#ThisorThatFriday Author Interview with Eric Fisher

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I’d like to welcome Eric Fisher to #ThisorThatFriday!

A few of your favorite fall traditions: Eating pumpkin pie when I can get my hands on a slice or two. Eating turkey. Getting together with family for Thanksgiving dinner.
Something autumn-related that you’ll never do again: Raking leaves as I now have turf and not actual grass!

Favorite beverage: Anything pumpkin-spiced...let's say a pumpkin-spiced latte with almond or oat milk.
A drink that gives you a sour face: Something made with green apples -- a green apple cider.

Favorite smell: The woods after the falling of leaves.

Something that makes you hold your nose: burnt rubber.

A tradition you share with others: getting together for dinner and games during the holiday season.
A tradition that can be retired: Perhaps needing to have a large Thanksgiving dinner every year. 

Best thing you ever cooked/baked: a pumpkin pie with a gluten free crust made not from pumpkin puree but from a squash.
Your worst kitchen disaster: Not understanding that pressurized hot soup in a blender will project all over the kitchen if not given time to cool! Yes, it was a mess.

Funniest story: When growing up, some friends and I rolled another friend's house with toilet paper, came in and watched a movie with his family, and then left without him knowing until the next morning that we did the prank!

Something embarrassing that happened to you: My own house being rolled when we were at home as well and not hearing or seeing them roll the house with toilet paper whatsoever.

Favorite place to spend a day: Out in the woods hiking in Fall Creek Falls in TN.
The worst place to spend a day: Inside a house if I'm going to be in there all day.

Your best costume: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle when I was young.
A costume that wasn’t quite what you imagined: Seeing a photo of my dad dressed up as a woman when he was really young, back in the 80s, was interesting! 

Favorite pumpkin spice item: Pumpkin pie!
Something that should never be pumpkin-spiced flavored: Apple pie!

About Eric:

Eric Fisher is a Canadian Certified Counsellor with over 15 years experience working in inpatient and outpatient treatment environments. Originally from the US, Eric specializes in helping those with addiction and trauma. He has authored two books: The Martial Art of Recovery and Buried Alive: Four Ways to Free Yourself from the Dirt. Eric operates his private practice, Recovery Arts Counselling, in Calgary, AB.

Let’s Be Social:

instagram - @recoveryartscounselling - https://www.instagram.com/recoveryartscounselling/

@ericfisherwriter - https://www.instagram.com/ericfisherwriter/

LinkedIn - Recovery Arts Counselling 

Linkedin - Eric Fisher - https:///www.linkedin.com/in/eric-m-fisher-5b83724a

Facebook - Recovery Arts Counselling - https://www.facebook.com/RecoveryArtsCounselling

Do You Track What You Read?

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Happy New Year! Do you track of what you read? I do to keep up with series that I like, and to preserve a record by year of what I’ve read because once or twice I’ve bought or checked out a book that I didn’t remember reading.

I use Goodreads to keep a log of what I’ve read with their annual reading challenge. Years before the site, I started with a list in a Word document that I could search. There are many good sites and applications out there to record your reading progress.

  • The reading challenge helps me see my stats at the end of the year. Goodreads creates a nice graphical summary with my details.

  • It helps remind me to leave a review when I finish a book.

  • I share what I’m reading in my author newsletter, and it helps me to keep that organized by month.

  • And I just like data. I can compare what I’ve read during different years and see fun facts like the longest and shortest books.

What do you use to track your reading progress?

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Jonni Jordyn

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I’d like to welcome Jonni Jordyn back to the blog for the first #ThisorThatThursday of the new year!

A few of your favorite traditions: Watching the leaves turn.

Something holiday-related that you’ll never do again: I had Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant, but they served sliced deli meat.

Favorite fall treat: I'm definitely a pumpkin spice girl.

A fall treat that makes you gag: I have allergies to mint and chocolate, but gagging might be mincemeat pie.

Favorite beverage: Sweet tea, but that's year-round.
A drink that gives you a sour face: Lemonade.

Favorite smell: I like the smell of pines and the forest in general, but I'm not sure it would be a favorite.
Something that makes you hold your nose: I'm not too fond of dead and rotting flesh.

A funny true story: I took my six-year-old granddaughter to the Spirit store. We were way in the back of the store when a coffin opened up, and Dracula popped out. She immediately ran to the entrance with her hands in the air while screaming at the top of her lungs.

Something embarrassing that happened: I took the same granddaughter to Knott Scary Farm for Halloween, and she freaked out. I had to ask for a refund.

Best thing you ever cooked/baked: I've made a couple prime rib dinners that worked out.

Your worst kitchen disaster: Not mine, personally, but we went to my uncle’s for Christmas. He had a turkey to cook, but the oven died THAT DAY!! This was in the mid 70s, so they went out and bought one of those newfangled microwaves, a really big one. They set it on the counter and set the turkey to cook for four hours. After four hours, it still wasn't browned. So they cooked it some more. Nobody knew about cook times or browning elements. Naturally, it was inedible. Nobody's fault, but quite a disaster.

