Jeffrey Wilson has held a number of titles: actor, firefighter, paramedic, Naval officer and vascular surgeon. He can now add another to that list—award-winning author.
Wilson is a Williamsburg native who recently won a gold medal from the Military Writers Society of America for his novel “The Donors.”
The Military Writers Society of America is an association of more than 800 authors, poets, artists, and photographers whose core principle is a love and respect for the men and women who serve the country. “The Donors” won in the Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror category at their annual book awards program.
“The Donors” is a supernatural medical thriller. While he is a member of the group – having a long military history and experience as a writer – Wilson was not expecting the recognition.
“It’s nice to get an award from a military organization,” he said. “It’s a group that I share a lot of things with.”
Wilson has been writing in some capacity since he was 13, when his first short story was published in a regional magazine. Even while serving two tours in Iraq as a trauma and combat surgeon, he’s kept writing.
Now he works part-time as a surgeon, and devotes the rest of his time to writing and spending time with his three children. “I’ve got the dream life,” Wilson explained.
Starting with short fiction, Wilson joked that he didn’t think he’d ever have the attention span to craft a novel. He has since realized that novels are “way easier,” with more room to develop characters and a plot arc.
He has written two other novels, “Traiteur’s Ring” and “Fade to Black,” both since 2011. All three of his works have been published by JournalStone Publishing.
Wilson grew up in Williamsburg and also attended William & Mary for his undergraduate degree. Although he and his family have moved to Tampa, Fla., he said that he maintains plenty of ties with the Historic Triangle. Both of Wilson’s parents live here, and a sister is only as far as Gloucester.
“When I think of Williamsburg, I don’t think of William & Mary—I think of home,” Wilson said.
For more information on Wilson and “The Donors,” visit his website.
