Literary Blend: A Publishing Podcast

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 plot...

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 listeni...

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...

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 publ...

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...

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 m...

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...

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 th...

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 o...

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....

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...

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...

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...

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 dea...

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 censor...

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...

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...

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...

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 liste...

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 o...

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...

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 c...

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...

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 atmosph...

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 del...