Episode 6 and the Story Behind “Sigler’s Syndrome”
Episode 6 is now available. It’s a bit on the short side, but it packs a punch.
When I first wrote this book I gave the Thompson’s infant a different disease, a real illness I thought required a blood exchange shortly after birth. I later discovered that in the 80s, when the story takes place, transfusions weren’t used as treatment. Getting trivial facts right is very important in fiction, otherwise the story is ruined for anyone who spots the mistake. I searched for other illnesses (and they had to be genetic, so the parents knew it was coming) that would require a newborn to get blood transfusions, but couldn’t find one. So I invented one, but was having trouble coming up with a good name for it.
I had been listening to Scott Sigler’s “Infected.” Scott used the names of well-known podcasters for past victims of his disease, and it brought a smile to my face every time he did it. And considering that “Infected” (and the sequel, “Contagious”, which is a New York Times Best Seller) are about ghastly diseases, I thought naming the illness after him would be a great inside joke. I sent him an e-mail asking permission and received a one word reply: “Cool!”
And thus “Sigler’s Syndrome” was born.
April 14th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
That’s right, bitches, I’m a horrible disease! BOOM!