Host Edith welcomes author Tudor Alexander to Book Lover’s Companion to discuss his historical fiction family saga The Last Patient, published in February 2025. Alex explains the novel is inspired by his parents’ and his own experiences across five decades of communism in Romania, ending with his parents’ immigration to the United States and the challenges of starting over in their sixties, including a doctor’s inability to practice without U.S. exams. He describes limited research due to lived experience, the need to fictionalize for narrative arc, and generally positive reader reception with over 100 strong reviews. Alex previews a companion novel based on his Jewish wife’s family history, In Darkness and Light, and shares his writing routine (about 500 words daily), views on marketing, and advice to aspiring writers to write daily and organize life around the craft.00:00 Welcome and Introductions01:05 What The Last Patient Is03:36 Romania Under Communism06:34 Research vs Lived Memory10:05 Reader Reception and Reviews11:28 Companion Book on Jewish Story17:06 Defection and Leaving Romania24:40 Why People Don’t Revolt27:38 Immigrating in Your Sixties29:50 Writing Routine and Marketing35:18 Marketing Grind Reality36:37 Breakthrough Success Stories38:57 Maturity To Write Novels41:25 Romania Readings Translation42:39 POV And Editing Notes45:15 Writing What You Know47:07 Immigrant Experience Theme54:01 Advice For Aspiring Authors56:59 History Books Connections01:01:18 Upcoming Books And Wrap UpIf you like what we do, you might consider buying us a coffee. You can do so here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/booklovercom⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://ko-fi.com/bookcompanion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us: Web: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://book-lovers-companion.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/book_companion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ez.fiction.7/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/book_companion/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6vyAyrh3zzsxNeexfyU0uA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Feedback is always welcome: [email protected] Music: English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny Video Link: https://youtu.be/mDcADD4oS5E

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related