SAXONBURG — Two local authors will discuss their books, including insights into their faith and how they live it, starting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, at the South Butler Community Library, 240 W. Main St.

A book signing will follow the authors’ talk.

Bruce Kelly, a medical doctor, wrote “The Uphill River: The Memoir of a Boy Chosen by God and the Universe to Become a Physician.”

Gary Goerk is the author of “You, Me and God Make Three: For Time Well Spent: More Reflections, Scriptures, Quotes, Applications, Journaling Opportunities.”

Michelle Lesniak, library director, said, “This is the first author talk for the fall. We try to have three or four of them a year. We combined these two because they are both faith-oriented.”

Kelly, a Gibsonia retiree, spent 33 years as a hospitalist in what is now the Encompass Rehabilitation Hospital in Harmarville.

“I was the inpatient physician for 40 spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis patients,” he said.

Kelly said he’s felt that his career as a doctor came about because of an inscrutable plan.

“Things happened all through my life that was a spiritual guidance to becoming a doctor,” he said.

For example, he said, while he was growing up, the girl next door had cerebral palsy and was unable to walk to school. Kelly would take her to school on her tricycle for years.

“There were different things that happened along the way that pointed me toward becoming a doctor,” he said.

Kelly said he decided to write a book to let people know what a person has to do to become a doctor, as well as relating patient anecdotes and the different injuries he has seen.

“Laughter is the best medicine. A light heart at work makes for a difficult but rewarding career,” he said.

It took him 18 months to write “Memoir,” starting at the height of the COVID pandemic in July 2020, he said.

Goerk’s book, on the other hand, is the fifth in a series.

Goerk, who is a fire chaplain, hospice chaplain in the St. Barnabas system, and certified Christian life coach, said the genesis of his book series began with a series of posts on his website, garypgoerk.com.

Goerk said each book, including his latest, contains readings with a personal reflection, relevant Scripture passages, inspirational famous quotes, questions and applications, space for journaling, and a suggested prayer for sharing.

“The format of my books is perfect for personal or small-group study,” he said. “I sat in on one such church group and appreciated how they used one of my books on a yearlong journey through Scripture, and used the questions and applications I suggested.”

“My intent is to have the reader think ‘This speaks to me,’” Goerk said. "The subject is spiritual but it has very practical information.“

He said he was looking forward to the library reading because he will be able to explain his thought processes in creating each topic.

“I get a nice feedback. I haven’t sold a lot of books, but churches have used them in small-group study,” he said. “It lends itself to Bible study, personal study, that sort of thing.”

“Michelle and I are involved in the South Butler Meals on Wheels,” he said, which led to his speaking at the library.

Lesniak said at least one more author talk, perhaps with multiple writers, is being planned for this year.