Doctor and author – a journey of self-discovery and fun
During the pandemic, many people were forced to change their routines and discover new aspects of themselves. This was also true for Dave Purcell, M.D., anesthesiologist with The Medical Center at Bowling Green. As well as a doctor, he is pilot and a writer, and has written many poems. Last year, unable to pursue his usual vacation plans of flying his airplane to Miami or New York, he decided to do something different – he wrote a novel, Outlaw Badjans.
“I discovered that I enjoyed it,” Dr. Purcell said. “I thought, ‘Ah! Perhaps I can do this novel writing.’ To prove my mettle to myself, I wrote two more.”
The three books – Outlaw Badjans, Invisible Highjackers and Killer Gamers – follow the adventures of six teenagers from the planet Toigon in the year 52,233. They represent two groups, the majority Moderns, who undergo genetic modification, and the minority Noncoms, who reject modification. Through their adventures, they learn to work together as they fight crime and protect human civilization from deadly Outlaws. They experience self-discovery and love along the way.
After completing the trilogy, Dr. Purcell and his wife, Catherine, co-wrote a novel based on their own experiences growing up in Grenada during the 60s and 70s. The Yellow Serpent weaves the story of ten-year-old Gemma who lives with her mother and older sister in a poor country village with traditional Grenadan folklore. The book promises “down home grittiness and lots of irreverence” as well as the “fun and sauciness of daily school life both at the primary and secondary school levels.”
“Writing is a great stress reliever,” Dr. Purcell said. “These were great fun to write, and I look forward to writing more. I don’t know if I will continue with science fiction – perhaps I will write a mystery next or some other genre.”
Dr. Purcell writes under the name D. “Gemcats” Purcell. His novels can be found on Amazon where they are available in both paperback and Kindle versions.
