Literary Blend: A Publishing Podcast

Dear Diary, what is it like being a new literary agent? A.J. Van Belle joined me for chapter sixty-nine of the show to chat all about being a new agent. From doing an internship and networking with editors to finding perfect partnerships with authors, we covered it all. I loved having A.J. on the show, so I hope our conversation gives you a glimpse into what it’s like in the early days of being a literary agent.

Are you enjoying Lit...

Are you ready for some time traveling? Well, not literally, but historical fiction comes close enough. USA Today bestselling author Alyson Richman joined me for chapter sixty-eight of Literary Blend to chat about crafting authentic historical fiction. Whether you write historical fiction or not, our conversation is packed with golden wisdom for all authors. I’m so honored I got the chance to have Alyson on the show because she trul...

Halloween is just around the corner, and in the spirit of the spookiest holiday, chapter sixty-seven of Literary Blend is all about bringing magic into the writing process. Grab some crystals and light a candle, because Ciara Smith returned to the show to share her witchy wisdom. While we wove spirituality and the writing process together, we talked about rituals, color association, astrology, intention, and much more. Also, make s...

Gather round, friends, because chapter sixty-six of Literary Blend is an extra special one with Jennifer L. Armentrout. She’s truly flourishing in the romantasy landscape, but you can’t have flowers without rain, and she got super candid about the highs and lows of her publishing adventure. Whether you’re a reader of Jennifer’s books or an author eager to hear golden wisdom from someone who has found tremendous success in publishin...

AI has become a constant presence in the publishing industry, and it’s time to address the elephant in the room on Literary Blend. Katrina Lemaire joined me for chapter sixty-five of the show for a truly fantastic conversation about AI from the agent perspective. Both Katrina and I don’t support the use of AI, and we wanted to have a professional, informative, and insightful chat about the impact AI has on the querying process and ...

Love is in the air because chapter sixty-four of Literary Blend with Gail Lynn is all about writing and submitting romance flash fiction. From tips for crafting compelling flash romance to the submission process and what editors look for, Gail and I shared so much amazing information. If you have never written romance flash fiction before, I hope our conversation inspires you to give it a try, and if you have, I hope you learn some...

Welcome to the cozy mystery coffee shop! I’m so glad you stopped by. Grab a drink and take a seat because you’re in for a treat. Carmela Dutra joined me for chapter sixty-three of Literary Blend to talk about the cozy mystery genre. From breaking down cozy mystery elements to giving a glimpse into the querying process, we covered it all. Whether you write cozy mysteries or not, I hope you take something valuable away from our conve...

If you’re a pantser, put your hand up. This is your time to shine. I’m so excited to share chapter sixty-two of Literary Blend with Desirae Gracyn all about the joys and obstacles of being a pantser. Since Desirae is a pantser and I’m a plotter, we had such a unique conversation, sharing the pros and cons of pantsing, revision tips, and more. Whether you’re a pantser or not, this chapter has something for every writer. I hope you l...

It’s outlining time! Grab a pencil and paper because you’ll want to tap into student mode and take notes during chapter sixty-one of Literary Blend with Mylee J. Miller all about outlining. Mylee and I chatted about why we became plotters, the benefits of outlining, and the downsides of plotting our stories before we draft. Also, we shared ten golden outlining tips from our own experiences as plotters. This chapter is packed with a...

What time is it? Summertime. Yes, but it’s also Revise & Resubmit O’Clock, a mysterious time of day. I’m over the moon to share my conversation with Grace Demyan for chapter sixty, where she demystifies R&Rs. If you have ever wanted insight into R&Rs from a literary agent, this chapter of the show is for you. Our conversation is packed with so much wonderful information, so I hope you love listening and gain new knowledge about R&R...

Are you ready to talk about money? I hope so, since we’re getting real on Literary Blend today. If you like free things and low-cost options, stick around because I’m over the moon to bring you chapter fifty-nine with B Wheeler all about being an author on a budget. We had such a fabulous conversation, covering various aspects of being an author and sharing how you can chase your publishing dreams and reach your goals in the best w...

Do you have a unique writing process? Do you like blending genres in your work? If so, you’ll love chapter fifty-eight of the show with Brittany Micka-Foos on writing outside the box. We had such a fabulous conversation all about experimenting to discover what works for us, bending genre expectations, embracing our differences, and much more. I hope this chapter inspires you as you chase your publishing dreams.

Are you enjoying Lite...

Would you like insight into the picture book publication process from a publisher? If so, you’re in the right place. Sandra Sutter from Gnome Road Publishing joined me for chapter fifty-seven of the show for a fabulous conversation. Whether you write picture books or not, Sandra and I talked about things that apply to all authors, like critique partners, comp titles, industry connections, and more. I truly had a blast chatting with...

Thanks for stopping by the kindness corner. My friend, Danielle Render Turmaud, returned to the show for chapter fifty-six to cover kindness. We had such a wonderful conversation about showing ourselves and others kindness while chasing our writing dreams, then the chapter wrapped up with the most unhinged plot twist so far. From our vulnerable conversation to lots of laughs, I hope this chapter makes you smile and feel less alone ...

Have you ever considered running a Kickstarter campaign for your literary project? If so, you’re in luck because Marx Pyle joined me for chapter fifty-five to chat all about Kickstarter campaigns for books. During our conversation, we talked about the benefits of running a Kickstarter campaign, suggestions for rewards, golden tips to set campaigns up for success, and so much more. I learned a ton from Marx, so I hope you find our c...

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.

Are you enjoying L...

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.

Are you enjoying Literary Blend? Do ...

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.

If you would like to connect with Cidne...