DIY MFA Radio

  Hey there word nerds! Today I’m speaking with Elisabeth Barrett, a romance author living in the San Francisco Bay Area. Elisabeth spends her days teaching, editing, writing sexy contemporary romance, and enjoying time with her sometimes-bearded husband and three spirited kids. She is constantly perfecting that juggling act between home/work/writing, but in her free time she loves to hike open space preserves, grow orchids, bake sweet things her husband won't eat, and sing in grand choruses. Her latest book Anywhere You Are is out now from Random House and she also has an indie published West Coast Holiday Series box set that is out just in time for the holidays.   In this episode we discuss: Crafting a series for the Romance genre and all the considerations that go with sustaining a story across multiple books. Different ways that series can play out. In Romance, one of the big trends is having series consist of “companion novels” focusing on a different romantic couple in each one. How characters can change over the course of a series, and how to adapt the story as your characters grow and evolve. Finding that work/life balance, especially when you have a family or a “day job” that compete with writing for your attention. Plus, Elisabeth Barrett’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/125

Hey there word nerds! If you subscribe to the DIY MFA newsletter, then you know I’ve had a lot to say lately. In this episode, I reflect on some of the recent themes I’ve been considering, themes like service, responsibility, gratitude and love. I also talk about some of the obstacles I’ve faced when building my author platform. These aren’t just external roadblocks that got in my way, but also internal factors and limiting mindsets that kept me from sharing my work. Listen in to the full episode below. In this episode, I talk about several things, including: Why it’s so important for you to share your stories, and how in doing so you not only empower yourself, but you also empower others to do the same. The “filter question” I use to assess all of my creative work, and how this one question helps me go from making a million tiny decisions every day to seeing  on the big picture. Bonus: This year, instead of doing New Year’s resolutions, challenge yourself to craft a filter question for your writing, your work, or even your life as a whole. In this episode, I also allude to several recent newsletters and articles from DIY MFA. In case you’ve missed them, I have linked to these articles below. Dream Big, Execute Small — how to reframe marketing from being all about you to being in service of your readers. Use Your Words — why now more than ever, writers have the responsibility to use their words with integrity and purpose. The Radicalism of Our TIme — in which I share a “big, scary thing” from my life, and talk about the tension between fear and love. Enjoyed this episode? Check out the webinar! I’m offering a FREE webinar next Monday, December 12th at 1pm ET designed to help you find and connect with your readers. This is all in preparation for the launch of my new course: Pixels to Platform, designed to help you build your platform and share your work in a way that is both authentic and effective. Connect with Readers, Build Your Platform Monday, December 12th at 1pm Eastern Time Register at: DIYMFA.com/PlatformWebinar For more info and show notes go to: DIYMFA.com/124

Hey there word nerds! Today I’m delighted to have Britt Alan on the show, talking about self-publishing his debut novel: Tiananmen Ascending. But before we dig into the nuts and bolts of writing and self-publishing, let me share a short anecdote that I think captures Britt’s longtime passion for that intersection between world politics and writing. When he was eight years old, he wrote the a letter to the Islamic Republic of Iran protesting the hostage crisis. Since that time, he’s had 23 years of experience in international relations, communications, and the federal government. This knowledge has very much informed his debut novel, as well as his decision to self-publish. In this episode Britt and I discuss: How he came up with the idea for the inciting incident of his book, and how he’s able to get inside the minds of his villains and truly understand their motivations. Why he proactively chose self-publishing and how he worked through the process of bringing his book to life. A few of the nuts and bolts decisions he had to make as part of the self-publishing process, and why he made those choices. Deciding which aspects of self-publishing (e.g. editing, cover design, interior design, etc.) to outsource and which ones to do yourself. How he juggles a day job, a family, and self-publishing his books. (Hint: It’s all about discipline.) Plus, Britt’s #1 tip for writers. About the Author Britt Alan’s interest in and concern about world politics started early when, as an eight-year-old child, he wrote the Islamic Republic of Iran to protest the Iran hostage crisis. The response sent to him by the Islamic Republic’s charge