DIY MFA Radio

Hey there word nerds!

Today I'm delighted to have Britt Alan on the show, talking about self-publishing his debut novel: Tiananmen Ascending.

But before we dig into the nuts and bolts of writing and self-publishing, let me share a short anecdote that I think captures Britt's longtime passion for that intersection between world politics and writing. When he was eight years old, he wrote the a letter to the Islamic Republic of Iran protesting the hostage crisis.

Since that time, he's had 23 years of experience in international relations, communications, and the federal government. This knowledge has very much informed his debut novel, as well as his decision to self-publish.

• How he came up with the idea for the inciting incident of his book, and how he's able to get inside the minds of his villains and truly understand their motivations.
• Why he proactively chose self-publishing and how he worked through the process of bringing his book to life.
• A few of the nuts and bolts decisions he had to make as part of the self-publishing process, and why he made those choices.
• Deciding which aspects of self-publishing (e.g. editing, cover design, interior design, etc.) to outsource and which ones to do yourself.
• How he juggles a day job, a family, and self-publishing his books. (Hint: It's all about discipline.)

Britt Alan's interest in and concern about world politics started early when, as an eight-year-old child, he wrote the Islamic Republic of Iran to protest the Iran hostage crisis. The response sent to him by the Islamic Republic's charge d'affaires, which he includes in the preface to his novel, introduced him to propaganda and years later inspired him to write Tiananmen Ascending.Alan has twenty-three years of experience in international relations, communications, the federal government and Department of Defense Science and Technology agencies and programs. He is active in the defense science and technology community and is a member of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, the Project Management Institute, the American Marketing Association, and the Association of Proposal Management Professionals.Alan lives in Washington, DC, with his wife of nineteen years and two children, and is currently at work on his next novel of Chinese aggression and deception. His debut novel Tiananmen Ascending is out now.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/123

Hey there word nerds!

Today I’m delighted to have Britt Alan on the show, talking about self-publishing his debut novel: Tiananmen Ascending.

But before we dig into the nuts and bolts of writing and self-publishing, let me share a short anecdote that I think captures Britt’s longtime passion for that intersection between world politics and writing. When he was eight years old, he wrote the a letter to the Islamic Republic of Iran protesting the hostage crisis.

Since that time, he’s had 23 years of experience in international relations, communications, and the federal government. This knowledge has very much informed his debut novel, as well as his decision to self-publish.

• How he came up with the idea for the inciting incident of his book, and how he’s able to get inside the minds of his villains and truly understand their motivations.
• Why he proactively chose self-publishing and how he worked through the process of bringing his book to life.
• A few of the nuts and bolts decisions he had to make as part of the self-publishing process, and why he made those choices.
• Deciding which aspects of self-publishing (e.g. editing, cover design, interior design, etc.) to outsource and which ones to do yourself.
• How he juggles a day job, a family, and self-publishing his books. (Hint: It’s all about discipline.)

Britt Alan’s interest in and concern about world politics started early when, as an eight-year-old child, he wrote the Islamic Republic of Iran to protest the Iran hostage crisis. The response sent to him by the Islamic Republic’s charge d’affaires, which he includes in the preface to his novel, introduced him to propaganda and years later inspired him to write Tiananmen Ascending.

Alan has twenty-three years of experience in international relations, communications, the federal government and Department of Defense Science and Technology agencies and programs. He is active in the defense science and technology community and is a member of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, the Project Management Institute, the American Marketing Association, and the Association of Proposal Management Professionals.

Alan lives in Washington, DC, with his wife of nineteen years and two children, and is currently at work on his next novel of Chinese aggression and deception. His debut novel Tiananmen Ascending is out now.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/123

Hey there word nerds!

Domestic suspense has been getting a lot of buzz lately, but crafting a great book in this sub-genre is much more challenging than it seems. Today I have the pleasure of interviewing author Cate Holahan about her latest book The Widower's Wife. In this episode, Cate gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into crafting a story of suspense and intrigue set in in everyday suburbia.

