DIY MFA Radio

Hey there word nerds! I’m sooooo excited for today’s interview because I have Andrew Shaffer on the show! Andrew is the bestselling author of several humorous works of fiction and nonfiction including the parody Fifty Shames of Earl Grey. He is also the owner and creative director of Order of St. Nick, the quirky greeting card company whose cards have been featured on The Colbert Report, and is the publisher of 8th Circle Press. Andrew’s latest humourous yarn is Hope Never Dies: An Obama/Biden Mystery. Part noir mystery, part bromance, and part parody, this novel features Obama and Biden teaming up to solve a grisly murder. Hooked yet? Well then listen in as Andrew and I chat about this awesome book, and the art of combining the dark elements of noir with the comedy of bromance. In this episode Andrew and I discuss: Why choosing the right point of view character is so important to your story. Crafting characters not caricatures. How to use public figures in your book without hindering your writing (or getting sued). Parody, what it is and how to do it right. Using comedy to your story’s best advantage. Plus, Andrew’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/225

Hey there word nerds! And welcome to our extra special Halloween episode, as today I have the pleasure of having the amazing mother-daughter writing team of P.C. and Kristin Cast on the show! P.C. and Kristin are both New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors, most known for their wildly successful House of Night series. This mega popular series spanning numerous novels and novellas, celebrated its ten year anniversary in 2017. In honor of this milestone, P.C. and Kristin dove back into this awesome world and created the all new House of Night: Other World series. The first novel, Loved, was released in 2017, with the second, Lost, just releasing in July of this year. So listen in as we chat about these awesome Other World novels, and get a window into the whole House of Night series. In this episode P.C., Kristin and I discuss: Tag team brainstorming. Worldbuilding techniques to expand your story’s world over multiple books. P.C.’s alternative universe character building exercise. How to stand out in an oversaturated market. Why you need to get graphic with your characters’ feelings. Plus, both P.C.’s and Kristin’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/224

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Melanie Moyer. Melanie is a debut author and veteran ghostwriter. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh where she studied Creative Writing, Religious Studies, Folklore, and Russian History. She regularly co-hosts a horror pop culture podcast called Splatter Chatter, serves as a co-host on the animation podcast Overly Animated, and regularly contributes pop culture pieces to Just About Write. Today we’ll be talking about her debut YA novel The Rules of Me, a fascinating novel with a unique point of view choice. In this episode Melanie and I discuss: The process of going from a short story drafted in college to a novel written years later. Point of view challenges that come with making the narrator be the main character’s imaginary friend. How this unconventional point of view choice ultimately enriches the narrative experience. The different pairs of characters that frame the story. The art and craft of world building and how to create rules for your characters. Navigating the workshop experience, with both its pros and cons. Writing for a YA audience and how to respect that reader’s point of view. Plus, Melanie’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/223

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Ruth Spiro on the show! Ruth’s journey as a writer is one I think many word nerds can relate to. She never imagined she’d be a writer…until she started doing it! And now she writes innovative books for kids about science, technology, engineering and math…or STEM as is the buzzword right now. Her debut picture book, Lester Fizz, Bubble-Gum Artist won awards from Writer’s Digest, Willamette Writers, and was a Bank Street College of Education Best Book. Ruth followed up this success with her awesome Baby Loves Science board book series. This groundbreaking series includes books on a number of different topics including: coding, green energy, quarks, and my personal favorite quantum physics, which explains the Schrodinger’s cat thought experiment in language that a toddler can understand. This amazing series has been featured in The Los Angeles Times, Popular Science and Working Mother. And the series features iconic and adorable illustrations by Irene Chan. When an illustrator can make Quarks look cute…OMG! So listen in as Ruth and I geek out over this awesome series, and give you an inside look into the exciting niche of board books. In this episode Ruth and I discuss: Techniques to craft a book that is engaging to both children and adults. How to make abstract ideas accessible to young children. Breaking into a specific publishing niche. Why you need to be smart in how you network. A step by step guide to producing a board book. Plus, Ruth’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/222

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of having Jennie Nash on the show! Jennie is the founder of Author Accelerator, a book coaching service that has helped hundreds of writers complete their book projects by giving them the sustained editorial support they need. She has spent 30 years on all sides of the publishing industry and is the author of four novels, three memoirs, and one self-help book for writers, titled The Writer’s Guide to Agony and Defeat. Listen in as we chat about working through the agony of writing to create a book you’re proud of, and how to make your writing a priority in life no matter how hectic things get. In this episode Jennie and I discuss: Making the right mindset shift needed to write a book. How to get through the pain points of the writing process. Fear of failure vs. fear of success. Why hard work is more important than raw talent to succeed as a writer. An inside look at Jennie’s book coaching process. Plus, Jennie’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/221

