DIY MFA Radio 274: Speculating from Reality and Building a Dystopia - Interview with Rob Hart
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Rob Hart about his latest book The Warehouse. When I heard Rob’s editor talk about this book at the BookExpo Editors’ Buzz Panel, I knew I had to have Rob on the show.
Now, if you guys don’t know about Book Expo, it’s a big literary trade show that happens every May in New York City. They have these panels where they feature a selection of books that are getting a ton of buzz. There’s a panel all about books for adults, and another featuring YA and Middle Grade. Now, when I used to go to Book Expo, I’d get very overwhelmed with all the books! But these days, after many Book Expos, I’m a little more measured, and it takes a bit more for a book to grab my attention. The Warehouse was one of the books that really made me sit up and take notice.
But first, a little bit about our guest.
Rob Hart is the author of the Ash McKenna series, as well as the short story collection Take-Out, and the novella Scott Free, which he co-wrote with James Patterson. His latest book, The Warehouse, has sold in more than 20 countries and has been optioned for film by Ron Howard. A fellow New Yorker, Rob lives in Staten Island, NY, with his wife and daughter.
In this episode Rob and I discuss:
- The inspiration behind The Warehouse
- How adding a third point of view strengthened the story
- Crafting an immersive world without info-dumping
- Under-writing instead of over-writing a draft
- Using a map to plan a world
- Moving from outlining and research to writing
For more info and shownotes: diymfa.com/274