Your best costume: I have a grim reaper costume that I could wear to gigs. The sleeves had Velcro, so I could stick them to my shoulders and still play the keyboards.

A costume that wasn’t quite what you imagined: I tried to be Elvira, but just couldn't fill the dress.

Favorite holiday treat: I couldn't find it this year, but my grocer used to carry a pumpkin spice eggnog.

Something that should never be pumpkin-spiced flavored: Coffee? But then, I don't drink coffee.

Best holiday memory: I created a computer program to play short audio snippets from horror movies. I had my pro stage speakers in the yard pumping out themed music while my granddaughter and I would cue these snippets. A young boy around five or maybe seven, dragged his father past all the other houses on the street to the corner with all the sound effects, but when he got to us, he froze on the sidewalk. We had to go out and soothe him.

Worst holiday experience: My band was booked at a nice hotel. I wore a black dress with tuxedo cuffs and collar. First, there was a big hubbub about my not being eligible for best costume, then, I kept getting hit on by my own bass player.

About Jonni:

Jonni Jordyn was born in Oakland, California in 1957. She started writing at an early age, writing music, poetry, short stories, radio, film, and stage scripts. She didn’t start writing novels until later in life, after she retired from playing music, and found herself travelling away from home for extended periods. She currently lives in Denver, Colorado.

Let’s Be Social:

Website: https://www.jordynatlargebooks.com/

#WriterWednesday Author Interview with Kalee Boisvert

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I’d like to welcome author, Kalee Boisvert, to the blog for a New Year’s Eve #Writer Wednesday!

Hardest thing about being a writer: Getting started. A new project can feel daunting at the beginning, before the story finds its footing and the blank page stops feeling so loud.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Noticing. Stories are everywhere, in my kids, in quiet moments, in the things we almost miss. Caring deeply and paying attention has always come naturally.

Things you need for your writing sessions: A quiet pocket of time, a warm drink, and the freedom to write badly at first, knowing the good stuff always shows up once I start.

Things that hamper your writing: Overthinking the opening line, interruptions, and the belief that I need the whole plan figured out before I begin.

Words that describe you: Creative, curious, intuitive.

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: Messy and busy.

Something you’re really good at: Seeing meaning in small moments and turning them into stories that feel true.

Something you’re really bad at: Doing things slowly, especially when I’m excited about an idea and want to do everything at once.

Last best thing you ate: Ahi tuna that reminded me how good simple food can be.

Last thing you regret eating: A hot dog that absolutely did not live up to the moment.

Things you’d walk a mile for: Going on rides at Disney, every single time.

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: Awkward small talk and meetings that could’ve been an email.

Things you always put in your books: Stories that resonate—moments that feel familiar, emotionally true, and quietly reflective of real life.

Things you never put in your books: Anything written just to shock or impress.

Favorite places you’ve been: Italy.

Places you never want to go to again: None yet—I’m loving traveling and always up for a good adventure.

Favorite books (or genre): Spiritual books and fiction of all genres.

Books you wouldn’t buy: Overly technical books.

Favorite things to do: Travel, spend time with my kids, and get lost in a good creative project.

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: Forced networking and small talk.

The first 8-track, record, cassette, or CD you ever bought: New Kids on the Block.

A type of music that’s not your cup of tea: Country.

My favorite book as a child: Nancy Drew books and The Babysitters Club.

A book I’ve read more than once: The Alchemist.

Your favorite movie as a child: A Goofy Movie.

A TV show or movie that kept you awake at night (as a kid or adult): Saw (as an adult)

About Kalee:

Kalee Boisvert has spent over fifteen years in the financial industry, driven by a desire to rewrite the money story she grew up with. Raised in a single-parent household, she became passionate early on about financial empowerment and helping others create freedom and confidence through money. But her path didn’t stop there.

Over time, Kalee’s work expanded into something deeper: a soul-level invitation for women to remember who they are. Today, she writes both financial and spiritual books—offering practical tools, tender truth, and gentle reminders that you are already enough.

 Let’s Be Social:

More information can be found at: Kalee Boisvert - Your Money Guru | Contact

Heather's Favorite Books of 2025

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Here are my favorite reads this year in no particular order…

Favorite Cozies:

  • Vice and Virtue by Libby Klein

  • Chocolate Can Be Deadly by Kim Davis

  • Welcome Home to Murder by Rosalie Spielman

  • Basket Case by Nancy Haddock

  • A Plus One for Murder by Laura Bradford

  • A Fatal Feast at Bramsford Manor by Darci Hannah

  • Mousse and Murder by Elizabth Logan

  • Axe Me No Questions by Paula Charles

  • Whiskey Business by Adrian Andover

  • The Jig is up by Lisa Q. Mathews

  • A Zappy Little Christmas by Paula Charles

  • Paint the Town Dead by Nancy Haddock

Favorite Suspense and Thrillers:

  • The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown

  • King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby

  • The Pharaoh’s Tomb by LynDee Walker and Bruce Coffin

  • The Proving Ground by Michael Connelly

Favorite Historical Mysteries:

  • Harry Houdini Mysteries: The Dime Museum Murders

  • Disco Dead by Marcia Talley

Favorite Police Procedural:

  • Hidden in Smoke by Lee Goldberg

Favorite Nonfiction:

  • Heaven Help Us: How Faith Communities Inspire Hope, Strengthen Neighborhoods, and Build the Future by John Kasich

What were your favorites this year?

