| Denise Robbins, a software engineering manager by | | | | I could go on, but you get the idea. Nanotechnology |
| day, integrates her knowledge of computers and | | | | is the next great wave and I'm hoping it hits soon. |
| technology into all her techno-romantic thriller novels. | | | | What are some of the challenges in blending |
| Her published works include It Happens in Threes and | | | | cutting-edge technology with fiction? |
| Killer Bunny Hill with Connect the Dots and Never | | | | The challenge in creating techno-fiction is knowing |
| Tempt Danger scheduled for release in 2010. | | | | how to keep the story moving at the same time |
| I saw down with Denise and asked about the unique | | | | giving enough of a visual picture of the technology so |
| combination of technology and fiction. | | | | the reader understands without dumping boring |
| Your computer background has obviously been a big | | | | information on top of their head. |
| factor in the plots of your books. How did you | | | | It seems like the field of technology is more of a |
| become interested in technology? | | | | man's world. How did you end up in the field and why |
| It all started when I was a kid. In elementary school | | | | do you think there aren't more women involved? |
| we went on a field trip to an electronics shop. In | | | | I think since my dad was in technology, not the |
| there, we saw all kinds of cool gadgets like small | | | | same as I am involved today, I was destined for |
| calculators, electronic games, and then. . .a computer. | | | | computers. |
| Holy cow! I could play chess on the computer. | | | | Taking a job with a government contractor for the |
| About that same time, my dad brought home a | | | | Department of Defense hooked me on technology. I |
| modem. I'm not talking the modems you pick up | | | | was part of a team that built software for use in |
| today that fit in the palm of your hand, we're talking | | | | military medical facilities. It was when I taught |
| a behemoth of a machine that looked like a | | | | computer programs and programming to adults that I |
| typewriter with a phone coupler attached to it. | | | | found my love for all that 'geeky' computer stuff. |
| Some readers may not understand the significance of | | | | There is nothing like watching the spark in |
| computers in fighting crime. Explain how important an | | | | somebody's eyes as the light bulb goes on inside their |
| understanding of new technologies can be in staying | | | | head after they have learned to write code and see |
| ahead of the bad guy. | | | | the result. |
| Computers are used a great deal more than people | | | | Why there are not more women in science and |
| think in regards to fighting crime. One simple example | | | | technology is a question that has been asked quite a |
| is the FBI's website that gives the public information | | | | lot in recent years. One simple answer is how parents |
| on some of the criminals they are searching for. This | | | | and teachers present information technology |
| website not only informs the public, but now there | | | | professions and other occupations to their daughters |
| are large numbers of people on the lookout for the | | | | and students. It is about encouraging and providing |
| 'bad guys.' | | | | role models. |
| Local police departments have computers in every | | | | Another explanation for the lack of women in |
| patrol car, which can be used in different scenarios. | | | | information technology careers is misconception and |
| Remember the last time you were pulled over? The | | | | preference. Why do I say that as if they are |
| police officer can put your license plate into the | | | | com-mingled? Many people believe working in IT is |
| computer and check if the car was stolen, your | | | | solitary. They imagine someone sitting in front of a |
| driving record, or even your car registration. A police | | | | computer eight hours or more a day with no one to |
| officer making a routine stop may not seem like any | | | | talk with. Ask any of the engineers that work for |
| big deal or use for computer technology, but what | | | | and with me and they will let you know that is not |
| you may not realize is that the same computer that | | | | the case. |
| told the officer the car was stolen, can also provide | | | | In general, women prefer to work with people while |
| arrest and warrant information. Information attained | | | | men prefer to work with things. With the solitary |
| via the computer by the officer makes him/her more | | | | misconception out there, many women are choosing |
| capable of making the right decision of how to | | | | other careers. |
| approach the situation. | | | | Do you have a lot of male readers because of your |
| Computers also give law enforcement the resources | | | | interesting plots? How do you draw them in? |
| and technology needed to keep up with modern day | | | | To be honest, I am not certain that I have too many |
| criminals in the cyber world. Some criminals steal | | | | male readers yet, but I have a few and I want more. |
| people's identities or purchase goods with someone | | | | I think once the guys know that my novels are |
| else's credit cards over the Internet. Internet felons | | | | based on interesting and real technology, have |
| commit all sorts of crimes such as downloading child | | | | suspense and mystery woven in with action and |
| pornography, even trying to convince minors to meet | | | | adventure that they will want to read them. All it |
| them somewhere, which could result in abduction. | | | | takes is a few good men. . .to spread the word. |
| Without computers, it would be nearly impossible to | | | | While my novels are fiction, when my hero or heroine |
| catch felons of this nature. Through computers law | | | | is shooting a weapon, all readers should know that I |
| enforcement agencies can watch these actions and | | | | have done the research and had the experience |
| make the web safer. | | | | several times. My first time shooting anything, but a |
