Mark Terry enjoys putting the entire world at risk ? but only in his writing.
In the Oxford author’s new book ‘The Devil’s Pitchfork,? due out Sunday, Oct. 1, terrorists calling themselves The Fallen Angels have stolen the world’s most deadly bioengineered virus from the Baltimore-based research lab that created it with the intent to use the weapon for their own fiendish purposes.
Only one person can foil the evil plans of these madmen ? Dr. Derek Stillwater, a troubleshooter for the Department of Homeland Security and Gulf War I veteran who served in U.S. Army Special Forces.
Don’t worry, not only will Dr. Stillwater save civilization as we know it, he’ll live on to be the hero in three more books, set to be released over the next two years, and maybe even a Hollywood blockbuster.
‘I know for a fact that George Clooney’s production company has a copy of the ‘Devil’s Pitchfork,?? said Terry, a freelance writer and novelist with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Public Health from Michigan State University.
Producers at Sony and Fox have asked to read the third book in the Stillwater series entitled ‘Angels Fallen.? Due out in 2008, Terry said he’s finishing it up right now.
‘The Devil’s Pitchfork,? published by Midnight Ink/Llewellyn Worldwide, is Terry’s third book as a novelist. The first two were ‘Catfish Guru? and ‘Dirty Deeds.?
Terry used to work as a cytogenetics technologist at Henry Ford Hospital’s Department of Medical Genetics, however, he quit in October 2004 to pursue his writing career full-time.
Giving his scientific background, writing a techno thriller about bio-terrorism is right up Terry’s alley.
Early in his career, he spent a little time working in infectious disease research relating to spinal meningitis. As a freelance journalist, Terry has written a ‘tremendous amount about bio-technology.?
‘A good 80 percent (of my writing) seems to be in bio-tech and clinical diagnostics and health,? he said, noting he also writes many features about subjects ranging from plumbing to yoga to computer security.
Terry said he enjoys writing mysteries and thrillers, particularly the thrillers involving technology. ‘I think I’m very well-suited to this type of story,? he said.
The difference between a mystery and a thriller is the former ‘takes place after a crime is committed? whereas the latter is ‘about preventing a crime from happening.?
‘I would definitely classify (‘The Devil’s Pitchfork?) as a thiller,? he said. ‘It’s got that ticking clock aspect to it.?
The premise for ‘The Devil’s Pitchfork? is based on actual events from 2002. A group of scientists at a college in New York were given a $300,000 grant from the U.S. military to see if ‘they could create a virus from scratch using materials purchased off the internet,? according to Terry.
The military wanted ? to see if terrorists could do it,? Terry said. ‘Using lab materials bought on line, they created a polio virus in the lab. They injected it into lab animals and gave them polio.?
Created by U.S. scientists who wanted to ‘prove it could be done,? Chimera M13, the fictional biological weapon in ‘The Devil’s Pitchfork,? is highly infectious and engineered to kill within 24 hours.
Terry is both fascinated by and fearful of biological weapons because they ‘can get so out of hand and it’s relatively inexpensive and easy to do.?
He said it wouldn’t be hard for a group of terrorists or a cult to ‘create a bug resistent to antibiotics,? then ‘infect a couple of volunteers and stick them on a plane? to spread it. From there, it would spread ‘out of control.?
‘That’s very hard to guard against,? Terry said. ‘It’s a different form of suicide bomber.?
‘We fear nuclear weapons a lot, for good reason, they’re amazingly destructive,? Terry explained. ‘But it takes a lot of technology and skill to get one and make it work. Biological weapons, relatively speaking, are much, much simpler to create.
One thing Terry and his hero Dr. Stillwater have in common is their belief that when it comes to fighting terrorism, particularly the biological kind, ‘Politicians are sort of useless.?
‘They always react too slowly,? Terry said. ‘They don’t put money where it’s really useful and they never really believe that it’s going to happen. They tend to follow their own political agenda rather than doing things that would help like bolstering the public health system.?
‘The history of biological warfare and pandemics throughout the last 2,000 years has suggested that politicians are always too late,? he noted.
As for Dr. Stillwater’s chances of fighting terrorists on the silver screen, Terry admitted, ‘The odds are very much against it.?
Out of the 200,000 books that get published annually, Terry said, ‘Only a couple hundred get optioned for films.? Of those about 1 in 20 get made into movies.
Still the author said, ‘It’s kind of exciting and we’ll see what happens.?
‘It would be great if it got made into a movie and I had some say in it, like I got to write the screen play,? Terry added.
For now, those wishing to follow the adventures of Dr. Stillwater will have to crack open a book. Copies will be available on line at www.midnightinkbooks.com or www.mark-terry.com or markterrybooks.com.
‘The Devil’s Pitchfork? will also be available in bookstores for $13.95. ‘If it’s not at your local Borders or independent book store, ask for it,? Terry said.