Hey there word nerds!
I’m sooooo excited for today’s interview because I have Andrew Shaffer on the show!
Andrew is the bestselling author of several humorous works of fiction and nonfiction including the parody Fifty Shames of Earl Grey.
He is also the owner and creative director of Order of St. Nick, the quirky greeting card company whose cards have been featured on The Colbert Report, and is the publisher of 8th Circle Press.
Andrew’s latest humourous yarn is Hope Never Dies: An Obama/Biden Mystery. Part noir mystery, part bromance, and part parody, this novel features Obama and Biden teaming up to solve a grisly murder.
Hooked yet?
Well then listen in as Andrew and I chat about this awesome book, and the art of combining the dark elements of noir with the comedy of bromance.
In this episode Andrew and I discuss:
- Why choosing the right point of view character is so important to your story.
- Crafting characters not caricatures.
- How to use public figures in your book without hindering your writing (or getting sued).
- Parody, what it is and how to do it right.
- Using comedy to your story’s best advantage.
Plus, Andrew’s #1 tip for writers.
About Andrew Shaffer
Andrew Shaffer is the New York Times bestselling author of Hope Never Dies: An Obama/Biden Mystery, the parody Fifty Shames of Earl Grey, and numerous other humorous works of fiction and nonfiction. He has been nominated by readers for a Goodreads Choice Award for Humor. (He didn’t win.)
He is the owner and creative director of Order of St. Nick, the quirky greeting card company whose cards have been featured on The Colbert Report. He also is the publisher of 8th Circle Press.
Shaffer attended the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and studied comedy writing at Chicago’s famed The Second City. An Iowa native, Shaffer lives in Lexington, Kentucky, with his wife, novelist Tiffany Reisz. He teaches and mentors writers at Lexington’s Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning.
To connect with Andrew check out his website at www.andrewshaffer.com.
Hope Never Dies: An Obama/Biden Mystery
Vice President Joe Biden is fresh out of the Obama White House and feeling adrift when his favorite railroad conductor dies in a suspicious accident, leaving behind an ailing wife and a trail of clues. To unravel the mystery, “Amtrak Joe” re-teams with the only man he’s ever fully trusted—the 44th president of the United States.
Together they’ll plumb the darkest corners of Delaware, traveling from cheap motels to biker bars and beyond, as they uncover the sinister forces advancing America’s opioid epidemic. Part noir thriller and part bromance novel, Hope Never Dies: An Obama/Biden Mystery is essentially the first published work of Obama/Biden fanfiction—and a cathartic read for anyone distressed by the current state of affairs.
If you decide to check out the book, we hope you’ll do so via this Amazon affiliate link, where if you choose to purchase via the link DIY MFA gets a referral fee at no cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting DIY MFA!
Link to Episode 225
(Right-click to download.)
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Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!
