Rebecca Skloot is bringing her new book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, to the Virginia Festival of the Book this spring. Here’s what her fellow science writer Carl Zimmer has to say about her promotional efforts:
I think Skloot’s experiences are worth studying, although they are no guarantee for every writer insane enough to write a book about science. For one thing, Skloot has an exceptional subject, which she has written about exceptionally well. What’s more, the odds are getting tougher for all authors. With more and more book titles in competition for the shrinking amount of time people spend reading books, a lot of disappointment is inevitable. Still, it’s a good idea for writers not to become recluses. Sure, spend time in the monastic solitude that books require, but then emerge and engage. You don’t have to tweet with Skloot’s hurricane-scale intensity, but do forge the relationships in which you can support fellow writers, and they can support you.
I love good science writing, and I’m looking forward to hearing about Henrietta Lacks and the story of HeLa at the book festival. See you there!
Filed under: authors, books, charlottesville, conferences, science, VaBook10, virginia, writing Tagged: | HeLa, Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot, science writing, VaBook10, Virginia Festival of the Book
