Scientists becoming authors/

Amanda · Post by **Amanda** » Wed January 14th, 2009, 5:51 am

I have just been thinking about the number of authors that I know of that were scientists before they were authors. You see, I am a pathology scientist, and my husband keeps looking at my ever growing book collection, and asking when I am going to try to write a book.

Colleen McCullough - neuroscientist

Diana Gabaldon - scientist and scientific writer and editor

Roberta Gellis - biochemist (IRC)

Alma Alexander - microbiology

I'm sure I am missing another one that I know of......but thats a good bunch hey?!

GOOO SCIENCE NERDS! (that's what my husband calls me...he being a IT nerd).

annis · Post by **annis** » Wed January 14th, 2009, 5:58 am

Do they have to be authors of HF?

I can think of others Like Kathy Reichs, (forensic anthropologist) who writes the "Tempe Brennan" mysteries.

Even Carl Sagan had a go with his "Contact"., though i think that was his only novel.

Just thought of another one- historical romance author Stephanie Laurens. She has a PhD in Biochemistry and worked as a research scientist for some time before turning to writing Regency romances.

pat · Post by **pat** » Wed January 14th, 2009, 7:09 am

Get on with it then Amanda!!

Carla · Post by **Carla** » Wed January 14th, 2009, 12:20 pm

Do I count?

Volgadon · Post by **Volgadon** » Wed January 14th, 2009, 1:16 pm

Michael Crichton.

Ludmilla · Post by **Ludmilla** » Wed January 14th, 2009, 2:15 pm

Author Clare Dudman has a Science background and I love her books (so far, just two, but hopefully another is forthcoming).

LCW · Post by **LCW** » Wed January 14th, 2009, 5:18 pm

I could definitely tell Diana Gabaldon has a background in Ecology! It popped up so many places in her Outlander series. I loved it!

Helen_Davis · Post by **Helen_Davis** » Wed January 14th, 2009, 6:23 pm

[quote=""Volgadon""]Michael Crichton.[/quote]

didn't he just die?

princess garnet · Post by **princess garnet** » Wed January 14th, 2009, 6:58 pm

He died in December.

Libby · Post by **Libby** » Wed January 14th, 2009, 7:53 pm

So I wonder if being analytical makes a good author? Or does being creative make a good scientist?