Have you signed up to be a DIY MFA Radio Insider yet? This is an exciting new monthly newsletter, especially for our podcast listeners. Every month, you’ll get an email from our podcast producer with recaps of the most recent episodes, a curated Listening List of episodes on a particular theme, and other fun goodies we only share via email. Best of all, it’s free to join! The theme for February is Romance, and you can become an insider by signing up with your email at diymfa.com/insiders.

In this episode JK Ellem and I discuss:

• How a wrong turn and a gated community inspired his Ravenwood series.
• Why he chose to break the rules of POV and how he pulled it off.
• Creating questions that get the reader involved in the mystery and control the pacing.

Plus, his #1 tip for writers.

About JK Ellem

JK Ellem is an Amazon Charts US and UK #1 Bestselling thriller author. 

In 2020, his independently published crime thriller, Mill Point Road, climbed to #1 globally in the Amazon Kindle Store in the categories of Crime Fiction, Thriller Fiction, Financial Thrillers, Heist Crime, Kidnapping Crime Fiction, and Noir. This was achieved with no agent, no publicist, and no publishing company behind him. Just him and his wife Jennifer, who looks after his marketing and social media.

Jack was born in London and sold his business in 2017 so he could concentrate on writing full-time. He has a dry sense of humor that tends to get him into trouble with his wife and their three adult children.  

Jack splits his time between the US, the UK, and Australia.

You can find them on his website or follow him on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or LinkedIn.

Mill Point Road

Five women. Five dark and sinister secrets. One killer who knows them all.

When Rebecca Cartwright, young and recently widowed, moves into the exclusive gated community of Mill Point Road, in the town of Ravenwood, she thought she had found her sanctuary. Leaving behind the bad memories of her past, she soon befriends the welcoming group of wives who are her neighbors.

But behind the backdrop of beautiful homes, manicured lawns, and high walls, Becca soon discovers that the women of Mill Point Road are hiding dark and sinister secrets. There is Zoe Collins, young and timid who tells everyone she’s so in love with her husband as she tries to cover up the bruises on her arms. Sabine Miller, the queen of information, together with her husband Mark, they are the living, breathing statement of wealth and success. Maggie Vickerman, the older patriarch of the group, keeps her numerous liaisons with younger men hidden from her husband, Hank. And then there is Paige Hamill, the only child of a US Senator who desperately wants a child and will do anything to fall pregnant.

But no one knows Becca has her own secret, and it’s the darkest and most sinister of them all…

Ravenwood (Book 2: Ravenwood Series)

In some small towns, you can get away with murder.

Catching the Eden Killer earned Haley Perez her detective’s badge—and plenty of angst from her fellow, more experienced, detectives. With her mentor, Marvin Richards, now retired, Perez must rely on her own instincts when the body of a woman is found frozen to death in the forest near Ravenwood, with her eyes gouged out.

But, that’s the least of Haley’s problems; she has a deadly, new admirer.  Someone claiming to be the Eden Killer’s mentor, is stalking her.

Then there are the women of Mill Point Road; Becca, Paige, Maggie and Sabine, as well as a new, mysterious neighbor who has recently moved in. Old secrets will be revealed, new secrets will emerge, and staying friends may prove to be lethal.

With the help of Annabel Chandler, a county forensic investigator, Haley Perez follows the trail of this new, cruel, and sadistic killer who is roaming the snow-covered streets in search of their next victim.

Winter isn’t the only brutally chilling thing to arrive in Ravenwood.

Ravenwood is the electrifying sequel to Mill Point Road, the Amazon US & UK #1 Bestselling Thriller, from JK Ellem.

If you decide to check out these books, we hope you’ll do so via these Amazon affiliate links for Mill Point Road and Ravenwood, 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 398

(Right-click to download.)

If you liked this episode…

Head over to iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Spotify, or Google and subscribe so you’ll be first to know when new episodes are available.

Also, remember that sharing is caring so if you know anyone who might enjoy this podcast, please tell them about it or leave us a review so other listeners will want to check it out.

Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!

