Novelist Spotlight: The Playbook, by author Gary Parker, PhD

"It touches on a lot of topics: Finding peace with our past. Gender. Race. Grief. Relationships. Growth. Living in a small town. It speaks to other common experiences for us adults and for teenagers." 

~David, January 2025, Book Review, Amazon

By Editor-in-Chief, Concierge Medicine Today, Host, The DocPreneur Leadership Podcast

I love to read! Like most Doctors you and I know, you're probably reading 4-6 titles right now. Well, I have one more new book I can't wait to tell you about, The Playbook. This story reminds us all of the possibilities when we allow our instincts to take charge-when the game is no longer just a game, but a catalyst for life-altering experiences.

I had the unique opportunity to sit down with novelist, friend and author, Gary Parker, PhD. I asked him all the pesky questions I know Doctors listening want to know when it comes to writing and publishing a book. We touched on why we think more Doctors need to put pen to paper and actually keep a journal, the mental health advantages of being alone with our thoughts, how to find a publisher, connect 'islands and bridges,' sell your book, work with editors and publicists and more!

"As a young boy, I loved to read and that soon became a desire to write. While a student at Furman University, I worked at the Greenville News newspaper and did a summer internship at my hometown Index-Journal. After completing a Ph.D. at Baylor University I started writing magazine articles on parenting and family (which I have to say, I really knew little about)! Four non-fiction books followed before I dared try a novel. But then I did try and I've been writing novels since then. Twenty total titles have emerged from my imagination and become published stories which, hopefully, inspire us a little and uplift us a lot! My most recent story, The Playbook, should definitely do that. When I'm not writing I enjoy golf, guitar, bike riding (the pedaling kind) and spending time with my wife and family. Nothing spectacular. Just allowing my curiosity to find what's interesting and digging into it."

• LEARN MORE: https://a.co/d/gwALKzS

About The Playbook

A guitarist, a philosopher, and a natural-born leader with a ponytail walk onto a football field.

In the heart of a small mountain town where football reigns supreme and tradition casts long shadows, Ms. Chelsea Deal defies the norm. Amid the echoes of clashing helmets and the roar of a crowd, Chelsea, a former big-city lawyer now cast as the interim head coach for the undefeated Rabon Knights, becomes the unexpected mentor for two young players whose dreams echo her own. Palmer, a reclusive teenager brimming with untapped talent, and Ty, an old soul fighting the gravest of battles, join forces with Chelsea to overcome their differences and fight for a championship.

• GET THE BOOK: https://a.co/d/gwALKzS

As the season unfolds, so do the lives of these characters as each one strives to defeat personal challenges. Chelsea, with her keen instincts and generous spirit, seeks to rewrite the rules in a town slow to accept her. Palmer, elusive and insecure, navigates the pain of a dysfunctional family and the pull of interests beyond football. And Ty, the quarterback whose bright future is threatened by a deadly adversary, searches for strength in the power of unlikely friendships.

From the smoky aroma of Southern barbecue to the indomitable spirit of a team that refuses to yield, The Playbook captures the essence of what it means to fight for every inch, every down, every dream. as a team. This story reminds us of the possibilities when we allow our instincts to take charge-when the game is no longer just a game, but a catalyst for life-altering experiences.

Join us on the field and beyond, as Chelsea, Palmer, and Ty show us that sometimes, the most profound victories don't come with a score. Sometimes, when we break through our defenses, both literal and metaphorical, we find glory in unexpected places. And, sometimes, the games aren't just played, but felt, and the characters aren't just written, but lived.

• GET THE BOOK: https://a.co/d/gwALKzS