Jillian, your background in medicine clearly influences your writing. How did you transition from the medical field to becoming an award-winning and bestselling author? I didn’t transition — not really! I’m a practicing rural doctor who also writes romance. I’ve practiced for (mumbles) years and I’ve been writing since around 2011, with my first book published in 2015. Some days are super strange. I might have complicated inpatients or a crash c-section or a full clinic schedule, then I come home and I’m like — okay, time to edit some pages of fiction! Or, there are times when I’m drafting a novel, and I get called away on an emergency.
You write across several romance subgenres: medical, paranormal, and romantic suspense. How do you approach blending these elements in your stories? It comes naturally. My inclination is to try and put a spin on the story, whether it’s some otherworldly element or adventure or suspense. Even in this recent Yukon Valley Hospital medical romance series, I put quite a bit of suspense in it. I can’t help myself! But one thing has been a constant: in all of my books, even the paranormal ones, there are always medical components to the stories. When I write medical characters or medical scenarios, I lean into what I know best but also make the book enjoyable and realistic for readers!
Medical situations play a significant role in your books. Can you share how you decide which medical scenarios to include and how you ensure their accuracy? First of all, HIPAA disclaimer: I have never written an identifiable scenario from my own practice. Now, that being said, I definitely have drawn on life experiences! In terms of what to include, there are parts of medicine that lend themselves well to romance novels — pregnancy/birth, emergency room work, first responders, small-town practices. Then there are other aspects that don’t work quite as well — colonoscopies, skin rashes, foot fungus. I mean, hey, I can be realistic, but at the end of the day, I don’t want readers grossed out!
Your books are known for their dramatic and intense scenes. How do you balance the medical accuracy with the need for compelling storytelling? Sheer luck and amazing editing.
How excited are you to be writing for Tule?! What can readers expect from your Tule debut in January? I’m so excited to be writing for Tule! Everyone has been welcoming and kind. For my medical romance releasing in January, Dr. Alaska, readers can expect classic Jillian David: suspense, snappy dialogue, funny secondary characters, steamy romance, and realistic medical scenarios that make you feel like you’re RIGHT THERE treating the condition!
What inspired you to write in the romance genre, and what do you find most rewarding about creating love stories? I love writing romance because life is stressful. My professional life is stressful and readers’ lives are stressful. I want to create books with payoff for my readers: hard-fought happy endings, the bad person gets what’s coming to them, and characters who have to challenge their inner demons to be with the person who ends up being the perfect fit for them. The best reward is when a reader tells me how much they enjoyed the experience of reading my book and how it made them feel (happy, emotional, on pins and needles, etc.). For me, that’s the secret sauce of writer happiness right there.
Did/has anything surprised you in your upcoming romance for Tule? Did you discover something about one of your characters along the way? I was surprised by how exposed I felt while writing Dr. Alaska. Out of all the books I’ve ever written, this one has been the hardest to craft, mostly because I drew from more emotions and experiences in my life than any other book to date. There was a point when I was drafting the book and it just wasn’t flowing. I had to make a conscious decision to let myself be vulnerable when writing this book. I reminded myself that I could always edit it later!
How do you keep your medical knowledge up-to-date, and how does this continuous learning influence your writing? I have to do quarterly CME (continuing medical education) to maintain my license and board certification. Also, I teach medical students and residents. If ever there’s a way to stay on your toes as a doctor, it’s having a learner ask lots of questions. Apparently me saying, “Because I’ve always done it this way” is not an acceptable answer! As for writing, my hunger to keep learning gets fed when I attend craft workshops, read marketing articles, and spend time listening to other successful authors.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors who want to incorporate their professional expertise into their fiction? Using professional expertise is an excellent way to enter fiction writing, but also a great way to establish your brand. One example that comes to mind is Rachel Grant who was an archeologist and writes series that are chock-full of antiquities, cultural implications of archaeological finds, and settings where artifacts are being unearthed. Her expertise brings her fiction to life!
BONUS: What is one comfort read that you will reach for over and over again? I can’t pick just one! Anne Bishop’s Black Jewels series, Robin McKinley’s Damar duology. And I’ve re-read JR Ward’s Lover Eternal more times than I can count!
Reading now and loving!! As a cardiac nurse you did a great job on the code!!
Oh wow, Shari, that is the highest compliment I could receive! Even as a physician I made sure to double check my ACLS protocols and meds for this one — I knew there would be medical folks reading it and they would know immediately if I got something wrong. :) Thank you so much for sharing!