d’affaires, which he includes in the preface to his novel, introduced him to propaganda and years later inspired him to write Tiananmen Ascending.Alan has twenty-three years of experience in international relations, communications, the federal government and Department of Defense Science and Technology agencies and programs. He is active in the defense science and technology community and is a member of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, the Project Management Institute, the American Marketing Association, and the Association of Proposal Management Professionals.Alan lives in Washington, DC, with his wife of nineteen years and two children, and is currently at work on his next novel of Chinese aggression and deception. His debut novel Tiananmen Ascending is out now. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/123

Hey there word nerds! Domestic suspense has been getting a lot of buzz lately, but crafting a great book in this sub-genre is much more challenging than it seems. Today I have the pleasure of interviewing author Cate Holahan about her latest book The Widower’s Wife. In this episode, Cate gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into crafting a story of suspense and intrigue set in in everyday suburbia. In this episode Cate and I discuss: How she crafted the point of view for the story and why she chose to use certain characters’ point of view and not that of others. World-building in domestic suspense, and why a close setting (like a house) can be especially interesting for writers. The cultural details of the protagonist’s Brazilian heritage (like me!) and the research that went into making the details spot-on. How she wrote the investigator in this story, and why she gave this character’s role a particular twist. The artistry behind the supporting characters of the book, and why she wrote these characters in this way. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. About the Author Catherine "Cate" Holahan is an award-winning journalist, former television producer, and author. Her second novel, The Widower's Wife, was praised in a starred Kirkus review as "one of those rare thrillers that really will keep you reading all night." Her articles have appeared in BusinessWeek, The Boston Globe, The Record and on web sites for CBS, MSN Money, NorthJersey.com and CNBC. Her first novel, also published by Crooked Lane Books, is Dark Turns. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, two daughters, and dog.   The Widower’s Wife Ana Bacon, a young housewife, tumbles off a cruise ship into the dark and deadly waters, but did she take her secrets with her? Investigator Ryan Monahan is a numbers man. So when his company sends him the Bacon case, which could net a ten million dollar payout, Monahan doubts that her death is just a tragic accident. But the husband has a substantial alibi and a number of witnesses claim to have seen Ana fall. So the official ruling seems to be substantiated. Still, the more Monahan uncovers about Ana’s life, the more he realizes how many people would kill to keep her secrets hidden. And the closer he gets to the truth, the greater the odds grow that he, too, will take a fatal fall. Cate Holahan looks at the dark underbelly of a marriage from the perspectives of the detective and the victim in her tense and enthralling page-turner, The Widower's Wife.   For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/122

Hey there word nerds! Boy are you going to love this episode. It’s a bit of an adventure for me, because I have not one, not two, but three wonderful guests joining me on the show. Today, I’m speaking with Anne Trager, founder of Le French Book, and two members of her team: Amy Richards and Sally Pane. Together, these three ladies have adapted the Winemaker Detective Series, authored in France originally by Jean-Pierre Alaux and Noël Balen, and have brought these wonderful books to the United States. As we discuss the ins and outs of translating and adapting books to an American audience, you’ll get an inside look at all the nuances and details that go into bringing the Winemaker Detective Series to life for a new readership. In this episode Anne, Amy, Sally, and I discuss: What Le French Book is, and what inspired Anne to start this company. We also discuss the collaboration process of these three women. The Winemaker Series, and why it is such a perfect choice for Le French Book. How one small shift in the adaptation timeline has led to some interesting and fun changes in the series translation. The translation process and how this particular team translates and adapts this series to an American audience. How you can preserve the voice of the authors, even when translating a text from one language to another. Plus, their #1 tip for writers. About Le French Book When I read this manifesto of sorts on the Le French Book website, I knew Anne Trager and I were of the same mind. What we believe Entertainment is key. A book is a book is a book, whatever the format. It's the story that counts. Readers want to read, so