Lisa Akers has spent more than three decades leading some of the most complex technical systems in existence—from military satellites to NASA’s Orion spacecraft. As Chief Engineer for NASA’s Orion Human Spaceflight program at Lockheed Martin, she leads 1,600-person teams across five locations, navigating not only technical risk, but the human systems that determine whether excellence is sustainable.

Her upcoming book, The Emotional Architect: Engineering Human Systems for Technical Excellence, (Available for Pre-sale and Releasing June 1st) grew out of hard-won experience, deep reflection, and a realization that many technical leaders quietly burn themselves out trying to “carry” organizations that were never designed to support human complexity.

We sat down with Lisa to talk about her career, her unexpected journey into writing, and what technical leaders need to understand about emotional architecture.

From Crisis Engineer to Emotional Architect

Lisa never set out to be a writer.

“I studied literature in college and always believed writing was for someone else,” she says. “This book started as notes and stories I used while mentoring—so I wouldn’t have to tell the same lessons over and over.”

Over time, those stories began forming a pattern. What emerged was a framework: emotional architecture—the idea that human systems deserve the same rigor, intentionality, and design thinking as technical systems.

The insight was forged during a pivotal moment in her career. A team widely labeled as “difficult” became the highest-performing group she had ever led—not because the technology changed, but because the human dynamics were finally treated as a system to be engineered rather than endured.

“That experience changed everything,” Lisa says. “It showed me that technical problems live inside human systems—and ignoring that reality is what breaks leaders.”

Leadership, Mentoring, and Letting Go

Much of The Emotional Architect focuses on leadership identity—specifically, the shift from being the indispensable problem-solver to becoming a multiplier of capability.

Lisa is candid about how difficult that transition was.

“I liked being the person everyone needed,” she admits. “It made me feel valuable. Mentoring others meant letting go of that identity—and that felt like loss.”

Through mentoring emerging leaders, including building the award-winning Orion Technical Leadership Pipeline, Lisa learned that sustainable excellence requires leaders to stop absorbing emotional labor that should be designed into systems.

“You can’t hero your way to a healthy organization,” she says. “At some point, the system has to work without you.”

A Whole-Systems View of Leadership

Outside of aerospace, Lisa brings an unusually holistic lens to leadership. One thing that often surprises readers? She’s a certified master herbalist.

“I went through that training while dealing with autoimmune health issues,” she explains. “It gave me a whole-systems view of how the human body and mind work together. That perspective shows up everywhere in my leadership now.”

That systems thinking underpins her work with the Human Variable Institute and her weekly Technical Leadership Thursdays writing, where she explores the human side of technical excellence with engineering precision.

Who This Book Is—and Isn’t—For

Lisa is clear about who will benefit most from The Emotional Architect.

“This book is for leaders and aspiring leaders who know the human element can be engineered alongside technical excellence,” she says. “It’s for people who care deeply about quality, about their teams, and about not losing themselves in the process.”

It’s not for those looking for shortcuts or five-step formulas. The work requires reflection, intention, and the willingness to redesign systems—not just behaviors.

Looking Ahead

Lisa’s first book launches in Spring 2026, but it won’t be her last. As she wrote, she realized the ideas had more depth than one volume could hold.

“The next three books started bubbling up while I was writing the first,” she says. “Apparently, once I started pulling on this thread, it wasn’t letting go.”

For now, her focus remains on helping technical leaders build organizations that don’t depend on burnout, heroics, or quiet self-sacrifice to function.

Because, as Lisa puts it: “Sustainable excellence isn’t about doing more. It’s about designing better systems—for humans.”

Learn more about Lisa Akers and her work at lisaakers.com

The holiday season is here — that lovely, chaotic, emotional stretch of the year where we’re all searching for gifts that mean something. If you’re looking for presents that nurture, uplift, and inspire (instead of ending up re-gifted in March), Dr. Martha Lucas’s books are the perfect choice.

Dr. Martha isn’t just a practitioner. She’s a healer, a teacher, a researcher, a storyteller, and a woman who has spent decades helping people feel healthier, calmer, stronger, and more connected to themselves. And honestly? There’s no better gift than that.

Who Is Dr. Martha Lucas?

