Denise 0:07
Myth, Magic, Medicine, and everything in between, two doctors talking. Today I'm really excited to welcome my friend Linda, Linda and I were at medical school together and we're not going to say how long ago that was. But it was a while back.
We were in medical school and then interns together. Yes, we crossed paths and internship because I was off cycle. But we were in the same residency program, but haven't seen each other since actually seen each other since Linda left New York for I think Virginia, right? That's correct. Okay, right. Yeah. So what have you been up to for the last nevermind how many years you know, having children and growing your children and moving to Florida, one of the things
Linda 0:56
when I left New York to practice emergency medicine in Virginia, which was fascinating, but then later, moved to Florida, and I had two young children at that time when I was a single mother than, so I thought urgent care would would be easier, an easier route. As far as being a mother and a doctor, I wouldn't have the night shifts and all that. So I've been in urgent care for quite a few years. And then then retired while back and that's when I started writing.
Denise 1:29
Okay, so you would like to talk to us about your writing now you you are fully retired for medicine now. Do you still have you've we've tried your x your license, or or? No, no, no,
Linda 1:41
no, no holding up ever, ever, ever. for it? No, no, I did do some telemedicine during the worst of COVID. I was just I had a temporary job as a as a COVID telemedicine doctor, which was very rewarding at the time, but as the need lessened, I decided not to stand that.
Denise 2:05
And when you say rewarding, you mean emotionally and spiritually, not financially.
Linda 2:09
Yes, yes. Yes. Please clarify that. Yes, it was very good to be able to answer questions and, and try to give comfort to those who were absolutely terrified, as terrified as I was at the time, because we didn't know much about COVID In those days, but it was good to be able to help.
Denise 2:28
Excellent. So why don't we talk about say you you, you've now decided you're going to leave medicine? Because you've reached that age. Do you want to talk about how you made that decision?
Linda 2:39
Well, actually, I became ill, I developed a condition called CVI D, which is not very well known, but it's basically a body's inability to produce gamma globulin. And it caused me to be sick very often with respiratory illnesses. And I found I was sicker than my patients many times. So it was just a wise decision to stop early.
Denise 3:05
Did you consider doing any non medical, medical adjacent work? Or did you just say, Okay, I'm just closing that shop down completely.
Linda 3:15
I closed the shop down because most of the medically chased adjacent situations were still within the hospital system. And it was just difficult to be there and not being able to practice medicine.
Denise 3:27
Right. Right. And you needed to decrease your exposure to people. Yes,
Linda 3:31
exactly.
Denise 3:32
All the wonderful bugs that are out there. Okay. Yeah.
Linda 3:34
So in the beginning, I was a bit isolated, but things have changed in treatment, and I feel more secure.
Denise 3:42
Excellent. So you, did you say okay, now what am I going to do? Did you take some time off to think about it? Or was it natural morph to become an author?
Linda 3:53
Well, I had the time off to think about it. Because I had it and it was like, Oh, my goodness.
I think it just morphed into what it is today, because I've always wanted to write and I've always scribbled down some things here and there or written a poem or written a short story. So the short story is just became longer and more involved. And when I actually decided to write a book, I discovered you're not really that good or good at this. You should take some classes. So I did that the learning curve was pretty steep, actually. So I spent a lot of years just learning how to put a novel together and yes, how to write
Denise 4:35
Yeah, not that you didn't know how to write but to write for publication is and writing non scientific stuff. It's it's because you write novels you don't you don't do your fiction. Well, historical fiction
Linda 4:50
novels, so they're not entirely fiction, but the characters are mainly fictitious.
Denise 4:57
Yes. And your first one One that I know of as a novel, I know you did some plays as well. But the first one surprised me because I always thought you'd go down the Tudor route, because you're such a buff on to to history. But you also set your first book and one of my favorite places on earth. St. Augustine's. Would you like to explain to us how you developed that story?
