Mystery author BJ Magnani joins me today to chat about her new suspense thriller, A Message in Poison.
Bio:
BJ Magnani’s fascination with toxicology led her to a career in pathology and laboratory medicine. She is Professor of Anatomic and Clinical Pathology Emerita at Tufts University School of Medicine and writes the Dr. Lily Robinson thriller series (The Queen of All Poisons, The Power of Poison, A Message in Poison) about a poison-savvy physician recruited by the U.S. Government as a covert assassin.
Welcome, BJ. Please tell us about your current release.
A Message in Poison is the third novel in the Dr. Lily Robinson series and follows The Queen of All Poisons and The Power of Poison and to some extent, completes Lily’s personal arc while taking on a new geopolitical mission.
Lily Robinson—a pathologist, teacher, fashionista, and covert assassin—is asked to investigate two seemingly unrelated deaths alongside her lover, Jean Paul Marchand, and Medical Examiner Dr. Logan Pelletier. She follows the trail of a notorious Russian assassin to the Middle East, Jokovikstan, and Washington, D.C. As her personal relationships teeter on the brink, and her loved ones face foreign threats, she must unravel the mystery and uncover a plot more calculating than anyone could imagine—but it may be too late.
What inspired you to write this book?
All my stories are inspired by events I find in the news that could create catastrophic problems for the world if set into motion—mass poisonings, threatening missile launches, and control of geopolitical resources. I find these scenarios much scarier than traditional horror stories. This book was inspired by the competitive nature of countries seeking rare earth elements.
And I enjoy including science, medicine, and complex personal relationships in all my stories.
Excerpt from A Message in Poison:
This is a little intense, but Lily Robinson battles guilt on many fronts. She rationalizes her actions by believing “the good of the many outweighs the good of the one.”
“I’ve done some terrible things in my life. Big lies splash in my wake and follow me until the water creeps into my lungs. I’ve murdered many people who deserved to die. I take the phrase ‘pick your poison’ literally. My arsenal of natural toxins and poisons hidden deep within a freezer provide enough variety to mimic natural death. The cool salt air at my seaside cottage coaxes plants in my poisonous garden to yield the natural killers I need. And I have collaborators around the world who can provide for me what my garden cannot.
Yes, it’s true that I’ve spent much of my life taking care of patients as a physician and taught a generation of medical students. But it was this very expertise in toxicology that captured the attention of the U.S. government. They seduced me and then orchestrated a transformation from consultant to assassin. Some say it’s my jewel-green eyes, raven-colored hair, and even my stiletto heels that tend to disarm my victims. They are blinded to the truth. With eyes closed to the Hippocratic Oath, I travel the world, eliminating terrorists and traitors with poison, stealth in a bottle, in the name of preventing mass destruction on a global scale.” –Lily Robinson
What exciting project are you working on next?
I’m working on the fourth book in the Dr. Lily Robinson series. The action takes place around the globe—Australia, Belgium, and South Africa. The plot features sea snakes, climate change, and cloaking devices. There’s also more about Lily’s relationship with her daughter’s father, and the enigmatic assassin Pixie Dust.
I’m also stretching my writing skills. Last year I wrote a novel in a different genre—women’s fiction with steamy romantic elements. I’m shopping that around now.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I have authored many scientific articles and book chapters but only started writing fiction about ten years ago as part of a request to write for a scientific journal to educate—and entertain—toxicologists, chemists, and physicians about poisons.
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your workday like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I wrote fiction part-time when I was a full-time physician and Chair of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Tufts Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine. Now, I write full-time but continue to teach pathologists and medical trainees.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I take time every month to write a short educational piece, usually about something related to poison or medicine. This entertaining nonfiction can be found at The Poison Blog | BJ Magnani
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to work on environmental programs and help protect the earth and its resources. I initially obtained a graduate degree in marine sciences, then one in cancer biology, before going into medicine.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I’m committed to helping women receive good medical care. A portion of the proceeds from my novels helps women receive free breast and cervical cancer screening through the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Foundation’s See, Test, & Treat program.
Links:
Author | BJ Magnani | Amazon.com: BJ Magnani: books, biography, latest update | BJ Magnani, PhD, MD,FCAP (@bjmagnani) / Twitter | BJ Magnani | Facebook | Barbarajean Magnani PhD, MD | LinkedIn | BJ Magnani Books – BookBub | BJ Magnani (@bj_magnani) • Instagram photos and videos
Thank you for the interview!