Dr. Lucas is a rare combination of grounded science and deeply intuitive healing. With a Ph.D. in Research Psychology and more than 20 years practicing Traditional Chinese Medicine, she has taught MDs around the world, developed powerful diagnostic techniques, and built a reputation as a practitioner who can explain the most complex concepts in clear, human ways.

Her specialties range from internal medicine to trauma release, emotional well-being, cosmetic acupuncture, and longevity practices that help people feel more vibrant at any age. Her clinics in Denver and Littleton, Colorado are well known for personalized treatments, natural collagen-stimulating cosmetic techniques, and a patient-centered approach that leaves people feeling truly cared for.

In addition to her medical practice, Dr. Martha is also a Reiki Master, energy specialist, educator, and the creator of the all-natural My Zen Skin Care line—a botanical powerhouse inspired by Chinese herbs and holistic skincare philosophy.

This holiday, you can bring her wisdom straight into someone’s hands or treat yourself.

Gift Idea #1: Catholic Daughters of Catholic Mothers: A Memoir and Guided Journal

For the nostalgic soul, the spiritual seeker, or anyone reflecting on their past.

This candid and emotional memoir explores Dr. Martha’s upbringing in a devout Catholic family during the 60s and 70s. From choosing saint names to strict nuns, whispered confessions, and the complicated dance between guilt and identity, it’s a story that’s both deeply personal and widely relatable.

But this isn’t just a memoir—it’s also a guided journal. Through thoughtful prompts, Dr. Martha invites readers to examine their own beliefs, memories, and truths. Even non-Catholics will find connection, wisdom, and surprising humor in these pages.

Perfect for:
• moms and daughters
• women reflecting on childhood or spirituality
• memoir lovers
• fans of nostalgic, heartfelt storytelling
• people wrestling with guilt, identity, and emotional excavation
• anyone who grew up in a strict or religious household
• book club groups needing a rich winter read
• the friend who journals, processes, and introspects as a hobby

Why this book is a meaningful holiday gift:
Winter is made for reflection—quiet evenings, blankets, warm lights glowing on old emotions. This book slips perfectly into that seasonal mood. Dr. Martha doesn’t just tell her story; she creates a space for the reader to tell their own. The guided journal component transforms it from a good read to a personal discovery tool.

Whether your gift recipient grew up Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, or in a family that believed “because I said so” was a divine commandment, they’ll see themselves in these stories. The childhood sins, the fear, the humor, the absurdity—all the universal growing-up stuff wrapped in a Catholic bow.

Turn it into a beautiful holiday bundle:
• a blank journal
• pens
• tea or spiritual candles
• a soft scarf for cozy winter reading
• a votive candle for nostalgia and ambiance
• a pretty bookmark tucked into the confession chapter

This book becomes an introspective winter ritual, not just a read.

Available on Amazon and in Other Stores

Gift Idea #2: Victorious Aging: Tips for Your Best Health at Any Age

For the wellness lover, the life-long learner, the person committed to aging with power and purpose.

In her acclaimed guide to living vibrantly, Dr. Martha reframes aging as something to celebrate rather than fear. With her signature blend of Chinese medicine, psychology, and practical lifestyle wisdom, she teaches readers how to:

• boost energy and resilience
• stabilize emotional health
• support longevity naturally
• develop habits that nourish mind, body, and spirit

This book makes an amazing gift for adults of any age and is especially appreciated by people who want realistic, holistic strategies for feeling better every single day.

Dr. Martha’s national media features include USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and numerous beauty, health, and lifestyle magazines. She is a trusted expert in wellness and longevity, and it shows on every page.

Perfect for:
• the wellness-obsessed friend
• your aunt who’s always researching supplements
• your mom who wants to feel younger without buying another miracle cream
• anyone turning 40, 50, 60, or beyond this holiday season
• people who want practical longevity advice, not trendy fluff
• those who appreciate Eastern medicine perspectives
• patients, clients, or friends who want to feel more control over their health

Why this book is such a powerful gift:
Aging hits everyone differently, but Dr. Martha reframes it into something empowering. This book doesn’t preach unrealistic “reverse aging.” Instead, it offers doable, encouraging, beautifully grounded tips based on real clinical expertise.