they should have easy access to our books. Publishing is changing and all ways of getting books to readers are worth exploring. Reaching out and engaging with readers is where it’s at. Learn more at www.lefrenchbook.com, or follow Le French Book on Facebook and Twitter. You can also download a free copy of the first in the series Treachery in Bordeaux. Anne Trager loves France so much she has lived there since 1985 and just can’t seem to leave. What keeps her there is a uniquely French mix of pleasure seeking and creativity. Well, that and the wine. In 2011, she woke up one morning and said, “I just can’t stand it anymore. There are way too many good books being written in France not reaching a broader audience.” That’s when she founded Le French Book to translate some of those books into English. The company’s motto is “If we love it, we translate it,” and Anne loves crime fiction, mysteries and detective novels. WAmy Richards is the translation editor at Le French Book and she loves a good story, whether it’s reading it, telling it or helping someone else write it. She has spent the better part of her career as a writer and editor at both small-town and major metropolitan newspapers. Her award-winning work has ranged from capturing the economic decline of Rust-Belt communities on Lake Erie to distilling the essence of food stories in well-turned headlines. Her entrée to manuscript editing was a chance encounter in a thrift store. She overheard a first-time author talking about his novel. “Do you need an editor?” she asked. “Why yes, I do,” he answered. Since helping him polish his first two novels, she has edited more than two dozen English-first and translated works for independent authors and Le French Book. Sally Pane studied French at SUNY and the Sorbonne before receiving her Masters Degree in French Literature from the University of Colorado. Her career includes more than twenty years of translating and teaching French and Italian at  University of Colorado Boulder. She also served as the interpreter for the government cabinet of Rwanda and translated for Dian Fossey’s Digit Fund. Sally has translated a number of titles in the Winemaker Detective series. In addition to her passion for French, she studied Italian at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Rome and Siena. She lives in Boulder, Colorado with her husband. Winemaker Series An immersion in French countryside and gourmet attitude with two amateur sleuths gumshoeing around French wine country.  The Winemaker Detective series delves into the underworld of a global luxury industry, where there’s money, deceit, death, crime, inheritance, jealousy—all the ingredients needed to distill a fine detective series! That and a decent dose of Epicurean enjoyment of fine food and beverage. It follows master winemaker Benjamin Cooker and his sidekick Virgile Lanssien in their adventures solving mysteries in vineyards throughout France and beyond. Each book is a homage to wine and winemakers. This series—written by Jean-Pierre Alaux and Noël Balen—has been made into a television series in France, Blood of the Vine. The series is a huge success in France, Belgium and Switzerland, attracting an audience of over 4 million. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/121  

Hey there word nerds! I am so excited to share this new episode with you. Today I have the pleasure of speaking with author John Sandford. This, of course, is the pseudonym of the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist John Camp and he is the author of 45 books and counting! In case you’re curious, his writing credits include twenty-six Prey novels; four Kidd novels; nine Virgil Flowers novels; three YA novels co-authored with his wife, Michele Cook; and three standalone books, most recently Saturn Run. In this episode John and I discuss: Why he chose to base a series around a supporting character from his Prey novels, Virgil Flowers, and how humor plays into this spin-off series. How his three series tie together by existing in the same world, and the contrast between the protagonists in each. Why thrillers with a criminal as the protagonist tend to be less popular than those with sleuths or law enforcers as the focus, and where antiheroes fit into that picture. How to create antiheroes who are compelling (even if they’re unlikeable) by focusing on their motivations and using humor. Crafting a great heist story, and why it’s important for the target of the heist to be even more reprehensible than the thieves stealing the money. Where he gets inspiration for his characters’ names, and it’s not how you would expect. Plus, his #1 tip for writers. About the Author John Sandford is the pseudonym of the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist John Camp. He is the author to twenty-six Prey novels; four Kidd novels; nine Virgil Flowers novels; three YA novels co-authored with his wife, Michele Cook; and three standalone books, most recently Saturn Run. Nine years ago, he brought Virgil Flowers, a supporting character in his Prey series, to life launched a spin-off series around this character. The result was another riveting #1 bestselling series. Over the course of the Virgil Flowers series, Sandford’s novels have achieved enormous popularity, both among fans and reviewers, and the ninth installment in the series, ESCAPE CLAUSE, does not disappoint. For more info and complete show notes: DIYMFA.com/120

