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 Introductions

01:05 What The Last Patient Is

03:36 Romania Under Communism

06:34 Research vs Lived Memory

10:05 Reader Reception and Reviews

11:28 Companion Book on Jewish Story

17:06 Defection and Leaving Romania

24:40 Why People Don’t Revolt

27:38 Immigrating in Your Sixties

29:50 Writing Routine and Marketing

35:18 Marketing Grind Reality

36:37 Breakthrough Success Stories

38:57 Maturity To Write Novels

41:25 Romania Readings Translation

42:39 POV And Editing Notes

45:15 Writing What You Know

47:07 Immigrant Experience Theme

54:01 Advice For Aspiring Authors

56:59 History Books Connections

01:01:18 Upcoming Books And Wrap Up

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