We’re welcoming Ian Domowitz to Author Talk—a veteran of the military, academia, and Wall Street, with 12 fintech patents and a passion for exploring intelligence, existence, and identity without generative AI in his fiction.In Initial Condition, Domowitz introduces readers to The Mechanic—a being caught between centuries, realities, and definitions of life itself.

Our conversation explores the philosophy behind the story, the moral questions it raises, and the craft of writing speculative fiction with depth and restraint.

Thoughtful, relaxed, and full of insight—just the way Author Talk likes it.

#AuthorTalkPodcast #AuthorInterview #IndieAuthors #SpeculativeLiterature #WritingCommunity

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