Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to LindaAnn LoSchiavo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

LindaAnn, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

My creative calling revealed itself when I was still attending elementary school. I was nine years old when I wrote, costumed, directed, and produced my first one-act play in New York City.
With my piggybank budget and the fearless determination of an amateur — albeit a young theatre enthusiast who had seen numerous plays on Broadway for the past five years— I assembled a production team consisting entirely of myself. I conducted formal auditions with girls from my class, choir, and Girl Scout troop to cast the five female roles. Then I managed every production element single-handedly—rehearsing the actors, teaching each one how to deliver her lines dramatically, sewing all five costumes, designing a simple unit set, and directing the entire show. What began as a child’s creative project evolved into a successful 45-minute production that ran for quite a few months in New York City’s boroughs.
Though no photographs exist—my parents didn’t attend the performances—the packed audiences and encouraging applause provided enough gratification. During the same year, I had my first metrical poem published in a school magazine. These experiences nourished my artistic ambitions.
Although my parents never encouraged my writing, outside forces were at work. At sixteen I received my high school’s prestigious gold medal for “Literary Achievement.” This honor, awarded to only one student annually, recognized my breakthrough short story (titled “No Way Out”) published in the school’s magazine—a daring piece about a teenage football player’s morphine addiction and his dependence on the drug and on his sinister pusher. Receiving this coveted distinction felt like the universe confirming what that nine-year-old playwright already suspected—I was destined for a life as a wordsmith.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

With New York City being the epicenter of publishing, this native New Yorker began her career employed by book publishers and by magazine publishers. These full-time positions occasionally provided valuable writing opportunities that built my portfolio and increased my visibility in the industry. Leveraging these early credits, I successfully expanded my reach to prestigious publications including Better Homes and Gardens, Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, Weight Watchers Magazine, and TWA Ambassador. My byline appeared on the covers of various magazines produced by Condé Nast, Hearst, and other big players.
As my career progressed, I transitioned to full-time freelancing, including penning articles that focused on the craft of journalism. My instructional articles in The Writer and Writer’s Digest allowed me to share expertise with aspiring writers. This expertise also extended to academia, where I taught writing courses at prestigious institutions including New York University and Hunter College.
Here’s what distinguishes me from many journalists: my successful expansion into creative writing. I’ve developed a substantial body of work in poetry, short stories, and creative nonfiction. This creative path has been rewarding and has resulted in nine published poetry collections and several prestigious awards and nominations. This expertise in journalistic, dramatic, and creative writing has given me a unique multifaceted perspective that enriches all aspects of my work.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect includes the ability to help newcomers refine their own writing via
mentorship, critique groups, and craft articles — some of which have appeared in Writer’s
Digest and in Authors Publish.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

In years gone by, enlightened philanthropists understood that donating to the arts was not just charity—it was an investment in society’s cultural foundation. Consider industrialist Andrew Carnegie, who built 2,509 libraries across the English-speaking world, creating temples of knowledge that transformed communities. Chemist Carl Djerassi channeled the fortune he earned from inventing birth control pills into the Djerassi Resident Artists Program, now the largest fee-free provider of artist residencies in the western United States, giving countless creators the precious gift of time and space to develop their work. Michael Bloomberg’s visionary arts initiatives have systematically supported both individual artists and cultural organizations, recognizing their essential role in a vibrant society.
Contrast these sterling examples with new revelations in The Atlantic Magazine exposing Meta’s disturbing approach: building their AI program by tapping into a database of pirated books—essentially committing literary theft on an industrial scale. This represents a fundamental shift from valuing and supporting creative work to exploiting it.
Society can best support creative ecosystems by returning to the principled approach exemplified by Carnegie, Djerassi, and Bloomberg: using wealth and influence to become patrons rather than pirates. This means not just financial support, but also strengthening copyright protections, ensuring fair compensation for creative work used in technological development, establishing more paid residencies and fellowships, and recognizing that art and literature aren’t luxuries but essential components of human progress.
The most innovative societies throughout history have been those that valued and invested in their creative minds. To continue enjoying the fruits of human creativity and imagination, we must create systems that nurture rather than exploit those who produce it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://VampireVentures.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindaann-loschiavo-45a0767/
• Twitter: @Mae_Westside
• Other: Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18972725.LindaAnn_LoSchiavo
  Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/LindaAnn-LoSchiavo/e/B084WSGD5K/
  LindaAnn Literary: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHm1NZIlTZybLTFA44wwdfg