By Cara Putman, @cara_putman
This week my new book Lethal Intent released. This book stepped into an area that was outside my area of knowledge in a very new way – it has elements of a medical thriller. I thought about being a nurse for about fifteen minutes in fourth grade. Even at that age, it took little time for me to recognize that was a terrible idea because I faint early and often. I’m good in a crisis, but the moment it’s over, I’m looking for a chair or the floor.
So how did I manage to write a novel that is centered on cutting edge medical research related to CAR T-cells therapy? I called on a friend.
One of my commitments to my readers is that I will avoid – as much as I can – the little detail holes that pull them out of the story. I’ll never forget reading a book from a NYT best-selling thriller writer, where he wrote a book set in DC and as someone who had lived in that area for eight years, I immediately stopped when he put a building where it couldn’t be. Or another book that said someone was running for a second term as Virginia’s governor – but you can’t. Not without a break in terms.
also want to honor the experiences of people who have lived through similar scenarios to my characters. These commitments mean when I sat down to write Lethal Intent, I knew I needed help. Serious help.
- Do your research in unexpected places. Don’t overlook the multitude of sources are at your fingertips. For my next series, I’ve been watching a few documentaries – there are a wealth of those on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other services. I’ve also relied on some of those when writing my WWII novels as a great way to hear the voices of people who were involved. With the voices you can hear the emotion that can be missing in the written word. Don’t forget books. One of my ideas for Lethal Intent was launched in a nascent way when I read the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. I didn’t read the book expecting to a get a what if, but I try to keep my eyes open all the time.
- Ask experts for help. Even after more than thirty books, it can feel odd to call or email someone and say, “hey, I’m an author. Can I ask you some questions?” But I’ve also learned it’s a fantastic way to get good information. For Lethal Intent, it meant spending an hour at Panera getting sketches of T-Cells and the therapy process on napkins. I’ve had conversations at Chipotle on how a plane might crash (Flight Risk). It’s also meant a long conversation with a public defender to make sure I wasn’t making assumptions regarding why they choose that job (Delayed Justice). Those interviews can add life to other research. It can also bring clarity to information your reading, but not understanding.
- Make sure you do some research before meeting with an expert. That’s how you’ll know what questions to ask. It also helps to put the details in context and helps you ask good clarifying questions. When Dr. Jodi was telling me about the structure of blood cells, I already had a vague idea. That meant I could scaffold her information on top of basic information. Then we could focus on how the medical field is engineering your own cells and where she thought science was going next. Those were the questions I couldn’t really research, not without knowing more.
The beautiful part was after taking these steps, as I was writing, I could quickly refresh my memory with time on reputable websites. How do you streamline your research? Do you have any questions about conducting research?
If they expected silence, they hired the wrong woman.
Caroline Bragg’s life has never been better. She and Brandon Lancaster are taking their relationship to the next level, and she has a new dream job as legal counsel for Praecursoria—a research lab that is making waves with its cutting-edge genetic therapies. The company’s leukemia treatments even promise to save desperately sick kids—kids like eleven-year-old Bethany, a critically ill foster child at Brandon’s foster home.
When Caroline’s enthusiastic boss wants to enroll Bethany in experimental trials prematurely, Caroline objects, putting her at odds with her colleagues. They claim the only goal at Praecursoria is to save lives. But does someone have another agenda?
Brandon faces his own crisis. As laws governing foster homes shift, he’s on the brink of losing the group home he’s worked so hard to build. When Caroline learns he’s a Praecursoria investor, it becomes legally impossible to confide in him. Will the secrets she keeps become a wedge that separates them forever? And can she save Bethany from the very treatments designed to heal her?
This latest romantic legal thriller by bestseller Cara Putman shines a light on the shadowy world of scientific secrets and corporate vendettas—and the ethical dilemmas that plague the place where science and commerce meet.
“Intriguing characters. Romantic tension. Edge-of-your-seat suspense. And a fast-paced ending that will leave you exhausted (in a good way!).” —Robert Whitlow, award-winning author of Promised Land
Since the time she could read Nancy Drew, Cara has wanted to write mysteries. In 2005 she attended a book signing at her local Christian bookstore. The rest, as they say, was history. There she met a fellow Indiana writer Colleen Coble. With prompting from her husband, Cara shared her dream with Colleen. Since those infamous words, Cara’s been writing award-winning books. She is currently marketing book 36 and dreaming up future books, not hard when she sees what-ifs everywhere.
Cara Putman is an active member of ACFW and gives back to the writing community through her service on Executive Board. She has also been the Indiana ACFW chapter president and served as the Area Coordinator for Indiana.
Cara is also an attorney, full-time lecturer at a Big Ten university, and all-around crazy woman. Crazy about God, her husband and her kids that is. She graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Go Huskers!), George Mason Law School, and Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management. You can learn more about Cara at www.caraputman.com.
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