Hello Readers!

This month, rather than going chronologically through my (lengthy) writer journey, I’ll talk about why I write what I do. Or, to put it another way, how do I choose what to write?

The common advice to aspiring authors is: Write what you know. But that was problematic for me. I’m a pathologist. (Am? Was? I’m retired now, but still consider myself to be a pathologist.) I didn’t work in forensics, solving crimes, but as a hospital-based pediatric and renal pathologist. I loved my work, but couldn’t see it making for riveting fiction. Besides, I read for the escape, to get away from the day-to-day. Writing fiction with a medical focus defeated the point. Rather than writing what I know, I wanted to write what I enjoy reading.

For me, that’s historical fiction of all varieties. So here’s a plug for my favorite genre. The Historical Novel Society is a community of historical fiction fans, including readers, reviewers, writers, agents, and editors. They put out a print magazine, The Historical Novels Review, a quarterly journal chockful of recommendations. They have resources for readers and writers on their website. And, they have a biannual conference that is one of the best writers’ conferences I’ve ever been to. (I keep going back!) This year’s conference will be held in Las Vegas, June 26-June 28. The theme will be: Celebrating Historical Fiction in its Many Forms.

I’m excited to be going, and especially excited to be presenting twice. I’ll be on a panel discussion of historical romance. And I’ll be leading a discussion, a cozy chat, on writing in different subgenres, echoing the conference theme (more info below).

So, back to writing what you enjoy reading. Although my manuscripts-in-the-drawer are all over the historical fiction map, I keep coming back to biographical fiction. The Queen’s Daughter, although targeted to a YA audience, was at its heart, biographical. So whose life story did I want to fictionalize next?

Now that I’m retired, and the medical world no longer reflects my day-to-day life, I’ve grown fascinated by the history of medicine—the people making that history. One of those history-makers was Dr. William Stewart Halsted, the first surgeon-in-chief at Johns Hopkins Hospital when it was brand new, at the end of the nineteenth century. A brilliant, innovative experimental surgeon, he was also a cocaine and morphine addict. His career and his life were saved by the OR nurse he wed, Caroline Hampton. (I cringe to define her by the men in her life, but to work in some historical context, she was also the niece of the Confederate general, Wade Hampton.)

And so, although I always said I would never write medical-focused fiction, here I am, writing it. Halsted’s story, Till Taught by Pain, will be published by Regal House in November. And if that isn’t about-face enough, I’m currently working on a biographical novel of Dr. Dorothy Reed Mendenhall—a pathologist. So, maybe…write what you know?

If you’re looking for some absolutely gorgeous literary biographical fiction, a perfect example of the genre is Colm Toίbίn’s The Magician, about Thomas Mann.

If instead you’re looking for absolutely gorgeous literary fiction with a medical bent, there is always Abraham Verghese’s The Covenant of Water.

Have a great month! See you in March when I’ll talk about writing historical romance!

S.C.C.