Kim, thank
you so much for inviting me to be on your blog.
This is my first guest appearance ever!!
Some of my
friends have recently been asking me how I happened to end up writing “A
White Coat is My Closet”. It’s
hard to say exactly how this odyssey began.
Writing a book has always been one of the things on my bucket list. When I hit fifty and was forced to
acknowledge that my life was approaching the downhill slide, I thought why not
start? And so, with a burst of
enthusiasm, I began the project despite having no clue what I was going to
write about. The progress was initially
sure and steady and then, at about the forth chapter, I suddenly found myself
thinking; “Shit, four chapters down, probably twenty-two more to go.” I wasn’t sure that I had twenty-two pages left in me much less whole
chapters. Worse, I still hadn’t even
begun to work out a storyline. Things
came to a screeching stand still.
What
occurred over the subsequent months was surprising. Despite trying desperately to give up the
idea of writing a book, I somehow couldn’t shake it. Somewhere, in the deep recesses of my mind,
the whole story started coming together.
My novel is a work of fiction but it ends up describing issues that are
near and dear to my heart. Because in my
real life I’m a pediatrician, I’m
extremely passionate about providing health care to children in a compassionate
and loving manner. In addition, I’m a
gay man who grew up in a small community and really struggled with accepting
who I really was. Somehow, the
combination of those two life experiences found a voice that evolved into a
story.
Borrowing
from the blurb:
Zack Sheldon
doesn’t have time to be lonely. He’s in his last year as a pediatric resident, almost
married to the job, and busy with the joys and sorrows that come with providing
medical care to children. Professionally, he’s confident, accomplished, and
respected. But personally he’s too insecure to approach a sexy man like Sergio
Quartulli, or even to imagine that Sergio might be attracted to
him.
Zack spots
Sergio from across the gym, and then a chance meeting poolside somehow turns
into a date. Before Zack knows it, they’ve become a couple, but Zack’s white
coat is his closet at the hospital, and committing to a relationship with
Sergio makes it difficult for Zack to continue hiding behind it. On the other
hand, he grew up in a small town where being gay was shameful and he works in
an environment that can sometimes be homophobic, so it’s hard for him to open
up about who he is. Before Zack can make a choice on his own terms,
circumstances force him to make a decision. He can continue to hide, or he can
step out from behind his white coat and risk everything for love.
So
there you have it. “A White Coat is my Closet” is cornucopia of experiences playing
themselves out in a fictional story while attempting to remain true to those
aspects of my life that were fundamentally most important; seeking self-acceptance, the wonderful and
yet challenging process of becoming a doctor, and falling in love. Hopefully, if you are inclined to read the
book, you will feel like you’ve participated in the journey.
It’s also worth mentioning that because I feel so fortunate
to have been given the opportunity to have my book published, I’ve decided to
play the good fortune forward. All the
royalties from the sale of “A White Coat is my Closet” will go
to the HOMELESS YOUTH PROJECT at the
LA GAY AND LESBIAN CENTER. By purchasing my book, you are not only
lending your support to my dream of becoming an author, but are also
contributing to improving the lives of homeless gay teens. As it says in my book’s dedication, sometimes success in life starts with being
given a chance.
Again Kim, thanks for giving me an opportunity to send a shout
out to your readers. I really appreciate
it!!
Links:
Jake, I loved read this. I adore stories about authors finally becoming one at a later stage of life. Writing is one of those things that age does not have to affect and can sometimes even help. Congratulations on making it happen, and I hope this is a wonderful new adventure for you!
ReplyDeleteA White Coat is My Closet sounds like a great read. As much as we talk about being open and honest with who we are in the world today, there are so many people who are still struggling, still not feeling comfortable with being open. The romantic in me says that all you need to do is find someone who makes it worth it to take that step. Zack better agree with me! *g*
Finally and most important, how wonderful to see that not only will your readers benefit from getting to read your story but some people who need support and help will get it thanks to you. I hope you'll be able to talk with Dreamspinner Press about putting some notification by the description about the profits going to charity, as I've seen them do for others. I know when I visit, I like to buy those books that support charity in some way. Not that I don't just buy lots of books that don't, too. I just think it's a great win/win for everyone the other way.
Thank you for hosting, Kim!