I found that researchers basically live a cloistered life, spending their time confined to their laboratories, discussing their findings with colleagues and publishing in journals only read by other researchers. I found things that I learned at work so intriguing that I would babble on about them to my friends out side of the lab. To my surprise, people would listen and seemed genuinely interested and anxious to hear more. So in an effort to share my passion for science with the world outside the laboratory, I began writing.

I have written numerous short stories and magazine articles and one novel. My writing reflects my experiences, observations and reflections on science and medicine.

Two magazine articles have been published; one in the Oct 13 issue of the Winnipeg Free Press, http://winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/the-virtues-of-infectious-disease-104843624.html and another on fever in November's issue of Common Ground (http://www.commonground.ca/iss/232/cg232_fever.shtml.

Frustrated that the real facts surrounding the 1918 influenza pandemic are not being told, I wrote my first novel, The Devil’s Ruse.  The novel is set in a bedroom community of New York City against the backdrop of WWI. It is the story of a young ambitious researcher who takes on a risky project with the US Army. In a desperate attempt to bring an end to a war that has been raging for four years, he tries to produce a vaccine against influenza at a time when viruses were not known. The novel lifts the veil of obscurity and brings to life the circumstances leading up to and during the pandemic.

For further details, visit www.ruthwelburn.com. Feel free to leave a comment; I would love to hear from you.