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HALLSTEAD — Still over-worked and under-appreciated, Dr. Cassidy is back.
The fictional rural physician, created by Wilkes-Barre native Dr. Bernard L. Remakus and introduced to readers in the 1995 novel “Cassidy’s Solution,” is the protagonist of “Lame Duck,” an updated version of the story.
Long-time Remakus readers will recognize Cassidy, a lonely young doctor who, despite his conscientious efforts, has been named in several malpractice suits.
They’ll also recognize Angela Fratello, the “Angel of Death” malpractice attorney who, against all odds, considering her career, becomes Cassidy’s lover. She’s also his patient and, later, his partner in crime. But Remakus’ readers, old and new, likely will not fault the couple for staging a huge deception.
The way the story is set up, they’re simply doling out just desserts to the bad guys in their Northeastern Pennsylvania community, from a would-be rapist to the largely incompetent staff at the local hospital. Take that, everyone.
Remakus, who practices internal medicine and writes in Hallstead, Susquehanna County, recently spoke to the Times Leader about his latest self-published novel, which can be purchased from amazon.com as an e-book for $2.99 or as a paperback for $19.95. Kindle subscribers can read it for free.
TL: We know you’re busy writing. Do you plan to retire from your medical practice?
BR: I will never retire. My stethoscope will be pointing to heaven with my last heartbeat. But I practice in a small town and the practice has been very busy for 35 years but the town has essentially started to die off. Children that used to be in farm families move off and don’t come back, so essentially I’m taking care of an older population. I’m semi-retired.
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TL: How do you keep that in balance with writing?
BR: It’s very manageable because my practice is in my home. When a patient leaves, I sit down and write.
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TL: Why did you turn “Cassidy’s Solution” into “Lame Duck?”
BR: “Cassidy’s Solution” was written a quarter century ago and a lot of things have happened with all the changes fracking brought to rural Pennsylvania, and with new changes in medicine. All sorts of new subplots presented themselves. It’s essentially a much different book, with many new characters.
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TL: Your protagonist, Dr. Cassidy, is a one-time seminarian turned physician. Is there anything auto-biographical about that?
BR: No, I’m a proud graduate of Marymount High School and King’s College, but I never entered a seminary. I was an altar boy and I had a very close relationship with some wonderful priests and one of the things I’m proudest to have in my office right now is not the tons of different diplomas and awards but a papal blessing on my medical practice from Pope John Paul II.
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TL: Did you base any of your characters on people you know?
BR: All of my books are based on reality, so a character might have the body of one person I know, speak like another person I know and have the ideas of a third person I know. You can get three people involved with one character.
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TL: Who is Mike Lambert, the person to whom you dedicated “Lame Duck?”
BR: My wife’s sister’s husband, who died at age 50. He probably was the greatest fan in the world of “Cassidy’s Solution.” He’d pull it out and tell everybody it was his favorite book. He liked Cassidy (the book and the doctor), and he loved Angela (his wife, whom coincidentallym has the same name as the attorney character).
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TL: What is your next book?
BR: I’m ready to put out a half dozen different novels right now. They’re in different stages of completion and every one I think about, I get excited.
