DIY MFA Radio

Today, Lori is interviewing Patricia Leavy. They’ll be talking about her book, Hollyland, and the science behind the art of writing. Patricia Leavy, PhD, is an award-winning, best-selling author. She was formerly Associate Professor of Sociology, Chairperson of Sociology & Criminology, and Founding Director of Gender Studies at Stonehill College. She has published more than forty books; her work has been translated into many languages, and she has received more than forty book honors. She has also received career awards from the New England Sociological Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, and the National Art Education Association. In 2018, she was honored by the National Women’s Hall of Fame and SUNY-New Paltz established the “Patricia Leavy Award for Art and Social Justice.” You can find her on her website and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.   In this episode Patricia Leavy and Lori discuss: The neuroscience behind reader engagement. How her sociology background influences the way she develops characters. Exploring the beauty of writing by muscle memory as opposed to convention.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/455

Today, Lori is interviewing Jinwoo Chong. They’ll be talking about themes of loss and disconnection and how they relate to his book Flux. Jinwoo Chong is the author of the novel Flux, coming March 21, 2023 from Melville House. His work has appeared in The Southern Review, Chicago Quarterly Review, The Florida Review, CRAFT, and Salamander. He received the Oran Robert Perry Burke Award for Fiction from The Southern Review and a special mention in the 2022 Pushcart Prize anthology, as well as recognition from The Sewanee Review, Tin House and Zoetrope: All-Story. He received an MFA from Columbia University and is an editorial assistant at One Story. You can find him on his website or follow him on Twitter and Instagram.   In this episode Jinwoo Chong and Lori discuss: Immigration as synthesis. What it means to blend speculative fiction and neo-noir genres How the immigrant experience helped to shape his book.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/454

Laurie Buchanan, an author of fast-paced thrillers set in the Pacific Northwest, joins the discussion to unravel the intricacies of writing a series. She shares her journey from nonfiction to thrilling fiction and the importance of character arcs across multiple books. The conversation dives into respectful representation of disability through a character named Emma and the nuances of cultural sensitivity in storytelling. Plus, Laurie reveals her top tip for writers navigating the challenges of crafting suspenseful narratives.

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Steven James. We’ll be talking about his multifaceted storytelling framework, and his book The Art of the Tale. Steven James is the bestselling, critically acclaimed author of eighteen novels that have won or been shortlisted for more than a dozen national and international awards. His thrillers have been praised by Suspense Magazine, Booklist, and the New York Journal of Books and received starred reviews from both Library Journal and Publishers Weekly, who called his work “thought-provoking” and “riveting.” He has also written two award-winning books on the craft of writing, Story Trumps Structure and Troubleshooting Your Novel. When he’s not writing, he teaches storytelling at events around the globe and hosts the weekly podcast, The Story Blender. You can find him on his website or follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.   In this episode Steven James and I discuss: The importance of what is, not what appears to be. Giving readers what they don’t know they want. How plot isn’t about events, but about the collision of desires.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/452

Today, Lori is interviewing Sorboni Banerjee and Dominique Richardson. They’ll be talking about collaborating on their book, Red as Blood, and the sisterhood they found. Dominique Richardson and Sorboni Banerjee are the coauthors of THE EVERBEACH SERIES—a young adult, romantic suspense series pitched as "Riverdale" meets fairy tale. Full of forbidden romance, deadly twists, and scandalous secrets, this series is sure to keep you turning pages into the night. It's perfect for fans of INHERITANCE GAMES, CINDER, GOSSIP GIRL, and PRETTY LITTLE LIARS. The first book in the series, RED AS BLOOD, comes out February 28, 2023.    You can follow both Dominique and Sorboni on Tiktok.   Dominique Richardson was raised between Jamaica and the United States, and her biracial heritage finds a home in her books. She spends her free time passing on her love of unicorns to her twin boys, running in the Florida heat, and drinking all the coffee. Dominique is the Young Adult columnist for DIY MFA. She now lives in Tampa, Florida with her family. You can find Dominique on her website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, Tiktok.   Sorboni Banerjee is a Bengali-American author and Emmy Award winning television news anchor. With a dad from a small Indian village and mom from Maine, Sorboni’s experiences growing up “mixed” shape her stories. Fueled by coffee and conversation, Sorboni loves the beach, boating and traveling the world with her husband and son. Other books by Sorboni include Hide With Me.   Passionate about all things books and giving back to the community, Sorboni and Dominique co-founded YA by the Bay, a nonprofit young adult reading and leadership festival, dedicated to inspiring teens to “be the author of your own life.” The first annual conference will be held in Tampa, FL on October 13th and 14th in 2023.  You can learn more at www.yabythebay.org, and you can follow Sorboni on Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok.   In this episode Sorboni Banerjee, Dominique Richardson, and Lori discuss: The draw of fairy tales, even in contemporary times. How important it is to build community and support fellow writers. Diversifying traditional tales with contemporary values and angst.   Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/451

