CR 077: Brad Meltzer on Thrillers, Kids’ Books, and Writing Across Genres

The prolific New York Times bestselling author discusses his latest novel, “The Viper.”

Brad Meltzer, photo by Donna Newman

Many writers spend their entire career staying in one lane, focusing on a specific genre or format. Brad Meltzer doesn’t have a lane. Since 1997, the prolific author has published more than 60 books across multiple genres (fiction, nonfiction, how-to, children’s, comics, and advice), with each of them making it onto the New York Times bestseller list. He was the host of two History Channel series, Brad Meltzer’s Lost History and Brad Meltzer’s Decoded, and was the co-creator of the television drama Jack & Bobby. He has won numerous writing awards and earned an Emmy nomination for Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, an animated show based on his kids’ book series Ordinary People Change the World. His 2024 commencement speech at the University of Michigan went viral and became the basis for his book Make Magic. He’s also one of the few contemporary novelists who has befriended multiple U.S. presidents. When President George H. W. Bush was on his death…