DIY MFA Radio

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

Hello hello, word nerds! Welcome to our latest episode of DIY MFA Radio. Today I'm speaking with Chad Dundas, the debut author of the historical sports novel: THE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD. When publishing their debuts, writers have to contend with many different hurdles. They need to grab the attention of agents and editors. They need to hook readers from the very first page. And they must do all of this at a time when they don't yet have a track record of success and a huge fanbase to rely on. Some authors might be tempted to play it safe, but not Chad Dundas. He chooses a topic--professional wrestling--that not many people are interested in. He sets his book in a world that most people don't know much about: the traveling carnivals of the 1920s. And he opens his book with a chapter where at the end it's unclear whether the point-of-view character is even still alive. As writers, I think it's so important for us to hear not just from major bestselling authors with dozens (if not hundreds) of books under their belts. I also want you to hear from authors who are just a few steps ahead of where you are. I want you to know that you can take risks in your debut novel, and I want to introduce you to writers who are doing just that. In this episode Chad and I discuss: Starting your novel when something happens Researching to get the historical elements just right The craft of writing on a chapter level Reality versus fiction in your writing and your life Plus, Chad's #1 tip for writers. More about Chad: Chad Dundas earned his MFA from the University of Montana, and his short fiction has appeared in the Beloit Fiction Journal, Sycamore Review, Sou'Wester, and Thuglit. Since 2001, he's worked as a sportswriter for national outlets including ESPN, NBC Sports, Sporting News, Bleacher Report, and the Associated Press, as well as local and regional newspapers. A fourth-generation Montanan, he lives with his wife and children in Missoula. To learn more about Chad check out his website, or follow him on Twitter. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/115

Hey there, Word Nerds. Welcome to this week's episode of DIY MFA Radio. Today I'm talking to Steven Rowley, the author of the novel LILY AND THE OCTOPUS about an important topic in writing: the author's voice. There are so many different voices that authors have to sift through when writing, from authorial voice to character voice to the critical voices that try to hold you back. Steven and I talk about how to differentiate between the voices, how to find what is useful for you, and how to shed what is weighing you down. In this episode Steven and I discuss: Working through hard emotions via writing. Articulating the distinct voices of different characters in a story. "Finding" your authorial voice. Protecting yourself from the voices in your own head. What to read when you need to replenish the well. Plus, Steven's #1 tip for writers. About the Author: Steven Rowley has worked as a freelance writer, alternative weekly newspaper columnist, and screenwriter. Originally from Portland, Maine, he is a graduate of Emerson College and currently lives in Los Angeles. For more information about Steven and his ongoing projects, check out his website, or follow him on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/114

Hey there Word Nerds! Thanks for joining me for this episode of DIY MFA Radio. You're gonna love today's guest. Today I'm speaking with one of the most prolific writers working in modern fiction: Dean Wesley Smith. A USA Today bestselling author, Dean has published far over a hundred novels in forty years, and hundreds upon hundreds of short stories across many genres. In total, he has over seventeen million copies of his books in print.His monthly magazine called Smith's Monthly, consisting of only his own fiction, premiered in October 2013 and has not missed an issue yet. With over 60,000 words per issue, including a new and original novel every month, this magazine goes to show that consistency is king when it comes to modern publishing, especially indie publishing. In this episode Dean and I discuss: How to get out of your own way and get writing. Killing the sacred cows of publishing Giving your creative voice permission to play and putting the critical voice away. Running a small publishing company. Training yourself to shift gears from creative work to business work. Plus, Dean's #1 tip for writers. More about Dean: Considered one of the most prolific writers working in modern fiction, USA Today bestselling writer, Dean Wesley Smith published far over a hundred novels in forty years, and hundreds and hundreds of short stories across many genres. He has over seventeen million of his books in print.At the moment he produces novels in four major series, including the time travel Thunder Mountain novels set in the old west, the galaxy-spanning Seeders Universe series, the urban fantasy Ghost of a Chance series, and the superhero series starring Poker Boy. His monthly magazine called Smith's Monthly, consisting of only his own fiction, premiered in October 2013 and has not missed an issue yet, with over 60,000 words per issue, including a new and original novel every month.During his career, Dean also wrote a couple dozen Star Trek novels, the only two original Men in Black novels, Spider-Man and X-Men novels, plus novels set in gaming and television worlds. Writing with his wife Kristine Kathryn Rusch under the name Kathryn Wesley, they wrote the novel for the NBC miniseries The Tenth Kingdom and other books for Hallmark Hall of Fame movies.He wrote novels under dozens of pen names in the worlds of comic books and movies, including novelizations of almost a dozen films, from The Final Fantasy to Steel to Rundown. Dean also worked as a fiction editor off and on, starting at Pulphouse Publishing, then at VB Tech Journal, then Pocket Books, and now at WMG Publishing where he and Kristine Kathryn Rusch serve as executive editors for the acclaimed Fiction River anthology series. To learn more about Dean's books and ongoing projects, check out his website. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/113

Hey there Word Nerds! Welcome back for another episode of DIY MFA Radio. Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Jerry Jenkins, author of 189 books with sales of more than 70 million copies. He's had 21 New York Times bestsellers, including the Left Behind series and he now shares his writing knowledge on his blog. Earlier this year, he launched his brand new Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, a writing program that helps serious writers finish their book and get traditionally published. The Guild is already over 1500 members strong, and it is opening its doors to new members on September 19 for the final time this year. In this episode Jerry and I discuss: What inspired him to start writing Learning the business of publishing before you dive in Myths that come up about the process of writing and publishing The importance of editing for good writing and learning from the critique that others receive Plus, Jerry's #1 tip for writers. About the Author Jerry Jenkins is the author of several novels, including both series and stand-alone. While most people know him as the author of the Left Behind series, Left Behind was actually his 125th book. His insatiable pursuit of great stories has also motivated him to write biographies of icons such as Hank Aaron, Orel Hershiser, Walter Payton, Meadowlark Lemon, Nolan Ryan, Mike Singletary, B.J. Thomas, and many other men and women. For the full list of his published books, click here. To learn more about Jerry or to check out some of his resources for writers, visit his website, or follow him on Twitter or Facebook. His writer's guild--which we discussed on the show--will be opening for registration soon. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/112