Author Stephanie Diaz’s Midnight Writing Snack

When you’re burning the midnight oil and your stomach starts to grumble, what should you reach for to fuel you through the night? We decided to go directly to the source. We mean writers, of course. After all, who knows better the pain and pleasure of the midnight munchies than the literary set?

This month, we asked 20 authors, past and present, to share what they snack on in the wee hours.

Stephanie Diaz was studying film at San Diego State University when she published her debut sci-fi novel, Extraction. Now 23, she has a trilogy behind her and is currently helping other writers turn their fantasy manuscripts into reality.

She’s prone to procrastination and when she’s not compiling playlists to listen to as she writes, she’s sneaking into the kitchen for a dose of sweetness and protein.

The fire that fuels Stephanie’s fantasy novels is a classic pairing of chocolate and peanut butter. Here’s what she has to say about this basically perfect combination.

My late-night writing sessions always call for the perfect food combo: chocolate and peanut butter. It can come in any form, really — Reese’s Peanut Butter cups, Reese’s pieces, peanut M&Ms, or a literal hunk of chocolate lathered with PB (bonus points if there’s Nutella involved). You get sweetness and protein. What more could you want?

And, of course, if for some horrible reason there’s none of that in our apartment, there’s always ice cream straight out of the carton.

What’s your favorite peanut butter and chocolate combo?