| Because of computers and instant access to large | | | | shotgun at skeet (of which I am a very good shot), |
| amounts of information, law enforcement agents | | | | was when I wrote It Happens in Threes. I had to |
| have the power to turn a possible dangerous | | | | know what it felt like. I contacted a friend who |
| situation into a much safer one sooner rather than | | | | taught me all the various right and wrongs and who |
| later. | | | | enjoyed seeing me struggle filling a clip and always |
| Explain a little about nanotechnology and its current | | | | forgetting to take the safety off. |
| uses. | | | | Right now, my attempt at "drawing them in" is to |
| Nanotechnology is a technology based on the | | | | give a guy I see a copy of the book, ask him to |
| manipulation of individual atoms and molecules to build | | | | read it, and let me know what he thinks. So far, the |
| structures to complex, atomic specifications. The | | | | response has been positive. The other little tidbit that |
| nanoscale is about a thousand times smaller than | | | | helps draw the men in as that I have other men |
| micro that is, about 1/80,000 of the diameter of a | | | | review and edit my novels for the male perspective. |
| human hair. | | | | It always helps me when Steve or David say, "No |
| Items already available in the marketplace include: | | | | guy would say that." Then they wrinkle their noses |
| burn and wound dressings, water filtration, | | | | and slash away at my work. I am very grateful. I |
| dental-bonding agent, coatings for easier cleaning | | | | also have friends who are former military and they |
| glass, bumpers and catalytic converters on cars, | | | | correct some of my ideas as well. |
| protective and glare-reducing coatings for eyeglasses | | | | How do you handle the fine line between giving too |
| and cars, sunscreens and cosmetics, stain-free | | | | much technological information and making the story |
| clothing and mattresses, ink, longer-lasting tennis balls, | | | | flow? |
| and lightweight and stronger tennis rackets. | | | | This is an excellent question. Computer stuff can be |
| A ski jacket produced by Franz Ziener | | | | very dry and boring, take it from me. What I do is |
| GmbH&Co is based on nanotechnology. The | | | | take technology and introduce the readers to it in |
| windproof and waterproof properties are not | | | | small pieces, like breadcrumbs of information, so that |
| obtained by a surface coating of the jacket but by | | | | technology is part of the mystery or part of the |
| the use of nanofibres. | | | | solution in the puzzle. I take the technology and |
| The company InMat makes long-lasting tennis-balls by | | | | break it down so my characters show you just |
| coating the inner core with clay polymer | | | | enough to make you understand, and at the same |
| nanocomposites. These tennis-balls have twice the | | | | time get curious. Wait until you find out about |
| lifetime of conventional balls. | | | | nanotechnology in Killer Bunny Hill. I'll give you a hint - |
| What do you see happening with nanotechnology in | | | | Diamonds aren't just a girl's best friend. |
| the future? | | | | Where do you come up with your story ideas? |
| Today, we have just scratched the surface on what | | | | My story ideas come from various places and most |
| nanotechnology will do for us. There are many | | | | the time it is just a matter of sitting down with pen |
| nanotechnology applications in research and | | | | and paper and asking myself about the particular |
| development. In the field of medicine, there will be | | | | characters I have just identified in my mind. |
| Qdots that identify the location of cancer cells in the | | | | Sometimes, as in the case of my second novel Killer |
| body and Nanoparticles that deliver chemotherapy | | | | Bunny Hill, the seed for novel will just hit me while |
| drugs directly to cancer cells to minimize damage to | | | | flying across the country on a plane. In the case of |
| healthy cells. Can you imagine not having to expose | | | | my fourth novel Never Tempt Danger, the idea |
| the entire body to chemotherapy but only the part | | | | came from a dream. Those are just the beginnings, |
| that requires the treatment? | | | | now I have to construct a story line and that takes |
| Nanotechnology is huge in the science and technology | | | | a little more effort. |
| area as well, in particular, manmade diamonds. In | | | | Sometimes I take from my own experiences with |
| recent years, there has been research into producing | | | | technology, but that is still limited in scope. So what |
| manmade diamonds, no, not cubic zirconia, but "real" | | | | do I do? Well, here is my answer. |
| diamonds grown in a lab and not in nature. Manmade | | | | I did some research once for work when I |
| diamonds is a huge breakthrough that will only get | | | | accidentally ran across an article on 'manmade |
| bigger. The diamond has the largest thermal | | | | diamonds' and using them as computer chips. As I |
| conductivity of any material. With every | | | | continued to read the story, I found out about an |
| improvement in computer chip technology, the | | | | organization known as DARPA, Defense Advanced |
| machines get faster and hotter. At some point the | | | | Research Projects Agency. This agency is the central |
| chips and computer insides will melt. Diamonds are the | | | | research and development office for the Department |
| answer for faster computers without the heat | | | | of Defense. They fund all kinds of technology |
| factor. For the same thermal conductivity reason, | | | | research in order to keep our military technologically |
| manmade diamonds could help make lasers of | | | | superior and in turn keep us safe and military |
| extreme power. The material could allow a cell phone | | | | personnel safe. Cool stuff! |
| to fit into a watch and iPods to store 10,000 movies, | | | | Thanks for taking the time to talk with me today, |
| not just 10,000 songs. | | | | Denise! |