Q&A with author, Duke orthopedic surgeon Robert Schultz

_Robert Schultz, a member of the teaching faculty for the department of orthopedics at Duke University, had his second book “Autobiography of Baby Boomer” published May 28.

Staff writer Kylie Piper spoke to Schultz about the writing process and his upcoming projects. _

DAILY TAR HEEL: Where did the inspiration for the memoir come from?

Robert Schultz: The only reason I came to actually do it is I had enough people who knew my story and would say, “You’ve got to write a book.” Then my kids started to hear about some of the things that happened to me, and they’d ask me questions about it, usually at bedtime. I’d relate some stories, and I started to think that maybe I should actually write something about it.

I got to thinking, “Well, I’m not a celebrity, I’m no one famous. Who’s going to care other than my family?” Then it came to me, as I started to just put some words down, that it’s really not about me — it’s about an era. It’s about a very sexy ’60s and ’70s era. Then the second part is about something equally fascinating, which is the medical profession — kind of an inside look. So I said, “What the heck?” and I wrote it.

*DTH: *What challenges did you face while writing the book?

*RS: *At first it was, “Should I really be doing this?” But once I started getting into it and appreciated the fact that it really was a story about 80 million baby boomers, I kind of loosened up, and I felt that it was worthwhile.

And the other point was the whole purpose was to be entertaining, not to teach anyone anything or give them a certain philosophy of mine. Then it took on a life of its own. It was writing itself, if you will.

DTH: What do you ultimately hope that readers get out of the book?

RS: A lot of fun and a lot of enjoyment. For the people who lived through that time, conjuring up memories.

Mainly that (the readers) look forward to opening up the book each day, and that they don’t want it to end.

DTH: Do you have any advice for people who might want to start writing but don’t really know where to start?

RS: Absolutely. There’s nothing better than translating your conscious memories to the written word. There’s something concrete about it. There’s something that emulates a smell, a touch, an experience that you might not otherwise have brought forth.

So whether you really think you’re going to get it published, whether you are going to try to publish it on your own or whether you’re just going to read it two months later, I think the act of actually putting the words down is like a meditation.

I don’t think the endpoint is having a publication … I think the endpoint is an ongoing enjoyment of trying to create and seeing what you can do.

DTH: Are you working on any other projects?

RS: Yes, the publisher already has a novel and a children’s book.

I am writing a book that I can’t really explain to you exactly because it’s taking (on) a life of its own. It’s about being in an (intensive care unit). I was in one, and if you read “Autobiography of a Baby Boomer,” you’ll get to read a little bit about that.

I walk through ICUs and I take patients in ICUs, but having been a patient in an ICU, that was a different experience. So I just figured I might try to convey that feeling.