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 June is Young Adult, and you can become an insider by signing up with your email at diymfa.com/insiders. 

In this episode Taylor Hahn and Lori discuss:

• What makes a sex scene fun to read and her advice on how to write one.
• How to make a flawed, meddlesome character likable to your readers.
• The rise of emotional intelligence and communication in Millenial romance.

Plus, her #1 tip for writers.

About Taylor Hahn

Taylor is a second-grade teacher turned lawyer turned author. After graduating from Loyola Marymount University, she joined Teach for America and taught in Brooklyn for two years before attending Fordham University School of Law. She then worked as a litigation associate at a firm in Manhattan and then LA while working on her novel in her spare time and taking fiction writing classes. The Lifestyle is her first novel. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and THE best dog in the universe.

You can find her on her website or follow her on Twitter and Instagram. 

The Lifestyle

The best Emma retelling since Clueless! This sexy romantic comedy follows Georgina as she dives headfirst into the NYC swingers’ scene in an attempt to save her marriage … and meddle in everyone else’s.

Georgina Wagman has it all—a great marriage, a great job at a prestigious law firm, and great friends. She’s living the life she always wanted, and everything is perfect. Until, that is, she walks in on her husband Nathan in a compromising position with a junior associate. Georgina has a moment of crisis. But divorce is not a part of the five-year plan, so she comes up with an idea to save her marriage and recapture the spark. She and Nathan are going to become swingers.

Georgina isn’t going to embark on this adventure alone, though. Her friends Felix and Norah and their respective partners decide to tag along for the ride. They’ve got relationship woes of their own that swinging just might fix. Georgina, convinced Felix and Norah belong together, is thrilled. What better place to reignite romance between two people destined to be together than a swingers’ party? Her plan is foolproof, until she runs into a college ex at the first party. When they reconnect, Georgina will find herself torn between her head and her heart, with her very happiness hanging in the balance. Full of heart and humor, The Lifestyle is a bold, hilarious new addition to the rom-com canon.

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 413

(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 413: Self-Knowledge, Sex-Positivity, and Empowerment in Romance – Interview with Taylor Hahn appeared first on DIY MFA.

Growing up, Tammy had dual-career goals, she wanted to be a nurse and a writer. When she was three she played nurse to her dolls when they got sick, fell off her bed, or broke their bones. She also began writing poems and stories and never stopped.

In later years, when multiple sclerosis forced her to leave her career as an intensive care nurse-manager, she came back to her writing with the same passion and drive she brings to everything. This past year, Parallel Pathways published her first romantic comedy and debut novel, Lacey’s Deception.

Tammy is a mom of two sons and grandma to three adorable grandchildren. She writes a monthly column, “On the Back Page with Tammy,” for Saturday Writers, a Chapter of the Missouri Writers Guild, and is an active member of the Romance Writers of America and South West Writers. She is also the Romance Columnist for DIY MFA.

In this episode Tammy Lough and I discuss:

• How mistaken identities can be a vehicle for humor, especially in a rom-com.
• Why she thinks the middle can be the best part of the writing process. 
• What role the rule of three plays in building the tension and humor in her novel.

Plus, her #1 tip for writers.

About Tammy Lough

Growing up, Tammy Lough had dual-career loves. A nurse and a writer. When she was three years old, all of her dolls got sick so that she could play nurse. When she was older and played with Barbie dolls, they repeatedly fell off her bed, broke bones, and required her nursing skills. In second grade, she began writing poems and stories and never stopped.

In later years, when multiple sclerosis forced her to leave her career as an intensive care nurse-manager, she picked up a pen and wrote a medieval romance novel. Parallel Pathways recently published her first romantic comedy, Lacey’s Deception.

Tammy is the mom of two sons and grandma to three adorable grandchildren. She writes a monthly column, On the Back Page with Tammy, for Saturday Writers, a Chapter of the Missouri Writers Guild, and is an active member of the Romance Writers of America and South West Writers.

You can find Tammy on her website or follow her on Twitter.

