Q&A with Rudy Mazzochi, author of EQUITY OF EVIL

[Dorothy]

Rudy Mazzochi will be here on Monday, March 12 2012, to answer questions from his fans, readers and fellow authors! The Q&A will take place all day long. Leave your questions at anytime and Rudy will be here to answer them. One lucky visitor will win a free e-copy of his book, Equity of Evil! The winner will be announced at the end of the day. Have fun and see you then!

[Cheryl]

How exciting. Do we get a reminder too?

[Dorothy]

I'm setting up an events page for it and I'll set up a one day before reminder. Glad to see you'll be here, Cheryl!

[Rudy]

Thank you Dorothy!I'm excited about our upcoming virtual book tour and look forward to the Q&A on March 12th regarding EQUITY of EVIL!

[Dorothy]

Hi Rudy! I am so excited! See you on March 12!

[Dorothy]

Good morning Rudy! I'm going to start us off by asking you if you could tell us why you feel your book needed to be written?

[Rudy]

Hi Dorothy! Well, there are several new scientific innovations and breakthroughs that will impact our lives in the near future, and many more that will affect the next generation. We will have no choice about their existence… they’ll be here if we like it or not. Therefore, we all need to be aware of them and start to think about how society is going to accept and manage them. Equity of Evil touches on many of these medical and scientific innovations that are on the cusp of shaking up public and political views in the major nations of the world. I’m hopeful that this novel (and those underway) will help open up people’s willingness to process such new revelations that will surely disrupt our current moral and ethical opinions.

[Kelly]

Hi Rudy. I love medical thrillers with a science fictional edge that looks at the near future possibilities. Do you think the science in your story could happen today? Next year? Ten years from now?

[Rudy]

Hello Kelly! There are several that "are" occurring today, but the growing of fetal organs to a size in which they could be implanted is probably 5-10 years away. However, there is substantial research underway (here in the U.S.) to produce artifical organs using human tissue. I believe the first was an artifical bladder.

[Farrah]

What type of research did you have to do to write this so that it was believable in the reader's mind and how long did it take you?

[Dorothy]

Thanks for your answer, Rudy! In regards to "new scientific innovations and breakthroughs," are you at liberty to give us an example?

[Rudy]

Farrah wrote: "What type of research did you have to do to write this so that it was believable in the reader's mind and how long did it take you?"

Hi Farrah! I have a great deal of "hands-on" experience with the development and/or funding of many of these technologies, therefore most of my research was done to update statistics and then to figure out how best to fit it into my storyline.

[Rudy]

Dorothy wrote: "Thanks for your answer, Rudy! In regards to "new scientific innovations and breakthroughs," are you at liberty to give us an example?"

Yes, just one example is the development of "bio-reactors" that can replicate and grow patient-specific organs. There's a technology that exists today that can reproduce a child's heart valve from digitized MRI and CT images, produce a biodegradable scaffold, and seed the frame with stem cells taken from the child's bone marrow to "grow" a new valve for implantation.

[Gmaree]

I read somewhere that you are working on a second novel as part of a trilogy. Can you tell us more?

[Rudy]

My second novel is well underway in hopes of releasing it near the end of the year. My goal is to make this the second of a trilogy that we might refer to as “The EQUITY Series”. It will carry a similar theme, but focus on a technology (which currently exists) that can allow us to re-wire the brain… a process known as “neuroplasticity”. Can you imagine a world in which we can eliminate fear, restore memories, create artificial desires and dislikes, or even eliminate pain?

[Margay]

Hi, Rudy! What made you decide on this type of thriller - do you have a background in medicine/science? How did you com up with your idea?

[Rudy]

Margay wrote: "Hi, Rudy! What made you decide on this type of thriller - do you have a background in medicine/science? How did you com up with your idea?"

Hi Margay! I've been blessed with an incredible career as a start-up entrepreneur in the med-tech industry and have had the opportunity to see the newest innovations in healthcare and work with some of the most brilliant researchers, scientists and physicians in the industry throughout the world. It’s allowed me to witness technologies that could easily be viewed as “science fiction”, ranging from controversial developments with embryonic stem cells to designing the first electronic, auto-focusing implantable lens for inside the eye; (similar to the one in the Terminator or the Six Million Dollar Man – depending upon your generation!) My academic background is in the Lifesciences and I've studied and worked in human genetic engineering while in graduate school...now many years ago. ;)

[Dorothy]

I would love to know more about your travels, Rudy. Can you tell us the most exciting place you have been and what brings you to do so much traveling?

[Rudy]

Although most of the innovations I've seen in the med-tech industry reside here in the U.S., there are spectacular developments being made throughout Europe, the Middle East and Asia because of their less restrictive government and regulatory requirements. I've "explored", developed, financed and managed technologies and clinical studies in approximately seven European countries, Israel, Japan and Australia.

