Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Carolyn Crimi and Corinna Luyken, the author and illustrator behind the buzz-worthy middle grade novel Weird Little Robots. Carolyn Crimi is the author of several books for children, including Where’s My Mummy?, Henry and the Buccaneer Bunnies, Henry and the Crazed Chicken Pirates, and There Might Be Lobsters. Weird Little Robots is her first novel and she lives in Illinois. Corinna Luyken is the author-illustrator of the NY Times Bestseller, My Heart; as well as The Book of Mistakes, which received four starred reviews and has been praised by Entertainment Weekly, the Wall Street Journal, NPR, and more.   She is the illustrator for Weird Little Robots, written by Carolyn Crimi and Adrian Simcox Does Not Have a Horse, written by Marcy Campbell. She lives in Olympia, WA with her husband, daughter, and two cats. In this episode Carolyn, Corinna and I discuss: The inspiration behind Weird Little Robots Shifting from writing picture books to full length novels How to maintain creative momentum Building characters that feel alive and real How throwing away eighty pages of work inspired a stronger story and characters Plus, their #1 tips for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/283

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Sam Hooker and Seven Jane.  Sam Hooker writes darkly humorous fantasy novels about things like tyrannical despots and the masked scoundrels who tickle them without mercy. He knows all the best swear words, though he refuses to repeat them because he doesn't want to attract goblins.  Seven Jane is an author of dark fantasy and speculative fiction. Seven is a member of The Author's Guild and Women's Fiction Writing Association. She also writes a column for The Women's Fiction Association and is a contributor to The Nerd Daily.​ They are both authors of stories included in the anthology A MIDNIGHT CLEAR, six stories of not-so-merry yuletide whimsy, from Blackspot Books. In this episode Sam, Seven and I discuss: Writing a short story when you usually write novels Adjusting your writing process to fit a new category Creating suspense in an insular, character-driven story Using winter as the inspiration for a short story Plus, their #1 tips for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/282

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Kristyn Merbeth. Kristyn is an author who’s obsessed with SFF, food, video games, and her dog. She lives in Tucson, Arizona, and her book Fortuna launches a new space opera trilogy that will hook you from the first crash landing. In this episode Kristyn and I discuss: How a NASA discovery and a TV show inspired the world and story of Fortuna Techniques for building multiple worlds Creating complex family and cultural dynamics Using dual perspectives to create balance and expand world-building How to grapple with real-world issues in a speculative story Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/281

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Amanda Noll and Howard McWilliam, author and illustrator of the I Need My Monster picture book series. Amanda Noll was born and raised in Canberra, Australia and immigrated to the United States as a teenager. After marrying her college sweetheart, she began working in the purchasing division of a private university (which is ironic, since she despises shopping). She left the business world to attend to the business of raising children and concentrate on her writing. As her kids grew up, she completed a Master’s degree in Education and became an Elementary School Librarian.  Amanda blames her fundamentally twisted sense of humor on either genetics or being raised on a steady stream of Australian humor and sci-fi. She currently lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and children. Howard McWilliam left his career as a U.K. financial magazine editor and journalist in 2005 to concentrate on illustrating. He is cover artist for The Week in the U.S. and U.K. and has illustrated dozens of children’s novels, puzzles, and picture books, including the bestselling I Need My Monster series. He lives in Cheltenham, England, with his wife Rebecca and three young sons. In this episode, Amanda, Howard and I discuss: The inspiration behind the My Monster series How one book turned into a series  How the author-illustrator relationship works Navigating the line between safe and scary for kids Making picture books accessible for boy and girl readers Plus, their #1 tips for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/280

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing my friend and fellow New Yorker, Amanda Slavin. Amanda is the founder and CEO of the award-winning brand consulting firm CatalystCreativ, the author of The Seventh Level book, and the creator of the Seventh Level Engagement Framework. She uses this framework to guide brands like Coca-Cola, Google, and HubSpot to connect more meaningfully with their customers and improve their bottom lines. So you may be wondering, “How does this apply to us writers?” Amanda and I were chatting over coffee some time ago, and as she described the 7th Level framework, I started to see connections between this marketing framework and how we as writers create books as an experience for our readers. Amanda has spoken at events like SXSW, TED, and INBOUND about the Seventh Level and her writing has been featured in places like Inc., Forbes, Fast Company, the Wall Street Journal, and Time. She lives in New York City with her husband and her cockapoo. In this episode Amanda and I discuss: How the “Seventh Level” framework applies to writers The origins of the Seventh Level How a Seventh Level statement applies to literary themes Using levels 1-3 keep your target readers engaged Using character change to inspire and connect with readers Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/279

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Megan McDonald, the author behind the popular Judy Moody series. Megan grew up the youngest of five sisters, so knows a thing or two about speaking up for herself. Before she became a writer, she worked in museums, libraries, and bookstores; she has also made a living as a storyteller and a park ranger. In addition to the best-selling Judy Moody and Stink series, she is the author of three Sisters Club stories, two books about Ant and Honey Bee, and many other books for children. Today we’ll be talking about the latest Judy Moody book, #15 Judy Moody, Book Quiz Whiz. In this episode Megan and I discuss: The personal origins of the Judy Moody books The question from kid readers that helped inspire the series Tailoring vocabulary for an early reader How to keep a story super focused Keeping a series fresh, new and exciting for readers Plus her #1 Tip for Writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/278

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Brenda Jackson. Brenda Jackson is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of over 100 novels and novellas, including two that have been turned into films—One Special Moment and Truly Everlasting. Brenda is a recipient of the Romance Writers of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award and an NAACP Image Award nominee for Outstanding Literary Fiction for her book, A Silken Thread. She is an advocate for diversity in romance and was the first African American author to make both the USA TODAY and New York Times bestseller lists in series/category romance genre. Today we’ll be talking about her Catalina Cove series, and its third book Finding Home Again is out now. In this episode Brenda and I discuss: Structuring a series around a setting Starting with plot instead of character Building a world that comes alive for readers Keeping track of an evolving fictional world How to make a tried and true romance plot feel fresh Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/277