Hello hello word nerds! Welcome to another episode of DIY MFA Radio. Today I have the pleasure of speaking with author Diane Saxton. As a journalist, Diane has written for Vanity Fair, The Huffington Post, Holiday Magazine and Greenwich Review and she has covered everything from torture victims to physics, animal rights activists, exotic travel, and movie producers. She brings this same passion and gift for storytelling to her debut novel, PEREGRINE ISLAND, which we’ll be discussing today.   In this episode Diane and I discuss: Building a story from a theme and a few core characters. The contrast between the male and female characters in the story. How sometimes writers don’t realize they’re making artful choices until after they’ve made them. The long and winding path that brought her to finding the perfect home for her book with She Writes Press. How writers can use their craft to honor the lives of those no longer with us. Finding your writing rhythm, even if it’s totally different from what works for other writers. Plus, Diane’s #1 tip for writers. About the Author Diane Saxton was a journalist with Vanity Fair UK, Holiday Magazine, and Greenwich Review, and covered everything from torture victims to psychics, animal rights activists, exotic travel, and movie producers. A new chapter opened up for her after interviewing Amnesty International US founder Hannah Grunwald. Alarmed that the stories of incredible and influential lives such as Grunwald’s could be lost as the Greatest Generation passes, Saxton began capturing their histories and compiled them into a 1,000 page biographical collection, which became the inspiration for her next book. She brings the same gift for storytelling with illuminating subtext to her debut novel, Peregrine Island. Saxton divides her time between New York City and the Berkshires, where she lives with her husband, dogs and horses. Peregrine Island Have you ever wondered what the impetus was to start a certain painting? Why the artist chose to immortalize a particular subject? What if you suddenly discovered that the painting in question, your painting, was valuable? In Peregrine Island, the Peregrine family’s lives are turned upside-down one summer when so-called “art experts” appear on the doorstep of their Connecticut island home to appraise a favorite heirloom painting. When incriminating papers—and other paintings—are discovered behind the painting in question, the appraisal turns into a full-fledged investigation. Flattered at first by the art museum’s unanticipated interest, the family members quickly change their attitudes with the arrival of detectives on their terrace and the illusory but repeated appearance of a stranger reported to be concealed in a cove. The now-antagonistic family—grandmother, mother, and child—consequently begin to suspect one another, as well as the shady newcomers in their midst. As the summer progresses and the investigation reveals facts about the Peregrines’ past that even they didn’t know, they learn that people are not always who they appear to be—themselves not excluded—and art is often a reflection of their own lives. More important, in uncovering the secret of the painting they come to realize that the love each unconsciously sought has been right in front of them all along. Though Peregrine Island is driven by a mystery, it is as much characterized by its ever-present sense of spiritualism, accentuated by the symbolism of the Sound, the soul of relationships, and the wisdom of the very young and the very old. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/119

Hey there word nerds! Today I’m delighted to welcome Todd Harra to the show. It seemed fitting to have Todd as our guest for our Halloween episode, since he is the author of Mortuary Confidential: Undertakers Spill the Dirt and Over Our Dead Bodies: Undertakers Lift the Lid. As writers’ we’re often advised not to quit our “day jobs,” usually because people think having a sensible, reliable profession is safer than trying to have a creative career. In this episode, I speak with an author who not only hasn’t quit his “day job” but his profession is part of the inspiration behind his books, and helped get his start as a writer. And for the record, no, his “day job” is not in publishing or a field related to writing. This author happens to be an undertaker. In this interview we’re going to talk about drawing inspiration from our “day jobs,” using writing to process what we experience in our jobs, and--most important--how we as writers can use our words as a way to honor the lives of others. In this episode Todd and I discuss: How he got started in his “day job” and how he connected with his co-author. The