One conflict I had to resolve: scientists wish to qualify their statements for maximum accuracy, whereas novelists wish to avoid the boredom-induced death of their readers. This means I had to abandon many passages reflective of the complicated realities of epidemiology or virology or biotechnology in favor of more simple but less precise language. Also, in certain scenes I deliberately took a bit of creative license, partly to improve the drama and partly due to my editor’s gentle observation that perhaps the story didn’t really flow when the characters insisted on hammering home the distinction between esoteric concepts such as, say, basic and effective reproductive numbers. Consider the following example of excised dialogue:

“Why not share the basic reproductive number?”

“Because the effective reproduction number is more useful,” said Kira. “It’s the product of the R0 and the susceptible host population (x). Therefore R=R0x estimates the potential for spread while taking into account the implementation of control measures, such as isolation and quarantining.”

Even in nonmedical writing, I tend to overuse big words, which many tormented readers of my previous novels have pointed out. Thanks, guys. Believe it or not, it could have been even worse. Every character in the book might sound like a meganerd (i.e., me) if it wasn’t for my long-suffering editor. I do not know how she makes it through my intolerable word snarls. Thank you, Kerry!

Spoiler alert: on a related note, I’d like to address the miraculous recoveries of some of the characters. My editor talked me out of an original, grimmer ending, even though it was medically more plausible, and she was right. That’s the beauty of fiction: sometimes it delivers unexpected grace and a joyous ending when we need it most.

Speaking of unexpected grace, I owe my deepest gratitude to the following groups and individuals:

My people! The emergency medicine doctors:

Heather M. Clark, M.D.; Kari Dechenne, M.D.; Danielle Dire, M.D.; Sarah Edwards, M.D.; Susan Geiger, M.D.; Gerri Goertzen, M.D.; Emily Hyatt, D.O.; Angela K. Johnson, M.D.; Sara Kirby, M.D.; Dorothy Konomos, D.O.; Tony Locrotondo, D.O.; Olen Netteburg, M.D.; Erin Noste, M.D.; Olga Otter, M.D.; Anuj A. Parikh, M.D.; Matthew S. Partrick, M.D.; Kimberly Pringle, M.D.; Audrey Stanton, D.O., M.P.H.; Cristi Vaughn, M.D.; Michelle Walther, M.D.; Svetlana Zakharchenko, D.O.; and all the others who aided me.