Hey there word nerds!  Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Nicole Valentine. Nicole Valentine earned her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and teaches the Brain Trust Workshop at the Highlights Foundation in Honesdale, PA. Before shifting to writing, she used to work at CNN.com in NYC where she helped build the first web publishing tool for a newsroom, so science and innovation have been a huge prat of her career from the get-go. She is also the former chief technology officer at Figment.com (now called GetUnderlined.com) and Space.com. But her talents don’t stop there. A fellow crafter, when she was placed on bedrest pregnant with her daughter, she designed a line of literary needlework samplers that got picked up by a national distributor and became very popular for a number of years. Nicole loves science and as a writer enjoys pondering the times when science falls short of explanation and magic has room to sneak in. She’s the founder of steaMG.org, The Middle-Grade Sci-fi Authors Alliance. A Time Traveler’s Theory of Relativity is her debut novel. When not engaged in fictional world-building, Nicole can often be found with a hawk on her arm. She lives in Pennsylvania with her human family, two giant dogs named Merlin and Arthur, and two small cats named Tink and Pickwick. In this episode Nicole and I discuss: The origins of A Time Traveler’s Theory of Relativity  Using “real life anchors” to create a realistic magical worlds Using adults in middle grade fiction Time travel as a metaphor for grief Carving a place for upper middle grade Bringing real science to time travel Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/276

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Kristan Higgins. Kristan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nearly twenty novels, which have been translated into more than two dozen languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide. Her books have received many awards and accolades, and she is a six-time nominee for The Kirkus Prize for best work of fiction. Today we’ll be discussing her new novel Life and Other Inconveniences. In this episode Kristan and I discuss: Exploring forgiveness, loss and complicated families in writing Balancing dual protagonists Using a compressed timeline How to handle heavy topics in a lighter book The power of asking, “Why?” for character development Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: diymfa.com/275

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Rob Hart about his latest book The Warehouse. When I heard Rob’s editor talk about this book at the BookExpo Editors’ Buzz Panel, I knew I had to have Rob on the show. Now, if you guys don’t know about Book Expo, it’s a big literary trade show that happens every May in New York City. They have these panels where they feature a selection of books that are getting a ton of buzz. There’s a panel all about books for adults, and another featuring YA and Middle Grade. Now, when I used to go to Book Expo, I’d get very overwhelmed with all the books! But these days, after many Book Expos, I’m a little more measured, and it takes a bit more for a book to grab my attention. The Warehouse was one of the books that really made me sit up and take notice.  But first, a little bit about our guest. Rob Hart is the author of the Ash McKenna series, as well as the short story collection Take-Out, and the novella Scott Free, which he co-wrote with James Patterson. His latest book, The Warehouse, has sold in more than 20 countries and has been optioned for film by Ron Howard. A fellow New Yorker, Rob lives in Staten Island, NY, with his wife and daughter.   In this episode Rob and I discuss: The inspiration behind The Warehouse How adding a third point of view strengthened the story Crafting an immersive world without info-dumping Under-writing instead of over-writing a draft Using a map to plan a world Moving from outlining and research to writing Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: diymfa.com/274

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Aaron Becker. Born in Baltimore, Aaron moved to California to attend Pomona College where he scored his first illustration job designing t-shirts for his water polo team. Since then, he's traveled around the world, from Kenya to Japan, Sweden to Tahiti, looking for good things to eat and feeding his imagination. He now lives with his family in Amherst, MA where he's busy at work on his next book project. You can find out more about what he's been up to lately at storybreathing.com. Aaron and I will be talking about his wordless picture book trilogy, Journey, Quest, and Return, as well as his picture book A Stone for Sascha and his newest picture book, You Are Light. In this episode Aaron and I discuss: The story behind the Journey, Quest, Return trilogy Navigating second book syndrome How different age groups approach wordless picture books Changing tones for a second story arc Crafting a picture book inspired by stained glass Using different mediums to craft picture books Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: diymfa.com/273

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Archer Mayor. Archer is the author of the highly acclaimed Vermont-based series featuring detective Joe Gunther, which the Chicago Tribune describes as “the best police procedurals being written in America.” He has won the New England Independent Booksellers Association Award for Best Fiction — which is the first time a crime fiction author has received this honor — and in 2011, his 22nd Joe Gunther novel, Tag Man, earned a place on The New York Times bestseller list. Before trying his hand at fiction, Archer wrote history books. His most well-known is Southern Timberman: The Legacy of William Buchanan, which is all the lumber and oil business in Louisiana from the 1870s to the 1970s. When he’s not writing, Archer is a death investigator for Vermont’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Over the past thirty years, he has also been a detective for the Windham County Sheriff’s Office, a volunteer firefighter/EMT, the publisher of his own backlist, and a frequent contributor to magazines and newspapers. In this episode Archer and I discuss: Using practical experience for writing research Using curiosity and questions for story inspiration The historical origins of the title Bomber’s Moon Keeping a character and world fresh over thirty books The power of treating the reader as a co-storyteller Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: diymfa.com/272

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing RJ Barker. Now, according to the bio that either he or his publicist submitted when we set up this interview, RJ Barker is a softly-spoken Yorkshireman with flowing locks. He lives in the frozen north with his wife and son, and divides his time between writing and looking after his son. According to the about page on his blog, RJ Barker is (and I quote) “Probably more ridiculous than you already believe.” RJ is the author of The Wounded Kingdom series, which comprises Age of Assassins, Blood of Assassins, & King of Assassins and his newest book is The Bone Ships which is the first in The Tide Child series. In this episode RJ and I discuss: The story behind The Bone Ships Hearing and creating the voice of a fantasy world Working with a copyeditor while breaking the writing rules Deciding when and how to break writing rules Creating an awesome opening line Balancing immersing a reader and explaining a world Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: DIYMFA.com/271

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing NoNieqa Ramos. Now if you’re a die-hard word nerd and fan of the show, you probably remember NoNieqa from her previous interview with us (Episode 202). I had such a blast talking with her that when I heard she had a new book coming out, I knew I had to have her back on the show. I mean, how often do I get to geek out about the literary merits of the F-bomb with a fellow writer? NoNieqa and I are definitely birds of a feather. NoNieqa is an educator and literary activist. She’s the author of the YA novel The Disturbed Girl's Dictionary, which was named a 2018 New York Public Library Best Book for Teens, and a 2019 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection. She believes Halloween is a lifestyle, not a holiday (which I totally agree with by the way). Today, we’ll be discussing her latest book, The Truth Is…, as well as the important (but often difficult-to-talk-about themes) that come up in this story. In this episode NoNieqa and I discuss: The power of forgiveness and empathy Writing inclusive narratives The writer’s responsibility to write three-dimensional characters Writing invisible as well as visible marginalizations The power of a respectful question Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: diymfa.com/270

