By Cathy L. Scrimshaw
During our February meeting we had the pleasure of Patrick Taylor's company. A doctor, sailor, boat-builder and now successful novelist, Patrick read several passages from his latest novel, An Irish Country Doctor, the story of a young medical school graduate in his first post. Set in 1964 in a small village where, in Patrick's words, education was respected more than money, the novel is populated with quirky characters who lead interesting lives. With beautifully descriptive passages evoking a gentler, but not necessarily simplistic, time and place, his novel is a well-plotted, highly entertaining story of the kind we rarely see these days.
Patrick spoke about fitting the craft of writing into a busy life and also about the very real issues around the struggle to get work published. He believes we are all capable of finding the time to do what is truly important to us; in his case, as his writing career blossomed, he gradually shed his medical duties in order to accommodate his authorial passion. As for getting his work published, there were many twists and turns along the journey. After winning a writing prize in his teens, he honed his skills as a medical journal editor and humour columnist, while continuing to work on novel-writing and short stories. The publication of An Irish Country Doctor came about partly because of his friendships and networking with already-published authors; however, he was quick to remind his audience that if he can get published, so can we. Quality of work, networking, marketing and perseverance are all equally important in the search for success.
Patrick's novel is now being translated into several languages and is on the Barnes and Noble list of 100 best-selling books. If you would like to know more about the man and his work, visit his website at . It's worth the trip - the site is as delightful as the writer himself.
