Sarah Boon—Meltdown: The Making and Breaking of a Field Scientist

Advance copy: Backstories on books by NASW members

Cover of the book Meltdown: The Making and Breaking of a Field Scientist by Sarah Boon showing a photograph of Boon and a colleague climbing on a glacier. The book title is superimposed on the photo in white print, along with the subtitle and author’s name in black print. Photo credit: D. Lewis.

Meltdown

MELTDOWN
THE MAKING AND BREAKING OF A FIELD SCIENTIST
University of Alberta Press, June 17, 2025
Paperback, $27.99 CDN
Paperback ISBN-13: 9781772127911

Boon reports:

I wrote this book because, when I talked to people about what I studied—glaciers—and my field experiences doing that, they were always in awe of what I’d seen and done. I’d traversed glaciers, measured rivers, chased away a grizzly, and generally enjoyed being outdoors. To me, that seemed normal. I gradually realized that maybe I had a story to tell.

I put together a proposal that incorporated both science and memoir aspects. I sent it to publishers that accept work directly, as I don’t have an agent. I didn’t get a bite. Some were interested but didn’t know how to sell it—a common story in the publishing world.

Portrait photo of Sarah Boon in front of a snow-covered peak

Sarah Boon
Photo by D. Lewis

My proposal eventually prompted interest from the University of Alberta Press. (The University of Alberta is my alma mater.) Editors there were intrigued enough by my two sample chapters to ask me to send them a full manuscript once I’d finished it.

My book is a science memoir: it covers my life as a scientist who wanted to be a writer and how my life changed after I was diagnosed with bipolar II and anxiety disorder. I interviewed two other women in my field, Dr. Alison Criscitiello and Dr. Bea Alt, to include their stories alongside my own. I also included pioneering scientists such as Mary Vaux, Mary Schäffer, Phyllis Munday, and women I’d already interviewed for other pieces.

For my research, I drew heavily on my journals and field notes, memories, emails, and other documents. I read books about Rocky Mountain and Arctic history and many science memoirs.

I wish I’d known how exhausting it would be to write a book. I have a limited amount of energy in a day and could write for only one to two hours at a time. My advice for aspiring authors is to work to your own schedule. Figure out what works for you, not what others say should work. Also, read widely—not only books that apply to your own work but also those that give your brain a rest.

Contact info:

NASW members: will your book be published soon? Promote it by submitting your report for Advance Copy.

Tell your fellow NASW members how you came up with the idea for your book, developed a proposal, found an agent and publisher, funded and conducted research, and put the book together. Include what you wish you had known before you began working on your book or what you might have done differently.

See https://www.nasw.org/advance-copy-submission-guidelines. NASW member login required.

View Advance Copy archives at https://www.nasw.org/member-article/advance-copy.

Thinking of writing a book? If you are a NASW member, you may access a list of more than 200 books and online resources to help you craft your book proposal, find an agent and funding sources, negotiate your contract, learn about self-publishing, publicize and market your book, and more at https://www.nasw.org/article/write-book.

View the recording of an Advance Copy Virtual Business Chat, A Primer for Authors on Book Publicity. NASW member login required.

View the recording of a Virtual Business Chat presented by NASW’s Freelance Committee and Advance Copy column Writing Wikipedia Profiles. NASW member login required.

View the recording of a recent Virtual Skills Chat presented by NASW’s Editing Committee How to Break into Editing. NASW member login required.

View the recording of a recent Virtual Skills Chat presented by NASW’s Freelance Committee Using Generative A.I. as Writers and Editors. NASW member login required.

Send book info and questions about book publishing to Lynne Lamberg, NASW book editor, llamberg@nasw.org.

Follow @LynneLamberg and @lynnelamberg.bsky.social for news about NASW authors, science/medical books, and writing.

Banner image adapted from original photo by Sarah Boon.

NASW invites publishers and publicists to purchase NASW website ads to promote their authors and books via NASW’s self-service purchasing portal.

Advance Copy

The path from idea to book may take myriad routes. The Advance Copy column, started in 2000 by NASW volunteer book editor Lynne Lamberg, features NASW authors telling the stories behind their books. Authors are asked to report how they got their idea, honed it into a proposal, found an agent and a publisher, funded and conducted their research, and organized their writing process. They also are asked to share what they wish they’d known when they started or would do differently next time, and what advice they can offer aspiring authors. Lamberg edits the authors’ answers to produce the Advance Copy reports.

NASW members: Will your book be published soon? Visit www.nasw.org/advance-copy-submission-guidelines for information on submitting your report.

Publication of NASW author reports in Advance Copy does not constitute NASW's endorsement of any publication or the ideas, values, or material contained within or espoused by authors or their books. We hope this column stimulates productive discussions on important topics now and in the future as both science and societies progress. We welcome your discussion in the comments section below.

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