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Cadwell Turnbull. His novel, The Lesson is a work of speculative fiction is about what happens when a spaceship arrives at the US Virgin Islands with a race of super-advanced aliens on a research mission on board. This story grapples with the tensions between these newcomers and the local Virgin Islanders and explores various themes, including: the nature of belief, the impact of colonialism, and how far are we willing to go for progress? This book breaks new ground as one of the first science fiction novels to be set on Saint Thomas, in the Virgin Islands. It’s a combination of literary social fiction and speculative fiction, and it also paints a vivid picture of Charlotte Amalie, which is Cadwell’s hometown. Cadwell has an MFA in fiction from North Carolina State University, as well as Master’s degree in Linguistics. He was the winner of the 2014 NCSU Prize for Short Fiction and attended Clarion West 2016. His short fiction has appeared in The Verge, Lightspeed, Nightmare, and Asimov’s Science Fiction and several of his stories have received honors or been nominated for Best-Of lists. I have been reading his debut novel, The Lesson, and it is absolutely un-put-downable.  In this episode Cadwell and I discuss: How a dream inspired The Lesson Keeping a story character-driven while also adding speculative elements The power of using--and sometimes withholding--multiple points of view  Using speculative fiction to grapple with contemporary social issues Blending past, present and a speculative future Writing speculative fiction in an MFA program Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: diymfa.com/269

Hey there word nerds! Today, we’re doing another one of our live-from-a-conference interviews, this time from RWA annual conference, which is the big event that the Romance Writers of America put on each year. I had the pleasure of speaking at this event a few years ago in San Diego, and this year because it’s back in New York, I’m delighted to be attending it once again. For this episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing Nisha Sharma, whose YA novel, My So-Called Bollywood Life, has just won the RITA award, which is one of the top awards for romance writing, for best young adult r omance. Nisha is also the author of the adult contemporary romance The Takeover Effect. Now, because I can’t resist a good YA story, and because it’s been nominated for a RITA, our discussion focuses particularly on My So-Called Bollywood Life. But before we get to the interview, let me tell you a little more about our guest.  Nisha’s writing has been praised in NPR, Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue, Buzzfeed, Hypable and more. She credits her father for her multiple graduate degrees, and her mother for her love of Shah Rukh Khan and Jane Austen. She lives in New Jersey with her Alaskan husband, her cat Lizzie Bennett and her dog Nancey Drew. In this episode Nisha and I discuss: The inspiration behind My So-Called Bollywood Life How minor characters influence and develop the main character Building a real world as opposed to a fantasy world How Bollywood structure conventions influenced the book Using blog posts at the beginning of each chapter as an anchor for writing The similarities between Jane Austen and Bollywood Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: diymfa.com/268

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Todd Herman, who I am honored to count as one of my mentors. I first met Todd about five years ago, when he gave a talk at an entrepreneurship event, and right away I could tell that he was speaking my language. You see, Todd is a performance coach who specializes in the mental game. He works with ambitious entrepreneurs, athletes, and leaders who want to achieve wildly outrageous goals, like building a multimillion-dollar business, reaching an Olympic podium, or launching an international brand. He’s run his own sports science training company for over twenty years, and his signature performance system, 90 Day Year (which I use regularly in my work and my writing) has been named the world’s top leadership and skill development program—not once, but twice!  Todd is also the author of the Wall Street Journal bestselling book The Alter Ego Effect which we’ll be discussing today. In this episode Todd and I discuss: The great superpower that all humans have The thing all top performers do How seeing that you have many selves can lead to greater mental health and performance The trap of the “authentic self” How to choose and activate an alter ego Why this technique is so useful for writers Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: DIYMFA.com/267

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Natasha Scripture. Natasha is an author, poet, humanitarian, and former aid worker. As a spokesperson for the United Nations, she covered humanitarian crises around the world and before the UN she worked for a variety of organizations, including the BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera English, the World Bank, TED, National Geographic, and Condé Nast Publications.  She has been published in the New York Times, the Telegraph, Glamour UK, the Sydney Morning Herald, HuffPost, New York Post, and the Atlantic, among other publications. She has also been featured in Marie Claire, Women’s Health, and the Sunday Times Style magazine.  Natasha has lived in several different countries, travels frequently, and seeks to inspire and empower women everywhere with her writing and her storytelling. Her first book is Man Fast: A Memoir, which we’ll be discussing on the show today. In this episode Natasha and I discuss: The journey from writing a self-help book to writing a memoir. How to use writing to process grief.  The process of structuring a memoir’s outward and inward journey. Creating space for self-discovery. Saying, “No” to others to say, “Yes” to yourself. The power of being fully present. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/266

Hey there word nerds! You might be doing a double-take right now because this episode is airing on a Thursday and not on Wednesday like our usual schedule. In fact, this is a bonus episode to celebrate the 5-year anniversary of DIY MFA. That’s right… exactly five years ago today, we announced this podcast to the world. Since then, we have released a new episode every single Wednesday like clockwork. It’s been a wild and crazy ride and I am so happy and grateful that you’re celebrating this podcast-iversary with me! In the last five years, we’ve hit some major milestones. We are at 265 episodes (and counting!) and we hit the top of the iTunes New & Notable Arts section in our second week. I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing over 200 authors, editors, agents and industry professionals. These interviews have run the gamut: from debuts to bestsellers and award-winners representing pretty much every major genre award, as well as Pulitzer Prize winner. Last year I even conducted my first official celebrity interview. (Insert fangirl squeal here.) If you’re a DIY MFA super-fan you’ll probably notice something else if you look closely at our line-up. Very few of our interviews are repeats with the same guest. This is because we have such a long waiting list to get authors on the show that we had to start limiting the number of times an author could come back. In fact, this is one of the reasons I created the Writer Igniter Summit Series, as a way to feature some of my favorite authors multiple times. In this half-decade of podcasting, I’ve had a chance to interview some of my personal literary heroes, and it has truly been a rewarding experience. Which brings me to lessons learned. In this episode I discuss Why it’s so important to commit and be consistent How to lead with value to connect with listeners All about systems and why they are so vital for success Making podcasting easy--on your guests and yourself! For more info and shownotes: DIYMFA.com/265

