What inspired you to write this book?
I like this question, and I like it
because I did feel inspired to write it. I felt that it was not
just me that was writing it but that I had a major helpful source
outside of myself that guided me through.
Some people already know that I am a
physician and that I have provided prenatal care, delivered babies,
and treated all sorts of ailments related to women over more than
thirty years.
My desire to write this book sprung
from my writing of an earlier book, called The Unintended: R u sure??
In that book I left something hanging. It really wasn’t
intentional of me to leave it hanging, but I had nothing more to
write-the story was over. But with the passing of some months,
something drove me to follow one character further-a character that
hopefully left the reader wondering about her at the end of that
book. And I had fun researching and carrying it through. Part
of the fun was making sure that I presented everything appropriately
since the plot involves a topic that is still quite controversial for
some people, while another part of the plot involves a bit of the
paranormal and a bit of fantasy, although, who knows, the fantasy
that I wrote about may turn out, in the future, to be reality.
Do you have a favorite character, or in
what ways do any of the characters represent you?
I do have a favorite character and she
is the main character. I am not fond of monotony and neither is
she. Several of the other characters do reflect bits and pieces
of me, and the story does as well. I am very reluctant to say
much about the main character, but since I have alluded to something
in the first question as to being controversial, I guess I can tell
you that this character embodies something that stirs emotions in
many people. But you have to find what it is about her on your
own, and that is found out early in the book-you just have to be
patient (No pun intended-you know I am a doctor). Readers of
The Unintended… should know what I’m talking about if they were
careful to read the Epilogue closely. But it is important to
know that one does not need to read the prior book to read A Secret
Lies Deep. It’s story can stand by itself.
I can say, as you will see, that the
main character is bright and is a thinker. I, too, am a
thinker. I enjoy contemplating/meditating. I am not one
to blurt things out without thinking about what I write or speak. I
hope that I reflect this in the entire novel. You will also
find in the book what my favorite winter sport is. And you
wouldn’t know this unless I told you, but I attribute different
expertises that the characters enjoy to knowledgeable friends that I
have had the pleasure to have known over the years.
What surprises did you come across when
writing the book?
Surprises, hmmm? I can’t really
say surprises, but since I did do quite a bit of research, and that
means a lot, I did discover much that I did not know before. I’ll
list a few things. You’ll just have to find out for yourself
how they fit into the story.
The extensiveness of voice
training
Shipping canals in the early
eastern U.S.
The number of minor leaks in oil
pipelines throughout the U.S. and the extensiveness of the pipeline
system
How a city, named after its
founder, lost its name due to a bet, and was renamed after the man
who won the bet
How some women enjoy really
restrictive clothing-learned this while doing research and attending
a local genealogic portrayal related to the 19th century
Where IPA originated, its alcohol
content and why it tends to be bitter
Some burial places not moved
before buildings were built over them
I certainly hope this potpourri of
tidbits wets your appetite for some of what you will find.
They all may seem disjointed, but I guarantee that the story is
not.
If your book was made into a film, who
would you like to play the lead characters?
This is a fun question, but you’re
intent on wanting me to give away something critical of the
main character. Let me just say that the actress that would
need to play Eryn would need to be talented. She would need to
portray a pretty, smart, conscientious and sociable person on the
outside while hiding underneath some major anxiety and pain. The
actress would need to look as though she were in her mid twenties and
have...readers will need to fill out the details in their own minds.
But I’m avoiding the main question,
aren’t I? Since I don’t watch many movies and I’m not a
“Spring-chicken” any longer, I’ll have to give you some
actresses that I have been fond of and that would fit the molds(fit
the mold is an important point here). You can then replace them
with similar talents that are younger. First would probably be
Julia Roberts-like for Eryn, the main character. For Diana,
Eryn’s sidekick and foil, I believe someone like Mindy Kaling or
Kat Dennings would be good, although an African-Amer actress would
probably work the best.
Anything you would like to say about
writing? Encouraging words for potential writers?
Definitely!
I didn’t remotely see myself as a
writer. I mean, I did my share of writing opinion pieces and
comments related to medical and political matters, but that’s not
the same as writing a book. Some of my medical pieces got
published, but they were not of any great length. The political
ones probably found themselves in the circular files under some
legislative aide’s desk. Actually, several legislators did
write back.
I attempted to hire a ghostwriter for
my first book. I eventually wrote it myself. That
ghostwriter failed because the writer was still in school and became
too busy for the project. So, my idea remained dormant in my
mind until about 6 years later when I had more time on my hands, and
I said to myself, What the hell, I’ll try it myself. What do
I have to lose? It turned out to be a great experience.
I don’t know if you will need to do this, but I needed to do
research. I’m not one to just throw works at a page. I
wanted to make it as accurate as I could, even though it was fiction.
I think I’ve been influenced by authors such as Fredrick
Forsythe, who I admire for the detail he puts into his descriptions.
While I am not as detailed oriented, I like to get my facts
straight. So, what am I trying to say? Don’t satisfy
yourself with writing something superficial. I don’t mean it
has to be deeply spiritual or complicated, but do enough research to
make yourself happy with what you want others to read. If you
are not satisfied, work on it until you satisfy yourself, and then
have others read it. Try not to get frustrated. Maintain
your own style but accept constructive criticism from others. PS-
This may not work for you, but I found long hot showers and drinks on
the back porch in solitude helped me to further my stories.
About the Author
As you already know, I am a
professional writer. But I'm also a physician. I spent many years
practicing, and practicing means working, as an obstetrician and
gynecologist. I still maintain three state licenses but I spend my
time now writing.
The fictional stories that I have
written have sprung out of time spent treating patients. The stories
are unique in that although they are fictional, they have much in the
way of historical fact and medical fact. They also include humor,
although mostly subtle and are flavored with a touch of fantasy.
I grew up in a city of near
thirty-five thousand in the north-central part of Illinois. My higher
education was at Loyola University of Chicago, followed by medical
school at Loyola-Stritch School of Medicine. I treated patients for
25 years in Illinois before moving to Ohio, where I now
reside.
Besides writing, my time is filled taking care of my home,
gardening, hiking, and simply enjoying the fresh air outdoors and the
beautiful plants and animals that nature provides. I am always trying
to introduce new plants that are not invasive, conserve water and
attract butterflies. The reason for wanting to attract butterflies
has a story, but let me just say here, it mostly has to do with their
variety of color and the way they appear to float on the air as they
fly-they are calming.
Links:
The author is giving away 5 ebook
copies of A Secret Lies Deep!
