Is It Speculative Fiction or Real Life with Dr. Roger Smith
Release Date: 05/25/2024
Curiosity, Ingenuity, and the Timeless Allure of Rivers with David Ladensohn
The Florida Writer Podcast
In this episode of the Florida Writer Podcast, chats with David Ladensohn, a seasoned entrepreneur and author of a fascinating new book on an unexpected pairing: fly fishing and Leonardo da Vinci. David shares his journey from his Texas roots to summers spent in New Mexico, where his passion for fly fishing first took shape. His book offers a unique blend of stories, weaving together Leonardo's life, his groundbreaking work as a hydraulic engineer, and his remarkable understanding of river currents—skills that David imagines would have made Leonardo an exceptional fly-fishing guide. ...
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On Writing Banned Books with Ryan Estrada
The Florida Writer Podcast
In this episode of the Florida Writer Podcast, host chats with prolific writer and cartoonist about the art of comic book writing, including the importance of pacing, concise storytelling, and creative challenges. Ryan shares insights from his experience co-creating Banned Book Club with his wife, Kim Hyun Sook, and illustrator Ko Hyung-Ju, a graphic novel based on Kim's real-life experiences in 1980s Korea. They also dive into the timely issue of book banning, with itself being banned in several U.S. states, yet still celebrated globally in schools and libraries. Ryan discusses his...
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Capturing History in a Memoir with Kevin Hall
The Florida Writer Podcast
On this Florida Writer Podcast, host welcomes . Wondering if his kids would remember their family stories, Kevin wrote a short story for them as a Christmas gift. His grandsons’ reaction inspired him to write multiple books, blending history with memoir to capture the moments of his life in context with the world. Kevin M. Hall joyfully adopts the titles of dad, grandpa, and papa. Residing with his wife in Rush, NY—a suburb of Rochester—he is a family man with two married children, six grandchildren, and a beloved dog named Pal. His career spanned over 40 years in the...
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Echoes of Creativity: Writing, Music, and Ghosts with Andy N
The Florida Writer Podcast
In this episode of the Florida Writer Podcast, host chats with author , who shares insights from his diverse writing journey. Andy has penned ten full-length novels, including Changing Carriages at Birmingham, New Street, a poignant love story, and a memoir detailing his struggles with diabetes. His debut novel, Birth, explores the life of a 16-year-old aspiring artist, set in a familiar backdrop that blends fictional characters with real-life elements. Andy also discusses his musical background, highlighting the connection between music and poetry, particularly in their rhythmic qualities....
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Stories From Amish Country: Fact Meets Fiction with Author Marc Crail
The Florida Writer Podcast
On this Florida Writer Podcast, host chats with , a debut author in his seventies who began writing during the pandemic. His first book, Tales Out of School, draws from his experiences working in Amish country. Mark has since published three more books in the series, and a novel inspired by his mother-in-law's life. During the conversation, they explored the intersection of fiction and reality, agreeing that stories rooted in personal experiences can be just as powerful as fact. Together, these tie together and coordinate for one successful launch. Send your book into the world with gusto! ...
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The Book Business with Ella Ritchie of Stellar Communications
The Florida Writer Podcast
Do you treat your book as a business? On this Florida Writer Podcast, host interviews , the founder of Stellar Communications, a company that specializes in non-fiction book publishing, marketing, and PR for self-publishing authors. There is so much that needs to happen to create a successful book launch. Ella offers 6 quick tips for marketing (and so much more) in this episode: 1. Build a buzzworthy book. 2. Reach out to your circle of influence. 3, Prep your online presence. 4. Navigate print and online media. 5. Launch your book. 6. Keep the momentum. Together, these...
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Life Happens then Comes a Book with Emily Hill
The Florida Writer Podcast
It’s not uncommon for people to use their emotional journey to springboard their careers into authorship. is no exception. In this episode of the Florida Writer Podcast, host and Emily chat about Emily’s journey from social work and ministry to becoming a published author, discussing her self-publishing strategy and her personal writing process. Emily found the writing process challenging but rewarding. Discover some of Emily’s time management tactics, her experiences growing her following on social media, and the challenges she faces in balancing writing and marketing. Emily spends...
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Discover Where Your Book Can Take You with Cathy Fyock
The Florida Writer Podcast
and , the Biz Book Strategist, share a conversation about using books as a business strategy. Cathy explains that she works with professionals who want to write a book as a strategic move to establish themselves as thought leaders in their field. Covering the topics of crafting compelling book blurbs and author bios, benefits of self-publishing and hybrid publishing, and creative ways to find speaking opportunities. Want a complimentary strategy session with Cathy? Visit Cathy Fyock provides you with the intensive support you need to get your book DONE. She is the author of On...
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Go Ahead, Change the Rules: Discover Hybrid Memoir with Lily Iona MacKenzie
The Florida Writer Podcast
Lily Iona MacKenzie chats with Florida Writer Podcast Host about her latest work, . This hybrid memoir blends personal anecdotes with critical writing on topics such as poetry and art. Now, in her eighties, Lily is challenged by facing old age and all that comes with it. Determined to age gracefully and thoughtfully, she recognizes that working with one's inner life and dreams is key to understanding the changes that come with aging. Lily has published reviews, interviews, short fiction, poetry, travel pieces, essays, and memoirs in over 170 American and Canadian venues. She also taught...
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The Balance Between Conflict & Empathy with Kyle Shoop
The Florida Writer Podcast
Novelist and attorney chats with Florida Writer Podcast Host about adding conflict and empathy to build characters. A number of his novels also include lyrics—as a singer and songwriter, he adds links to his books for the audience to hear the songs for that character. Instead of just reading the lyrics, Kyle recorded that song. You can click it and listen to it on YouTube or Spotify under his recordings at . Kyle Shoop is a multi-genre author of compelling stories. His new "Senses of Love" series is a romance series that provides rewarding and inspirational stories. Kyle...
info_outlineYou might be surprised to know that surgical robots are used for over one million procedures every year. In this episode, Dr. Roger Smith chats with Florida Writer Podcast Host Alison Nissen about his medical thriller series on robotic surgeons in the year 2050 and his real-life work with surgical robots over the last ten years.
His novels include an advanced AI character struggling to understand its role in society and healthcare. Roger writes about AI in his novels and experiments with current AI tools in the writing process. He will share his perspective on the controversial role that AI is playing in writing and other creative professions.
Roger’s experience spans healthcare, defense, and intelligence industries. He spent the last ten years working exclusively with surgical robots and performing experiments to determine their contributions to improving surgical performance.
Dr. Roger Smith has over 30 years of experience creating new technology solutions for large organizations. He holds two doctoral degrees and three master’s degrees that span business, computer science, and mathematics.
The first twenty years of his career addressed defense and intelligence problems and last ten years focused specifically on surgical robots in healthcare systems. Currently, he leads a consulting company focused on robotics, AI, and simulation in healthcare. He was previously a Chief Technology Officer at AdventHealth System; CTO for U.S. Army Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation; and a VP and CTO for Titan Corp. As part of this career, he published over a dozen nonfiction books on technology, business, and innovation topics.
He is currently writing fiction that explores advanced medical devices, applications of AI, and new forms of simulation in the future. These describe the technology, but more importantly, they speculate on the impacts that these might have on surgeons, patients, the healthcare system, and society.
Founded in 2001, Florida Writers Association (FWA) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit that Florida Writers Association embraces the diversity of its membership from across the state of Florida, the nation, and the globe. We celebrate our differences and are united in our shared love for the written and spoken word.
Our motto, “Writers Helping Writers,” is demonstrated daily by our volunteers.