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to our guest, the award-winning journalist, essayist, and poet Marybeth Niederkorn. Marybeth’s work has appeared in The Gasconade Review, Trailer Park Quarterly, Red Fez, and others. A Southeast Missouri native, her work is expressive of her background and roots while still managing to be kind of hilarious. Educated at Southeast Missouri State University, she holds degrees in philosophy and in professional writing, and makes her living as a copywriter for Recruiters Websites. She and her husband Dave live in rural Missouri. Her first full-length poetry collection, Times Knew Roamin’, which we’ll be discussing today. In this episode Marybeth and I discuss: How traveling can affect the writing process Using poetry to capture a mental space How poetry can reflect meaning in a way unique from prose The beauty of structure to push your creativity  Grammar--how important is it?  Using writing to build community Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: DIYMFA.com/264

  Hey there word nerds! Today is one of my absolute favorite episodes of the year because it’s our annual ThrillerFest Debut Authors panel and I am so delighted to have August Norman, D.A. Bartley, Paula Munier, and John McMahon on the show. Every year, I have the pleasure of attending ThrillerFest, which is a fabulous conference put on by the International Thriller Writers (ITW). I’ve attended every year since 2012 (except 2014 because Lady Bug had just been born) and this is one of my favorite conferences of the season. It’s a very collegial event, with seasoned writers and debuts supporting each other. This particular debut authors panel has been a tradition at DIY MFA Radio for a few years and I always have a blast chatting with the debut authors about the craft and business of writing. Each year, we choose a theme and this year it’s “when big suspense happens in small town settings.” As you’ll hear in this interview, each of these authors has a unique take on this topic. In this episode August, D.A., Paula, John and I discuss: Building a compelling setting for suspense. The fine art of choosing what to leave in and leave out. Pacing techniques to ratchet up suspense. Challenges of small town settings. The debut author experience. Plus, each of their #1 tips for writers. For more info and shownotes: DIYMFA.com/263

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Fonda Lee on the show. Fonda is a recovering corporate strategist, black belt martial artist, and an action movie aficionado as well as the author of several highly acclaimed books of fantasy and science fiction, such as the young adult sci-fi novels Zeroboxer, Exo, and Cross Fire.  Her work has been nominated for several awards, including the Nebula and Locus Awards, and been featured on Best of Year lists such as NPR and Syfy Wire. She also won the Aurora Award, Canada’s national science fiction and fantasy award, twice in the same year for Best Novel and Best Young Adult Novel.  Fonda’s latest writing project is the fantasy/crime drama series the Green Bone Saga. The first book in this series, Jade City (which I am loving!), won the 2018 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel, and the second book in the series, Jade War, has just been released. So listen in as Fonda and I chat about this amazing series, and the numerous strategies and decisions that go into crafting the world of your story.   In this episode Fonda and I discuss: How to choose the right way to build your world. The “iceberg effect” of worldbuilding. How to put your reader into the middle of your story from page one the right way. Using a fantasy element to make your story feel more real. How to manage the powerful tool of multiple point of view. Plus, Fonda’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/262

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Aileen Erin on the show. Aileen is half-Irish, half-Mexican, and 100% nerd. From Star Wars (prequels don’t count) to Star Trek, she has a severe fascination with the speculative and supernatural.  This fascination led her into writing, but after Twilight, Aileen was told that nobody wanted to read another vampire or werewolf story. She didn't agree and wrote one anyway. She proved her critics wrong as her independently published Alpha Girl series, has sold over 1.5 million copies. She earned a BS in Radio-TV-Film from the University of Texas at Austin, and went on to earn her MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. She has since founded an independent boutique publishing house Ink Monster. Aileen’s latest novel, Lunar Court, is the eighth installment of her USA Today bestselling series Alpha Girl, and is available now. So listen in as Aileen and I chat about this awesome fantasy series and how to successfully write and publish your books through indie publishing. In this episode Aileen and I discuss: Using reader input to help you decide what story to write next. How to change the point of view character throughout a series the right way. Planning your world organically. The series strategy in indie publishing, and why it works. Producing a book as an indie boutique publisher from beginning to end. Plus, Aileen’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/261

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Mark Mayer to the show. Mark is an author and has an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, where he was a Michener-Copernicus Fellow, and holds a PhD from the University of Denver. He was also the Robert P. Dana Emerging Writer-in-Residence at Cornell College’s Center for the Literary Arts from 2012-2014. His stories have appeared in American Short Fiction, Kenyon Review, Guernica, Colorado Review, and Mid-American Review. Mark’s debut is a short story collection titled Aerialists, in which classic circus figures become ordinary misfits seeking grandeur in a lonely world. In this collection, Mark examines familiar tropes—like the strongman, the elephant keeper, the clowns—and reinterprets these myths by placing them in everyday contemporary life. So listen in as Mark and I chat about this amazing book and how to gain a deeper understanding of a story by falling into its world over and over again.  In this episode Mark and I discuss: The intimacy of a short story. Creating a unique reading experience in your writing. How to use the theme of your book as a marketing tool the right way. Advice on how to approach short stories of literary fiction as a reader. How to use language and imagery to anchor readers in your story. Plus, Mark’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/260

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Dan Stout on the show. Dan is an author who writes about fever dreams and half-glimpsed shapes in the shadows. His prize-winning fiction draws on travels throughout Europe, Asia, and the Pacific Rim as well as an employment history spanning everything from subpoena server to assistant well driller.  Dan's stories have appeared in publications such as The Saturday Evening Post, Nature, and Intergalactic Medicine Show and his debut novel, Titanshade, a noir fantasy thriller, is available now. So listen in as Dan and I chat about this amazing book and how to combine the plot of a police procedural with the worldbuilding of fantasy.  In this episode Dan and I discuss: Character driven stories vs. issue driven stories. How to set a speculative fiction world in a “retro” time period. Following predictable story tropes in unpredictable ways. How to discover your author’s Achilles' heel. Presenting the world of your story to readers in an authentic way. Plus, Dan’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/259