During the holidays, when people are naturally thinking about resolutions, renewal, and taking better care of themselves, this book serves as the perfect jumpstart. And because Dr. Martha blends Chinese medical wisdom, emotional practices, and physical vitality techniques, it resonates across generations and backgrounds.

It’s also ideal for anyone who’s tired of anti-aging culture and wants the truth: joyfully growing older is possible, and you can start now.

Turn it into a holiday wellness bundle:
• cozy socks or slippers
• herbal tea (especially longevity blends)
• a Gua Sha or gentle facial roller
• a simple journal for tracking health goals
• a coupon or card for self-care time (massage, acupuncture, etc.)
• a mini bottle of Dr. Martha’s My Zen Skin Care if you want to go deluxe

Wrap the whole theme around nourishment, rejuvenation, and entering the new year strong.

Available on Amazon and in Other Stores

Gift Idea #3: Dr. Martha’s 52 Weeks of Victorious Aging: Tips to Ensure a Happy and Healthy Year at Any Age (Featuring illustrations by Wendy Spurlin!)

For the planner, the journaler, the self-care enthusiast, or anyone who loves simple weekly goals.

This charming, uplifting book offers one doable tip each week to support emotional, physical, and energetic well-being. No dates. No complicated system. Just one powerful shift you can make each week, at your own pace.

Readers use it as:

• a weekly ritual
• a mindset reset
• a gentle guide for year-round wellness
• a gift that keeps giving long after the holidays

As one reviewer says, it’s “a great little bible of useful information.”

Plus, the illustrations—created by Wendy Spurlin—bring warmth, wit, and beauty to the journey.

Perfect for:
• anyone who loves simple, doable self-care routines
• people who get overwhelmed by daily goals
• new retirees
• newly health-conscious millennials
• your organized friend who sets weekly intentions
• anyone who wants a low-pressure, feel-good structure for the new year
• readers who loved Victorious Aging and want a weekly guide with control

Why this book is an ideal holiday gift:
This book is the definition of “gift that keeps giving.” Every week offers one tip—not a lecture, not a program. Just a small, smart, manageable action that builds a healthier, happier life.

And because there are no dates, the reader can start anytime. Holiday gift? Perfect. New Year’s motivation? Perfect. Mid-February slump? Still perfect.

The weekly format feels encouraging rather than demanding, and the tone is uplifting, practical, and infused with Dr. Martha’s warm, seasoned wisdom.

Plus:
Your illustrations, Wendy, give the book heart, charm, and a delightful visual experience that makes each week feel inviting. It’s a truly beautiful package.

Turn it into a weekly ritual gift bundle:
• a candle labeled “Start your week here”
• a weekly planner (minimalist or decorative)
• a cute bookmark or sticky notes
• herbal tea bags the reader can use each Sunday or Monday as they read the tip
• a pretty pen wrapped in ribbon
• a printed card encouraging them to choose their “week-start day”

This is an excellent gift for groups too — coworkers, friends, students, or wellness coaching clients.

Available on Amazon and in Other Stores

Give Gifts That Matter This Year

Whether you’re shopping for loved ones or creating your own stack of winter reading, Dr. Martha’s books offer wisdom, comfort, humor, and practical tools for living well. They make meaningful, heartfelt gifts that stand out among the usual holiday chaos — and deliver inspiration all year long.

This season, give something that lasts. Give the gift of healing, joy, and victorious living.

Let the season of wellness begin!

I'd like to welcome Hayde Romero to our family of authors. While Hayde has written and published other books including the children's book, The Adventures of Mimi and Lulu, she has joined us to help her write and publish her memoir. She answered a few questions for us so you can get to know her better.

Q: If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you/ Why?

A: Becky G will definitely play me as the lead role. She is talented, gorgeous and Mexican. From what I know of her, I feel like both our backgrounds are similar. We both grew up in a tight knit Mexican family with one dream in mind. To be successful. With success comes money. And with money we can help our parents financially. I attended one of her concerts last year, where she said she started singing to help her family financially. That’s always been my goal. It has been my mantra since I was little. Make money to help my family. I think Becky G would be perfect. 

Q: What are your passions in regards to giving back to the community and/or world?

