Literary Blend: A Publishing Podcast

Wow, you are in for a real treat with chapter thirty-eight. J.K. Raymond joined me on the show to talk about overcoming barriers as an author. This vulnerable and honest conversation speaks for itself, so I invite you to hit play and enjoy. No matter what you’re facing in your life, please remember you’re not alone.If you would like to connect with J.K. and check out her work, head over to her website: https://www.jkraymond.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: literaryblendpodcast@gmail.comWebsite: http://demimschwartz.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartzInstagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartzThank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!

Today, I’m delighted to bring you chapter thirty-seven of Literary Blend with Riley Kilmore all about maintaining authorial authenticity in a commercial market. During our chat, we covered writing authentic characters, achieving a deep point of view, writing genres and age categories that feel natural, keeping marketability in mind, working with editors, being receptive to feedback, and more. I can’t thank Riley enough for joining me for such a fabulous conversation, so I hope you love listening.If you would like to check out Riley’s work and stay up to date with her events and more, head over to her website: https://rileykilmore.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: literaryblendpodcast@gmail.comWebsite: http://demimschwartz.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartzInstagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartzThank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!

Happy Fall Equinox! Today is the perfect day to share chapter thirty-six of Literary Blend with Diane Billas on creating a writing ritual. From working on manuscripts during a certain time of day and changing up writing locations to creating a writing-work balance and beyond, Diane and I covered it all. I hope our conversation inspires you to create your own writing ritual as you make fabulous progress on your manuscripts.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: literaryblendpodcast@gmail.comWebsite: http://demimschwartz.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartzInstagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartzThank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!

Wow, I have a truly fantastic chapter for you today. Author and trauma therapist Danielle Render Turmaud joined me for chapter thirty-five to cover mental health and the querying process. We talked about querying through psychological and biological lenses, bringing a research-based flare to how querying affects mental health. I can’t thank Danielle enough for coming on the show and sharing her wisdom with the writing community. I learned so much during our fascinating chat, so I hope you do, too.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: literaryblendpodcast@gmail.comWebsite: http://demimschwartz.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartzInstagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartzThank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!

We have made it to chapter thirty-four of the show, and wow, it’s a fun one. Kate Pockett, who is one of the co-owners of PopUpPit, joined me to cover Twitter pitch events. From crafting pitches and following rules to having the right author mindset while participating in events, our conversation has it all. Pitch events occur frequently, so I hope my chat with Kate helps you prepare for the next one, whether you’re new to the writing community or have taken part in these events for a while.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: literaryblendpodcast@gmail.comWebsite: http://demimschwartz.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartzInstagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartzThank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!

Do you think research is fun? If not, I bet chapter thirty-three of Literary Blend will change your mind. I’m delighted to share my conversation with Ian Tan about research and realism. We talked about the importance of research, pulling real-world elements into fantastical stories, crafting immersive and realistic settings, and so much more. No matter what genre you write, research and realism are key, so I hope my chat with Ian gives you insight into how you can make your own stories believable and immersive for readers.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: literaryblendpodcast@gmail.comWebsite: http://demimschwartz.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartzInstagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartzThank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!

Okay, friends, it’s time for a mini business class, but don’t worry, it’s a fun one. I’m delighted to bring you chapter thirty-two of the show with Emily Rae on building an author platform. From talking about the benefits of having an author platform to advice for creating a website and social media presence, we covered it all. I hope our conversation gives you the tools you need to build your own author platform and show readers and publishing professionals who you are as you chase your dreams.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: literaryblendpodcast@gmail.comWebsite: http://demimschwartz.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartzInstagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartzThank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!

Talking about podcasts on a podcast is a real plot twist, if you ask me. I’m so excited to share my conversation with Michelle Glogovac for chapter thirty-one on landing podcast interviews as an author. During our chat, we discussed why podcast interviews are important for authors, tips for a recording setup, advice for pitching to podcasts, what to do after episodes are released, and more. If you have ever wondered how to be a guest on podcasts as an author, this conversation is for you.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: literaryblendpodcast@gmail.comWebsite: http://demimschwartz.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartzInstagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartzThank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!

Are you dreaming about writing your new book? If so, same here, but dreaming won’t make it a reality. You have to grab your pen and paper or put your fingers on the keyboard and write the story. I’m over the moon to share chapter thirty of the show with Mitra De Souza on tackling first drafts. Our conversation is packed with insights and advice, from going from a blank page to a finished draft. I absolutely loved having Mitra on the show, so I hope our chat gives you tips, tricks, and encouragement as you tackle your own first drafts. If you would like to stay connected with Mitra and check out her debut novel, The Fragile, head over to her website: https://mitradesouza.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: literaryblendpodcast@gmail.com Website: http://demimschwartz.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz Instagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartz Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!

Chapter twenty-nine of Literary Blend is a special and vulnerable one. I’m so glad Heather Kays joined me on the show to talk about healing through writing. We had a very open conversation about the healing power of writing, from fictionalizing past trauma to turning to our craft as a way to escape. I truly hope you love listening to our conversation and that it brings you comfort and reminds you you’re not alone. 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: literaryblendpodcast@gmail.com Website: http://demimschwartz.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz Instagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartz Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!

Thank you for flipping the page to chapter twenty-eight. This is an important one with Ciara Smith about diversity in publishing. From talking about the publishing business and querying to diverse representation in books, we covered it all. I can’t thank Ciara enough for joining me on the show to tackle this topic, and I hope our conversation gives you a glimpse into diversity in publishing. 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: literaryblendpodcast@gmail.com Website: http://demimschwartz.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz Instagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartz Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!

