Literary Blend: A Publishing Podcast

Surprise! It’s time for the second Literary Blend interlude. Returning guests, Bruce Buchanan and Jessica Lee Minneci, joined me to chat all about playing in the story sandbox. We had such an uplifting conversation focused on having fun while chasing our publishing dreams. I loved having Bruce and Jess back on the show for this chat, so I hope you enjoy listening and feel inspired to hold on to the joy of writing.

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Are you feeling artsy? I hope so, because chapter fifty-four is all about mood boards, agent guides, and editor guides with Aaliyah Paolucci. Aaliyah and I talked about what mood boards, agent guides, and editor guides are, how to choose images, deciding what colors to use, crafting visually appealing designs, recommended dimensions for posting on social media, and more. Our conversation is full of tips, tricks, and advice, so I ho...

Have you ever wondered how books find homes on library shelves? If so, chapter fifty-three of the show with Karen McCoy is for you. Karen shared so much golden information, from how librarians select titles and tips for getting your books on shelves to the differences between academic and public libraries and much more. I learned a ton from Karen, so I hope you love listening to our conversation.

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Welcome to the historical fiction corner. I’m so glad you stopped by. Cidney Mayes joined me for chapter fifty-two to cover historical fiction. From choosing a time period and researching to blending historical fiction and fantasy, our chat is full of insights and advice. Whether you write historical fiction or not, I hope you enjoy listening and learn something you can apply to your own work.

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Are you currently on submission? Have you ever wondered what the acquisitions process is really like? If so, chapter fifty-one of Literary Blend is for you. Jamie Ryu, a former editorial assistant at Macmillan and HarperCollins, joined me on the show to chat all about this mysterious stage in the publishing process. From editors evaluating submissions to offers of publication, we covered each step of a book’s acquisitions journey. ...

Wow, we have reached chapter fifty of Literary Blend. Can you believe it? Time flies when we’re having fun, right? Well, the fun continues because Alexandria Faulkenbury joined me to chat about blurring the line between reality and fiction. We had such a fascinating conversation, from talking about exploring what it means to be human and crafting realistic characters and settings to discussing the advice to write what you know and ...

Okay, friends, it’s time to venture down the rocky rejection road for chapter forty-nine. Vicky Weber joined me on the show for such an important and insightful chat on this unavoidable aspect of the publishing industry. From talking about the reality of rejection to why agents and editors pass on manuscripts, we covered it all. I hope my conversation with Vicky helps shift your perspective on dealing with passes on your own work. ...

It’s time for a trip down library lane! I’m beyond honored to bring you a truly fantastic chat for chapter forty-eight with Sam Helmick, the president-elect of the American Library Association. During our conversation, we covered key details about the American Library Association, the importance of libraries, how we as a society can support libraries, the issues surrounding book banning and censorship, the upcoming 2025 LibLearnX c...

Happy New Year! Thank you so much for flipping the page to the first chapter of 2025. Do you like myths? I hope so, because Olivia Jackson sat down with me for chapter forty-seven to cover the myth of overnight success. Reaching our publishing goals requires persistence, hard work, luck, the right timing, and more, and Olivia and I unraveled the truth behind overnight successes. This is a fabulous chapter to kick off the new year, ...

What’s this? An interlude? Yes, that’s right. Welcome to the first Literary Blend interlude. I wanted to end 2024 in a special way, so I invited back two of my wonderful friends, Danielle Render Turmaud and Kate Pockett, for a fabulous conversation on author gifts. We laughed. We almost cried. We shared our hearts and souls. I hope this interlude brightens your day as you get ready to ring in the new year.

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Thanks for flipping the page to chapter forty-six. This is a fabulous one with Robin Morris all about demystifying debut days. During our conversation, Robin unveiled her debut journey, from when she got inspired to write her novel to release day. If you have ever wondered what publishing your first book would be like, this chapter is for you. I can’t thank Robin enough for joining me on the show to share her journey with her novel...

Who’s ready for chapter forty-five of the show? Put your hand up. This is an amazing one with Abigail Wild from Wild Ink Publishing all about owning a small press. Whether you’re interested in signing with a small press or simply curious what it’s like to own a publishing house, this conversation is for you. It was such a joy having Abby on the show for an insightful chat, so I hope you love listening and learn about the small pres...

Wow, you are in for such a treat. Chapter forty-four is a unique one packed with priceless gems. T. A. Chan joined me to share five pieces of golden writing advice, plus a fabulous bonus. These are things she wishes she knew before starting her publishing journey. I absolutely loved having Tina on the show for this truly wonderful and insightful conversation. Trust me, you’ll walk away from this one with so much fantastic informati...

As authors, we all face writer’s block from time to time, but guess what? Dani Abernathy joined me for chapter forty-three of the show to talk about conquering writer’s block. From discussing various sources of writer’s block to tips for overcoming it, our conversation covers it all. I hope our chat gives you the knowledge and tools you need to triumph over your own writer’s block in order to keep progressing on your author journey...

Okay, friends, I got my crown on! Chapter forty-two is a special one. If you know me, you know I’m obsessed with anthologies, and I’m honored Arwyn Sherman joined me on the show to cover anthologies through a business lens. We talked about choosing where to submit our work, submission guidelines, what to look out for in contracts, editing for anthologies, and more. I can’t thank Arwyn enough for chatting about anthologies with me, ...

Pursuing a career in publishing is a roller coaster ride, and sometimes, we struggle to chase our dreams. I’m excited to share a wonderful conversation with Katie Brown for chapter forty-one of the show on breathing life back into the author dream. From defining the author dream to finding ways to get back on track when things are rough, we covered it all. I’m so glad Katie joined me for this chat, so I hope it encourages you to ke...

Happy spooky season! There’s no better time of year to spotlight the horror genre. I’m delighted to share my conversation with Bram Stoker Award-winning author Sara Tantlinger on writing horror for chapter forty of the show. We covered the diversity of the horror genre, tips for capturing the emotion of dread, crafting compelling protagonists and villains, establishing a horror setting and atmosphere, common pitfalls of the genre, ...

Are you all about the indie writing life? Well, Shaelynn Long is. She joined me for chapter thirty-nine of the show to cover indie publishing. During our chat, we talked about choosing the right path to publication based on our personalities and goals, the support found with a small press, the importance of marketing, finding a balance between writing and life, and so much more. Shaelynn was a delight to have on the show, so I hope...

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/

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