Today we’d like to introduce you to Demi Michelle Schwartz.
Demi Michelle, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
When I was young, I discovered my love for music and books, though at the time, I had no idea I would pursue careers in both the music and publishing industries.
First, with music, I started playing piano when I was ten years old, then joined choir in middle school. Very quickly, playing piano and singing became huge parts of my life, but I didn’t begin songwriting until I was in college. For a while, I kept my songs to myself because I really lacked confidence. Eventually, I showed some friends my song, “Into Focus,” which became my debut single in 2019. Since then, I have released a ton of singles, two albums, Dear Diary and Hear Me Out, and an EP, It Is What It Is, and now, I’m preparing to release another EP, Happy Ever After Doesn’t Last Forever.
When it comes to publishing, I’ve always loved reading and writing, but it wasn’t until college when I discovered that I wanted to pursue a career as an author. Once I graduated from Seton Hill University with BAs in Music and Creative Writing, I went straight into Seton Hill’s MFA in Writing Popular Fiction program and graduated with my degree in 2022. From the moment I graduated to now, I’ve given my all to my publishing dreams. I’m represented by Ciara Smith at Spencerhill Associates, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.
Along with being a songwriter and author, I’m the host of two podcasts, Write on Track: A Songwriting Podcast and Literary Blend: A Publishing Podcast. I’m also a freelance editor with my own business, Amethyst Ink Editorial, and I’m an editor for anthologies and Revise & Resub (#RevPit). I love all that I do in music and publishing, and I’m so glad my childhood passions for music and books planted the seeds for my blooming journeys in both industries.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve definitely faced obstacles as both a songwriter and author, but there’s one that stands out among the others, the time when I made the decision to part ways with my first literary agent and seek new representation.
Sometimes, we need to make difficult choices that are almost always the right ones. I found myself doing a lot of reflecting on where I was and what I envisioned for my career in publishing. Searching for a new agent was what I knew I had to do, but that doesn’t mean it was easy. Quite the opposite. I felt lost, confused, and defeated. After getting so close to my publishing dreams coming true, I had to basically start over, and that affected my mental health. Still, I held on to hope, and about seven months later, signed with my dream agent. I can’t put into words how grateful I am to be represented by Ciara. In only a few short months since signing with her in November, I’ve never felt happier on this journey.
One of the biggest lessons I learned from this whole experience is to always do things with purpose, which is why I chose purpose as my word of 2026. From now on, every choice I make will be intentional. I’m going to think before I act, listen to my intuition, and protect my heart, reputation, and future career.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a songwriter and recording artist, I mostly write pop and country music, though I consider myself a multi-genre artist and often blend other genre flavors into my music. Above all else, I’m most proud of my growth over the years. I’ve gone from lacking confidence to finding my voice as a songwriter. Also, I’ve won several music awards, most notably USA Female Album of the Year (Bronze) for It Is What It Is at the ISSA Awards, Songwriter Achievement for “Passive Aggressive” at the Josie Music Awards, and Best Christmas Jazz Song for “Winter Cold” at the Holiday Music and Film Awards.
As an author, I primarily write young adult thrillers, though I explore other genres and age categories in my short stories. I’m most proud of how much I’ve evolved as an author from my MFA program to now, my endurance and patience, and my courage to put myself out there, network, and take chances. Also, I’m proud of all my short stories that found homes in anthologies and my unwavering dedication to my books that I hope receive publishing deals someday.
I believe that having various passions in two industries sets me apart. As a songwriter, recording artist, classical pianist, author, editor, and podcaster, I’m constantly engaging with the arts, developing and learning new skills, and most of all, nourishing my creativity and imagination. All my experiences in music and publishing funnel together and continue to make me who I am today.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I have many memories from going to my community library when I was little. My mom would take me to check out books, and since my elementary school was across the street, my teachers often took us to the library, too. Reading has always played a massive role in my life, and I loved having my own library card, browsing the shelves, and discovering literary treasures to bring home. Now that I’m an author and pursuing traditional publishing, one of my biggest dreams is to see my own books on my community library’s shelves someday.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://demimschwartz.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/demimschwartz
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/demimschwartz