collaborative process of writing not one, but two books together. Why persistence pays off, and why it’s so important for writers to be flexible and try different approaches. How the structure of his day job affected the structure of these particular books. How he uses writing to process his experiences in his “day job” and how his “day job” also fuels his writing. How he picked up and learned the business of writing, and how writers can educate themselves about the industry. Plus, Todd’s #1 tip for writers. About the Authors Todd Harra has working in the funeral profession since 2004. He is a fourth generation funeral director, working for his uncle at McCrery & Harra Funeral Homes and Crematory in Wilmington, DE. His great great great grandfather was a cabinet maker and tradesman undertaker in Milford, Delaware prior to the Civil War. Todd graduated from Elon University and the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service. He received certification in Advanced Post Mortem Reconstruction from the Fountain National Academy of Professional Embalming Skills, and is a Certified Crematory Operator. Todd appeared on the cover of the 2008 "Men of Mortuaries" calendar, a fundraiser for the KAMM Cares breast cancer foundation, where he met Ken and they decided to collaborate on a non-fiction mortuary series of books. Todd is currently working on several fiction based projects. To learn more about him and his writing, visit his website, www.toddharra.com. Kenneth McKenzie first became interested in the death care industry at the age of twelve, following his father's suicide. He has been a funeral director for over 22 years and a funeral home owner for 14. In 2007 Ken created and published the well-received Men of Mortuaries calendar, also the inspiration for this book, to benefit Breast Cancer Awareness, and he received California's Outstanding Funeral Director of the Year Award. He resides in Long Beach, CA. For more information please visit www.MenOfMortuaries.org. Links and Resources If you want to check out both of Todd’s books, visit the book websites below or purchase them via our Amazon affiliate links (where DIY MFA gets a small commission at no cost to you). As always thank you for supporting DIY MFA! Mortuary Confidential: Undertakers Spill the Dirt  |  Book Website: www.mortuaryconfidential.com Over Our Dead Bodies: Undertakers Lift the Lid  |  Book Website: www.overourdeadbodies.com For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/118

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so pleased to have Teddy Wayne on the show. Teddy  is the author of several books, most recently his novel Loner, which is out now. Teddy has won numerous writing awards, is regular contributor to several prestigious publications, and has taught at Columbia University in NYC and Washington University in St. Louis. In this interview, we talk about Teddy’s newest book and the craft behind bringing an anti-hero to life on the page. During the episode, we geek out about anti-heroes, Hitchcock movies, and how trying to understand reprehensible characters can help expand our humanity. Listen below.   In this episode we discuss: What writers can learn about crafting an anti-hero from the TV show All in the Family, and how to create a character who is deeply flawed but also relatable. How much of an anti-hero’s character is shaped by internal qualities versus environmental or situational factors. How to avoid making an anti-hero seem over-simplified and make readers feel connected to an evil character. The difference between an extraordinary character’s slow descent into darkness, and a regular character making a terrible choice and having to “fix” the situation. The two components that writers can infuse into literary fiction to make it come to life and hook readers. Plus, Teddy’s #1 tip for writers. About the Teddy Wayne Teddy Wayne is the author of the novels Loner, The Love Song of Jonny Valentine, and Kapitoil. He is the winner of a Whiting Writers’ Award and an NEA Creative Writing Fellowship as well as a finalist for the Young Lions Fiction Award, PEN/Bingham Prize, and Dayton Literary Peace Prize. A columnist for the New York Times, he is a regular contributor to The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and McSweeney’s and has taught at Columbia University and Washington University in St. Louis. He lives in New York. About the Book With the same knack for voice and piercing social commentary Wayne gave readers in The Love Song of Jonny Valentine and Kapitoil, LONER is a riveting, frighteningly believable portrait of obsession on a college campus. Much like Claire Messud’s The Woman Upstairs, Herman Koch’s The Dinner, and Charlotte Rogan’s The Lifeboat—and, further back, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Lolita, and Notes from Underground—it is one of those rare novels where, as the pages fly by, readers feel everything from fear to rage to empathy for characters they might not like, but nevertheless find completely mesmerizing. Wayne’s New York Times column the