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have  Dylan Meconis on the show. Dylan is a cartoonist, writer, and illustrator. While she has pursued visual art since she could hold a crayon steady, her formal education has been concentrated in the liberal arts. She studied Western history, literature, philosophy, and French in the College of Letters at Wesleyan University, where she soaked up in-demand, market-ready skills like reading Chaucer in the original Middle English. (She has no regrets.) Her comparatively practical career as a professional comics artist actually began in college with the online publication of her first book, Bite Me!. She also spent several years daylighting as a visual communications consultant and designer, before she transitioned to work as a full-time comic book creator and freelance designer. In 2012 her short story “Outfoxed” was nominated for an Eisner Award in the category of Best Digital Comic, and in 2014 Family Man was nominated for a Reuben Award in the category of Best Digital Comic–Longform. Her latest project is the middle-grade graphic novel Queen of the Sea, and is now available. So listen in as Dylan and I chat about this amazing book and how to craft a story in multiple art forms. In this episode Dylan and I discuss: How to bring the day to day life of a historical setting to the page. Comic scripts, what they are and how to use them the right way. Constructing a story both visually and textually without confusing your readers. How the layout of each page determines pacing in a graphic novel. Privileging the story’s tone over a single visual style. Plus, Dylan’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/258

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting Kelsey Ramsden on the show. I have long admired Kelsey’s work as she moves the earth, literally and figuratively. She has been named Canada’s top female entrepreneur by PROFIT, not once but twice. And Forbes calls her a “master builder of ideas, businesses and sky’s the limit futures.” She has received numerous awards for her businesses in civil construction and real estate where she builds highways, airports and communities. Her latest project is the internationally bestselling book Success Hangover: Ignite your next act. Screw your status quo. Feel alive again. and it is available now. So listen in as Kelsey and I chat about this amazing book and how to commit to your dreams even when the world pushes back. In this episode Kelsey and I discuss: The many ways a success hangover can manifest in your life. How to know when you’re stuck in the “mediocre zone”. The difference between love and lust for your career. Turning a sense of discomfort into a sense of discovery. Why so many people fail at their goals, and the steps to take so you succeed. Plus, Kelsey’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/257

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting Lenore Appelhans on the show! Lenore is the author of several books for children and teens. Her work has received honors such as appearing on the Bank Street Best Books list, winning a SCBWI Crystal Kite award, and getting featured on boxes of Cheerios. Her newest book the YA novel, The Manic Pixie Dream Boy Improvement Project, (which I devoured in practically one sitting!) simultaneously pokes fun at YA literature while also celebrating everything that is awesome about the category. So listen in as Lenore and I chat about this amazing book and how tropes are used in literature. In this episode Lenore and I discuss: The manic pixie dream girl trope. Metafiction, what it is and how to craft it right. Tropes vs. stereotypes, and how to recognize each in your own writing. The mechanics of writing a group scene without confusing your reader. How to get your mind and your writing to open up to diversity. Plus, Lenore’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/256

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting Lee Tobin McClain on the show! Lee is the Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author of eight contemporary romances for Harlequin Love Inspired as well as twenty independently-published novels and novellas. She also recently contracted with Harlequin HQN to write three mainstream romance novels, the Safe Haven series, of which the first and second of these books, Low Country Hero and Low Country Dreams, are out now.   When Lee is not writing, she’s probably cheering on her daughter at a gymnastics meet, teaching writers in Seton Hill University’s MFA program, and probably not cleaning her house. So listen in as Lee and I chat about her amazing Safe Haven romance series and how to use your creative writing side to make marketing fun and successful. In this episode Lee and I discuss: Balancing the predictability of romance with keeping your readers in suspense. Popular fiction vs. literary fiction in MFA programs. Brainstorming techniques to help keep your story moving forward. What types of marketing you’ll have to do in indie vs. traditional publishing. How to build up your writing community, even if you’re an introvert. Plus, Lee’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/255

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of having Rob Eagar on the show! Rob is a marketing consultant and author who has coached over 600 authors and helped both fiction and nonfiction books hit the New York Times bestseller lists. He is the author of The Author’s Guide book series which includes The Author’s Guide to Email Marketing, The Author’s Guide to Write Text that Sells Books and The Author’s Guide to Marketing Books on Amazon, which will be the focus of our discussion today. Aside from talking about marketing books on Amazon, Rob will share some juicy info for how you can get access to three free eBooks to help jumpstart your book sales. I don’t know about you, but when I hear the words “free books” I’m all “yes please!” And stay tuned because toward the end of this interview we’re going to share something extra-special that Rob has cooking just for DIY MFA word nerds. So listen in because this interview is going to be AWESOME! In this episode Rob and I discuss: How mastering Amazon can increase your book sales. Exclusive vs. wide, which is the best way to sell your books? An inside look at three highly valuable marketing tools Amazon has for writers. How to craft the most persuasive marketing copy for your book. Why you need to grow your own email list, and techniques to help you do it. Plus, Rob’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/254

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting Jodi Thomas on the show! Jodi is both a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 50 novels and countless short story collections. With five RITA’s to her credit, along with National Readers’ Choice Awards and Booksellers’ Best Awards, Jodi has proven her skill as a master storyteller, and in July 2006, was the 11th writer to be inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. Her latest novel The Little Tea Shop on Main, while still focusing on love, diverts slightly from the romance genre into women’s fiction. So listen in as Jodi and I chat about this amazing book and how to get so deep into your characters that both you and your readers feel that they are real people. In this episode Jodi and I discuss: Giving each viewpoint character a distinct voice. How to craft three equally weighted protagonists in one story. Creating characters that extend beyond the page for your readers. How to use supporting characters for more than just a plot twist. Painting a realistic picture on the page by “walking the land” of your story. Plus, Jodi’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/253

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting Sam Sykes on the show! Sam is the author of multiple books of fantasy, including the Bring Down Heaven trilogy, the Affinity for Steel trilogy and comics such as Brave Chef Brianna. He currently lives in the United States with his two hounds and, at any given time, is probably yelling at something inanimate. Sam looks forward to being one of the sole providers of fantasy entertainment. Assuming no other authors are actually discovered in the next forty years. His latest book, Seven Blades in Black, is the start of his new fantasy series The Grave of Empires and is now available. No one can verify where he was on the night of October 17th, 2003. So on that ominous note, listen in as Sam and I chat about his awesome new book and the secrets to getting your audience emotionally invested in your story. In this episode Sam and I discuss: How to build a world that fits and impacts your characters. Leaving certain things in your world unexplained, or “The Kessel Run Principle” by Sam Sykes. The importance of creating a diversity of attitudes among your characters. Why escalation in your story is more important than balance. Trusting your readers to draw their own conclusions from your writing. Plus, Sam’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/252

