Garrett Holt: From Navy Intelligence to Post-Apocalyptic Author

In this episode of After the Fall, I sit down with Garrett Holt—an indie author and U.S. Navy professional whose background in intelligence, history, and political science brings a unique level of realism to his writing.Garrett is the author of Siege of the Forgotten Order, a post-apocalyptic novel that blends military strategy, dark science fiction, and elements of horror. We talk about how his real-world experience shapes his storytelling, what it’s like building a book and audience at the same time, and what actually goes into launching a series from scratch.Beyond writing, this conversation dives into survival psychology, leadership under pressure, and how large-scale systems begin to break down. It’s a grounded, practical look at the kinds of scenarios often explored in fiction—and why they resonate so strongly right now.Whether you’re a writer, a reader, or someone interested in preparedness and real-world risk, this episode offers both insight and perspective.🔍 Topics Covered: Writing post-apocalyptic fiction with real-world influence  Military experience and storytelling  Survival mindset and leadership  Building an audience as a new author  BookTok and modern publishing strategies  Collapse scenarios and system instability 🔑 SEO Keywords:post apocalyptic fiction, indie author podcast, survival mindset, societal collapse, disaster scenarios, military fiction, writing process, book marketing, booktok strategy, preparedness mindset, leadership in crisis, post apocalyptic series, systems failure, resilience