DIY MFA Radio

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Traci Sorell and Carole Boston Weatherford. Traci is the author of the critically acclaimed book We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga. She is an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation and lives in northeastern Oklahoma, where her tribe is located. Today we’re talking about her picture book Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer (Illustrated by Natasha Donovan). Carole is the author of numerous award-winning books including the Newbery Honor book Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom (illustrated by Michele Wood), and R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul (illustrated by Frank Morrison). Today we’re discussing her picture book Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre (Illustrated by Floyd Cooper). When she's not traveling or visiting museums, Carole is mining the past for family stories, fading traditions, and forgotten struggles. She lives in North Carolina.   In this episode Traci, Carole and I discuss: Why they each decided to tell these forgotten stories as middle grade picture books. The deliberate and unique choices they made in structuring their narratives. How they created a distinct sense of time and place to ground their books.   Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/375

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Finola Austin. Finola Austin, also known as the Secret Victorianist on her award-winning blog, is an England-born, Northern Ireland-raised, Brooklyn-based historical novelist and lover of the 19th century. Her first novel, Bronte's Mistress, was published in 2020. When she’s not writing novels or her blog, she works in digital advertising.   In this episode Finola and I discuss: How household and gender roles have and have not changed since the 19th century. The difference between being “accomplished” and being “clever” and why it’s problematic. Why she created a timeline to help fill in gaps in knowledge as she drafted her novel.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/374

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Marissa Levien. Marissa is a writer and artist who hails from Washington State and now lives in New York with a kindly journalist and their two cats. The World Gives Way is her first novel.   In this episode Marissa and I discuss: How current and recent events influenced the dystopian future of her novel. The unique point of view shifts she writes at the beginning of The World Gives Way. Why empathy, human connection, and hope get readers to follow the journey.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/373

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Rajani LaRocca. Rajani was born in India, raised in Kentucky, and now lives in the Boston area, where she practices medicine and writes award-winning novels and picture books.  She has always been an omnivorous reader, and now she is an omnivorous writer of fiction and nonfiction, novels, picture books, prose and poetry.  She finds inspiration in her family, her childhood, the natural world, math, science, and just about everywhere she looks.   In this episode Rajani and I discuss: The importance of showing different approaches to problem solving and thinking. How she represented sibling dynamics in her picture book, Bracelets for Bina’s Brothers. Why she starts with a story and her unique approach to character building.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/372

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Kris Clink. Kris writes about relatable characters who rely on humor and tenderness to navigate complicated relationships. Set in middle America, her novels are laced with romance, heartbreak, and just enough snarky humor to rock the boat. When not writing, Kris spends her time searching for an open karaoke mike and an understanding audience. Born and raised in the Texas Panhandle, Kris lives in Wichita, Kansas with her husband and two spoiled-rotten pups. She’s also the host of Kris Clink’s writing table, a podcast for writers and book lovers. Today we’ll be discussing her debut novel, Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy, which is out now.   In this episode Kris and I discuss: Why she writes the flap copy for her next book before she begins drafting it. How she wrote a not necessarily likeable character that readers can engage with. What makes a book one genre versus another and why that can be important.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/371

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman. Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman have been great friends for over 20 years and are now co-authors. Their friendship has sustained them through the ups and downs of raising kids, juggling careers, and creating new family traditions. Girls with Bright Futures, their debut novel, out now, is a dark, suspenseful journey into the cutthroat world of college admissions. Between the two of them, they have undergraduate degrees from Princeton University and the University of Michigan, a law degree from UC Berkeley, careers in marketing, non-profit leadership, and biotechnology law, two husbands, and four kids (three of whom have survived the college admissions process without a single parent landing in jail).    In this episode Tracy, Wendy, and I discuss: How focusing on mother-daughter relationships escalated the tension. What they learned from keeping their cowriting process intentionally simple. Why they made their alpha protagonist a bit of an outsider.   Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/370

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Elly Griffiths. Elly is the author of the Ruth Galloway and Brighton mystery series and the stand-alone novels The Stranger Diaries and The Postscript Murders. She is a recipient of the Edgar Award for Best Novel, the Mary Higgins Clark Award and the CWA Dagger in the Library Award. She lives in Brighton, England. Today we’ll be discussing The Postscript Murders, which was released earlier this year. The Night Hawks from her Ruth Galloway series is also out now, and The Midnight Hour (from her Brighton mystery series) is on sale November 2nd.   In this episode Elly and I discuss: Why so many people have been turning to mysteries during the pandemic. How to get readers to take a leap of faith and what you must do in return. Making sure that the right clue appears at the right time in a mystery novel.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/369

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Veronica G. Henry. Veronica was born in Brooklyn, New York, and has been a bit of a rolling stone ever since. Her work has appeared in various online publications. She is a graduate of the Viable Paradise Workshop and a member of SFWA (Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America). She now writes from North Carolina, where she eschews rollerballs for fountain pens and fine paper. Other untreated addictions include chocolate and cupcakes. Today we’ll be talking about her debut novel (which I am reading and LOVING) Bacchanal.   In this episode Veronica and I discuss: Her literary influences and how they each blur the line between real and fantasy. Why she included the downsides to her protagonist having an amazing ability. What scenes were difficult for her to write and how she powered through.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/368

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Brandie June. Brandie spent most of her childhood onstage or reading, as both activities let her live in fantastic stories. She moved to Los Angeles to study acting at UCLA, and eventually branched out into costume design and playwriting. While she spends most of her free time writing, she will still take any excuse to play dress-up, especially if it involves wearing a crown.  She happily promotes more stories as a marketing director for kids' films and anime. When not writing or marketing, she can often be found doing aerial arts, playing board games, drinking too much espresso, and coming up with new art projects. She lives with her husband, two spoiled rescue pups, a spoiled cat, six fish tanks, and five bookshelves. Today we’ll be discussing her debut novel, Gold Spun.   In this episode Brandie and I discuss: How a love of fairytales and a unique NaNoWriMo project led to her debut novel. Why she likes morally grey characters and how she brought that out in Goldspun. What factors influenced her decision to not worry about historical accuracy.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/367

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Alexander Weinstein. Alexander is the author of the collections Universal Love and Children of the New World, which was chosen as a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, and a best book of the year by NPR, Google, and Electric Literature. His fiction and interviews have appeared in Rolling Stone, World Literature Today, Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy, and Best American Experimental Writing. He is the founder and director of The Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing and is a Professor of Creative Writing at Siena Heights University. Today we will be talking about his latest story collection: Universal Love.   In this episode Alexander and I discuss: How he balanced hope and cynicism in stories set in the not too distant future. His process for building a short story collection and choosing what was included. Why you should embrace the mess of early drafts and take plenty of risks.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/366