So how likely is it that the bird flu could be one of those deadly viruses? The strains we’ve seen here in the United States are different than the Asian and Eurasian strains, which seems to further prove that the virus mutates often and rapidly. Scientists say it’s only a matter of time before the bird flu becomes airborne. In fact, scientists have already created in laboratories a strain that can spread easily to humans and be transmitted airborne. They’ve done this in the hopes of creating a vaccine, but if the virus changes so quickly, how can we stockpile vaccine?
The bird flu actually hadn’t been seen since the 1950s. It’s believed that the H1N1 flu strain that caused a pandemic in 1977 and continued to mutate and circulate, now for over twenty years, was accidently released from a lab in Russia or China. Who’s to say that couldn’t happen again? In the past few years, U.S. research labs have made the news by mistakenly sending out live anthrax spores and live samples of the plague. In 2014 a Belgian vaccine plant accidentally released live infectious polio virus into waterways. Those are only a few examples, but there are many more and even some that might not have been reported.
So you see this idea that I had brewing in the back of my mind about Ryder Creed training and using virus-sniffing dogs took a twisted turn from scary make-believe fiction into scarier real-life fact. I didn’t realize how close my fabricated story could be to the truth—that we actually could be only a few steps away from a pandemic of the bird flu, whether through a planned bioterror attack or a simple laboratory accident.
Now, here’s the kicker—about a third of the way through writing the book, something else hit me. Dogs can sniff and detect cancer and diabetes and C. diff without getting cancer or diabetes or C. diff. But can they sniff and detect the bird flu without becoming infected by the bird flu?
Suddenly, Creed’s panic became my own. And that one question literally sent me scrambling back to my research and digging for the answer. I’m still not sure I found it.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
As with each of my novels, I have a whole lot of people to thank and acknowledge.
Thanks go to:
First and foremost, Deb Carlin and the rest of the pack: Duncan, Boomer, Maggie, and Huck. You guys are my inspiration, my heart, and my soul.
My friends and family, who put up with my long absences and still manage to love me and keep me grounded: Marlene Haney, Sandy Rockwood, Patti and Martin Bremmer, Patricia Sierra, Sharon Kator, Maricela and Jose Barajas, Patti El-Kachouti, Diane Prohaska, Dr. Elvira Rios, Linda and Doug Buck, Leigh Ann Retelsdorf and Pat Heng, Annie Belatti, Cari Conine, Lisa Munk, Luann Causey, Christy Cotton, and Patti Carlin.
Amee Rief, my friend and biologist extraordinaire, for allowing me to use her name and expertise for my fictional biologist. When I asked Amee if I could use her name, the character played a small role in the story, but before I knew it, she ended up entangled in a major way. So if I got any facts wrong, please remember it’s on me and not Amee.
My fellow authors and friends, who make this business a bit less crazy: Sharon Car, Erica Spindler, and J.T. Ellison.
R.J. Russell for her amazing talent and insight in creating and bringing us a cinematic vision of Ryder, Grace, and Maggie’s world.
Ray Kunze, once again, for lending his name to Maggie O’Dell’s boss.
Penelope Wilson and Penny Clemence for combining their names to become Creed’s dog rescuer, Penelope Clemence.
My pack depends on some amazing veterinarians, and now they’ve become friends as well as invaluable resources for writing this series. Special thanks to: Dr. Enita Larson and her crew at Tender Care Animal Hospital and Dr. Tonya McIlnay and the team at Veterinary Eye Specialists of Nebraska.
Again, an extra thank-you to Dr. Larson, not only for patiently answering some of my crazy questions about dogs but also for allowing me to name my fictional veterinarian after her children: Avelyn Faye and Ayden Parker. Dr. Avelyn Parker has quickly become an integral part of the Creed novels. And she definitely saves the day . . . and the dogs, this time.
Speaking of dogs—there are some special tributes this time: Tillie is named for my friends and neighbors Dan and Paula Nielsen’s seventeen-year-old black-and-white cocker spaniel who passed away earlier this year. Tillie used to love to run the fence line with my pack. We all miss her dearly. And Winifred (Winnie) is named in memory of reader Patricia Lauer’s beloved yellow Lab. Of course, Jason’s black Lab puppy, Scout, is named for my Westie, Scout, whom I lost in 2014.
Thanks also to my publishing teams: my agent, Scott Miller, and his colleague Claire Roberts at Trident Media Group. At Putnam: Ivan Held, Sara Minnich, Christine Ball, Alexis Welby, Lauren Lopinto, and Elena Hershey. And at Little, Brown/Sphere: David Shelley, Catherine Burke, Jade Chandler, and Katherine Armstrong.
As always, thank you to all the booksellers, librarians, book clubs, and book bloggers for mentioning and recommending my novels.
A big thank-you to all of my VIR Club members, Facebook friends, and faithful readers. With so many wonderful novels available, I’m honored that you continue to choose mine. Without you, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to share my twisted tales.
Last but certainly not least—a humble and special thanks to all those past and present who have served in our military, including all the four-legged heroes.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ALEX KAVA is the New York Times–bestselling author of thirteen novels, including Breaking Creed and Silent Creed, as well as the internationally bestselling thriller series featuring FBI profiler Maggie O’Dell. Stranded was awarded a Florida Book Award and the Nebraska Book Award. Her novels have been published in more than thirty countries around the world. A member of International Thriller Writers and the Nebraska Writers Guild, she divides her time between Omaha, Nebraska, and Pensacola, Florida.
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