Nondisclosure: A Medical Thriller was the Third Place fiction winner in the 2020 IndieReader Discovery Awards, where undiscovered talent meets people with the power to make a difference.
Following find an interview with author Geoffrey M Copper.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
Nondisclosure: A Medical Thriller was published July 15, 2019.
What’s the book’s first line?
“I reached behind me to get the box of tissues I kept in my office for visitors.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Nondisclosure explores sexual harassment in academic research. When a leading professor at a top-rank medical research institute accuses a colleague of drugging and sexually assaulting a student, department chair Brad Parker and university detective Karen Richmond join forces to investigate. But an apparently straight-forward case is stymied when the victim can’t remember what happened. Then her memory begins to return—and she’s raped and murdered. In the absence of forensic evidence, the investigation hits a stone wall. Until Brad and Karen’s inquiries take an unexpected turn that threatens their own lives and exposes a cover-up at the highest levels.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
I’ve spent my career in medical research, including positions as a department chair and dean, and have dealt with all too many cases of sexual misconduct. Sexual harassment is particularly prevalent in medical research, and is a problem that I’ve wanted to write about for years.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
Nondisclosure deals with a major societal problem….but is also a fast-moving thriller.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
Brad’s innate fairness and intellectual balance, coupled with his natural skepticism, are his most distinctive characteristics. He reminds me of several of the scientists I’ve known.
If they made your book into a movie, who would you like to see play the main character(s)?
Tom Selleck would be great!
When did you first decide to become an author?
I’ve always wanted to write fiction, and started on my first novel as soon as I stepped down from major work responsibilities.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
No, my first novel was The Prize—a medical thriller based on a case of scientific fraud. Nondisclosure is my second and my third, Forever, was published May 15, 2020. Also a medical thriller featuring Brad Parker and Karen Richmond, Forever takes off from a suspected case of Chinese espionage in a lab working on genomic engineering.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I’ve recently retired from a career in academics, so writing is my full-time activity. Too much fun to call it work!
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
Usually 4 or 5 hours a day.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
Robert Parker is my all time favorite.