And I actually sent the studio all the files from the book. They hired me as a consultant so I gave a lot of early advice on research and sources. What was your level of involvement in shaping the film? Still, as I kept telling my husband-he’s very patient-I wasn’t going to spread the word until it was definitely in the television guide. It wasn’t until last summer that I was really sure it was going to happen so from that point on I was pretty excited about it. Sloan Foundation decided to fund it and things started moving forward about a year and a half ago. I’ve written one book ( Love at Goon Park) that has been under option for a decade! But in this case, the Alfred P. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean that anything will happen. When did you learn the book would be made into an American Experience film?Īmerican Experience optioned it a couple of years ago.

(This interview has been edited for length and clarity.) Here, Blum tells TON co-founder Siri Carpenter what it was like to have one of her books turned into a documentary film. The film, like the book, captures in gripping detail some of the most astonishing murders-purposeful or not-by poison of the early 20th century. This month, PBS’ American Experience aired a much-acclaimed documentary film version of The Poisoner’s Handbook. Her New York Times bestselling book The Poisoner’s Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York, published in 2010, traces the origins of modern forensic medicine through the lives of two men, New York City Medical Examiner Charles Norris and toxicologist Alexander Gettler, as they navigate crime and chemistry in early 20th century New York. Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Deborah Blum’s five books have immersed her in the worlds of animal rights, the psychology of affection, the neurology of sex, the search for paranormal phenomena, and the chemistry of poisons. Degree Programs in Science, Health, or Environmental Writing Science Writing Resources (Elsewhere) That We Like.Guide to Using Alt-text to Make Images More Accessible.

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The Poisoner's Handbook by Deborah Blum