The Bookshop Podcast Sara Winokur, Geneticist, Researcher, and Author
Hi, and welcome to episode #73!
Sara Winokur is a geneticist, researcher, and author. She has a master's degree in cytogenetics and a Ph.D. in molecular genetics. Her research helped identify mutations underlying muscular dystrophy, Huntington's disease, dwarfism, and a rare craniofacial syndrome.
Sara is a world traveler and has visited many countries, and Iceland is one of her favorite destinations and the setting of her award-winning mystery thriller, Double Blind. From the ancient, real legends that inspired her writing, to the DNA database that raises ethical issues, Iceland is called the land of fire and ice for a reason.
She continues to work as a consultant on potential therapies for genetic disease and is an ovarian cancer "thriver" who resides in Southern California.
The Reinvention of Sara Winokur
Eight years ago, after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Sara took a step back from research to focus on her health. She took the opportunity to reinvent herself by combining her passion for science with her love of reading and writing crime and historical fiction. When asked what her readers can expect from her novel, she revealed that her audience will be met with suspense, a learning experience, and thought-provoking writing.
“I really want my readers to feel like they’re being informed as well as entertained. That’s what I love about historical fiction and I try to bring that same quality to my writing.”
Double Blind: The Icelandic Manuscript Murders, Sara Winokur
The Four Winds, Kristin Hannah