A: I have a close relationship with my dad. He has been a hard worker all his life. I’ve witnessed how hard he has worked over the years for his family by working blue collar jobs that barely got us through when me and my siblings were young. When I see street vendors, I see my dad in them. I see the hard work they’re doing to bring home food to their families. And every time, I wish I had stacks of money to give out.

Q: Who are your favorite authors?

A: My favorite author is Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre is my favorite book. Charlotte was so ahead of her time. I love reading the strong female voices she created. I do also enjoy a nice Nicholas Sparks novel, though. 

Q: Do you remember writing as a child or did the writing bug come later?

A:  I wasn’t able to speak English until I was in fourth grade. I could barely speak the language let alone write it. The only memory I have of writing and actually enjoying it was an assignment in high school. Every day we were supposed to write in a journal based on the character Hester Prynne from The Scarlet Letter. It was free writing which I enjoyed quite a bit. 

Q: What’s your writing schedule like?

A: Most of my writing is done at night when my girls are asleep. I’ve tried writing while they’re awake but their tiny hands are drawn to my keyboard. I typically write in a notebook instead of a computer.

Q: Tell us more about The Adventures of Mimi and Lulu and what drove your to write it.

A: One morning, I woke up with an idea to write a short children’s book. I didn’t struggle much to write it. The stories simply flowed in my mind. This book consists of two short stories. I came up with a third one but due to the financial expense, I was only able to pay the illustrator for two of the stories. Since I was self-published, I hired the awesome illustrator, Lauren Curtis. The Adventures of Mimi and Lulu is available on Amazon.

Thanks to Hayde for taking the time to tell us more about herself. Her memoir, about the loss of one of her daughters will release in 2025. If you'd like to know more about her and her upcoming memoir, follow the links below.

Facebook @Boundless Souls HRomero

Instagram @boundlesshealingsouls

Amazon @Hayde Romero

Goodreads @Hayde Romero

A while back we published Pieces of Eight by Michele Emmy, and recently we unveiled the new cover for the book, shown to the right. So, it's about time we post her interview.

Michele lives in Littleton, Colorado with her husband and son. A homeschool mom and tutor, she has written scores of parenting and education articles for newspapers and magazines, as well as fantasy and science fiction stories and novellas. A Clarion graduate, decades of daydreaming finally paid off when she won the Colorado Gold award for fantasy.

Hex-A-Gone is her first novel full length novel and we'll be publishing it in April. Pieces of Eight is an ecofiction novella about a desperate Wetworld confronting the reality of the world above.

Soaring ocean temperatures are destroying the oceans, the scorching heat and putrid waste slaughtering its denizens. A desperate Wetworld sends one of its own to Dryworld to assess and mitigate the threat. But as their emissary struggles to understand and confront their foe, she realizes that if Wetworld wins its battle for survival, something more vital will vanish forever.

Now, let's get to know Michele a little better.

Q: How would you describe yourself/life in seven words?

A: Obsessed with recipes. Delighted when sentences work.

Q: Besides being a writer, what other types of jobs have you held?

A: I've worked as a nanny, homeschool mom, tutor, presidential campaign staffer, customer service representative, medical practice manager, community and commercial barter club owner and operator, magazine editor, and social media advisor.

Q: How do you go about researching for a book?

A: That’s the beauty of writing fantasy. I don’t have to. I make it all up.

Q: What would you like your readers to come away with after reading your book?

A: Mostly I want them to enjoy themselves while reading.

Q: If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?  Explain?

A: Seriously? Because that’s what I said to my husband when he popped the question, and it kind of exemplifies my attitude towards life in general.

Thanks to Michele for sharing a few things about her life and writing process. Now here's a teaser from the beginning of Pieces of Eight that you can get on Amazon in eBook.

Pieces of Eight Opener

The language of octopi has no words, no concepts. Only senses. Thousands of them, distinct, each a harbinger of the world unfolding around us. The cease of motion when a predator glides past, the taint of death eddying around it. The cloying stench of coral, comparable to a human with questionable oral hygiene. The soft crack of newly hatched eggs.

We cannot smell, you say? Sounds are muted underwater, shadows distorted? To you, perhaps, who smell only through nostrils, hear only through ears. Wetworld creatures do not separate the senses—they are as tangled as a kelp canopy, accentuating one another.

