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.

This week, things get a little spooky (and a little confusing) on the podcast! Aimee battles the unpredictable Texas weather, while Russell shares a hilarious story about accidentally stumbling into the world of "Dark Romance" book festivals—where authors apparently get tattoos of their own book covers on stage.

Then, we settle in for a fascinating conversation with South Dakota author Seth Voorhees. Seth specializes in "Dark Fiction," a genre that blends the best elements of thriller, suspense, and horror.

In this episode, we discuss:

• 🧟‍♂️ Zombies & Class Warfare: How The Walking Dead inspired Seth’s novel Immune, which explores the tension between the "immune" and the "inflicted" in a post-apocalyptic society.

• 🏚️ Small Town Horror: The creepy premise behind The Interim, a story about a cursed town where residents must hide in their basements for 12 days every October.

• 👽 Sci-Fi Dystopias: A look at Question 17, Seth's novel set 46 years after an alien invasion.

• ✍️ The Writing Process: How Seth develops distinct character voices and why he prefers the label "Dark Fiction" over "Horror".

• 📚 Book Hauls: Seth shares the classic titles he bought for his birthday, including Animal Farm and Frankenstein.

Tune in for a mix of laughs, literary analysis, and a deep dive into the darker side of fiction!

Join us as we speak with author James Bow about his latest novel, "The Night Gir.l"

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