In this episode of Authors Who Lead, I talk with novelist Carla Malden about her newest book Playback — a story woven with time travel, memory, nostalgia, and finding your voice.
Carla shares how her creativity evolved across screenwriting, memoir, and fiction, and opens up about lessons learned while co-writing her father Carl Malden’s autobiography.
Despite growing up in a Hollywood household, Carla explains why none of that exempted her from the same self-doubt and blank-page uncertainty every writer faces. She built her writing life with intention, courage, and craft.
This episode explores:
- How nostalgia shapes storytelling
- Why characters often “take over” the narrative
- The difference between screenwriting, memoir, and novels
- What Hollywood did — and didn’t — give her as a writer
- How to keep showing up even when self-doubt hits
Listen here:
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Connect with Carla here:
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CarlaMalden.com
Get a copy of Carla’s book here:
Playback
