Alie Ward

Yeah.

What about, what about, have you ever thought of football referees?

Hear me out.

You never know where it could take you.

No matter what you write, I'll read it, obviously.

I have a section on my bookshelf that's just Mary Roach in my library, of course.

The last questions I always ask, I usually ask what sucks about people's jobs.

Any rants you have about this book, about writing this book?

Anyone give you an interview and then say you couldn't use it?

Or was anyone an asshole?

You don't have to name them?

ECMO, side note, I had to look this up, stands for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

And I should note also, while looking up what ECMO stands for, I happened to be listening to an old playlist that included the 1982 gothy synth track, The Chauffeur.

And I was looking this up right as Duran Duran delivered the lyric, and the droning engine throbs in time with your beating heart.

Anyway, Mary gets to meet people who save all kinds of lives, human ones.

What about your favorite aspect of writing this book in terms of places it took you or people that you met?

I interviewed a rat expert about sewer rats once, and I had one of those moments where it was just like, I can't believe that I get to do this as a job.

Do you ever have those moments when you're working on something or just go, wow, lucky me?

Yeah, that part of the book too was beautifully written and touching how later he was incorporated into the book.

And I won't spoil it for anyone, but really was touching.