I’m pleased to be able to share my interview with Christine J. Ko, MD, Professor of Dermatology and Pathology at Yale School of Medicine—and a published physician author! I had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Ko through my own coaching services, and am so excited to see the way her career as an author is taking off!
Dr. Ko’s first nonfiction book, How to Improve Doctor-Patient Connection: Using Psychology to Optimize Healthcare Interactions, is being released by Routledge on October 29, 2021, and is available for pre-order now. Dr. Ko is also at work on a children’s picture book–read on for more about her inspiring journey as a physician author.
Tell us about your physician author journey.
I have always wanted to be a writer, and I have journaled and written things (mainly for myself) intermittently since high school. Earlier in my career, I satisfied my writing bug through publishing academic articles in medical journals. Routledge is the publisher for my first nonfiction book titled, How to Improve Doctor-Patient Connection: Using Psychology to Optimize Healthcare Interactions.
I am currently working with an agent on my first children’s picture book. Aside from those projects, I have published several academic books related to dermatology and dermatopathology.
When did you know you wanted to write a children’s book?
My children’s picture book developed from a desire to see more diverse books. I also learned a lot through reading many picture books to my children and seeing the world differently through being a mom. I wanted to be able to showcase how our differences are powerful, especially when shared with one another.
How did you find a literary agent?
It took me several years to find an agent! I had to accept a lot of rejection, a lot of silence, and persevere in putting queries out into the world. My agent, Stephanie Hansen at Metamorphosis Literary Agency, was interested in my idea, and I am lucky to have found her. It was a bit serendipitous – I found her and her agency through multiple searches of the internet for agents open to queries and new authors.
How do you find/make time to write?
It can be hard – I don’t always find the time. I am good at setting deadlines for myself, and when I feel strongly about a project, I will map out goals for a given day, week, or month.
What have you found difficult about this process, and what would you have done differently, if anything?
The whole process has been a challenge! But I have come to learn to embrace the challenge and try to enjoy the journey. I am not sure what I would have done differently; of course, if possible, I would love to have found an agent earlier!
What advice do you have for aspiring physician authors?
I do think the process would have been easier had I known better exactly what I wanted to write. Coaching sessions, like with Dr. Ali or Lisa Tener (two people I worked with), can be very helpful, but I had already written a fairly jumbled manuscript that was too long before I learned about book coaches, developmental editors, and book proposals. Remember that for a nonfiction book, you don’t need to write the entire book – and probably better if you don’t. Focus on a solid book proposal – a book coach can help you. Or take Dr. Julie Silver’s writing course.
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