Advertise on podcast: Literary Blend: A Publishing Podcast

Have you ever felt under pressure to write every day? Do you fear you’ll eventually run out of story ideas? Does building an online presence stress you out? If so, trust me, you’re not alone. For chapter ninety-four of Literary Blend, Dana Gricken sat down with me to chat about facing author pressures. We had such an honest conversation, sharing how we relieve some of the pressure on our own journeys. No matter what path to publication you’re pursuing, I hope this chapter of the show encourages you to discover what works best for you, and of course, reminds you that maintaining your love for writing is the most important part of being an author. Are you enjoying Literary Blend? Do you have a topic suggestion for a chapter? Would you like to be a guest on the show? I would love to hear from you. Show Email: [email protected] Website: http://demimschwartz.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz Instagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartz Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/demimschwartz.bsky.social  Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter, happy reading and writing!

Authors don’t wake up one morning, snap their fingers, and make a polished manuscript magically appear. For chapter ninety-three of Literary Blend, Kevin Anderson sat down with me to talk about a book’s journey from a first draft to an edited manuscript. This conversation is packed with information and advice for how you can turn an idea into a project that’s ready for publication or the query trenches. I absolutely loved having Kevin on the show, so I hope you feel inspired to work with others who will help make your manuscript sparkle. Are you enjoying Literary Blend? Do you have a topic suggestion for a chapter? Would you like to be a guest on the show? I would love to hear from you. Show Email: [email protected] Website: http://demimschwartz.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz Instagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartz Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/demimschwartz.bsky.social  Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter, happy reading and writing!

Hey, authors, let me introduce you to your new friends. Comp titles! Yes, that’s right. Madelyn Knecht joined me for chapter ninety-two of Literary Blend for a fantastic conversation about comp titles. During our chat, we broke down what comp titles are, why they’re important, best practices when choosing them, how to include them in your query letters, advice for shifting your perspective on searching for comps, and more. By the time you finish listening, I hope you have a greater understanding of comp titles and feel inspired to see these books as literary friends on your own traditional publishing journey. Are you enjoying Literary Blend? Do you have a topic suggestion for a chapter? Would you like to be a guest on the show? I would love to hear from you. Show Email: [email protected] Website: http://demimschwartz.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz Instagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartz Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/demimschwartz.bsky.social  Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter, happy reading and writing!

When does your book come out? What’s your book about? If answering both of these questions makes you feel all the emotions, chapter ninety-one of Literary Blend is for you. E. H. Perry joined me to chat about the struggles of calling yourself an author. This is such a relatable conversation that’s full of personal experiences, insights, and laughs. I hope you love listening and feel less alone as you face obstacles and awkward moments on your own journey of calling yourself an author. Are you enjoying Literary Blend? Do you have a topic suggestion for a chapter? Would you like to be a guest on the show? I would love to hear from you. Show Email: [email protected] Website: http://demimschwartz.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz Instagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartz Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/demimschwartz.bsky.social  Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter, happy reading and writing!

Are you ready to travel back in time through the painting? I hope so because C.J. Denton joined me for chapter ninety of Literary Blend to talk about the boundary between historical evidence and fictional invention. This is a fascinating conversation about history, storytelling, and art through the lens of C.J. Denton’s book, La Pittura, a historical thriller that reimagines the life of Artemisia Gentileschi. I had an incredible time chatting with C.J., so I hope our conversation gives you a glimpse into the world where history and fiction blend together like paint on a canvas. You can learn more about C.J. Denton on https://andrewsparke.com/our-authors/c-j-denton/, connect with him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/share/1HhUNc9APz/?mibextid=wwXIfr, and check out La Pittura on https://amzn.eu/d/0iYzGRsR. Are you enjoying Literary Blend? Do you have a topic suggestion for a chapter? Would you like to be a guest on the show? I would love to hear from you. Show Email: [email protected] Website: http://demimschwartz.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz Instagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartz Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/demimschwartz.bsky.social Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter, happy reading and writing!

Keep the lights on because it’s time for thriller and horror talk! I’m beyond excited to share my incredible conversation with J.D. Barker for chapter eighty-nine of Literary Blend. From bouncing between the thriller and horror genres to tips for the craft and making it in publishing, my chat with J.D. is one you don’t want to miss. Whether you write thriller and horror or not, you’re in for an inspiring and entertaining chapter of the show. I can’t thank J.D. enough for sitting down with me for this conversation. I learned so much from him, so I hope you will, too. If you would like to stay updated with all J.D. Barker is up to, head over to his website: https://jdbarker.com/ Are you enjoying Literary Blend? Do you have a topic suggestion for a chapter? Would you like to be a guest on the show? I would love to hear from you. Show Email: [email protected] Website: http://demimschwartz.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz Instagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartz Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/demimschwartz.bsky.social Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter, happy reading and writing!

I’m so honored to bring you chapter eighty-eight of Literary Blend with Chaylee McCleese about pursuing publishing as a chronically ill author. Chaylee really opened up during our conversation, sharing what writing means to her, how she continues to work on her stories when she’s not feeling well, the importance of representation in books, and more. I absolutely loved having Chaylee on the show, so I hope our chat gives you insight into what it’s like to be an author with a chronic illness. Are you enjoying Literary Blend? Do you have a topic suggestion for a chapter? Would you like to be a guest on the show? I would love to hear from you. Show Email: [email protected] Website: http://demimschwartz.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz Instagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartz Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/demimschwartz.bsky.social Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter, happy reading and writing!

