As a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) with a BS degree in Microbiology, I feel I know more about bacteria and viruses than most MDs. However, most medical thrillers are being written by doctors like Robin Cook, Michael Palmer and Tess Gerritsen. Robin Cook, who happens to be an Ophthalmologist, is the author of Outbreak, Contagion and Toxin which all deal with microbiology.
Therefore, I have decided to write medical thrillers. My first published novel, “Green Power”, deals with using bacteria to help mankind by using methane digesters as an alternate source of energy. However, bioterrorists get involved and make it look like this green power is the cause of an epidemic. I have completed writing my second novel, “The True Virus”, which deals with a DNA based nanocomputer which produces a real live virus that causes an epidemic. I am in the process of getting this novel published.
Therefore, my question for this discussion is; “Why can’t a CLS write a medical thriller dealing with microorganisms as good if not better than a MD?”