The post Episode 398: Trust Your Reader and Trust Yourself: Writing a Multiple Point of View Thriller – Interview with JK Ellem appeared first on DIY MFA.

Rena hails from Miami Beach, Florida. She is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins University Writing Seminars Program and holds an MA in history from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Her debut novel, The Sisters of the Winter Wood was listed as “One of the 100 Best Books” of the year by Publisher’s Weekly.

She currently lives in Israel with her husband, five children, and a pug, where she works as a literary agent. Her grandparents and great grandparents are from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Hungary, and Romania. Their stories inspire her work.

Today we’ll be discussing her latest novel, The Light of the Midnight Stars.

In this episode Rena and I discuss:

• Why narration is the element that most directly connects the reader to the story.
• Her process for creating different voices and making them each distinct.
• How she juggles being a literary agent with her writing career (and personal life!).

Plus, her #1 tip for writers.

About Rena Rossner

Rena Rossner hails from Miami Beach, Florida. She is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins University Writing Seminars Program and holds an MA in history from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Her debut novel, The Sisters of the Winter Wood was listed as “One of the 100 Best Books” of the year by Publisher’s Weekly. She currently lives in Israel with her husband, five children, and a pug, where she works as a literary agent. Her grandparents and great grandparents are from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Hungary, and Romania. Their stories inspire her work.

You can find Rena on her website or follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

The Light of the Midnight Stars

An evocative combination of fantasy, history, and Jewish folklore, The Light of the Midnight Stars is a fairytale-inspired novel from the author of The Sisters of the Winter Wood.

Deep in the Hungarian woods, the sacred magic of King Solomon lives on in his descendants. Gathering under the midnight stars, they pray, sing and perform small miracles – and none are more gifted than the great Rabbi Isaac and his three daughters. Each one is blessed with a unique talent – whether it be coaxing plants to grow, or predicting the future by reading the path of the stars.

When a fateful decision to help an outsider ends in an accusation of witchcraft, fire blazes through their village. Rabbi Isaac and his family are forced to flee, to abandon their magic and settle into a new way of life. But a dark fog is making its way across Europe and will, in the end, reach even those who thought they could run from it. Each of the sisters will have to make a choice – and change the future of their family forever.

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 355

(Right-click to download.)

If you liked this episode…

Head over to iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Spotify, or Google and subscribe so you’ll be first to know when new episodes are available.

Also, remember that sharing is caring so if you know anyone who might enjoy this podcast, please tell them about it or leave us a review so other listeners will want to check it out.

Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!

The post Episode 355: Weaving Together History, Folklore, and Fairy Tale – Interview with Rena Rossner appeared first on DIY MFA.

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Laura Hankin.

Laura has written for McSweeney’s and HuffPost, among other publications. The viral videos that she creates and stars in with her comedy duo, Feminarchy, have been featured in Now This, The New York Times, and Funny or Die. She has performed off-Broadway, acted on screen, and has sung to far too many babies.

Today we’re talking about her new novel Happy and You Know It, which is all about the NYC fancy-moms playgroup scene. 

In this episode Laura and I discuss:

• How to keep readers guessing (in a good way!) throughout your book
• Her method for creating multiple points of view
• Why negative feedback can actually be a good thing

Plus, her #1 tip for writers.

About Laura Hankin

Laura Hankin has written for McSweeney’s and HuffPost, among other publications. The viral videos that she creates and stars in with her comedy duo, Feminarchy, have been featured in Now This, The New York Times, and Funny or Die. She grew up in Washington, D.C., attended Princeton University, and now lives in New York City, where she has performed off-Broadway, acted onscreen, and sung to far too many babies. You can visit Laura on her website, or reach her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Happy and You Know It 

A dark, witty page-turner about a struggling young musician who takes a job singing for a playgroup of overprivileged babies and their effortlessly cool moms, only to find herself pulled into their glamorous lives and dangerous secrets….