Linda 5:21
Well, I, both my books came about because of things that caught my attention that I just thought were outrageous. And with the angel of the penny rose, one of the things was that when each of my children were small, they, they were on school trips to St. Augustine, and I accompanied them. And each time we were told that if women became widowed in St. Augustine, during the 1760s, and that era, if they didn't remarry, within 60 days or so they would be sent back to England on the next ship. So I thought that was pretty terrible that they would have to remarry so quickly. And I thought that was a terrible way to treat widows. So that was the origin of the angel of the penny rose, even though that's a very, very small part of the book. But I created a situation where the trip, or the voyage across the ocean was so hazardous that no one in their right mind would want to go back. So the poor woman unwittingly marries her husband's murderer. And when he comes to an untimely death, she's accused of murdering both husbands. And that's just the beginning of the book. So it's it's quite it has a lot of twists and turns and unexpected happenings.
Denise 6:50
I know I've read it. Is it for sale across all platforms? Or is it just on Amazon or
Linda 6:59
Amazon and Ingram and Kobo and and Barnes and noble.com? Oh, Barnes and Noble. Good. So
Denise 7:06
wide distribution. Thanks. Yeah. And would you like to explain how you decided to jump from the 1700s, to the 19, the middle of the 1900s, into Second World War?
Linda 7:19
That was being a bit pickle, I guess. But then again, the stories that were nagging me was where the story is, my mother in law at the time, told me about her experiences in the war. And they just stayed with me for all those decades. And as time goes by, and you know, you tell your children, these family stories, and you realize that sooner or later the stories are going to be gone. So even though they're not precisely what she told me. I felt good enough that I had given the stories a chance to live on a bit. And also I had heard about the blood Road in Norway. And I thought that was outrageous how the cruelty that was bestowed on these poor Yugoslav prisoners that that that were there, they were taken from Yugoslavia, and taken to the north of Norway, and basically told, welcome to Norway, this is where you die. And it was a horrible situation for them. So I also wanted that too. I also wanted to weave that into a war story to bring light to that, because actually, a lot of Norwegians have barely heard of the blood road. And they're quite surprised when I talked to Norwegians about that. So that's how that happened.
Denise 8:45
Yeah. How long did it take you to write that?
Linda 8:48
The first book, it took a very long time, because like I said, it was quite a bit of a learning curve. It was up to 400 pages at one point and one editor suggested I should try to write a trilogy, which I tried. But then I became so worried that if you read the first one, maybe wouldn't read the second one. So then you wouldn't know how that ended. And then you wouldn't read the third one. So I know you have if you start this book, you have to know the whole story. So write it back into two into one book, because I really love the ending.
Denise 9:22
And we won't tell people what the ending is they have to get the book.
Linda 9:25
Yes, yes. I love the ending.
Denise 9:28
So what is your next project?
Linda 9:31
Um, I'm, well, of course tutor is always in the back of my mind. But I, I think I'm a little intimidated by the tutor era because I have such incredible respect for this particular character that I would like to write about. It's like, I have to get it right. I have to get it right. Plus, I have so many tutor authors that are actual historians, so it's difficult
Denise 9:57
to read mentales Hilary mentales hard to follow. But what? Who was that character? Are you willing to share that? Elizabeth Berlin?
Linda 10:09
Okay, Elizabeth Berlin, she's an Berlin's mother. And I just thought, you know, she had front row seats to world changing events that affected her personally, in daily life in her family. And I thought, what that woman must have felt what she must have seen what she must have endured. And she's a silent person, you know, we just we know, she was there, you know, I can pretty much trace where she was at many times during her life. So I can say she was there, I can tell people what she saw. But, you know, there's, there's no recording of what she really felt about things. And as a mother, and as someone who is, who has been entrenched in this study of history for such a long time, it's like, I can almost feel what what she must have been thinking, you know, not to the degree that she did, of course, but it's, I have enormous sympathy and empathy for her. And when I was at Hoover Castle, where she was, where she lived, for a long period of time, it was just like, I have to tell your story. I just have to So someday.
