Q&A With Eric Fisher

Mickey Mikkelson has connected me with author Eric Fisher. Eric is the author of two books, The Martial Art Of Recovery & his new book Buried Alive.

Q: Welcome to Book Notions Eric! Would you please give a brief description of both The Martial Art Of Recovery & your new book Buried Alive?

A: Hi there! Thanks for letting me share my books. The Martial Art of Recovery is a nonfiction book that translates martial arts concepts and techniques into helpful strategies for substance use concerns, anxiety, depression, and trauma. I delve into what helps someone holistically with substance use from a psychological, social, physical, and spiritual viewpoint. I also share how to view substance use and process behaviours (e.g., gambling) as a metaphorical opponent by bringing in my martial arts experience and knowledge. The book contains 66 techniques and 98 practical concepts as well as a “how-to” for practically applying the interventions. Striking self-sabotage begins with a single move.

Buried Alive is a nonfiction book that’s half real-life narrative and half self-help focused. The book, inspired by a true story, details how my father was in a near fatal accident in rural Tennessee while digging for Native American artifacts called arrowheads. If not for his two friends who came along, he would have died. I show their three perspectives via documented interviews of what occurred on that day of the incident. I interweave self-help concepts that are applied practically to the scary accident. The importance of balance with particular topics, the “CIA” acronym, healthiness of social connection, and a mysterious “W” word are explored as self-help strategies.

Q: How long did it take you to write both The Martial Art Of Recovery & Buried Alive?

A: As far as rough drafts, The Martial Art of Recovery took me about 14 months to write and Buried Alive around four months.

Q: What are some messages and emotions you hope readers learn and feel after reading The Martial Art Of Recovery & Buried Alive?

A: I hope that readers feel informed, curious, enthusiastic, and optimistic after reading The Martial Art of Recovery. I do hope they are able to learn, through an American Kenpo lens, the techniques and direction to help them with substance use challenges, trauma, depression, and anxiety. There are ways to intervene with addiction, often seen as cunning and exceedingly challenging. My desire is for the reader to gain awareness and strategies to help empower themselves. To gain an understanding of how to deal with self-sabotage effectively.

I hope readers feel inspired, energized, relieved (in a good way), and introspective after reading Buried Alive. My hope is that they learn different ways to excavate themselves from the “dirt,” whether that be shame, guilt, toxic relationships, regret, self-hatred, etc. I hope the reader finds inspiration in the real-life story about a man who came close to death yet was able to achieve survival with the help of his friends.

Q: Are you currently writing your next book and can you reveal what it is about?

A: Yes, I am. I’m happy to reveal that the rough draft of the new manuscript is finished! I’ll leave the working title a mystery for now. The book is a memoir of my experiences, mistakes, successes, and learnings as a professional therapist. I’ve sprinkled a few self-help suggestions corresponding to the material that beginning therapists, seasoned therapists, and even those not in the helping profession may relate to from a general point of view. I look forward to sharing the book in the future with everyone!