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to have Laurie Petrou on the show! Laurie is an author, maker, educator, tea drinker, and avid reader… so basically she’s my kind of people. She is an Associate Professor at Ryerson's RTA School of Media, where she is also the Director of the Masters of Media Production program, and has given TEDx talks in the past.   Laurie’s first novel (second book), Sister of Mine, won the International Half the World Global Literati Award. This novel is a fascinating thriller about two sisters bound together by a series of secrets. Listen in as Laurie and I chat about this awesome book, how to craft gripping suspense, and how to always keep yourself writing. In this episode Laurie and I discuss: The unreliable narrator and how to do it right. Using supporting characters to throw a wrench into your protagonist’s world. Techniques to breathe life into your setting. Pacing a thriller over several decades. How to handle the waiting periods in between writing and publishing. Plus, Laurie’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/220

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Elisabeth Potts on the show! From her time as a student protesting the Vietnam war to her five year fight to save a pristine Central California coast habitat from an over-zealous developer, Elisabeth’s passion for social justice has inspired her actions and her writing. In fact it was her experiences at U.C. Berkeley in the late 1960's that formed the background for her book Berkeley Girl, which she self published in 2017. During the 60’s, she joined thousands of other students to brave tear-gassing and police riots, trying to end the U.S. involvement in a long and senseless war. Listen in as Elisabeth and I chat about her novel, and the steps necessary to self publish and get your book out there. In this episode Elisabeth and I discuss: The value and importance of having a writing group you can depend on. Finding the right book cover design and the right cover designer. Steps to format your book for publication. Crafting a marketing strategy that works for you. How to toot your own horn and get your book into the world. Plus, Elisabeth’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/219

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting Anne Sibley O’Brien on the show! Anne is a children’s book writer and illustrator who has created thirty-seven books, some of which she has written, some she’s illustrated, and some for which she has done both. Her focus is on diverse children and cultures and this passion comes from being raised in South Korea as the daughter of medical missionaries. The most recent books she has written and illustrated are the companion picture books, I’m New Here and the just-published Someone New. These books look at the story of three just-arrived immigrant children both from the perspective of those children themselves and from the point of view of their new classmates. As the daughter of immigrants who has spent her life straddling two very different cultures, these books had a powerful impact on me. And I’m not the only one. Both titles have received starred reviews from Kirkus, and I’m New Here has gotten numerous accolades including being named a Kirkus Review's Best Book of the Year. In addition to all her amazing work as a writer (as if that weren’t already enough) Anne is also the cofounder of I’m Your Neighbor Books, an online searchable database of children’s literature that shines a spotlight on the contemporary immigrant experience. Listen in to hear me and Anne chat about these amazing picture books, the modern immigrant experience, and how to open up the world to children (and everyone else) through books. In this episode Anne and I discuss: Showing the experience of immigrant children from both sides. Mirror books, window books, and why we need to read both. How to represent a culture that is not your own authentically in your writing. Developing empathy in children through diverse books. An inside look at I’m Your Neighbor Books, what it is and how to take part. Plus, Anne’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/218

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have Yang Huang on the show! Yang is an author and former engineer. She grew up in China’s Jiangsu province where she  participated in the 1989 student uprisings, and moved to the U.S. to attend Boston College. Her debut novel, Living Treasures, won the Nautilus Book Award silver medal in fiction, and her essays and short stories have appeared in several notable magazines and journals including The Margins, Asian Pacific American Journal, and Porcupine Literary Arts Magazine just to name a few. Her latest book, My Old Faithful, is a collection of interlinked short stories centered around the five members of one totally ordinary yet thrillingly singular Chinese family. So listen in as Yang and I chat about this amazing story collection, and how and why you should always write dangerously. In this episode Yang and I discuss: The benefits of writing in your non-native language. Interlinked short story collections vs. multiple P.O.V. novels. How to immerse yourself in your character’s world, why you should. Why diverse readers need diverse writers. Risking it all, pushing your writing (and your readers) to the edge. Plus, Yang’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/217

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to have Steven James on the show! Steve is the bestselling, critically acclaimed author of sixteen novels. Best known for his psychological thrillers, he has received more than a dozen honors and awards for his books, including 3 Christy Awards and being nominated as a finalist for an International Thriller Award.He is also the author of the groundbreaking book on the craft of fiction, Story Trumps Structure: How to Write Unforgettable Fiction by Breaking the Rules, which won a 2015 Storytelling World Award. He also hosts the podcast "The Story Blender," where he interviews great storytellers from the world of cinema, oral performance, and writing about the craft of great storytelling (and where I’ve had the honor of being a guest!). Steve’s most recent novel, Every Wicked Man, is another exhilarating installment of the Bowers Files featuring his iconic character FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers. I have to admit, this book kind of scared the living daylights out of me and had me frantically turning the virtual pages on my Kindle. Listen in as we chat about this awesome suspense-filled story, and how to craft a novel that will keep your readers guessing until the very end. In this episode Steven and I discuss: How to craft a dynamic relationship over the course of a series. Four questions to ask yourself to help shape your story. Why you shouldn’t plan out surprising twists before hand. Breaking down the four elements of the perfect plot twist. How to pivot your story to give readers what they want or something even better. Plus, Steven’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/216