ER Doctor Channels Pandemic Stress into Publishing Fantasy Novel

Months of self-induced isolation to protect loved ones from exposure to Covid-19 led Emergency Medicine Physician David Mucci to create a fantasy world as an outlet to manage pandemic stress and support his own mental health. The resulting novel, Ignatius and the Swords of Nostaw, tells the tale of an impossible mission led by an unlikely hero - a relatable feeling for many figuring out how to survive unprecedented circumstances of these past two years.

With no end in sight to the pandemic and still dealing with the stress of being a frontline worker, Dr. Mucci is currently writing the second novel in the series from his home in St. Augustine, Florida. He has been an emergency room physician for more than 40 years, working in hospitals in Palatka and Port Charlotte, Florida, as well as in Connecticut and St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

"Amongst widespread unknowns, without comparable experiences to help manage patient outcomes while trying to keep up on ever-changing medical news to treat suffering patients, the pandemic has been a higher level of stress to endure. Coupled with the deep fear of bringing a deadly virus into my home after ER shifts, I needed to dig deeper than TV binges or reading books to cope and to remember the potential each person has to be a hero in everyday life," said Mucci.

The product of his creative outlet is the coming-of-age story of 15-year-old Ignatius, “Iggy”, who is thrown into a world of unknowns, transported to a medieval world filled with magic. Based on research of myths and legends, Mucci created The Kingdom of Skye, the setting for Iggy to develop special powers and accomplish quests to fight evildoers and find his way home.

According to Mucci, Iggy must learn to trust a diverse set of characters but also learn to believe in himself and grow; much like as a medical provider, Mucci had to trust himself, trust his colleagues and learn how to adapt during the pandemic.

The first in a planned 5-part series, Ignatius and the Swords of Nostaw is Young Adult fantasy suitable for both teens and adults as it gently reminds readers that they are responsible for their own destiny, and that sometimes the most unexpected people can be the best teachers.

At 67 years old writing a Young Adult Literature fantasy series, Mucci is also proving that there is no limit for being creative. "The only limitation is the one that you place on yourself and on your imagination," says Mucci.

The second novel in the series is expected to be published this summer.


Ignatius and the Swords of Nostaw (St. Bart’s Publishing, October 2021) is available on Amazon. Learn more about the author and story at www.damucci.com.
Paperback | 978-1-7372778-0-4 | $9.99
e-book | 978-1-7372778-1-1 | $4.99