When the Story Chooses You: Mike Carlon Uncorks His Own Journey

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“I didn’t write The Waiting Room — it came through me. In the middle of grief, in the middle of the night, the story wouldn’t let me rest until I let it out.”

In this special episode, the tables turn: Amazon Bestseller and Uncorking a Story host Mike Carlon becomes the guest. Interviewed by author Janet Ettele in front of a live audience, Mike opens up about the deeply personal origins of The Waiting Room, a novel that came to him during illness, insomnia, and profound grief. He shares the spiritual experiences that shaped the story, the losses of his mother and brother that changed him, and the strange, unexplainable “downloads” that guided the writing. Along the way, we explore hospice miracles, near-death visions, humor as a survival tool, creativity as healing, and what it means to live fully while learning how to let goo.

The Creative Download: How the story appeared fully formed during a feverish 3AM awakening, blurring the line between imagination and something deeper. Grief as a Catalyst for Art: Mike discusses losing his mother and brother, and how writing became an unexpected part of his healing process. The Mystery of End-of-Life Experiences: Real-life hospice phenomena, including visions, “packing for a trip,” and loved ones visiting at the threshold. The Power of Spiritual Curiosity: How interviews with spiritual medium Anna Raimondi reframed his beliefs about life after death. Humor as Lifeline: Using comedy to balance heavy emotional terrain and to reveal authentic sibling dynamics. Writing Without a Map: Mike’s evolution from outlining to “discovering the story the way the reader will.” Living the Little Moments: Lessons learned from his brother’s final year: joy isn’t in big achievements, but in hummingbirds, porch breezes, and dance parties.