Okay, cover your eyes. Hey, don’t peek! Fine, you can peek. I’m beyond excited to share chapter twenty-seven of Literary Blend with Stephanie Henson on a peek into picture books. We talked about the picture book market, specific PB elements, working with an illustrator, and much more. It was a true delight having Stephanie on the show for such an insightful conversation, so I hope you learn lots about picture books. If you would like to check out Stephanie’s work, head over to her website: https://stephanie-henson.weebly.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: literaryblendpodcast@gmail.com Website: http://demimschwartz.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz Instagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartz Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!

Do you write short stories? If so, have you ever considered creating a collection? I’m delighted to share my insightful conversation with Michael Goodwin Hilton for chapter twenty-six of the show on crafting a short story collection. Michael’s debut short story collection, What the Statue Thinks, was published by Wild Ink Publishing, so he has first-hand experience with this topic. From discussing the process of choosing the stories for a collection to tips for ordering them to take readers on a journey, we covered it all. I learned so much during our chat, so I hope you do as well. 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: literaryblendpodcast@gmail.com Website: http://demimschwartz.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz Instagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartz Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!

Here we go, friends. We have reached chapter twenty-five of Literary Blend with Carey Blankenship-Kramer about writing for the middle grade audience. Whether you write for this age category or are simply interested in gaining industry knowledge, this conversation is for you. Carey and I covered tips for writing middle grade and things to avoid, the difference between lower MG and upper MG, word count expectations for this age category, writing a stand-alone vs a series, and so much more. Also, Carey unveiled the details about her upcoming middle grade horror debut, Ghost Scouts Honor. I loved having Carey on the show, so I hope our chat gives you a glimpse into writing for the middle grade audience. If you would like to stay up to date with all Carey is up to, head over to her website: https://www.careyblankenshipkramer.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: literaryblendpodcast@gmail.com Website: http://demimschwartz.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz Instagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartz Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!

Okay, friends, it’s time to get deep into craft, but don’t worry, this isn’t English class. Christine Goss and I sat down to cover line level writing in a super entertaining way for chapter twenty-four of the show. Whether you are drafting or revising, being aware of certain things on the line level can really elevate your writing and make it immersive for readers. I can’t thank Christine enough for joining me to tackle this topic. There are tons of gems in our conversation, so get ready to take mental notes or even grab a pen and paper to jot down the key points you learn. 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: literaryblendpodcast@gmail.com Website: http://demimschwartz.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz Instagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartz Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!

Is your story plot driven? Is it character driven? What if it’s a secret third thing and both plot and character driven? I’m delighted to share chapter twenty-three of Literary Blend with Bethany Hensel on braiding plot and character. From covering how plot and characterization work together to breaking down the ways a character’s beliefs, values, surface pain, and deep pain are woven with the plot, Bethany and I hope our conversation gives you the tools to strengthen your story through braiding plot and character. Whether you are a plotter, pantser, or something in between, this chapter shines a spotlight on insights and techniques that fit all writing styles. 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: literaryblendpodcast@gmail.com Website: http://demimschwartz.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz Instagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartz Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!

Hey, you. Yes, you. If you’re a plotter, put your hand up! If you’re not, that’s perfectly okay, because you’ll get a chance to learn about this writing style. I’m delighted Megan Davidhizar joined me for chapter twenty-two to cover the plotter approach to writing. We talked about techniques for plotting a novel, the pros and cons of this approach, asking ourselves why we made the choices we did while working on our stories, and much more. I hope our conversation gives you a glimpse into how plotters approach writing, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll give plotting a shot if you haven’t before. 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: literaryblendpodcast@gmail.com Website: http://demimschwartz.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz Instagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartz Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!

Here we go, friends, it’s time to talk about revising our stories. My best friend, Jessica Lee Minneci, and I sat down for chapter twenty-one to give you a glimpse into revision. We chatted about why revision is an essential part of the writing process, receiving and applying feedback, our revision tips and tricks, and much more. Oh, and we briefly touched on the mysterious power water has to help when we’re stuck. Whether you love revising or the thought of it makes you cringe, this conversation is for you, since every writer edits their work. I hope my chat with Jessica gives you insight into this stage of the writing process and ideas for how you can tackle revisions for your own stories. 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: literaryblendpodcast@gmail.com Website: http://demimschwartz.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz Instagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartz Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!

Woohoo, we have made it to chapter twenty of the show, and what a wonderful one it is! I’m beyond delighted Arianna Siddiqui joined me for a highly entertaining and insightful conversation about staying organized as an author. From deadlines and boundaries to writing schedules and more, Arianna and I cover it all. Also, prepare yourself for lots of laughs along the way. I hope our conversation provides you with the tips and tricks you need to become more organized as you chase your publishing dreams. 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: literaryblendpodcast@gmail.com Website: http://demimschwartz.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz Instagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartz Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!

Have you started to write a novel a few times but never finished one? Are you halfway through your manuscript and struggling to reach the end? If so, my conversation with Bruce Buchanan for chapter nineteen on committing to writing a novel is for you. From covering common barriers for writing a book to sharing advice for how to keep making forward progress, this chat is packed with tips, insights, and personal experiences. I hope my conversation with Bruce inspires you to pick up your pencil or put your fingers on your keyboard and complete the novel of your heart. 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: literaryblendpodcast@gmail.com Website: http://demimschwartz.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz Instagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartz Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter of Literary Blend, happy reading and writing!