‘Write a novel’ sat on my annual bucket list for over 10 years. I sat down many times to start, however nothing ever came of it. I knew from somewhere deep inside that medicine was not creative enough for me. I truly realized this one day, several years ago, when I was speaking to those in the operating room with me and my mind was screaming ‘NOT ANOTHER PELVIC EXENTERATION!’. As a surgical oncologist, when you start to see the words ‘not another’ and ‘pelvic exenteration’ in the same sentence, it is time to start thinking about a change.
I had done many things, including the president of our national organization, leader of cancer surgery, and head of general surgery. It was not here, in my hospital, my university, or my national organization that I was looking. It was time for a real change!
Then it happened. As a single mother by choice, I had not enjoyed the true silence of my own home for at least 12 years. My two sons had been beckoned to sleepovers on the same night. As someone who prides themselves on being a strong introvert, I was ecstatic! This, however, was a silence like none I had ever heard before. It drove my passion for writing!
It started off as an autobiography, however I soon learned that my life was not exciting enough to fill a whole book, at least I thought so. Certainly my life was more exciting than some of the twenty-somethings who had written their life stories, but it was not good enough for me. A good friend agreed to edit the first half. When she agreed that it was good, but that it would never sell because there was no sex in it, it quickly turned from an autobiography to a work of fiction!
Three months later the book was done and I decided to publish under the pseudonym Victoria Jones. Victoria because I love the name and never had daughters… and Jones, well Jones because my last name is Wirtzfeld.
“The Silence of Motherhood”, A Dr. Victoria Jones Single Mother by Choice Novel was published in June of 2018!
Way to follow your passion. Can’t wait to read your novel.