An Interview with Mark Katlic

Mark Katlic, M.D., is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Washington & Jefferson College and an Alpha Omega Alpha graduate of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He completed residencies in Surgery and Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital, then practiced Thoracic Surgery for forty years, first in Northeastern Pennsylvania and then in Baltimore. He was Chair of Surgery for Lifebridge Health System in Baltimore until his retirement in 2024.

Mark lives on a farm north of the city with his wife of fifty years, Diane, Tux the dog, four cats, two horses, and the photogenic fauna of field and forest.

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

I wanted a short, somewhat exotic, easily remembered title. The thorax, or chest, plays a role in the novel and it readily checked all the boxes.

How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?

I gave cover artist Ronaldo Alves a few ideas and he produced a striking design. My wife, Diane (who has a great eye for design), and I tweaked it a little. Readers all like the story but they also universally compliment the bold cover. Holding the physical book is still special to me, every time.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

I was that kid who always had a book with him. I still do. As an adolescent, I read a lot of science fiction but I generally read anything and everything.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

For years I trained and participated in triathlons. I still exercise every day. I also like a good Negroni.

What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

As a busy surgeon, I could only work on Thorax on nights and weekends, so it took many years. Publication was more like completing a marathon than a sprint. Now that I am retired from surgery, I may be sprinting more.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

My chief goal was to tell a good story that readers enjoy. Secondarily there is an unwritten message that we all have hidden strengths that come to the surface when we need them, to save a loved one (as the shy, bookish Nick finds in saving his daughter, Anna).

What new writing projects are you currently working on? Or, other projects that are not writing?

Many readers have asked for a sequel to Thorax, since the characters are appealing and there is still an immoral Russian oligarch at large. That evil man’s nickname, “The Eel,” is the working title of the sequel.

How was working with Atmosphere Press? What would you tell other writers who want to publish?

Atmosphere Press has truly lived up to its author-centric reputation. They have been great partners at every step.

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.