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