Do you ever struggle to work writing into your schedule? If so, chapter eighty-seven of Literary Blend is for you. Jessica K. Foster joined me to chat all about writing on a time budget. Packed with advice and personal experiences, our conversation pulls back the curtain and reveals how we make time for our writing and maintain momentum, even when life gets busy. I absolutely loved having Jessica on the show, so I hope you discover ways to make the most of your own writing time. Are you enjoying Literary Blend? Do you have a topic suggestion for a chapter? Would you like to be a guest on the show? I would love to hear from you. Show Email: [email protected] Website: http://demimschwartz.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz Instagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartz Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/demimschwartz.bsky.social Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter, happy reading and writing!

Chapter eighty-six of Literary Blend is truly one for the books! Literary agent Matthew Valdez sat down with me to talk about the humanity of publishing, from the magic of falling in love with a story to the challenges that come along with subjectivity and rejection in the industry. Our conversation is honest, vulnerable, and transparent from both the author and agent perspectives, so I hope you enjoy listening and find yourself seeing publishing professionals in a fresh light. Are you enjoying Literary Blend? Do you have a topic suggestion for a chapter? Would you like to be a guest on the show? I would love to hear from you. Show Email: [email protected] Website: http://demimschwartz.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz Instagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartz Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/demimschwartz.bsky.social Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter, happy reading and writing!

Would you like to build up your publishing credits while querying? I hope so! Racquel Sims joined me for chapter eighty-five of Literary Blend to chat all about the personal and professional benefits of growing a publishing record while pursuing traditional publishing. We had such an incredible conversation, full of laughs and insights, so I hope you love listening and feel inspired to become more active on your own author journey. Are you enjoying Literary Blend? Do you have a topic suggestion for a chapter? Would you like to be a guest on the show? I would love to hear from you. Show Email: [email protected] Website: http://demimschwartz.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz Instagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartz Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/demimschwartz.bsky.social Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter, happy reading and writing!

Press play! Narrator Kathleen Li joined me for chapter eighty-four of Literary Blend to chat all about audiobooks. From the benefits of audiobooks to a narrator’s journey from audition to distribution, this chapter digs deep into all the details. I hope my conversation with Kathleen gives you a greater appreciation for audiobooks because yes, they absolutely count as reading! If you would like to check out Kathleen’s work, check out her website: http://www.kathyliaudio.com/ Are you enjoying Literary Blend? Do you have a topic suggestion for a chapter? Would you like to be a guest on the show? I would love to hear from you. Show Email: [email protected] Website: http://demimschwartz.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz Instagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartz Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/demimschwartz.bsky.social Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter, happy reading and writing!

Are you looking for ways to bring deeper authenticity to your young adult manuscripts? If so, chapter eighty-three of Literary Blend is for you. Avery Timmons joined me on the show to chat about writing personal teen experiences into young adult. From looking inward and drawing on heightened emotions to centering plots around specific activities and interests, Avery and I explored how we craft stories inspired by our own experiences from when we were teenagers. Whether you write young adult or not, I hope you find our conversation fascinating and gain a greater understanding of the YA age category. Are you enjoying Literary Blend? Do you have a topic suggestion for a chapter? Would you like to be a guest on the show? I would love to hear from you. Show Email: [email protected] Website: http://demimschwartz.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz Instagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartz Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/demimschwartz.bsky.social Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter, happy reading and writing!

Have you ever noticed how your writing can be affected by your emotions? If so, this is totally normal. For chapter eighty-two of Literary Blend, Lexi Heathermoor sat down with me to chat about emotional shifts and the creative process. Whether we’re feeling a certain way due to our publishing journeys or personal reasons, our emotions influence our inspiration and motivation because writing is a deeply human experience. I absolutely loved having Lexi on the show to cover such a vulnerable topic, so I hope you feel less alone as you chase your author dreams while riding your emotional roller coaster. Are you enjoying Literary Blend? Do you have a topic suggestion for a chapter? Would you like to be a guest on the show? I would love to hear from you. Show Email: [email protected] Website: http://demimschwartz.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz Instagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartz Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/demimschwartz.bsky.social Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter, happy reading and writing!

If you’re pursuing traditional publishing, waiting is an unavoidable part of every step in the process. For chapter eighty-one of Literary Blend, one of my author friends, Z. T. Fairfax, joined me to chat about surviving publishing’s long wait times. We talked about the reasons for these waiting periods, what we can do as authors to stay productive, and everything in between. Also, after our insightful conversation, Zack’s plot twist is one of the funniest yet. He actually googled the alphabet. I hope you enjoy listening and walk away from this chapter with refreshed knowledge for how you can make the most of the waiting periods on your own publishing journey. Are you enjoying Literary Blend? Do you have a topic suggestion for a chapter? Would you like to be a guest on the show? I would love to hear from you. Show Email: [email protected] Website: http://demimschwartz.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz Instagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartz Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/demimschwartz.bsky.social Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter, happy reading and writing!

For authors who write horror and other dark genres, it’s important to handle difficult topics, like death and grief, in an accurate and respectful way. I couldn’t be more excited to share chapter eighty of Literary Blend with Victoria L. Bilstein, who is both an author and mortician. During our conversation, we talked about the importance of research for realistic representation, avoiding desensitization, answering the question why, tips for strengthening the reader’s connection to the characters, and more. Whether you write horror or not, all of Victoria’s wisdom is incredibly fascinating and insightful, so I hope you’ll give this chapter a listen and learn something new about portraying death in fiction. Are you enjoying Literary Blend? Do you have a topic suggestion for a chapter? Would you like to be a guest on the show? I would love to hear from you. Show Email: [email protected] Website: http://demimschwartz.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz Instagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartz Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/demimschwartz.bsky.social Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter, happy reading and writing!