I often thought about writing something in the medical thriller genre, as I’m a physician and scientist (biochemist). The idea to write about genetic engineering, the subject of the first book in the trilogy, Unnatural, seemed like a good place to start. After all, genetic engineering is in the news a lot, and much has been written about future possibilities for this exciting new technique. The story came to me in a flash—a Chinese girl with blue eyes (Chinese people don’t have blue eyes—usually brown, rarely green, but not blue). Now I had my general plot. All I had to do was come up with the characters and the details.
You can surmise by now that my writing is plot-driven rather than character-driven. Despite that, I put a great deal of thought into my characters. They need to fit the story as well as have a life outside of the problem at hand.
For Unnatural, I decided the best person to become entangled in the plot would be a pediatrician. Not just any pediatrician, but an intelligent, caring doctor. I needed her to have a particular interest in special needs children, as she would be the one to look after the autistic youth in the second book, Unwitting (see below). I conjured up Erica Rosen, a San Francisco pediatrician who came across blue-eyed Wang Shu in her clinic. Wang Shu’s mother had brought her there because she needed a health form filled out to start school.
The second book deals with autism. The main person Erica deals with, a young autistic man, is based on one of my sons. The abilities and behavior of the book character are as close to my son’s as I could make them. Both are autistic, with limited ability to communicate. Unlike the higher functioning autistic individuals usually featured on television, they must rely on people for their care. Like some, but not all autistic individuals, however, they have certain splinter skills, which often surprise people. I can ask my son what he had for dinner on a specific night five years ago, and he can tell me (I sometimes write such things down to check his memory because I don't remember those details).
The third book deals with pharmaceutical production. While the FDA does its best to regulate this industry, there have been failures. I believe significant slip-ups are less frequent than they have been in the past, at least in developed countries. However, there are still ways to work around the safeguards in place.
My writing sometimes requires me to research the science behind the stories, as well as the culture and location of the characters. I enjoy this, and I hope that in addition to appreciating a good story, my readers look forward to learning about new things as much as I do.
Fiction writer Deven Greene lives in the San Francisco Bay area. Ever since childhood, Deven has been interested in science. After receiving a doctorate in biochemistry, she went to medical school and trained as a pathologist. She worked for several decades in that field before starting to write fiction. Deven incorporates elements of medicine or science in most of her writing. She has published several short stories. Her debut novel, Unnatural, is the first book of the Erica Rosen MD Trilogy, and was released in January 2021. Unwitting, released in October 2021, is the second Erica Rosen MD novel. Unforeseen is the final book in the Trilogy.
Visit her website at www.devengreene.com or connect with her on Twitter and Instagram.
The Chinese government wants to murder Ting’s son to prevent others from learning about his unusual mutation and the secret gene-editing program. At Ting’s urging, Erica heads to China to expose the program and rescue the infant Ting was forced to leave behind, all while attempting to evade the watchful eye of the Chinese government.
Book Information
Release Date: January 7, 2021
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Soft Cover: 289 pages; $4.53; eBook $4.65; Free with Kindle Unlimited
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3wv8hlN
Black Rose Writing: https://www.blackrosewriting.com/thrillers/unnatural?rq=deven%20green
Erica becomes involved after a teacher of young autistic men contacts her. The teacher believes her students are involved in the bombing but is afraid to contact law enforcement. She reaches out to Erica, who has experience with special needs children.
Erica arrives at the school but finds the police already there and a young autistic man doing a jigsaw puzzle, oblivious to his murdered teacher on the floor. The young man has information about the mastermind behind the bombing but has limited ability to speak. Erica is determined to protect him, prevent further bombings, and find his missing classmates.
Book Information
Release Date: October 21, 2021
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Soft Cover: 281 pages; $17.38; eBook $4.99; FREE on Kindle Unlimited
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3qe4zJP
Black Rose Writing:
https://www.blackrosewriting.com/thrillers/unwitting?rq=deven%20greene
Meanwhile, the department’s newest pediatrician, Dr. Nilsen, appears to be trying to steal her patients. Erica suspects he is after her job as the clinic director. She also discovers Dr. Nilsen has become romantically involved with her trusted assistant, Martha. One evening, while looking for patient information on Martha’s desk, Erica comes across a list with the names of some of her patients. A boy who recently became ill with a mysterious malady is on the list and has an asterisk by his name. What does that mean?
Erica is convinced something nefarious is underfoot, and Dr. Nilsen, rather than simply being after her job, is engaged in a dangerous scheme involving her patients. Unable to recruit the help of law enforcement in a timely manner, she realizes she must take matters into her own hands. As she proceeds with her investigation, she is unaware of the dangers she is about to encounter.
Book Information
Release Date: August 18, 2022
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Soft Cover: 329 pages; $21.95; eBook $6.99; FREE on Kindle Unlimited
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Tp8u3J
Black Rose Writing:
https://www.blackrosewriting.com/thrillers/unforeseen?rq=deven%20greene
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