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: literaryblendpodcast@gmail.com

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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: literaryblendpodcast@gmail.com

Website: http://demimschwartz.com

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Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter, happy reading and writing!

As authors, we find light and hope through writing, and Mickey Black joined me for chapter seventy-nine of Literary Blend to cover this relatable topic. From putting words on the page to process experiences and emotions to working on new stories to reignite our love for writing when publishing gets tough, Mickey and I had an open and honest conversation about the beauty of writing in all its forms, and specifically for us, fiction, poetry, and songs. I absolutely loved having Mickey on the show, so I hope you enjoy listening and feel inspired to search for the light in the darkness when life is hard and the publishing industry casts shadows over 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.com

Website: http://demimschwartz.com

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Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter, happy reading and writing!

On the heels of World Poetry Day and with National Poetry Month coming in April, there’s no better time to cover poetry on Literary Blend. Alana Avellino joined me for chapter seventy-eight to pull back the poetry curtain. From being concise and intentional with word choice to penning poems that resonate with readers, our conversation is a fabulous glimpse into the process of a poet. I hope you love listening and feel inspired to write honest poetry of your own.

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

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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!

You want readers to discover your books, right? Sure you do! In chapter seventy-seven of Literary Blend, Leah Paulos joined me to cover book publicity in today’s media landscape. No matter what path to publication you’re pursuing, promoting your books is key to reach your audience and get your stories in the hands of readers. Leah and I shared so much golden advice for PR in the publishing world, so I hope our conversation inspires you to put on your publicist hat and get the word out about your books.

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

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Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter, happy reading and writing!

Are you ready to go back in time and solve a mystery? Sure you are! I’m delighted to share chapter seventy-six of Literary Blend with Norman Woolworth all about writing historical mystery. During our fabulous chat, we talked about blending history and mystery, dual timeline narratives, writing a mystery or thriller as a plotter or pantser, choosing settings, and much more. Whether you write historical mysteries or not, this chapter of the show is full of gems for all authors. I loved having Norman on Literary Blend, so I hope you have a blast listening and learn more about historical mystery along the way.

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

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Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter, happy reading and writing!

Happy almost Valentine’s Day! There’s no better time to talk about romance, so I’m super excited to share chapter seventy-five of the show with Thea Landen all about romance reader expectations. From the craft to marketing, we explored key aspects of the romance genre and how to best meet reader expectations. Whether you write romance or not, I hope you’ll walk away from this chapter with more knowledge about the genre and how to keep these readers happy. Huge thank you to Thea for joining me on the show for such a fabulous conversation. Grab some candy hearts, hit play, and live happily ever after!

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

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Thank you so much for listening. Until we flip to the next chapter, happy reading and writing!

Do you like writing more than one genre? Are you interested in both traditional and self-publishing? Well, you’re in luck, because Rebecca Minelga sat down with me for chapter seventy-four to cover being a multi-genre and hybrid author. We chatted about the pros and cons of writing in more than one genre and pursuing a hybrid career, and Rebecca shared personal experiences from her own publishing journey. I really enjoyed having Rebecca on the show for this conversation, so I hope you love listening and gain insight into the life of a multi-genre and hybrid 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: literaryblendpodcast@gmail.com

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!