During the demolition of St. Louis City Hospital, a diary was discovered among medical records in an old file cabinet in the Radiology Department. The entry was written by a terminally ill woman who had just discovered that her husband was in love with another woman. The entry was entitled, “Bitter Rendezvous.”
Needless to say, those words sparked my curiosity—and my imagination.
Struggling to comprehend his new and sometimes cruel reality involving poverty, disease, drug addiction, and racial tension, the young intern, Thomas Spezia, is not prepared for the rigors of training and the gritty reality of St. Louis City Hospital. When his mentor, Dr. Skelton, assigns the case of Lori Raines, a terminally ill patient, Thomas becomes overwhelmed by her needs and the demands of her philandering husband. He embarks on a treacherous road to self-discovery that indelibly transforms his life. Everyone has a dream, but every dream has a price. Thomas must answer the question that gnaws at him, day and night: Has the price become too high?
Author Interview
Where did you get the idea for the novel?
My latest release, THE DOCTOR’S TALE, is based on a diary found in a patient’s medical records during the demolition of St. Louis City Hospital. An entry called “Bitter Rendezvous” is particularly poignant. In it, a terminally ill patient describes her husband’s affair, and her own subsequent decision. The unfinished story really grabbed me, and I wanted to give it an ending.THE DOCTOR’S TALE is the result. It was just released on Amazon this past week.
How do you get inspired to write?
The movies, music and fashions of the 1940′s are inspiration for my novels, as well as snippets of conversations and/or people I meet that I find intriguing. I’m always asking, “What if?”
What are you currently working on?
I am currently at work on a romantic suspense novel called A BUNNY’S TALE. Of course, it has a femme fatale named “Bunny.”
What’s your advice for aspiring writers?
I would advise aspiring writers to strive for a daily production quota of at least five pages. Read, read, read, especially the work of those authors who write in a similar genre. Learn from them what works for you. Most importantly, write to find your own unique voice.
What’s the best thing about being a writer?
The best thing about being a writer is being able to create a fantasy world, the people who live there, the words they say, and the things they do. It’s so much fun, and when other people tell you they enjoyed reading your work, there is nothing better.
How do you deal with writer’s block?
Write through “writer’s block.” Just keep writing, even if you think it’s not going to be your best work. Some of my best scenes started out that way. Just remember, you can go back and rewrite it later. Don’t let yourself get in your own way.
