Catherine Dold had no experience writing about addiction, and didn’t think she wanted to write about it. She had never written a book, either. After responding to an ad seeking a co-author, however, she accepted the challenge.
Advance Copy: Backstories on books by NASW members
For this column, NASW book editor Lynne Lamberg asks NASW authors to tell how they came up with the idea for their book, developed a proposal, found an agent and publisher, funded and conducted research, and put the book together. She also asks what they wish they had known before they began working on their book, what they might do differently the next time, and what tips they can offer aspiring authors. She then edits the A part of that Q&A to produce the author reports you see here.
NASW members: Will your book be published soon? Visit www.nasw.org/advance-copy-submission-guidelines to submit your report.
Publication of NASW members' reports in Advance Copy does not constitute NASW's endorsement of their books. NASW welcomes your comments and hopes this column stimulates productive discussions.
Spending time in a primatology research center gave Dennis Meredith insight into the behavior of chimpanzees, and honed his appreciation of legal, ethical, and emotional issues affecting their care. That experience, he says, helped shape his novel, Solomon’s Freedom.
In Surgeon General's Warning, Mike Stobbe cites advantages of having a strong advocate for public health as the nation’s doctor.
Summary: In Do Fathers Matter?, Paul Raeburn, a father of five, debunks myths and stereotypes of fatherhood, while highlighting the many ways fathers shape the lives of their children.
Fang and claw have hopped the white picket fence, alarming parents, pet owners, and municipal officials, Edward Ricciuti reports in Bears in the Backyard.
Ply your drinking buddies with info distilled from Proof, Adam Rogers’ spirited report on the history and science of booze.
In Scatter, Adapt and Remember, Annalee Newitz explores what humans would have to do to survive a mass extinction. Newitz’s book is a finalist in the science and technology category of this year's L.A. Times Book Award competition.
In Citizen Canine, David Grimm explores good, bad, and bizarre outcomes of turning pets into people
In The Soil Will Save Us, Kristin Ohlson tells how plants and soil microorganisms created our lush world, how humans disrupted that partnership, and how visionary scientists, farmers, and other land managers are working to create healthy, carbon-rich soil to restore ecological health.