covers travel delay, lost luggage, and trip interruption - Kids under ten go free with an adult policy, making it great for families on a budget. - Covers you in over 180 countries - 24/7 online customer care with less than a minute response time - A travel medical insurance with a medical expense of $250,000 - You can add-on electronic theft insurance for up to $3000 worth of electronic valuables Sign up for the by clicking this special offer link:  https://safetywing.com/?referenceID=26040266&utm_source=26040266&utm_medium=Ambassador   Topics: - What are the secrets of elite performers? - What does it take to accomplish the impossible? - What does it take to shatter our limitations, exceed our expectations, and turn our biggest dreams into our most recent achievements?  - What is flow?  - What is the concept of "non-time"?  - Why are solitude and being alone so important to creativity?  - In your book ABUNDANCE written with Peter Diamandis, you predicted nine billion people having access to clean water, food, energy, health care, education, and everything else that is necessary for a first world standard of living, thanks to technological innovation. When will this happen, and what will be the technological innovation? - What exponential technologies are disrupting today’s Fortune 500 companies and enabling upstart entrepreneurs to go from “I’ve got an idea” to “I run a billion-dollar company” far faster than ever before? - What happens as AI, robotics, virtual reality, digital biology, and sensors crash into 3D printing, blockchain, and global gigabit networks? How will these convergences transform today’s legacy industries?  - What will happen to the way we raise our kids, govern our nations, and care for our planet? - How will the world change in response to the pandemic and rapid technological disruption? Websites:  www.stevenkotler.com www.flowresearchcollective.com

Carole Engle Avriett is the #1 bestselling author of Coffin Corner Boys: One Bomber, Ten Men, and Their Harrowing Escape from Nazi-Occupied France and the new book Marine Raiders: The True Story of the Legendary WWII Battalions Topics: - What got you interested in writing about military history, which is traditionally a man's penmanship? - Who are the Marine Raiders and how did you find out about them?

Oliver Burkeman is the New York Times' bestselling author of The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking and the new book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals.  Topics: - You likely saw the latest stats from the CDC saying the average human lifespan is down 1.5 years. This is not encouraging. What are your thoughts on this? - Given how little time we have left, what are your time management tips for us to make the best use? - How can people learn to prioritize to make for more effective time management? - What are the three-or-four-hours rules for getting creative work done? - Where does social media fall in the spectrum of priorities and distraction? - What is the Attention Economy? - What is the Efficiency Trap? - What is the Productivity Trap? - What is happiness? - Why are people so fixated on being happy? Website: www.OliverBurkeman.com

Hung Cao is a Virginia Senate candidate and bestselling author of the new book CALL ME AN AMERICAN: Refugee to Patriot - Lessons Learned for a Strong America. Topics:  - You have an incredible story from the day you were born. Tell us about your early life and how you ended up here in the United States... - Are there any similarities between what we're seeing today and 1960's Vietnam and the Viet Cong? - Diversity in the Republican Party - Impact of getting Trump's endorsement and pulling off an upset against Tim Kaine Website: www.hungforva.com

Nick Searcy is best known for portraying Chief Deputy United States Marshal Art Mullen on FX's Justified. He also had a major role in the Tom Hanks-produced miniseries From the Earth to the Moon as Deke Slayton. He is the Director of GOSNELL: The Trial of America’s Biggest Serial Killer, producer/star of the documentary Capitol Punishment and The War on Truth, and author of the new book JUSTIFY THIS: A Career without Compromise. He will be starring in the upcoming film REAGAN. Topics: - What challenges are faced by conservative voices in the entertainment industry? - “I’ve played serial killers, rapists, racists, Klansmen, sexual harassers, thieves—I mean, let’s face it. I’ve played a LOT of Democrats.” - What really happened on January 6th? Website: www.TheWarOnTruthMovie.com

Jennifer Donnelly is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Winter Rose, The Wild Rose, The Tea Rose, A Northern Light, Revolution, the Waterfire Saga, A Northern Light, and the new book Beastly Beauty, which really flips the narrative. In Jennifer's version, the rebellious young woman is cursed to be a beast, and the charming thief is the beauty who can break the spell.  Topics: - Journey - First book deal - Collaboration with Disney - Any other movies or shows in the works? - Today's gender roles Website: www.JenniferDonnelly.com

Sy Montgomery is multiple #1 New York Times bestselling author of HOW TO BE A GOOD CREATURE: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals, THE GOOD PIG: The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood, THE SOUL OF AN OCTOPUS: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness, and the new book WHAT THE CHICKEN KNOWS: A New Appreciation of the World's Most Familiar Bird. She joins the show to discuss her writing process and journey, journalism and academic background, the joys of traveling with and for animals, and how she's established a thriving and prolific career. Website: www.symontgomery.com

Eric Blehm is the #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of FEARLESS: The Undaunted Courage and Ultimate Sacrifice of Navy SEAL Team SIX Operator Adam Brown, THE ONLY THING WORTH DYING FOR: How Eleven Green Berets Fought for a New Afghanistan, THE LAST SEASON, LEGEND: A Harrowing Story from the Vietnam War of One Green Beret's Heroic Mission to Rescue a Special Forces Team Caught Behind Enemy Lines, and the new book THE DARKEST WHITE: A Mountain Legend and the Avalanche That Took Him.  Topics: - Journey - Movies, documentaries - Where do you get your story ideas from? - Why do men go into the military?  - Do they really care so much for our country? Websites: www.ericblehm.com www.fearlessnavyseal.com