last couple of years, “Future Tense,” has demonstrated his critical talents for dissecting the alienating effects of contemporary culture, and LONER continues this with the misfit David Federman at the center of the novel. An academically gifted yet painfully forgettable member of his New Jersey high school class, the withdrawn, mild-mannered freshman arrives at Harvard fully expecting to be embraced by a new tribe of high-achieving peers. But, initially, his social prospects seem unlikely to change. Then Veronica Morgan Wells enters his life. Immediately struck by her beauty, wit, and sophisticated Manhattan upbringing, David falls feverishly in love with the woman he sees as an embodiment of what he’s always wanted to be: popular, attractive, powerful. Determined to stop at nothing to win her attention and an invitation into her glamorous world, he begins compromising his moral standards. But both Veronica and David, it turns out, are not exactly as they seem. Links & Resources Check out these previous podcast episodes talking about systematic and deliberate practice in writing. These interview share some great insights about how to practice as a writer. Episode 61: How to Write Spellbinding Sentences–Interview with Barbara Baig DIYMFA.com/061 Episode 89: The Power of Deliberate Practice – Interview with Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool DIYMFA.com/089 For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/117

  Hey there word nerds! Today I am thrilled and delighted to be speaking with author Amor Towles about his latest book A Gentleman in Moscow. If you’ve ever struggled with world-building, this book is a master class on how to navigate the multiple layers of setting and that’s what we talk about this interview today. As you’ll hear in this conversation, world-building is not just relevant for writers of historical fiction, science fiction, or fantasy. Setting and world-building is important for any type of story. As we discuss in this interview, world also exists on multiple levels. Like ripples in a pond, where the setting can influence your character, but your character can also affect your story’s world. In this episode Amor and I discuss: The premise latest book, and how world-building factored in from the very beginning of his writing process. How to avoid the biggest world-building mistake in writing, and how to work around these constraints wit your setting. Using supporting characters to add layers of interest to your setting, when your main character is confined in a limited space. Why it’s important to understand all aspects of a time period or culture, so you can convey multiple layers of complexity to your story. The ripple effect of world-building and how setting operates on both micro and macro levels. Why applied research and artificial details don’t capture the emotional truth of a scene or description, and how to use character to make setting come to life. Creating characters and stories that seem to extend beyond the pages of the book. How the world of your story impacts your character, and how your character can affect your story’s world. Plus, Amor’s #1 tip for writers. About the Author Amor Towles was born and raised just outside Boston, Massachusetts. He graduated from Yale University and received an MA in English from Stanford University. For many years a principal at an investment firm in Manhattan, he now devotes himself full time to writing. His first novel, Rules of Civility, published in 2011, was a New York Times bestseller in both hardcover and paperback. Towles lives in Manhattan with his wife and two children. To learn more about Amor and his writing, visit his website, AmorTowles.com , or follow him on Instagram or Facebook. A Gentleman in Moscow A big novel that embodies the grandiloquent style and spirit of Russia’s Golden Age of literature, A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW is a captivating story of personal and emotional discovery. This novel immerses us in another elegantly drawn era with the story of Count Alexander Rostov. When, in 1922, he is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, the count is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin. Rostov, an indomitable man of erudition and wit, has never worked a day in his life, and must now live in an attic room while some of the most tumultuous decades in Russian history are unfolding outside the hotel’s doors. Though stripped of most of his personal possessions and his dignity, the Count remains determined to preserve his passion for life, and finds his days propelled in profound and unanticipated directions through his encounters with the hotel’s staff and guests, which unlock the doors to larger worlds within the hotel and ultimately himself. Brimming with humor, a glittering cast of characters, and one beautifully rendered scene after another, this singular novel casts a spell as it relates the count’s endeavor to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a man of purpose. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/116