JULY 2021 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 35
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The Doctor’s Secret By Tina K. Funt, M.D.
A story of determination, resilience, and love during times of personal crisis, betrayal, and loss.
What made you decide to write a book?
I have always loved reading and writing. In
college, I studied English Literature before
deciding to become a doctor. It has been a
lifelong passion and I had a story I wanted
to tell.
What message did you want to convey
in the book? What was the secret? The
secret is nothing nefarious or dark. The secret
was personal, about psychological hurdles
of insecurity and a personal crisis that the
main character, Dr. Julie had to overcome. I
wanted to convey the message that everyone
is plagued by inner demons. Because of
social media, with people touting pictureperfect
images of themselves, it is easy for
others to compare their lives to the exciting
images and feel compromised. That may be
the allure of reality television, which reveals
family feuds and chaos, not the pictureperfect
scenes. The book addresses family
crises, addiction, financial reversal, infidelity,
and romantic heartbreak. I wanted readers
to relate to these challenges and draw
inspiration to accomplish goals in their lives
while also persevering during difficult times.
Is the book autobiographical? In some
ways, it is based on my life story. Many
authors do write about incidents in their
lives. However, many parts of the novel are
figments of my imagination, scenarios that
may have transpired. I “doctored” up these
segments of the novel to keep it exciting,
especially the romance.
What message and inspiration do you
want the reader to derive from the novel?
I believe in:
• Determination: Never give up on your
goals even if you are struggling. As a
metaphor, there will always be waves but
one must learn to surf the waves. Keep your
eye on the horizon.
• Resilience: There are detours in life, one
must stay with positive thoughts and believe
they can make changes.
• Focusing on special people: Love does
conquer many problems. Not just romantic
love but special love for family, friends, and
even furry friends (I am an animal lover).
Was being a doctor helpful in writing
the book? It was extremely helpful being
a doctor. One gets to understand people’s
emotions when treating patients. In the
confines of the examination rooms, I am
exposed to my patient’s innermost concerns
and fears. In addition, if you see patients on
a routine basis, you get to know them very
well and often they confide aspects of their
personal life.
Is the book for women, men, or both?
Definitely, women will relate to the conflicts
Dr. Kent faced while combining professional
life and child-rearing in the 1990s. The
romance and sex will be appreciated by both
men and women. The emphasis on emotions
makes it a good chick book.
Any future books in mind? Yes, I plan
to write a sequel to The Doctor’s Secret
focusing on the work relationships and deep
friendships that developed between Dr. Kent
and her colleagues.
Questions for the Author:
Dr. Tina K Funt, MD
Author
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