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Patrice Gopo on the show! The daughter of Jamaican immigrants who was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, Patrice is a personal essayist and often writes about topics of race, immigration, and belonging. Her essays have appeared in numerous publications including Catapult and The New York Times. She also has had radio commentaries appear on her local public radio station, and is the recipient of a North Carolina Arts Council Literature Fellowship. Her essay collection All the Colors We Will See was a Fall 2018 Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection and is available now. So listen in as Patrice and I chat about this amazing book, the personal essay form, and finding your own personal reason for why you write. In this episode Patrice and I discuss: What elevates a personal anecdote to a personal essay. Techniques to find your go-to essay form. How to overcome the fear of putting your personal stories out in the world. Balancing the responsibility you have to others and to yourself. The importance of knowing who you are as a writer. Plus, Patrice’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/251

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Patricia Davids on the show! Born and raised in Kansas, Pat was an NICU nurse for forty years, before switching careers to become an inspirational writer. She is now a USA Today best-selling author of Amish romance, enjoys playing with her dogs (who think fetch should be a twenty-four hour a day game) and happily dreaming up new stories. Her latest book, The Wish, is the first in her new romance series The Amish of Cedar Grove, and is now available. So listen in as Pat and I chat about this amazing book and how to craft a realistic and romantically charged Amish romance. In this episode Pat and I discuss: Crafting the feeling of anticipated grief within your characters. How to weave Amish culture into your romance naturally. Why you should drop your reader directly into the story and how to do it right. Adding romantic tension when your characters can’t be physical with each other. Tips and techniques to put emotion on the page internally instead of verbally. Plus, Pat’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/250

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the absolute pleasure of hosting Jon Land on the show! You may remember Jon from a previous episode where he took part in a round table interview  live from last year’s ThrillerFest along with two other bestselling thriller authors: Lisa Gardner and Karin Slaughter. Today though he’s here solo to let me pick his brain and give you his own nuggets of writing wisdom. Jon is the USA Today bestselling author of over 44 books, including the critically acclaimed and award-winning Caitlin Strong series, whose ninth installment, Strong to the Bone, won the 2017 American Book Fest Award for Mystery/Suspense. Also in the mystery genre, Jon took over writing the Murder She Wrote series in 2018 with A Date with Murder as his first entry. His latest novel, the most recent installment of his Caitlin Strong series, Strong as Steel, is available now, and his next entry in the beloved Murder She Wrote series, Murder in Red, will be released in May of 2019. So listen in as Jon and I chat about these two amazing books and the ways in which cozies and thrillers converge. In this episode Jon and I discuss: How to juggle writing two very different series at the same time. The structural elements of the thriller vs. the cozy mystery. How the scope of your world supports the character’s quest. The mechanisms used to craft a cozy thriller. Being genuine and honest with your readers. Plus, Jon’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/249

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have Tiffany Reisz on the show! Tiffany is the USA Today bestselling author of the Romance Writers of America’s RITA®-winning Original Sinners series from Harlequin's Mira Books. She has also received a Lambda Award in Gay Fiction for her novel The King and two Romantic Times Editor's Choice Awards for Best Erotic Romance and Best Series Romance. Her erotic fantasy The Red—self-published under the banner 8th Circle Press—was named an NPR Best Book of the Year, a Goodreads Best Romance of the Month, and received a coveted starred review from Library Journal. Her latest book, which is set in the world of The Red, is the erotic fantasy The Rose. Tiffany lives in Lexington, Kentucky with her husband, Andrew Shaffer (who I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with previously on the show), the New York Times Bestselling author of Hope Never Dies. She has two cats. The cats are not writers. So listen in as Tiffany and I chat about her amazing new novel, The Rose, and why embracing the delete key, no matter how many words you must trash, can be the thing that takes your book from good to great. In this episode Tiffany and I discuss: Using a framing device to craft an erotic romance. Elements to consider when writing a sex scene. How to discover your own erotic vocabulary. Finding the key that opens up your story and lets the words flow. How to know when you need to trash your existing draft and start over. Plus, Tiffany’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/248

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Janet Pocorobba on the show! Janet is a former features writer and editor at Metropolis magazine in Tokyo, whose memoirs, essays and reviews have appeared in many notable publications such as The Rumpus, The Writer, and Kyoto Journal. She is the author of the memoir, The Fourth String: A Memoir of Sensei and Me, which is now available. In the memoir Janet shows the relationship between her and her sensei in the initial years of her apprenticeship learning to play the shamisen, a three-stringed Japanese instrument. So listen in as Janet and I chat about this awesome book and how to defy writing structures both in the classroom and on the page.   In this episode Janet and I discuss: Presenting the self in relation to others in a memoir. How training in music gives you structure and form for your writing. The role absence plays in a narrative. Using the practice method to grow your craft. The relationship between the word mind and the content mind. Plus, Janet’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/247

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting Rowenna Miller on the show! Rowenna is a midwestern born and raised fantasy author and has a Master's in English Film and Literature because she can't shut up about stories. She is also a historical reenactor and seamstress, specializing in the late eighteenth century, and writes fantasy shamelessly inspired by her love of history, especially the history of ordinary people. Her debut novel, Torn, released in March 2018, is the first in her The Unraveled Kingdom series, and the second book, Fray, will be available in June 2019. So listen in as Rowenna and I chat about this amazing series and constructing an intricate history inspired fantasy world. In this episode Rowenna and I discuss: Character centric world building. Different ways to play with magic in fantasy. How to layer aspects of your world naturally into the story. Pitfalls to avoid when crafting your magical system. Intertwining politics, history, and magic when building your fantasy world. Plus, Rowenna’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/246