Things to Know about Newsletter Services

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You need an email service to create, distribute, and maintain your unsubscribe list for your newsletter. There are lots of services out there with lots of different pricing models.

Here’s what I learned:

  • Find a service that you like and can easily use. Many have built-in templates to get your designs started.

  • Make sure the service you choose allows you to import and export contacts for your mailing list. You may want to change services one day, and you’ll need a way to get the data in and out.

  • Always export your email list to ensure you have a backup of the names and addresses.

  • Check out what you get with the free services. Many offer that for a certain number of subscribers or newsletters a month. There are paid subscriptions when you reach a certain number of followers. Always compare the packages to see what you’re getting.

  • Talk to other authors to see what service they are using and what they like.

  • Make sure you can connect your email list to your website, so visitors can register online. Most of the time there is a way to link or set up a widget on your website builder.

  • Ensure that your service offers access to basic metrics. You’ll want to know how many of your newsletters were opened. Also, many have historical data so you can see trends over time. This will help you target days and times where your readers are active.

  • See if it offers a scheduler. My service lets me schedule my newsletter for specific times during the date. This helps me choose optimal times that may lead to more eyes. (For example, people get a ton of emails over the weekend. Monday morning is probably not the best time to send your information.)

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Veronica Lee

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I’d like to welcome the wonderful Veronica Lee to the blog today for #ThisorThatThursday!

Hardest thing about being a writer: Knowing when my manuscript is ready to submit. I too often jump the gun.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Is there something easy about being a writer? If there is, I can’t think of what it would be. LOL!

Something you’re really good at: I can make really good homemade cheesecakes.

Something you’re really bad at: Making hamburgers and biscuits. They both turn out hard as hockey pucks.

Favorite music or song: I love “Over the Rainbow,” by Judy Garland.

Music that drives you crazy: Songs full of really foul language.

Things you always put in your books: There’s usually a subtle faith-based message in them.

Things you never put in your books: I haven’t written a furry side-kick in any of my stories. But I’d really like to!

Favorite places you’ve been: I visited Krakow, Poland about ten years ago. It was absolutely gorgeous. The whole country was!

Places you never want to go to again: Can’t come up with any place that I really hated.

Favorite books (or genre): Anything Jane Austen related.

Books you wouldn’t buy: Political Thrillers. Just not my cup of tea.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: I worked as a housekeeper in a nursing home during the pandemic and often had to go into the covid units to clean and help out.

Something you chickened out from doing: Performing Arts Workshop when I was a teen.

The coolest person you’ve ever met: Eva Mozes Kor. She was a Holocaust/Mengele twin survivor who created the CANDLES Museum.

The celebrity who didn’t look like he/she did in pictures/video: I have never met any famous celebrities in person.

The nicest thing a reader said to you: That my book was their favorite.

The craziest thing a reader said to you: One suggested I used AI to write it. I swear, I didn’t!

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: Well, my book The Keeper of Lost Daughters was partly inspired by how in Poland, Jewish children were left with Christians during the war to save their lives. After the war, the Jewish families would try to reclaim their children only to find that the Christians didn’t want to give them up.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: I don’t think anyone has suggested anything in my book was about me.

My favorite book as a child: When I was little, I had this picture book about a mouse and on every page with the mouse was a little bird. Well, my dad came up a story based solely on the bird, calling it “Little Birdy Buddy.” Over time the story evolved. His storytelling was so enthralling that others would listen to him tell it too. Unfortunately, the book fell apart and I have no memory of what the story actually was.

A book I’ve read more than once: Pride and Prejudice.

Your favorite movie as a child: The Wizard of Oz.

A TV show or movie that kept you awake at night as a kid (or as an adult): Braveheart. When I was a kid, my dad had bought the VHS and was watching it, and I saw the scene where William Wallace is being tortured/executed. I was sick to my stomach for days. Probably didn’t sleep at night after watching it.

About Veronica:

Veronica Leigh has been published in numerous publications, such as Saturday Evening Post, Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine, Black Cat Mystery Magazine, and The People's Friend. She recently published her first novel, The Keeper of Lost Daughters. She aspires to be the Jane Austen of her generation and she makes her home in Indiana.

Let’s Be Social:

veronicaleighauthor.wordpress.com

facebook.com/veronicaleighauthor

twitter.com/veronicaleighauthor

instagram.com/veronicaleighauthor