Local author publishes historical romance novel
By John Gregory
Scripps Ranch author Alex A. Kecskes recently published an intriguing historical romance titled “Healer, A Novel.”
His book not only keeps readers guessing about the mysterious main male character, it reveals fascinating details about the development of medical technology besides providing a bit of romance.
Kecskes, who has resided in Scripps Ranch for two years, has a deep interest in the themes of his novel, and this propelled his detailed research to gain facts rounding out his story. Additionally, a popular television series provided even more inspiration for his efforts.
“I really enjoy the 19th century and I liked (the TV show) ‘Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.’” he said.
Kecskes was enthralled by the lead character’s struggles to be accepted as a female physician, he said.
“I combined my love of 19th century romance with the struggles of ‘Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman’ and all of that. I thought, what if someone like ‘Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman’ – struggling to heal people and be accepted – what if she met this very, very extraordinary physician who had these interesting abilities? And that’s what got me to create ‘Healer, A Novel,’” he said. “I like the fact that medicine was coming of age. It was a nascent technology back then. … Why not do something different? Why not do a ‘what if?’”
Kecskes wove a fascinating tale: In 1888, Rene Sakin is attending Columbia Medical College. But she loses both her parents during her senior year and is expelled for using laudanum, a derivative of opium.
“She wants to continue her medical career. She wants to save lives, but New York society just won’t accept her, and the medical community won’t accept her. So, she heads west to this mining town in Tennessee called Sewanee,” Kecskes explained. “She meets this good looking guy, Charles Noble. He’s enigmatic. He’s reclusive. He doesn’t want to reveal any of his secrets as to how he heals people.”
Rene is constantly trying to find out his secrets about healing.
“He wants to tell her, but he can’t because she’s still using a little bit of laudanum. He doesn’t want to trust her with his secret because she’s still got this laudanum addiction. He’s trying to break her of that,” Kecskes said.
Very few women were treated equally to men in those days, he said. Kecskes found that in the 19th century women were confined to their sphere of influence – wife, mother and planning social functions. They were held to their performance of domestic duties. Some believed women physicians might have questionable moral character.
Kecskes had previously written numerous articles about medicine, medical machines and devices, and new technology that is being developed. So, he included several interesting tidbits about medicine and its development in the book.
“There are some interesting things about the future of medicine that the reader will find absolutely stunning. … I take some imaginative leaps into medical technology which I think the reader will find very enlightening,” he said. “I go into a little bit of medicine back then and I treat the reader to a little bit of history. Medicine back then was just coming of age. … I found some interesting things. Some field surgeons would smoke cigars and hold scalpels in their teeth while operating on a patient. They had some so-called cures for flu that were a little bit unconventional. One cure was scattering onions about the patient’s room to draw the flu into the onions. Another one was rectal injections of eucalyptus oil and drinking pine tar.”
Perhaps the highlight of the book for readers is the mystery of the identity of Charles Noble.
“That’s the big ‘ah-ha’ moment … As the story unfolds, the reader will get it,” Kecskes said. “He has special powers and advanced techniques. I don’t want to give it away, but you’ll find out if you read the book.”
Kecskes was born in Germany and arrived in the U.S. at age 5. He served in the United States Marine Corps and graduated from Long Beach State University.
“Healer, A Novel” is available on Amazon on Kindle, paper back and hard back. Readers in Scripps Ranch are welcome to email the author and he will meet them at the Scripps Miramar Ranch Library to sign their copy of the book. Email: akcreativeworks2@gmail.com.