• How she crafted the point of view for the story and why she chose to use certain characters' point of view and not that of others.
• World-building in domestic suspense, and why a close setting (like a house) can be especially interesting for writers.
• The cultural details of the protagonist's Brazilian heritage (like me!) and the research that went into making the details spot-on.
• How she wrote the investigator in this story, and why she gave this character's role a particular twist.
• The artistry behind the supporting characters of the book, and why she wrote these characters in this way.

Catherine "Cate" Holahan is an award-winning journalist, former television producer, and author. Her second novel, The Widower's Wife, was praised in a starred Kirkus review as "one of those rare thrillers that really will keep you reading all night." Her articles have appeared in BusinessWeek, The Boston Globe, The Record and on web sites for CBS, MSN Money, NorthJersey.com and CNBC. Her first novel, also published by Crooked Lane Books, is Dark Turns. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, two daughters, and dog.

Ana Bacon, a young housewife, tumbles off a cruise ship into the dark and deadly waters, but did she take her secrets with her?

Investigator Ryan Monahan is a numbers man. So when his company sends him the Bacon case, which could net a ten million dollar payout, Monahan doubts that her death is just a tragic accident. But the husband has a substantial alibi and a number of witnesses claim to have seen Ana fall. So the official ruling seems to be substantiated.

Still, the more Monahan uncovers about Ana's life, the more he realizes how many people would kill to keep her secrets hidden. And the closer he gets to the truth, the greater the odds grow that he, too, will take a fatal fall.

Cate Holahan looks at the dark underbelly of a marriage from the perspectives of the detective and the victim in her tense and enthralling page-turner, The Widower's Wife.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/122

Hey there word nerds!

Domestic suspense has been getting a lot of buzz lately, but crafting a great book in this sub-genre is much more challenging than it seems. Today I have the pleasure of interviewing author Cate Holahan about her latest book The Widower’s Wife. In this episode, Cate gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into crafting a story of suspense and intrigue set in in everyday suburbia.

• How she crafted the point of view for the story and why she chose to use certain characters’ point of view and not that of others.
• World-building in domestic suspense, and why a close setting (like a house) can be especially interesting for writers.
• The cultural details of the protagonist’s Brazilian heritage (like me!) and the research that went into making the details spot-on.
• How she wrote the investigator in this story, and why she gave this character’s role a particular twist.
• The artistry behind the supporting characters of the book, and why she wrote these characters in this way.

Catherine "Cate" Holahan is an award-winning journalist, former television producer, and author. Her second novel, The Widower's Wife, was praised in a starred Kirkus review as "one of those rare thrillers that really will keep you reading all night."

Her articles have appeared in BusinessWeek, The Boston Globe, The Record and on web sites for CBS, MSN Money, NorthJersey.com and CNBC. Her first novel, also published by Crooked Lane Books, is Dark Turns. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, two daughters, and dog.

Ana Bacon, a young housewife, tumbles off a cruise ship into the dark and deadly waters, but did she take her secrets with her?

Investigator Ryan Monahan is a numbers man. So when his company sends him the Bacon case, which could net a ten million dollar payout, Monahan doubts that her death is just a tragic accident. But the husband has a substantial alibi and a number of witnesses claim to have seen Ana fall. So the official ruling seems to be substantiated.

Still, the more Monahan uncovers about Ana’s life, the more he realizes how many people would kill to keep her secrets hidden. And the closer he gets to the truth, the greater the odds grow that he, too, will take a fatal fall.

Cate Holahan looks at the dark underbelly of a marriage from the perspectives of the detective and the victim in her tense and enthralling page-turner, The Widower's Wife.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/122

Hey there word nerds!

Boy are you going to love this episode. It's a bit of an adventure for me, because I have not one, not two, but three wonderful guests joining me on the show.

Today, I'm speaking with Anne Trager, founder of Le French Book, and two members of her team: Amy Richards and Sally Pane. Together, these three ladies have adapted the Winemaker Detective Series, authored in France originally by Jean-Pierre Alaux and Noël Balen, and have brought these wonderful books to the United States.

As we discuss the ins and outs of translating and adapting books to an American audience, you'll get an inside look at all the nuances and details that go into bringing the Winemaker Detective Series to life for a new readership.

• 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.

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.

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!

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.

• 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.

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.

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.

• 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.

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

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.

• 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.

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.

• 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.

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.

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

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.

• 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.

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.

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