In advance of his new collection of short stories, The American No, Everett opens up about finding the humor in rejection, the Oscar-nominated film that makes him want to “take a Valium” and more.

In the vivid memoir “The Ballad of Speedball Baby,” Smith paints an unflinchingly authentic ’90s portrait of life on the road.

The best-selling nonfiction author chats with Shondaland about the inner workings of her foray into fiction.