Lacey’s Deception

When hellcat tomboy meets wickedly handsome rancher, sparks fly—in more ways than one.

Lacey Autumn Kendall doesn’t want no stinking man. Hell no. Maybe she shoulda stayed in jail till rot set in like Pa threatened. Sure beats getting dumped in Montana to suffer lady-lessons shoved down her throat by Pa’s teacher-sister, Aunt Molly.

When Lacey steps from the stagecoach she darn near feels bad when she hears her aunt done passed away and is taking a dirt nap outside the little white church with the red steeple. Oh, and Lacey inherits auntie’s homestead if she marries before turning 20 and she’s—gulp—19. Sheesh!

When Brandon Lee Chandler meets Lacey standing on the dusty street of Miles City, he desires three things: Shut her the hell up; buy her land with its rich promise of gold; and press her full, seductive lips to his flaming kiss of desire. This muscle-ripped cowboy will do anything to own her land. She’ll do anything to keep it. The two are oil and vinegar swirling in a dizzying sizzle of sexual tension. Despite himself, Brandon discovers he also wants this vixen for his own.

Mayhem ensues in this delightful romp through 1873 Montana as Lacey takes on a passel of jobs to earn money and lickety-split gets fired from every darned one. But Lacey’s deception could cost her not only her land and her life but also the man she didn’t think she wanted. Guess what? She wants him more than hot possum stew on a frigid winter night. You betcha.

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 386

(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 386: The Art and Craft of Writing a Romantic Comedy – Interview with Tammy Lough appeared first on DIY MFA.

Kris writes about relatable characters who rely on humor and tenderness to navigate complicated relationships. Set in middle America, her novels are laced with romance, heartbreak, and just enough snarky humor to rock the boat.

When not writing, Kris spends her time searching for an open karaoke mike and an understanding audience. Born and raised in the Texas Panhandle, Kris lives in Wichita, Kansas with her husband and two spoiled-rotten pups. She’s also the host of Kris Clink’s writing table, a podcast for writers and book lovers. Today we’ll be discussing her debut novel, Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy, which is out now.

In this episode Kris and I discuss:

• Why she writes the flap copy for her next book before she begins drafting it.
• How she wrote a not necessarily likeable character that readers can engage with.
• What makes a book one genre versus another and why that can be important.

Plus, her #1 tip for writers.

About Kris Clink

Kris writes about relatable characters who rely on humor and tenderness to navigate complicated relationships. Set in middle America, her novels are laced with romance, heartbreak, and just enough snarky humor to rock the boat.

When not writing, Kris spends her time searching for an open karaoke mike and an understanding audience. Born and raised in the Texas Panhandle, Kris lives in Wichita, Kansas with her husband and two spoiled-rotten pups. She’s also the host of Kris Clink’s writing table, a podcast for writers and book lovers. Today we’ll be discussing her debut novel, Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy, which is out now.

You can find Kris on her website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy

Lark’s lost her husband, and the expiration date has come and gone on her fake-it-till-you-make-it “Happy Mommy Show.” Healing her broken family requires drastic measures―like returning to her hometown in the Texas Hill Country. But she’s going to need more than clean air and a pastoral landscape to rebuild a life for her and her young sons.

After years of putting off her dream of becoming a winemaker, Lark puts every cent into a failing vineyard, determined to work through her grief and make a brighter future for her children. The last thing she expects is to fall in love again. Especially not with Wyatt Gifford, an injured Army vet with a past of his own to conquer.

Coming home may not be the reset Lark imagined, but it does take her on a journey filled with humor and reconciliation―one that prepares her for a courageous comeback.

Sissie Klein is Completely Normal

Sissie Klein can barely remember the night that tore her from life as she knew it. At the bedside of her premature daughter, she makes a deal with God to create a normal family out of her muddled life. With good intentions and a youthful optimism, Sissie moves heaven and earth so baby Meg will enjoy a better future than the one she sees stretching out before her . . . but some fates are unavoidable.

As Meg comes into her own, tragedy strikes, taking the girl’s father and leaving behind a web of secrets—and a toddler.