Today, Lori is interviewing Thien-Kim Lam. They’ll be talking about writing romance with depth and spice. Thien-Kim Lam writes stories about Vietnamese characters who smash stereotypes and find their happy endings. A recovering Type-Asian, she guzzles cà phê sữa đá, makes art, and bakes her feelings to stay sane. Her books Happy Endings and Full Exposure are steamy romances that will make you hungry.Thien-Kim is also the founder of Bawdy Bookworms, a subscription box that pairs sexy romances with erotic toys. She’s been featured on Jezebel, NPR, BBC America, and Glamour.  You can find her on her personal website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and here is the link to her book coaching site. She can also be found on Bawdy Bookworms’s Instagram.   In this episode Thien-Kim Lam and Lori discuss: Balancing a love story with conflict. Sex education and sexuality as empowerment. Creating banter that isn’t forced.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/450    

Today, Lori is interviewing Courtney Maum. They’ll be talking about honesty in memoir and her book The Year of the Horses. Author of five books, including the game changing publishing guide Before and After the Book Deal and the memoir, The Year of the Horses, (chosen by The Today Show as the best read for mental health awareness), Courtney is a writer and book coach hellbent on preserving the joy of art-making in a culture obsessed with turning artists into brands.  A nominee for the Joyce Carol Oates prize and the host of the monthly “Beyond Fiction” conversation series at Edith Wharton’s The Mount, Courtney’s essays and articles on creativity have been widely published in outlets like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Guardian, and her short story This is Not Your Fault was recently turned into an Audible Original.  A frequent interviewer of high-profile writers such as Anne Perry, Ottessa Moshfegh, and Edouard Louis, Courtney is also the founder of the learning collaborative, The Cabins. You can sign up for her publishing newsletter and enroll in her online writing classes at CourtneyMaum.com, or follow her on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Substack. She’s happy to be here.   In this episode Courtney Maum and Lori discuss: The challenges of getting to the absolute truth in nonfiction. How her copy editing career affects her creative endeavors. Using frustration as her muse.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/449

Today, Lori is interviewing Jenna Miller. They’ll be talking about her publishing experience as a debut writer with her book Out of Character. Jenna Miller writes Young Adult books about fat, queer, nerdy girls who deserve to be seen and have their voices heard. When she’s not obsessing over words, she can be found making charcuterie boards, befriending people online, cross stitching, or adventuring in the Minneapolis area.  You can find her on her website or follow her on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.   In this episode Jenna Miller and Lori discuss: The complexities of writing a parent / teen dynamic that resonates with today’s YA audience.  How NanoWriMo positively influenced her authorial career. Transcending the traditional love triangle trope with nuance.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/448

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Monte Schultz. We’ll be talking about his book Metropolis, and the intricacies of writing alternative history. Monte Schulz received his M.A. in American Studies from University of California, Santa Barbara. He published his first novel, Down by the River, in 1990, and spent the next twelve years writing a novel about the Jazz Age. Monte is also a composer, songwriter, and producer whose most recent album is titled “Seraphonium.” In 2010, he became the owner of the Santa Barbara Writers Conference. Monte is endlessly curious and well versed in world history and theology. He is fascinated by the style and use of innovative language, and can be caught engaging in provocative, philosophical conversations about big, far-reaching, imaginative ideas and worldly perspectives. His father is the late cartoonist Charles M. Schulz. He lives in Santa Barbara, CA. You can find him on his website or follow him on Facebook and Twitter.   In this episode Monte Schultz and I discuss: How real world events seeded his fictional world. The effects of history’s weight: heavy topics creating ennui in a society and applying that to backstory. That reading widely, from both commercial and literary works, are key, along with a list of suggested authors. Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/447

Today, Lori is interviewing Jumata Emill. They’ll be talking about exploring social justice through multi-cultural experiences and his book The Black Queen. Jumata is a journalist who has covered crime and local politics in Mississippi and parts of Louisiana. He earned his B.A. in mass communications from Southern University and A&M College. He’s a Pitch Wars alum and member of the Crime Writers of Color. When he’s not writing about murderous teens, he’s watching and obsessively tweeting about every franchise of the Real Housewives. Jumata lives in Baton Rouge, La. You can find him on his website or follow him on Twitter and Instagram.   In this episode Jumata Emill and Lori discuss: The importance and long-term effects of character representation in YA novels. Making social justice a relatable topic for young people through engaging and thought provoking prose. How the influence of real life experiences and conversations have woven together to create inclusivity in his work.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/446