Hey there word nerds! Today’s episode is extra-awesome because I’m speaking with not one, not two, but three fabulous ladies, who have had hand in bringing a truly buzz-worthy novel to life, on the show! First we have author Samantha Downing, whose debut novel My Lovely Wife has been getting a lot of attention. When she was a kid, Samantha’s mom brought her to the library every two weeks, where she would check out a stack of new books that she couldn’t put it down. She walked around with a book in front of her face, often walking into walls and stubbing her toes because she never watched where she was going. In her adult life she decided she wanted to be the one telling stories that would make people walk into walls and My Lovely Wife, is one such book. Next we have Samantha’s agent Barbara Poelle who began her publishing career as a freelance copywriter and editor before joining the Irene Goodman Literary Agency in 2007. Barbara also did a brief stint as a standup comic in Los Angeles and if you’ve ever bumped into her at a conference or literary event, you know she is hilarious. Barbara has found success placing thrillers, suspense, young adult and upmarket fiction, She is actively seeking her next great client in those genres, but is passionate about anything with a unique voice. Jen Monroe is the editor behind this fabulous book. She joined Berkley in November 2016 and edits psychological suspense, upmarket fiction, speculative fiction, and narrative nonfiction. Previously, Jen spent two years at HarperAudio where she handled all editorial needs, and produced the in-house podcast HarperAudio Presents. Jen also pursued journalism interning for places including The New York Times and The San Francisco Examiner. So listen as Samantha, Barbara, Jen and I chat about the amazing novel MY LOVELY WIFE, and the teamwork involved between an author, agent, editor to bring a book into the world. In this episode Samantha, Barbara, Jen and I discuss: The matchmaking experience of publishing. Why communication is vital to a successful author-agent-editor relationship. Crafting an unreliable narrator while still maintaining your readers’ trust. Advice to help navigate disagreements in the editorial process. The most important thing querying writers need to know. Plus, each of these lovely ladies’ #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/245

Hey there word nerds! Today we have a little change of pace in store for you. As you may recall, when I’m at different conferences, I’ll sometimes record a live-from-the-conference interview, and this happens to be one of those episodes! This interview was recorded in front of a LIVE studio audience at INBOUND 2018. Now, if you’re not familiar with INBOUND, it’s a fantastic conference hosted by HubSpot and takes place in Boston every fall. INBOUND has featured some truly incredible keynote speakers during the years I’ve attended like Michelle Obama, Brene Brown, and Deepak Chopra. I know right! Now if you’re a marketing nerd like me, or your day job happens to be in marketing, social media, or design, this is the conference to attend. And the INBOUND team has graciously given us a discount code, which will give you $150 off a 4-Day, All-Access pass to this year’s event. Check out our show notes page for the info to take advantage of this amazing deal! So why do I love INBOUND so much? Well over the years I have been attending, I have had the awesome opportunity to speak at this event, and have been able to foster several friendships. And one of the people I’ve connected with happens to be today’s guest, Strother Gaines. Strother is a business and personal coach for creative entrepreneurs and those who want to become one. He is a multi-passionate entrepreneur, and his coaching business has just about the best name of all time: “But I'm a Unicorn, Dammit!” In his business, Strother works passionately to help as many people as possible own up to the fact that they're a unique f($!@& snowflake. He also served as the event director for the DC Chapter of Network Under 40 and he recently spoke at the TEDx MidAtlantic Festival on on the topic of storytelling. I have also had the opportunity to hear Strother speak at INBOUND on networking, and after hearing his talk I knew I had to have him on the show to discuss this very topic. If you’re anything like me, you might look forward to networking about as much as you look forward to a deadline. It’s both terrifying and invigorating at the same time. So listen in as Strother and I chat about why networking is so freaking hard, and how the best way to make it easy is to show up as authentically you. In this episode Strother and I discuss: Tools to access your authentic self. Clamping down on what you share vs. keeping your privacy boundaries up. The benefits of getting a “no”. Networking pitfalls to avoid. Ice breakers and best practices in networking environments. Plus, Strother’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/244

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the absolute pleasure of hosting New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Heather Graham on the show! A theater arts major at the University of South Florida, Heather began her career with several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals and bartending. After the birth of her third child, she decided to stay home and that’s when she began to write. Since then, she has written over two hundred novels and novellas including category, suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult, sci-fi, young adult, and Christmas family fare. She has been published in twenty-five languages with about 60 million books in print and has been honored with just about every major writing award under the sun, including the  prestigious Thriller Master Award, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award from Romance Writers of America. Heather has also been featured in several media outlets including People and USA Today, as well as on newscasts such as Today and Entertainment Tonight. Her newest book, A Lethal Legacy, is a chilling thriller which I read cover-to-cover because I could not put it down! So listen in as Heather and I chat about this amazing book, and how to craft a fictitious setting that feels real. In this episode Heather and I discuss: Building your world’s lore and mythology. How to use your setting to create impending peril and suspense in your plot. Why you need to make your readers care about the supporting cast. Crafting your villain’s motivations so they ring true for readers. Using alternating point of view characters to give a broader view of your story. Plus, Heather’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/243.

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the absolute pleasure of speaking with co-authors Anita Sarkeesian and Ebony Adams on the show! Anita is an award-winning media critic and the creator and executive director of Feminist Frequency, an educational nonprofit that explores the representations of women in pop culture narratives. She is best known as the creator and host of the highly influential video series Tropes vs. Women in Video Games, and she dreams of owning a life-size replica of Buffy’s scythe. Ebony Adams is an author, activist, and former college educator whose work foregrounds the lives and work of black women in the diaspora. She writes widely on film criticism, social justice, and pop culture, and lives with a steadily-increasing collection of Doctor Who memorabilia. On top of all this these ladies are now co-authors of the YA nonfiction book History vs. Women: The Defiant Lives that They Don’t Want You to Know, which is a fascinating (and aesthetically beautiful) book highlighting the lives of women who made an impact on the world. I couldn’t help but fall in love with this book! First off, with its gorgeous illustrations, my inner graphic design geek went off the charts. Then there is the subject matter, which is something I feel super-passionate about, and the fact that it’s YA makes this book even better. When we share the stories of strong, impactful women throughout history with the young women of today, we’re not just empowering the young generation. We’re empowering everybody to help make our culture and our society better. So listen in as Anita, Ebony, and I chat about this truly awesome book, and the importance of challenging our own perspectives through what we read and what we write. In this episode Anita, Ebony and I discuss: The research technique of “insistent archaeology”. How to translate scholarly texts into exciting stories. The dangers of passive reading. Advantages of the YA genre to get unknown stories out there. Why stories about women should be shared with young children of all genders. Plus, both of these lovely ladies’ #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/242

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the absolute pleasure of speaking with Glynn Stewart on the show! Glynn was liberated from a bleak future of being an accountant by his unstoppable writing habit which led him to write several science-fiction, space opera, and fantasy series. He is the author of the Starship’s Mage, a bestselling science fiction and fantasy series where faster-than-light travel is possible—but only because of magic. His other works include science fiction series Exile and Castle Federation, as well as the urban fantasy series ONSET and Changeling Blood. Glynn is also the author of the space opera trilogy Duchy of Terra as well as its sequel series Light of Terra, the first book of which (Darkness Beyond) was released in October of 2018. I am in the midst of reading the first book in the original Duchy of Terra series, and OMG it is so awesome! It combines my two favorite things, pirates and outer space, into one epic story. So listen in as Glynn and I talk about this amazing series, and turning the tropes of military science fiction upside down. In this episode Glynn and I discuss: Crafting a strong female protagonist in military science fiction the right way. The art of using a point of view that is both limited and omniscient. How to create alien species that don’t feel earthbound. Worldbuilding through phased info dumps. Using history to inform your science fiction. Plus, Glynn’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/241