Denise 11:24
Okay. All right. So you're not actively working on that character at the moment? I have notes that are a mile high, but I wouldn't call it actively working. Okay. It's just percolating. All right. Okay. So do you do any little writing things to sort of keep your keep your juices flowing? Or do you just wait until inspiration hits? Well, I have a blog that
Linda 11:48
hasn't gotten much attention since COVID. But I will go back to its, it's called the paperback writer.org, where I review books that I like to read, and they don't have to be the newest or the latest, they just have to be something I came across something a friend told me they read once and I go back and read it and say, Oh, my goodness, this is fascinating. I'm going to go back and take another look at that and revive that. And then I have a new website coming up with my name, where there's also a blog attached. So do some more blogging, I have thought a little bit about a nonfiction book. So I'll probably write that with a friend who is a psychologist. It's probably going to be about being single, because so many people in our age or single, particularly women, it would just be I think it would be interesting to to explore that a little bit. It's not a guide on how to be single, or how to become single or anything like that. It's just an exploration of why are so many women single. And why
Denise 13:02
is that their preference? Yes.
Linda 13:05
It seems to be a preference for very many and, and people find that surprising. Because you always hear well, why don't you remarry? Why don't you blah, blah, blah, you know, and it's like, fine, fine, fine. Okay,
Denise 13:19
but no judgment, you can do whichever you whichever is good for you is fine with Linda. Right, exactly. Okay. So let's talk a little bit about the change from being a physician, to being an author, can you? Was it sort of a night and day thing? Did you gradually decrease the number of hours you were doing and realize that you, you just didn't want to to have this excess burden of of working? Or did you? Did your doctor say to you, No, you really need to stay away from sick people, you've chosen the wrong career.
Linda 13:54
Now, it all started with with a horrible case of pneumonia, and discovering the immune compromised and getting that under control. And then the doctor saying, you really you really should stop working. That's how it happened. And
Denise 14:12
it wasn't so much working. That was the issue. It was the fact that you were working with sick people because that's what
Linda 14:18
Okay, exactly, exactly.
Denise 14:21
So give a give a little plug. I hope that you had an occupation disability insurance,
Linda 14:26
did you? Most doctors do and I
Denise 14:31
just put a plug there because every time I see in the other groups, should I give up my insurance?
Linda 14:36
Oh, never. I never thought I would use it. But
Denise 14:39
thank God. That's insurance. Yes. It's not a savings account. Yeah. Yeah. That's good. So it gave you some some time to think about what you wanted to do with
Linda 14:49
us. Yes. And I started writing because in those early days, I really didn't feel well. And I really didn't feel up to taking on a new, a new position. So I would sit home and write a little bit and take classes and do them rest. Maybe we get
Denise 15:07
in between? Yes. Have you done much traveling? Do you do is that the way you get your material? Do you go visit these places that you've set made settings?
Linda 15:17
No, you can Google pretty much anything you want these days, if you travel, but I'm not a world traveler traveler, like some of my friends are who want to explore every corner of the world, like wanting to go back to England and just go through castles and study Tudor history. And then of course, I'm Scandinavian. So I have to go back to Scandinavia. And then you know, I have to visit friends and family around the country. But otherwise, I don't really travel to explore that much. I have more of a purpose. Okay. I like to go to Iceland to
Denise 15:53
have you been there much, much?
Linda 15:55
Not much. But I have family there. So I always enjoy going there. It's very different.
Denise 16:00
I would recommend. Yes. And it's got pretty good record for female empowerment too. Yes.
Linda 16:11
Absolutely.
Denise 16:12
Okay. So where do you see things going for you from now on? Are you you're just going to, you're not expecting to bring out a book a year? That's,
Linda 16:24
and why not? Well, I
Denise 16:25
know am I is that your goal? Is it? Is it your goal to really be prolific writer, or you just want to work on something until you say okay, yes, this story is now told, let me put it out into the world and work on the next one.
Linda 16:38
Well, the thing is, once the story starts to percolate in my head, and I get the story down, I think I could write a book a year. But the challenge with writing and being an unknown writer is that there's so much more to it as far as, as bringing the book out into the community or of you know, getting the book sold. Because when you're working with a small press, there's not a lot of help from from the publishing company to promote your book. So a lot of that is put on you. And as physicians, we know nothing about self promotion, because we're people come to us no matter what, and we never really have ourselves. And here I have to toot my own horn, I have to do outreach, I have to do all these different things that I have never done before. And, and oh my goodness, that's a challenge. So my next challenge to master that and learn that and you have to become this public persona that I never thought I would even try to be but you have to be that in order to for people to see your books. Do you do by the way, I saw your book? I just got your book. Oh, thank
Denise 17:56
you. That was my experiment. And thankfully, eight other doctors joined me to to give me the numbers. Yes. And yeah, it was that was really good. Because what my purpose was not the learning to write, although I certainly need lots of tips on that, too. But it was the mechanics of going through publishing. And it was a very steep learning curve.