[Dorothy]

Wow Rudy...do you have to stay there for very long? Where do you call home?

[Rudy]

Dorothy wrote: "Wow Rudy...do you have to stay there for very long? Where do you call home?"

I reside in Florida (for now) where I have a home office... looking to possibly move near the end of the year. I also have an office in Virginia and one in Zurich, Switzerland. My trips vary in length, depending on the work to be done... anywhere from 3 to 10 days. There are many weeks when I am only home on the weekends.

[Dorothy]

Busy busy, I thought I was busy! Of all the places you have traveled, where is your favorite?

[Rudy]

Dorothy wrote: "Busy busy, I thought I was busy! Of all the places you have traveled, where is your favorite?"

Italy... I am very fond of the Italian Riviera, but will often sneak up the coast to Monaco and France.

[Dorothy]

That would be a dream vacation for me, lol. Back to your book, how do you feel about it being in electronic format first - before the paperback?

[Rudy]

Dorothy wrote: "That would be a dream vacation for me, lol. Back to your book, how do you feel about it being in electronic format first - before the paperback?"

I'm not sure I had a choice in this matter as a first-time author. I believe I have a great team surrounding this effort (i.e. agent, publisher, publicists, etc), but given the controversial themes of the story, I've been told that we need to show success with the ebook format before moving to print copy. (Fortunately, we now seem to have built some confidence in the market and are now considering the printing of a Limited Edition of paperbacks!) Stay tuned....

[Dorothy]

That really does make excellent sense. Thanks for your answer, Rudy! It's almost time to wind it up so if anyone else has any questions hurry and send!

[Cheryl]

Hi Rudy,

Is there anything you would change about your book now that it's out?

Best of luck,

Cheryl

[Rudy]

Cheryl wrote: "Hi Rudy,

Is there anything you would change about your book now that it's out?

Best of luck,

Cheryl"

Hi Cheryl! As I'm sure you can appreciate, you become your worst critic when you look back on what you've created, so there's probably something in every chapter that I would like to "tweak". I'm hoping that my next novel (underway) is even better. I've learned so much during this process and look forward to releasing my next novel no matter how EQUITY of EVIL does out there. Thank you Dorothy! This has been a great experience today! www.rudymazzocchi.com

[Dorothy]

I'm simply loving it. This was actually our first time trying out Goodreads for a chat and I think it worked out rather well myself! I like to be able to check back for new questions as opposed to the Facebook parties where you had to sit there the whole time or you felt you'd miss something. Rudy, I've got some fun questions before you leave...we have 3 hours left so I have to hurry. What is one thing you've learned about your book after it was published?

[Dorothy]

I better go ahead and get these questions in. Another fun question. Where do you write? Is there a particular place or do you tend to carry your laptop with you to different rooms..is there a particular place that just feels good to write your books there?

[Dorothy]

How about hobbies? Do you have any?

[Dorothy]

Are you a morning person or a night person?

[Dorothy]

If you were going to choose a pseudonym for whatever reason - maybe for instance you decided to write children's books and wanted to have a different persona - what name do you think you'd just fall in love with and want to use?

[Dorothy]

Sorry these are all at once but you're welcome to answer them anytime. How do you balance your writing schedule with your other day to day responsibilities?

[Dorothy]

I would like to get this one in too...did you ever have any mentors while writing Equity to Evil?

[Dorothy]

Okay one more and I'll leave you alone, lol. Is there a foreign country you have not visited but would love to?

[Rudy]

Dorothy wrote: "I would like to get this one in too...did you ever have any mentors while writing Equity to Evil?"

Hi Dorothy! Amazing timing... I just got off the phone with Dr. Robin Cook who is reviewing EQUITY of EVIL and wanting to provide a "blurb" for the cover. I seldom have mentors, but have a long list of people whom I admire and would like to consider my "peers"... such as Dr. Cook. So I strive to achieve my best in order to warrant my consideration as a "colleague". Make any sense?

[Rudy]

Dorothy wrote: "Okay one more and I'll leave you alone, lol. Is there a foreign country you have not visited but would love to?"

I hope to visit Russia and China someday soon!

[Dorothy]

Rudy wrote: "I just got off the phone with Dr. Robin Cook who is reviewing EQUITY of EVIL and wanting to provide a "blurb" for the cover. ">


Woohoo Rudy! I am so happy for you! I hope you've had fun, thank you so much for being my guest today!

[Dorothy]

Okay as they say in show biz, that's a rap! I want to thank Rudy for enlightening with his talk about his book and other fun stuff and hope he can return sometime! I'll go over to Random.net and get a winner!

[Dorothy]

OOps that's random.org!

[Dorothy]

Okay Farrah is our winner! She will receive a free copy of Rudy's book and a $25 gift certificate! Be sure to come back in April when Pump Up Your Book is having a chat for their 5th year anniversary! Lots of prizes!