Literary Blend: A Publishing Podcast

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...

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,...

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 w...

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...

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...

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 k...

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 Re...

Step aside, hero’s journey, Emily Rozmus joined me for chapter seventy-three to shine the spotlight on the heroine’s journey. During our chat, we covered the differences between the hero’s journey and heroine’s journey, key characteristics of the heroine’s journey, tips for following a story framework, and more. If you have ever wanted to explore the heroine’s journey in your own writing, this chapter is for you. I can’t thank Emil...

Are you ready to plunge into the story inspiration pool? I hope so, because I’m kicking off this year’s Literary Blend chapters with my fabulous author friend, Adele Liles, for chapter seventy-two all about inspiration. From discussing where inspiration comes from to sharing tips for finding the spark to work on stories when we’re not feeling inspired, this conversation is full of personal experiences, insights, and shiny advice. A...

Surprise! I’ve decided to end 2025 with another interlude, and let me just say you are in for a very fun ride with this one. Michelle Sanchez and Z. T. Fairfax joined me on the show to chat about choosing between story ideas. Since a new year is right around the corner, this is a great time to think about what stories you want to write in 2026. From reflecting on what projects you feel you can see through to the end to being aware ...

Snow flurries and love are in the air, because chapter seventy-one of the show with S.R. Hartley is all about penning Christmas romance. From tips for writing this genre to the unique aspect of marketing holiday books, Sheena and I had a blast unwrapping the wonders of Christmas romances. I hope you love listening, and maybe you’ll even feel inspired to write a Christmas romance of your own. Also, be sure to check out Sheena’s book...

Are you ready to step outside your comfort zone? I hope so, because Michelle Sanchez, a loyal listener of Literary Blend and one of my author friends, joined me for chapter seventy to chat all about writing unexpected genres. From blending the familiar with the unfamiliar and mixing different genre elements to create something fresh, our conversation is packed with our own experiences, insights, and advice for authors eager to take...

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.

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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...