About the Author
Dr. Larry Kachik blends authentic emergency medicine scenes with the excitement of horse racing, drawing directly from his real-life experience as both a physician and racehorse owner. As a result, his writing carries a realism and emotional depth that few can match, making his stories stand apart from typical thrillers.
Combining Medical Expertise & Storytelling
Dr. Larry Kachik grew up in Western Pennsylvania, where he first became interested in medicine. He studied pre-medicine at The Johns Hopkins University and earned his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in 1979. Later, he finished his residency in Family Medicine at Latrobe Area Hospital in 1982.
He worked in emergency rooms for more than twenty-five years, spending fifteen of those as the head of his department. He also served as the medical director of an acute-care hospital. After many years in practice, he began a new role as a physician surveyor for The Joint Commission, a group that reviews hospitals across the country. These experiences helped him understand real hospital life, which now adds truth and detail to his books.
Our Story
My wife, Kathy, was the heart behind everything I’ve written. She loved reading. At first, she read romance novels, but she later fell in love with thrillers by authors like Nelson DeMille, David Baldacci, and Vince Flynn. Kathy had a strong passion for books—she loved the smell of a new hardcover and treated every page with care. I quickly learned never to fold a page corner, because that was one of her biggest rules.
How Kathy Inspired My Writing
I wasn’t a big reader when we met. Years of medical study had drained my interest in books. But Kathy changed that. She gave me a Vince Flynn novel, and I couldn’t put it down. Soon, I started to enjoy good stories and strong characters, just like she did. She often told me to write and even joked that my funny, honest emails—her “shitgrams”—proved I could. Kathy truly believed I could write a book people would enjoy.
Loss, Healing, and a New Beginning
When Kathy passed away from a brain hemorrhage on Valentine’s Day in 2015, my world fell apart. We didn’t have children-it was always just the two of us. For years, I struggled with grief and sadness. Eventually, I found comfort in writing. I started a private book called AK (short for Aunt Kathy) to help our nieces and nephews remember her. That small project helped me heal and gave me a reason to keep going.
Continuing Her Legacy Through Storytelling
In 2019, I began writing what became my first novel, Dying Was Easy. Two years later, I focused on finishing it, and I published it in 2023 with a new edition in 2024. Writing the Zachary Zander series has brought me joy and purpose—something I never expected to find again. Kathy’s love and faith in me live on in every story I write.
Every page I create is for her. Without Kathy’s encouragement, none of this would exist. I love you, Huns!
More About Dr. Kachik
Dr. Kachik discovered his love for harness racing while in college. Soon after, as he began his medical career, he started owning racehorses—a passion that lasted more than twenty years. Over that time, he owned parts of more than fifty horses and made lifelong friends in the racing world.
To this day, he is still a big fan of the sport. He even held his wedding reception at the winner’s circle of a racetrack—a perfect symbol of his love for both Kathy and racing.
The Author’s Gallery
