My question: What five things have you learned while researching for your debut novel, Pandemic?
Influenza
in general is a newsworthy item. From
the seasonal flu (the LA Times reported “8
things you need to know about the deadly influenza virus”) to the avian flu
(which the World Health Organization monitors closely in China, although it has
not been transmitted from human to human), the fear of a deadly disease is
ever-present.
Here
are five things I learned while researching Pandemic:
1. The first
cases of the 2009 Swine Flu/H1N1 pandemic occurred in Mexico, California, and
Texas. Most countries in the world have since experienced infections.
2. Because
of airplane travel, germs can be transmitted almost anywhere in the world
within 48 hours.
3. Waterfowl
are carriers of influenza viruses. The World Health Organization (WHO) calls
them “natural reservoirs.”
4. The Spanish
Influenza of 1918 killed more Americans than all of World War I.
5. Too much
research can cause worry! This was an emotion I was able to transfer to Lilianna,
the main character in Pandemic. And I
definitely wash my hands more than the average person.
Before becoming a children’s writer, Yvonne
Ventresca wrote computer programs and taught others how to use technology. Now
she happily spends her days writing stories instead of code and sharing
technology tips with other writers. Yvonne’s the author of the young adult
novel Pandemic, which was published in May from Sky Pony Press. She blogs for teen writers every Tuesday and for
writers of all ages each Friday at www.yvonneventresca.com/blog.html.
To connect with Yvonne:
Facebook Author www.facebook.com/yvonneventrescaauthor
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/yvonneventrescaTo buy Pandemic:
Books A Million www.booksamillion.com/p/Pandemic/Yvonne-Ventresca/9781628736090
Coincidentally, I'm home sick, with the strep throat 'bug' I caught from my son. Take care!
Char