Forgiveness is hard to come by. Friends attempt to control Sissie’s life, and her family only demands more of her attention. Gradually, Sissie peels back the secrets to take a hard look at what she’s sacrificed for this life she created: her happiness. Suddenly no longer in the shadow of her husband, she steps outside her comfort zone, forging new friendships and tasting a love she’s never known. But will she sacrifice her daughter’s future for her own?

If you decide to check out these books, we hope you’ll do so via the Amazon affiliate links for Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy and Sissie Klein is Completely Normal. If you choose to purchase via these links, DIY MFA gets a referral fee at no cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting DIY MFA!

Link to Episode 371

(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 371: Women’s Fiction vs. Romance: What’s the Difference? – Interview with Kris Clink appeared first on DIY MFA.

Thien-Kim writes stories about Vietnamese characters who smash stereotypes and find their happy endings. She and I first connected at an entrepreneurship event and instantly bonded over our love of books and our penchant for challenging the status quo of our respective industries.

Thien-Kim is also the founder of Bawdy Bookworms, a subscription box that pairs sexy romances with erotic toys (featured on NPR, BBC America, and NBC). Plus, she also writes about multicultural parenting at I’m Not the Nanny and has been featured on NBC News Asian America, BBC World, and NPR’s All Things Considered. Plus, she has written for Momtastic, YourTango, Frolic, NBC News, and other outlets.

Happy Endings is her debut novel and we’ll be discussing it today. Quick heads up before we dive in: when friends like us get together and start chatting about a sexy rom-com featuring a protagonist who sells sex toys… things might go in a non-PG-rated direction. So if you’ve got kiddos hanging around, now might be a good time to put in some headphones. And if listening to two girlfriends talk about steamy romance and sex toys is not your jam… well, you have been warned.

Okay folks, without further ado, I am super-excited to introduce you to my friend Thien-Kim!

In this episode Thien-Kim and I discuss:

• Why she chose to begin her novel with tension between the main love interests.
• Giving her protagonist a unique career and how that strengthened the character.
• What she learned from having to relaunch her business after pivoting.

Plus, her #1 tip for writers.

About Thien-Kim Lam

Thien-Kim writes stories about Vietnamese characters who smash stereotypes and find their happy endings. A recovering Type-Asian, she guzzles cà phê sữa đá, makes art, and bakes her feelings to stay sane. Thien-Kim is also the founder of Bawdy Bookworms, a subscription box that pairs sexy romances with erotic toys. She’s been featured on NPR, BBC America, and NBC.

Thien-Kim also writes about multicultural parenting at I’m Not the Nanny and has been featured on NBC News Asian America, BBC World, and NPR’s All Things Considered.

She’s written for Momtastic, YourTango, Frolic, NBC News and other outlets.

You can find her on her website and at BawdyBookworms or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Happy Endings

With her debut novel, Thien-Kim Lam serves up a sexy second-chance romance about exes with unfinished business. When working together reignites their passion, will these former flames sizzle or get burned all over again?

Trixie NgUyen is determined to make her sex toy business a success, proving to her traditional Vietnamese parents that she can succeed in a nontraditional career—or any career. She’s trading a string of false starts for a clean slate, and her first pop-up event is going well—until she runs into the ex who dumped her. With a Post-it note.

The last person Andre Walker expected to see in his soul food restaurant was the woman he left behind in New Orleans. However, he has no time to focus on the past—or Trixie, even if their chemistry is still scorching. Two years after his mother’s death, Andre’s restaurant is struggling thanks to all the new hipster eateries in his gentrifying neighborhood. Desperate to save the family legacy, he’ll try anything to ward off developers—even if it means partnering with his ex to turn Mama Hazel’s into a vibrator pop-up shop for hungry and horny clients.

Thanks to their steamy truce, both businesses pick up. But when their feelings deepen and Trixie receives an incredible career opportunity, will Andre support her or will his pride make him walk out on her again?

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 358

(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 358: Find Your Community and Follow Your Passion – Interview with Thien-Kim Lam appeared first on DIY MFA.