After her former band shot to superstardom without her, Claire reluctantly agrees to a gig as a playgroup musician for wealthy infants on New York’s Park Avenue. Claire is surprised to discover that she is smitten with her new employers, a welcoming clique of wellness addicts with impossibly shiny hair, who whirl from juice cleanse to overpriced miracle vitamins to spin class with limitless energy.

There is perfect hostess Whitney who is on the brink of social-media stardom and just needs to find a way to keep her flawless life from falling apart. Caustically funny, recent stay-at-home mom Amara who is struggling to embrace her new identity. And old money, veteran mom Gwen who never misses an opportunity to dole out parenting advice. But as Claire grows closer to the stylish women who pay her bills, she uncovers secrets and betrayals that no amount of activated charcoal can fix.

Filled with humor and shocking twists, Happy and You Know It is a brilliant take on motherhood – exposing it as yet another way for society to pass judgment on women – while also exploring the baffling magnetism of curated social-media lives that are designed to make us feel unworthy. But, ultimately, this dazzling novel celebrates the unlikely bonds that form, and the power that can be unlocked, when a group of very different women is thrown together when each is at her most vulnerable.

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 312

(Right-click to download.)

If you liked this episode…

Head over to iTunes, Stitcher Radio or Google Play and subscribe so you’ll be first to know when new episodes are available.

Also, remember that sharing is caring so if you know anyone who might enjoy this podcast, please tell them about it or leave us a review so other listeners will want to check it out.

Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!

The post Episode 312: Plot Twists, Surprises, and How to Keep Your Reader Guessing – Interview with Laura Hankin appeared first on DIY MFA.

Today I have the pleasure of chatting with author Danya Kukafka on the show!

Danya’s stunning debut novel, Girl in Snow, received rave reviews right out of the gate from masters of the thriller genre like Paula Hawkins and Lee Child. This achievement is made even more remarkable when you consider that Danya is only 25 years old!

After reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower and The Virgin Suicides, Danya became fascinated by unstable teens in voyeuristic communities. She set out to explore the idea of what would happen if you had a teenage boy who truly doesn’t know if he’s killed someone. How could the reader find empathy for him?

Listen in as we tackle this question and the even bigger question of deciding where the line between YA and adult lies as we discuss Girl in Snow.

 In this episode Danya and I discuss:

• Adult or YA? Deciding which way is right for your story.
• Writing teenage characters that feel real.
• Knowing when to choose a multiple point of view and how to do it right.
• Dealing with the publishing world as an editor and an author.
• How to win the comparison game by sticking to your own writing path.

Plus, Danya’s #1 tip for writers.

About Danya Kukafka

Danya Kukafka is a graduate of New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. She currently works as an assistant editor at Riverhead books. Girl in Snow is her first novel, and has received rave reviews from masters of the thriller genre like Paula Hawkins and Lee Child, as well as media outlines like Marie Claire, PureWow, Refinery 29 and Elle .com. Girl in Snow is available now.

To connect with Danya check out her website at www.danyakukafka.com.

Girl in Snow

When a beloved high schooler named Lucinda Hayes is found murdered, no one in her sleepy Colorado suburb is untouched—not the boy who loved her too much; not the girl who wanted her perfect life; not the officer assigned to investigate her murder. In the aftermath of the tragedy, these three indelible characters—Cameron, Jade, and Russ—must each confront their darkest secrets in an effort to find solace, the truth, or both. In crystalline prose, Danya Kukafka offers a brilliant exploration of identity and of the razor-sharp line between love and obsession, between watching and seeing, between truth and memory.

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 DIY MFA makes a small commission at no cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting DIY MFA!

Link to Episode 176

(Right-click to download.)

If you liked this episode…

Head over to iTunes, Stitcher Radio or Google Play and subscribe so you’ll be first to know when new episodes are available.

Also, remember that sharing is caring so if you know anyone who might enjoy this podcast, please tell them about it or leave us a review so other listeners will want to check it out.

Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!

The post Episode 176: YA or Adult, Choosing Your Audience — Interview with Danya Kukafka appeared first on DIY MFA.

Ultimately, the decision to open up beyond just the point of view of the main character is one only the author can make. Here’s a few tips if you’re considering writing from multiple points of view.