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of speaking with New York Times and USA Today bestselling author B.J. Daniels! After a career as an award-winning newspaper journalist, B.J. wrote and sold over 37 short stories before she finally wrote her first book, Odd Man Out, which went on to be nominated for Best First Book and Best Intrigue for 1995 in the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Awards. Since then she has sold more than 40 short stories and over 100 books, and has won numerous awards including a Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award in 2002 with her novel Premeditated Marriage, and a Career Achievement Award for Series Romantic Suspense in 2002 from the Romantic Times. Her latest novel, Stroke of Luck, kicks off her newest romantic suspense series, Sterling’s Ranch.So listen in as B.J. and I chat about this awesome book and how to weave together the suspense of mystery with the tension of romance into one amazing story. In this episode B.J. and I discuss: Using a compressed space to amplify the tension between your characters. How to craft the “fool” supporting character archetype the right way. Happily ever after, making the inevitable romance ending surprising every time. Bringing a unique world to life through the eyes of your characters. How to write a series for new readers and loyal fans at the same time. Plus, B.J.’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/240

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have Dan Grant on the show! Dan is an author with a background in electrical engineering who has always loved the world of stories and intriguing tales, especially suspense and thrillers that weave science, medicine, or technology into the fabric of the drama. As a licensed professional engineer he’s had the unique opportunity to work with a variety of medical and technological projects and to get behind the scenes at military facilities. And as you read his debut thriller, The Singularity Witness, you can definitely see how his engineering background has filtered into the narrative to form a broader storytelling tapestry. Dan is currently hard work on his next thriller entitled Thirteen Across, as well as the next book in his Singularity series. Now listen in as Dan and I chat about his awesome debut The Singularity Witness, and how to balance hard science with the fast pace of thrillers. In this episode Dan and I discuss: How to use research for a science based thriller without info dumping. Showing your story’s world through the perspective of an outsider. How to add depth to your characters without slowing down the plot. Worldbuilding in a unique setting grounded in today’s reality. Choosing the path of self publishing. Plus, Dan’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/239

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to be hosting Brazilian author Tony Bellotto on the show! As some of you may know, my parents are from Brazil and my first language is actually Portuguese. Though I was raised in the U.S. I consider myself as much Brazilian as American so I am super thrilled to have a Brazilian author here today! Tony is the author of the best-selling Bellini mystery novels, which have been released as major feature films and translated widely, establishing him as the preeminent writer of Brazilian detective fiction. He is also a guitarist and songwriter for the famed Brazilian rock band Titãs (The Titans), which has released twenty albums and sold over six million copies. On top of all that, Tony is also the editor of Rio Noir and São Paulo Noir, both published by Akashic Books, who are also releasing the English translation of his Bellini mysteries starting with his debut novel, Bellini and the Sphinx, which is now available. Now listen in, and get ready to hear a little Portuguese, as Tony and I chat about the two awesome anthologies he edited and what it really means for a story to be noir. In this episode Tony and I discuss: The broad definition of “noir”. How to create a crime fiction anthology with non-crime fiction writers. Using humor to create the noir atmosphere. Why you should divide an anthology into sections, and how to do it right. International publishing and the translation process. Plus, Tony’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/238

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting Kevin Brooks on the show! Kevin is a critically acclaimed young adult novelist whose first book, Martyn Pig, was named a Publishers Weekly “Flying Start” selection. Kevin has written many books since then including Black Rabbit Summer, which was shortlisted for the 2009 Carnegie Medal, and The Bunker Diary, which won the Carnegie Medal in 2014. His most recent novel, Born Scared, is a terrifying thriller about a 13-year-old boy named Elliot confined to his home by incapacitating fear. But then on Christmas Eve, a mixup at the pharmacy leaves him with not enough pills. His mother must go out into the snowstorm to get more, and when she doesn’t come back Elliot has to venture out after her on his own. This book really resonated with me on so many levels and I’m sure it will resonate with many of you as well. So listen in as Kevin and I talk about this amazing book, and learning how to embrace the fear of writing not just on the page but as writers. In this episode Kevin and I discuss: Tackling the deeply, dark reality of mental illness on the page. How to deal with “analysis paralysis” and keep writing. Creating drama and suspense when your character is in a very confined space. The technique of shifting between 1st and 3rd person POV, and how to do it right. How to use the design aspects of writing to enhance your story. Plus, Kevin’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/237

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Jeff Somers on the show! I first met Jeff at BookExpo this past spring and had the opportunity to hear him speak at the Writer’s Digest Conference this past summer, and the moment we crossed paths I knew that we were going to be instant writing besties. First off, he’s hilarious. Second, he’s an iconoclast, so not really into following the rules, which is totally my jam. Plus, his wife is also super-awesome which means he has great taste. This is why I just knew I had to have him on the show so we could geek out about his book Writing Without Rules. But first, a little more about Jeff. Jeff began writing by court order as an attempt to steer his creative impulses away from engineering genetic grotesqueries. He has since published nine novels, including the noir-scifi novels in the Avery Cates Series, the darkly hilarious crime novel Chum, and most recently tales of blood magic and short cons in the Ustari Cycle, which includes the novel We Are Not Good People and four novellas. He has also published over thirty short stories, including “Ringing the Changes,” which was selected for inclusion in the Best American Mystery Stories 2006, writes about books for Barnes and Noble and about the craft of writing for Writer’s Digest, which also published his book on the craft of writing Writing Without Rules in 2018. He considers pants to always be optional. So listen in as Jeff and I geek out about this awesome book, debunk some of the greatest writing myths in history, and discover exactly why pants should always be optional. In this episode Jeff and I discuss: Why only writing what you know creates boring books. What “show don’t tell” really means. Write every day, the god-emperor of bad writing advice. Solving the mystery of “kill your darlings”. How to expand your vocabulary, without a thesaurus. Plus, Jeff’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/236