Jeff Stookey

I am the author of Medicine for the Blues, a trilogy of novels that explores the complexities of gender and sexuality through the historical lens of the early 1920s, when the Ku Klux Klan was growing in influence. I studied literature, history, and cinema at Occidental College, and then got a BFA in Theater from Fort Wright College. In 1992 I retrained in medical lab work and later in medical coding, and I worked for many years with pathologists, trauma surgeons, and emergency room reports. This medical background led to the creation of my main character, Carl Holman MD, while a deep dive into gay history and Oregon’s past shaped much of the rest of the trilogy. A novel writing class at The Attic Institute, A Haven for Writers, and a couple of years with creative writing groups helped me bring this story out of the closet. I have lived in Portland, Oregon, for many years with my longtime partner, Ken, and our unruly garden. Acquaintance is my first novel and Book 1 of Medicine for the Blues. Chicago Blues is book 2, and Dangerous Medicine is book 3.