1) Map out Each Character’s Plot

Ideally, every major character in a story will have at least a small arc. We love to see characters change and grow, and that applies to the antagonist, the love interest and the supporting characters as well. This is doubly important when writing from multiple points of view. Even though one character will likely emerge as the protagonist, each point of view should have its own full story arc. Otherwise, why are we hearing from this character?

When mapping out the story, it can be helpful to do a full story outline for each POV character. While this takes a lot longer than just mapping out the scenes they narrate, it ultimately will save trouble down the road. If you have a clear sense of each character’s arc individually, it will be easier to weave them all together, and see the places where a scene may be missing or unnecessary.

There are many ways to do this—personally, I like to use notecards, one for each of the fifteen beats described in Save the Cat. However, there are several story structure guides out there. Find the one that works for you!

2) Map Out The Reader’s Experience

One fun aspect of reading multiple points of view is that, as the reader, you may know more than the character on the page at certain points in the story. For example, in Game of Thrones, a young boy, Bran, learns a terrible secret, but is injured and unable to remember it. His father spends most of the book figuring it out—and realizing the devastating consequences it will have for the entire kingdom.

Because reader is already aware of the secret, it’s not really a twist, or an ‘aha!’ moment when the father does realize the truth. However, while the reader already knows the secret, she doesn’t know what the father will do with the information, or what other characters will do to him if they find out he knows it. The reader isn’t in the dark, but she’s still on the edge of her seat.

The reader’s experience in a novel with multiple points of view is, in some senses, its own plot, and one the writer ought to keep track of. As you’re mapping out your scenes and  deciding who will narrate what, keep a timeline of what the reader knows as well. It will save you trouble down the road!

3) Differentiate Between Voices

One of the big risks in novels told from multiple points of view is that the voices of the characters sound too similar. This one may seem obvious, but each character ought to sound unique. After all–each character is unique!

Whether you’re writing in third person or first, a character’s personality and experiences will shape how he or she sees the world. For example, at a banquet, an artist is going to notice things that, say, an architect isn’t. A lady in waiting is going to have a very different experience of a knighting ceremony than a young boy who wants to be a knight. Dig deep into your characters and ask yourself what makes their own perspective unique, and what is the best way to communicate that?

A good rule of thumb: imagine that the chapter titles are not your characters’ names (as is often the case in multiple POV novels). Ask yourself: can the reader tell from the first paragraph, even the first line, who is narrating this chapter? If it’s not obvious quickly, try to dig a bit deeper!

4) Ask Yourself: Is this Point of View Necessary?

Truman Capote said: “I believe more in the scissors than I do in the pencil.” As writers, it is essential for us to be able to edit our own work, and this means cutting things out much more than adding them in. Multiple points of view make a story more complicated, and can distract from the main story. If one isn’t necessary, the best solution is probably to cut it out entirely.

Determining whether or not a point of view is essential can be tricky–especially for a writer that is super close to the work. One process that can help to determine if a point of view is necessary is to cut it out, and see if the story holds up. Or ask yourself if the events that happen in one characters’ point of view must come from his or her perspective. Not every character that has a major arc needs to tell the story himself. Ask yourself: why do we need to see this set of scenes from this point of view? If it’s not necessary, consider trimming, and giving those scenes to another character.

5) Use Multiple Points of View as a Writing Exercise

Whether or not you end up using every point of view your write in, jumping inside a character’s head and seeing how he or she views the scenes and characters in the book can be a valuable exercise. Every character is the hero of his or her own story–even if they aren’t the hero of the particular story you’re writing. Getting a deeper understanding of what makes them tick can be useful for fleshing out your story’s world.

One of the most valuable characters to understand is your story’s antagonist. Try writing from his or her perspective, seeing the hero through the lens of someone who may not particularly like said hero. It’s not only useful–it can be really fun! And lead to a much deeper and richer story overall.

What are some tricks you use to make your multiple point of view story work?

The post #5OnFri: Five Tips for Mastering Multiple Points of View appeared first on DIY MFA.