Even when we hunt, we do not destroy, but envelop. Predator and prey become one as we consume, are consumed, and as part of some new entity, consume again. It is our dance, and we dance it through eternity. Wetworld exists, how would you put it? All for one and one for all.

Octopi are solitary creatures. We lurk in caves, nestle in crevasses—except when on the hunt. Then we glide, a deeper black against dark water. We unfold, senses prickling, until sustenance appears. And then we lunge. Buoyed by a blinding determination that temporarily thrusts aside our shyness—we MUST feed! we WILL feed!—we envelop what we need and retreat, sated. But not merely by flesh—it is the essence of our prey that sustains us, connects us. We savor this feeling, this unity, until our bellies shrink once again and hunger drives us outward.

That was all I knew of life. To me, it was enough. Until the day you plucked me from my world, and altered yours forever.

Cover design for Pieces of Eight was created by Wendy Spurlin at ArmLin House Productions. Learn more about our professional book cover and illustration services for authors and publishers.

Hello, and welcome to my interview, although it's more of a brain dump. I figure it's fitting to go 1st person considering I'm the one who posts the interviews in this blog.

Who am I, and why did I decide to start a publishing and video production company? Well, there's the fact that it's what I know best. I've been a writer forever and have written all kinds of stuff. The only thing I love to do more is create artwork, which is another huge part of what we produce in children's books and videos.

If we start from my very beginning, I was born in the south suburbs of Chicago but have lived more years of my life in Colorado. Don't worry, I don't plan to go through a boring chronological recount of my life. It's just that these two places say a lot about who I am: comfortable in the big city and even happier isolated in the woods. Since you can get lost very easily in either place, where I've lived could explain why I'm most comfortable in my own head.

I'll bring up life during COVID next, because it really changed my direction. Before it hit, I was running a writers critique group and trying to finish up book 2 in my main fantasy book series. Let's just say that editing my own fiction frustrates me to the point I'm in physical pain. It takes me forever. No surprise, I can be a very unhappy fiction writer. Anyway, I spend a lot of time on distractions, writing the nonfiction I love, helping others refine their stories, and picking up odd jobs. Anything to avoid my own book. COVID was a perfect distraction! I did something very drastic...I want back to school in my 50s. I completed 3/4 of an Associates in Multimedia, Graphic Design, and Illustration. I had so much fun! My doing this kind of surprised everyone, especially sing I had vowed never to take another college course in my mid-40s. Education is another one of those distractions, and I could never settle on a degree. A story for another time.

After all the years I've been a writer, doing various work here and there, helping others has always been something that comes naturally. Bringing my long-time art talent back into the mix, relearning art from a digital perspective, has been a perfect complement to it all. What I'm doing makes me happy, so why not apply it to a business.

Speaking of visual arts, I had no idea how much I'd prefer to tell stories with pictures. Best lesson I got out of college in old age. LOL! Biggest surprise was taking an Adobe After Effects class and falling in love with video editing, which is a key area I'm focusing on for ArmLin House, working hard to bring in lots of clients who want to venture into representing their stories with video.

But I also had a chance to reconnect with my roots by taking a drawing class where we used old school media to draw stuff like the still life I've shared here. I've always had a talent for copying what I see, so this was a fun assignment. Back to my living in my head, spend some time doing this and that's where you'll be for hours upon hours.

I really look forward to talking to everyone out there in many more blog posts. There will be more interviews with all the authors joining us, and I'll be sharing my knowledge as well. And I'll be introducing you to all my artist friends I love working with. There's just so much going on already with the company and there's much more to come.

ArmLin House Productions welcomes Miranda Tanner to our team of children's book authors. As you'll see, she's unapologetically herself and her imaginations is incredibly vivid. When asked to describe herself, she says, "Friendly, fun & spontaneous. Sprinkle of mom, Pixiedust."

In Miranda's book series, a chemical spill flows through a town and turns animals and inanimate objects into unique monsters with vibrant personalities. After humans force them to relocate, these spunky creatures build a community, make forever friends, and find their authentic selves, all the while experiencing life through valuable lessons about acceptance, manners, kindness towards others, and more... 