Linda 18:23
Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Now, there's so many options to publishing now. You know, everybody wishes they could be with the Big Five publishing houses. And I certainly still wish that, but there are a lot of small publishing companies that, you know, still take care of most of it for you. But there's still an enormous amount of things to learn about it. And that you have to partake in.
Denise 18:47
Do you do things like book signings to do the rounds of Barnes and Nobles?
Linda 18:52
If they'll have? Yes, then we just got a hurricane. So not right now. No. Okay. Still repairing their houses, if they still have houses, so that was very tragic.
Denise 19:06
What I'm sorry, but we're in
Linda 19:07
Florida is Fort Myers. Okay. Yes.
Denise 19:11
I have a friend just north of you. was saying recently how she felt about this. She was praying that it wouldn't hit her. And then she realized what it meant for the people south of her
Linda 19:24
admires pretty badly.
Denise 19:25
Yeah, but you're not you. You weren't fortunate? Yes.
Linda 19:30
We greet each other with how did you do instead of Hello?
Denise 19:37
Yeah, and you didn't lose power.
Linda 19:40
lost power and water. Life in Florida?
Denise 19:46
Yeah. Or in Santa Domingo. So, Linda, when you decided that you had enough rest and you were away from sick people for a while until you started looking at how to heal How to Write what was the first thing? And what would you recommend the first thing if somebody is thinking about wanting to write? Well then get and get published, because we can all write, but have people read
Linda 20:13
it is different. Anybody can write, you just have to have the patience to write the whole thing if you're going to write a book. But what I did initially was I took classes in how to write a novel. That was more about structure than than actual writing. So that was fine. So I took those classes, but it never, it didn't turn into a novel instantly. So then I thought, let me try something else as well to broaden my, my experience here. So I took a screenwriting class with filmmaker, which was absolutely fascinating. And I loved the process. And I loved the format. And I finished a screenplay called Kingsley, which was actually about a little sci fi here, Henry the Eighth being reincarnated as a rock star. And one of his wives, Katherine Howard, also reincarnating as a rock star, and they have to find their way back to repair some of the damage of the past. But nobody bought that, because I don't know who to send it to. And I don't, you know, nobody wants to read something that we have first screenplay, sent by some unknown doctor in Florida, so that never got anywhere. So I'm became frustrated with that, because it's very difficult to break through that's, there's so much talent in the world that is never discovered, because it's hard to get through.
Denise 21:46
And networking is still, it's who you know, what, you know, always
Linda 21:52
know those people, I just, we can be friends. Sure. But then, but it was great for writing dialogue and creating scenes. But then I started something that was much more difficult, I thought it would be easy. And it was actually a lot of fun. Because some of the things you write could actually be staged. And you could see it, you could see people perform your your plays, and that was that was really fascinating. So I took classes in playwriting, and it's very, very difficult because you only have one stage, it's not like writing a screenplay where you can be on a street, then you can be in a building, and then you can be on an airplane, you have to be exactly on that stage. And you have to, you have to consider the time it takes for an actor to walk off and come back and for for set changes and things like that. So that was very challenging. And I did that for a little while. I also took some acting classes during that time, so that was fun. Didn't go, you're not planning an acting career as well. Okay. But you never know, maybe someday I would try if they you know, you have to keep an open mind, you have to keep an open mind to things and not just sit on the sofa with a remote after you retire. So you have to be open to possibilities, and I prefer the creative ones. But then after a while, I became a bit frustrated with the playwriting because of the limitations of the stage. And also, I found that I would write something. And I saw it exactly the way I wanted it to, to play out. But then it goes into the hands of a director who sees it a different way. And then maybe the characters, or the people cast to portray a character aren't exactly the ones you thought you wanted. And then the play is something entirely different than you say, oh my god, what happened to my story? That was difficult to watch, but it's okay. It happens to everyone. And it's part of the creative process. And you know, you're not an island. And when you have a work of, you know, a play, it becomes everyone's play, right. And of course, the
Denise 24:13
same thing could happen if your one of your books takes off and they decided to make a movie, The screenplay may be very, very different.
