We have officially survived the holidays! 🎄 Aimee is exhausted from the Christmas chaos, Russell is diving deeper into his fascination with the "Dark Romance" genre (and space operas), and we are thrilled to welcome Canadian author Liisa Kovala.

Liisa joins us from snowy Northern Ontario to discuss her historical fiction novel, Water for Weary Souls. Set in the 1930s, the book explores the lives of Finnish immigrants, the grit required to survive the Great Depression, and the family secrets buried in a local boarding house.

In this episode, we discuss:

• 🇫🇮 The Power of Sisu: Liisa explains the untranslatable Finnish concept of "Sisu"—a mixture of grit, guts, and determination—and how it defines her characters (and her tattoo choice!).

• 🏚️ History & Fiction: The real-life inspiration behind the boarding houses, bootleggers, and immigrant struggles in Sudbury, Ontario.

• ✍️ The Writing Journey: Liisa shares her transition from writing non-fiction to historical fiction and the challenge of balancing accurate research with a compelling narrative.

• ❄️ Winter Woes: The team bonds (and complains) about winter driving, from Texas ice scares to Canadian blizzards.

• 🕵️‍♀️ What’s Next: A sneak peek at Liisa’s upcoming "Hygge House" cozy mystery series.

Tune in for a mix of history, humor, and a lesson on how to channel your inner Sisu when life gets tough.

📚 Check out Liisa’s Work:

• Water for Weary Souls

• [Link to Liisa's website/socials if available]

We want to hear from you! Do you have a favorite historical fiction novel that taught you about a specific culture? Let us know on our socials!

#AuthorTalk #LiisaKovala #HistoricalFiction #Sisu #FinnishCanadian #Podcast #WritingCommunity #BookChat #AmReading

The holidays are officially over, but the chaos lingers! Russell is still asking everyone about "Dark Romance" tattoos, and we are joined by the inspiring Eric Fisher.

Eric, joining us from Calgary, shares the harrowing true story behind his memoir, Buried Alive: 4 Ways to Free Yourself from the Dirt. Based on his father's survival of a trench collapse, Eric uses this traumatic event to explore resilience, mental health, and overcoming life's heaviest burdens.

In this episode, we discuss:

• 🕳️ Survival Against Odds: The terrifying true story of Eric's father being buried alive and the miraculous rescue that followed.

• 🧠 The CIA Method: Eric explains his framework for healing: Curiosity, Introspection, and Agency.

• 🎰 True Crime & History: A look at Eric's other book, The Man Who Could Do No Wrong, which dives into a pastor's involvement in a slot machine Ponzi scheme.

• 🥋 Physical & Mental Discipline: How martial arts played a crucial role in Eric's journey of recovery and mental strength.

• 🖤 Russell’s Favorite Question: Eric gives one of the best answers yet to Russell's recurring question about literary tattoos!

Tune in for a powerful conversation about finding freedom from your past and digging yourself out of the "dirt."

📚 Check out Eric’s Work:

• Buried Alive: 4 Ways to Free Yourself from the Dirt

• The Man Who Could Do No Wrong

We want to hear from you! What tools or methods have helped you overcome a difficult time in your life? Let us know on our socials!

#AuthorTalk #EricFisher #MentalHealth #Resilience #TrueStory #Podcast #BookChat #Memoir #Recovery

CALLING ALL DOG LOVERS

This week, we are recovering from a chaotic (and snowy!) weekend as Aimee dreads her holiday laundry and Russell continues his fascinating deep dive into the world of "Dark Romance" book trends—specifically, why fans are getting tattoos of book quotes on their backs!

Then, we have a heartwarming and insightful conversation with Canadian author Holly B. Gutwillinger. Holly joins us from Northern Ontario (where it's currently -20 degrees!) to discuss her upcoming novel, a story about healing, purpose, and the unique bond between humans and their rescue dogs.

In this episode, we discuss:

• 🐶 The Reality of Rescue Dogs: Holly shares the moving story of her own dogs, Sully and Cash, and the realization that you can't always "fix" a rescue dog—sometimes, love is about acceptance.

• ✍️ Fiction with a Purpose: Why Holly chose to write a fictional story rather than a memoir to give her anxious dog, Sully, a voice.

• ❄️ Life in Northern Ontario: Snowstorms, freezing temperatures, and finding inspiration in the quiet of winter.

• 📚 Russell’s Genre Education: The team discusses book tattoos, sprayed edges, and why "Dark Romance" is taking over the book world.

• 📖 The Writing Journey: Holly talks about finding her voice as a writer later in life and the therapeutic nature of storytelling.

Tune in for a mix of laughs, touching dog stories, and a look at how fiction can help us understand the real world a little better.