From Dental School to Publishing

Edward Torba in his dentist office with a copy of his first book, Matt Monroe and the Secret Society of Odontology
Proofing the first books…with King Molar!

My journey from Dental School to the world of Publishing has been an exciting and mysterious adventure!

While attending the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, I developed a flip chart/picture book for my child patients. King Molar and the Magic Trip was a big hit with the kids and their parents.

Ever since, family and friends have urged me to write a fantasy book about dentistry. They said I had a boundless imagination. That may be, but why did they think I could write a book? Having an imagination is one thing, but putting whose ideas down on paper is quite another. Truth be told, I never enjoyed English or Creative Writing in high school or college. They were necessary requirements to get to where I wanted to go…dental school. I was a science major. English was a big waste of time to me. Oh, how wrong I was. If I could have known back then what I know now.

I politely listened to their words of encouragement, but never acted on them. I was a dentist and private practice keep me busy. I had no time for writing… or more correctly, didn’t take the time to write. Then one day the writing bug hit me. I can’t precisely explain what happened, but the story of Matt Monroe began to bounce around in my head. It literally popped into my conscious mind one day and wouldn’t leave. Any time my mind wandered off or I had a chance to relax, Matt was there. It was as though he demanded his story be told.

Steadily, I began to put his story into words. The more I wrote, the more I enjoyed the process. Writing is a mysterious adventure, when the time is right the words just come to you. They pop into your mind and you get credit for putting them down on paper.

So, fast forward 40 years, and I am ready to release my first fantasy novel. Actually, it is a re-release with a new title and revised text. I didn’t know what I was doing the first time, and didn’t recognize how to get my tale out there. The school of hard knocks taught me some valuable lessons.But I’m excited to announce that after much time and effort, working with artists and editors and figuring out the ins and outs of publishing, Matt Monroe and The Secret Society of Odontology, will be released for pre-order on September 15 with an official release on November, 20. The adventures of Matt and his friends is geared for children ages 8 thru 13, but I have been told by close friends who acted as critics while proofing my manuscript, that it is an enjoyable read for any adult who wishes to travel back to a time in their life when magic was possible and limited only by the level of their imagination.

The pre-order books will be offered at a special price before November 1, so be sure and get yours on September 15. If you’d like to receive notice of when they are available, just sign up for my news updates and we’ll let you know. Your support of my authorial endeavors is greatly appreciated!