When asked how the ideas for this series came to mind, she says, "My son Wyatt used to ask me to watch or read things to him about silly monsters. He was never satisfied. So one day I asked him what kind of monsters he wanted to see, and I started drawing. He named several of them: Ugh, Pierre, Boo, Flaps, and Vee are just a few. Then one day I decided to start writing about them in poetry--I journal through poetry. Then it just kept going. And now my son Maverick is into it, and he's my assistant." 

Probably the best way to introduce Miranda is with her poem about herself mixed in with a few of her mutant monsters.

Miranda Tanner is an artist, a writer, and avid gardener.

 Lover of cheese, proficient wanderer.

She collects earrings & Halloween costumes.

In spring she gets excited when the flowers bloom.

Her favorite color is green,

She loves movies that make her scream.

She dislikes being told what to do,

And prefers to wear comfortable shoes.

Walks over running.

Tea over coffee.

Sushi over steak.

She loves to make mistakes,

And learn different lessons, 

in life there are many more questions. 

Her favorite plant is ivy.

She especially loves a great tamale. 

She lives life for fun, especially enjoys the sun.

Mardi Gras is her culture

Bright colors are her infrastructure.

She never meets a stranger,

Always ready for the danger.

Pleased to meet you, my new friend.

Thanks for reading until the end.

In Catholic Daughters of Catholic Mothers, Dr. Lucas candidly recounts memories of her Catholic daughter's childhood. The book beginning with her parents choosing which saint to name her after and continuing through her Catholic grade school education, taught by nuns, the founders of America’s parochial schools. This memoir portrays strict discipline and rules of a system where independent thinking was discouraged. Everything was forbidden, everyone was a sinner, and every bad action could result in “going to Hell.”

How would you describe yourself and your life in seven words?

I love my family and my work.

Besides being a writer, what other types of jobs and careers have you held?

My careers have included Practitioner of Chinese medicine, Research Psychologist, Professor, Administrative Assistant, and even a waitress at Krispy Kreme.

I'm particularly proud of my Pulse Diagnosis Biofeedback and Balancing course that I teach worldwide. And my course that focuses on treating fertility challenges in men and women, which was born while treating one of my daughters who has an autoimmune condition.

How did you juggle life, learning, and career with motherhood while your children were growing up?

Probably not very well when my children were young, and I was a single mother working part-time and pursuing my Ph.D. I am blessed that all of my children are fine and they have good lives, but they do remember (and like to remind me) about living what they called “the ghetto life” of being home alone while I worked or was at school.

Maybe this is why I am so committed to being available to my grandchildren. While I love practicing Chinese medicine and writing, my absolute favorite role in life is that of grandmother. I adores my grandchildren and spends as much time as I can with them.

How did the idea for your book come to you?

Over the years, just thinking about being a Catholic daughter has shaped my life. In my adulthood, I started to question church authority while grappling with my own identity. I found myself becoming what I call an “ambiguous” Catholic. It influenced me to help other women move through the emotional issues that religious influences during childhood can create.

What was your favorite scene or section to write?

I really enjoyed writing the chapter on Confession, mainly because it seems so ludicrous--almost funny if it wasn’t so wrong and sad--to have 7-year-olds feeling like they have to make up sins in order to please the priest in their confessions. What 7-year-old has sin?

This book also has a guided journal, the questions based on my experiences and desires to help others discover their truth. It allows readers to explore their Catholic mother-daughter ties and reflect on important life lessons. And the questions will help anyone, even if they aren’t a Catholic daughter of a Catholic mother.

What other projects are you working on that you would like to tell us about?

I’m writing an anti-aging guide book about how to age as well as possible. I'm also writing a book about feeling the unconditional love of a grandchild and the sadness that happens when they grow up and that unconditional love seems to go away.

I teach Chinese Medicine courses worldwide including a Mei Zen Cosmetic Acupuncture System for face and neck, which is one of the best ways to keep our skin looking younger. In order to enhance the aging process even further, I have created My Zen Skin Care, a natural skin care line that uses Chinese herbs and essential oils with active cosmeceuticals to benefit your skin.

Thanks to Dr. Lucas for taking the time to tell us about herself. Use the links below to learn more about her life and career.

CONNECT WITH DR. LUCAS

books2read.com/catholicdaughtersjournal (Where to Purchase Book)
acupuncturewoman.com | myzenskincare.com | lucasteachings.com
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