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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz

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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

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!

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

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!