Linda 24:19
Oh, yes. But I would love that. That's the ultimate dream. I would like to see these movies. So if anybody is listening, she knows how to reach me. Okay.
Denise 24:30
Or information will be on the podcast, show notes, my dear. Okay. Okay. Sounds good.
Linda 24:36
That's the ultimate dream. I would love that. Okay. Especially if I can help. So you
Denise 24:44
decided that the novel format then was yes, where you maintained control and it was, yes, you could turn the page and be somewhere completely different. You didn't have to worry about how long it took to walk there. Okay. Yes.
Linda 24:56
Within you know, three walls of the stage and I could jump around as much as I wanted and take as much time to describe a situation as I wanted, because when it comes to screenwriting and playwriting, you know, there's very little description, it's more dialogue. But it did help very much in learning how to write dialogue, better than just eavesdropping on people in the park, you know, really speak.
Denise 25:25
And of course, you're writing historic, so you have to
Linda 25:29
go back in time as well. You have to pick up some some of that. Yes.
Denise 25:35
That's, that's lovely. Good. So where what are you going to do in 2023, that you'd like our listeners to hear about? Or do you have any advice for for people that other than just start writing,
Linda 25:52
just start writing and don't give up, because it's so easy to give up. And, you know, that could kill a really beautiful story, if you would just keep at it. And it is frustrating. But there are writers groups that are very, very nice to be part of where, you know, you could read your work and have it critiqued, you have to have thick skin. But you know, you develop that after a while. But it's a good way of learning how to write and having support from other writers that are going through the same thing. And you find inspiration in these groups. So I would just recommend that take as many classes as possible, and just keep at it, and try to get an agent. And yes, just don't give up. Do you in
Denise 26:36
any of your work in your your writers groups? Do you work together? I don't mean on the same project. But do you sort of will sit around a big table at Barnes and Noble and scribble away? I've seen several people doing this. And so if you are ever part of that, do you find energy from just being with other people who write?
Linda 26:53
No, a lot of people do that? And they say Why don't you go to a coffee shop? It sounds you know, sounds so dramatic to sit there with your computer in a coffee shop. Like, you know, the the JK Rowling's things that she wrote the whole the whole series in a coffee shop, but that's not the that's not the that's not the fact. I just can't do that there are too many distractions, because I just need quiet. I actually started putting on classical music when I right. And the moment I put the classical music on, I focused and my dogs go away because it's like, oh, she's writing now.
Denise 27:35
That's nice. Must be fine. It was animals, but animals come to visit them and walk across the type of cross the computer screen.
Linda 27:42
No, they're they're in another room right now. But it's funny when they hear the music. They just go to another room and go to sleep.
Denise 27:50
Are both of your daughters. They're not in Florida anymore. No. Okay. No one I know is in California. Where's the other one? They're both there. Although both in California.
Linda 28:01
They're both there. Yeah.
Denise 28:04
Do you go visit much?
Linda 28:06
As often as they can? And they come home when they can? Of course.
Denise 28:11
Are there any busy? Are there any stories from California in history that intrigued you?
Linda 28:18
California in history?
Denise 28:24
Not particularly Europe pulls to more.
Linda 28:27
Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Right now I'm a little obsessed after seeing the Elvis movie. I just listened to a book by Jerry Schilling, who was describing several houses that Elvis owned and in the Beverly Hills Bel Air area. And I think I actually saw them on a tour with the early days when my girls were in LA. I always did the, you know, houses of the DAR. Yeah. Yeah, no, and nothing to write. There's nothing I want to write a story about. But that's the only thing that came to mind is that Elvis actually lived in, in Los Angeles, too. Well,
Denise 29:04
thank you very much, Linda. It was very kind of you to meet with me again.
Linda 29:09
It was fun to see you stay in touch.
Denise 29:11
I will. Thank you. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Thank you for joining us at myth magic medicine. If you found this episode useful, you can apply for free CME credits for the link provided in the transcript. If you're not a medical professional, please remember, while we're physicians, we're not your physicians. So please consult with your own health care professional if you think something you have heard might apply to you or a loved one. Until next time, bye bye.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
