Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a senior professor of biochemistry at two universities and a first time novelist. I have published over 200 scientific articles and edited two scientific books and am editing a third. My novel was written for the general public as a way to inform and amuse the reader about academic science competitiveness in obtaining funding and what could go wrong if someone got really upset about not getting grant funds. It’s a murder mystery with humor and romance.
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Henry Jay Forman, Ph.D.
Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Chemistry
University of California, Merced
Research Professor of Gerontology
University of Southern California
President, Society for Free Radical Biology & Medicine
Reviews Editor, Free Radical Biology & Medicine
Telephone: +1 209-658-2817 Fax: +1 818-301-4918
Email: peroxideman@gmail.com
Web page: http://sites.google.com/site/hjforman/
Books: https://www.amazon.com/author/hjforman
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Poisonous Science is a murder mystery that takes place in the academic world. But, to make sure it could be understood by a general audience, I had two non-academic non-scientists edit it. There is humor and romance woven into a well-constructed puzzle. I was inspired to write the novel because I read mysteries and thought how my own experiences could be used to write one. The first thought was about 12 years ago. About 2 years ago, the situation of funding in science became significantly worse. The novel concerns what would happen if someone whose life was altered by an unfair decision about a proposal to study a poison decided to fix the problem by poisoning people involved.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Because I am very busy with my work, I write late at night or when I’m traveling on Amtrak between the two universities. So, it took a long time to write. It is much more difficult to write fiction than science.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Jonathan Kellerman’s novels have the greatest influence. I also like David Baldacci, and Brad Meltzer. In the past, I read probably every Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan-Doyle story.
What are you working on now?
Two scientific papers and editing a book on a scientific topic. I also started a blog to explain research in my field to general readers.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Sent out emails to friends and colleagues.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Decide what your goal is and who you want your audience to be.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write about what you know.
What are you reading now?
Dazzled, a murder mystery by another author I recently met. I also read, review and edit several manuscripts each week for science journals.
What’s next for you as a writer?
A second murder mystery using some of the characters I created in the first novel.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Einstein by Walter Isaacson, 11/22/63 by Stephen King, Fifth Assassin by Brad Meltzer, and identical by Scott Turow.
Author Websites and Profiles
Henry Forman Amazon Profile
Henry Forman’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile