Richard O’Toole, John Canne, head nurse Kate Holden, and nurse Puetz all lived on the island. From an essay about Riverside Hospital by Jacob Riis, I learned that the staff actually believed that nothing could kill an O’Toole. Riis’s writings were tremendously helpful in my understanding of conditions for the poor immigrant class at the turn of the nineteenth century. Additionally, the survivors named during the Slocum scene were real people. Adella Wotherspoon, who passed in 2004 at the age of 100, was the last living survivor of the tragedy. Ship Ablaze by Edward T. O’Donnell, a gripping, poignant, detailed account of the most lethal disaster in New York City’s history prior to 9/11, served as an invaluable resource for me while reconstructing the catastrophe.
In creating the fictional Ulrich Gettler (and the subplot involving Lyme disease), I drew inspiration from Lab 257 by Michael Christopher Carroll. Yes, that’s right: Lab 257 is an actual secret germ laboratory, run by the U.S. government. This extensive and chilling piece of investigative reporting will shock you.
Much of my understanding of the Gettlers’ appropriate level of medical sophistication throughout the decades came from Paul de Kruif’s Microbe Hunters. This classic history of microbiology is a must-read for anyone who enjoyed my references to the field’s pioneers and advancements in immunology.
The sinking of the HMS Hussar, rumored to have been carrying eighty shackled Revolutionary soldiers and a golden guinea payload for the British army (potentially now worth hundreds of millions of dollars), is also factual. The Hussar will play an important role in the sequel. Because who doesn’t find fascinating the fact that there’s a treasure-laden ship still sitting at the bottom of New York City’s East River?
Unfortunately, the diseases and past pandemics mentioned in The Vines are fact as well. As I was finalizing the manuscript in spring 2020, I incorporated a few references, such as SARS, that set up the series to tie in COVID-19. The island’s original use as a quarantine facility drove my decision to center the plot on pathogens, vaccine development, and medical research (and its corresponding ethics). The fact that The Vines is now so topical is tragically coincidental.
The COVID-19 pandemic took far too much—far too many—from us. But it has given us renewed confidence in the resiliency of the human spirit, awe-inspiring innovations, and proof that we are stronger together even when we must be physically apart. The real-world immunological advancements made since Dr. Otto Gettler first began studying Cora’s blood in 1902 are breathtaking. And the acceleration in the vaccine process that occurred in 2020, in my opinion, is as great a feat as putting a human on the moon. We, as a global society, achieved this feat by working together. My hope for The Vines is that its historical context highlights just how remarkable these medical advancements are. Thank you to everyone who, through grit and global collaboration, is bringing us out of this crisis. Because of you, the future of health care innovation is even brighter.
To see a historical timeline and collection of resources on North Brother Island, as well as to sign up for notification of the sequel’s release, please visit my website, www.shelleynolden.com.
Acknowledgements
First and foremost, thank you, the reader.
Throughout the several years of writing before sunrise and on commuter trains required to finish The Vines, what kept me going was the vision of Cora’s story in your hands. It means so much to me that you chose to spend your time immersed in North Brother Island. More so than I could ever express here.
Thank you to all the health care heroes and essential workers who’ve selflessly served throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, including those involved in developing the vaccines at breakneck speed. These scientists accomplished what the Gettlers couldn’t, even with Cora’s supercharged antibodies at their disposal. On that theme of medical advancements… I owe my life to all those who’ve contributed to cancer drug research and development, countless blood donors, and the oncology staff who kept me alive during some very dicey times.
From kernel of an idea to polished manuscript, my editor, Benee Knauer, guided me every step of the way. Benee, thank you for all those seven a.m. conversations, plotting advice, superb edits, and most importantly, your friendship and support. Thank you to Bill Drennan and NY Book Editors for the copyediting assistance. And a big thank you to the team at Freiling Publishing for shepherding this novel into the world. Tom Freiling and Christen Jeschke, thank you for believing in me and making my vision a reality.
I feel so fortunate to have had such a strong team working with me to bring this novel to readers. Thank you to my publicist Rachel Gul, whose enthusiasm for The Vines combined with her talent made the marketing process so enjoyable. Thank you to: Deborah Lewis at Freiling Publishing for the gorgeous book cover; Matthew Prodger for a stellar author website; mapmaker extraordinaire Travis Hasenour for the beautiful rendering of North Brother Island; and actress/narrator Jessica Nahikian for a riveting performance in the audiobook. To all four artists: your professionalism, kindness, passion for this project, and talent blew me away.
Thank you to all the reviewers, bloggers, and Bookstagrammers for your kind words, gorgeous pictures, and enthusiasm. I admire and adore your passion for reading and the creative ways you share it with the world. Also, thank you to my local postal workers, who processed all those Advanced Reader Copy packages that I repeatedly stacked on your counter. Every day through this pandemic, you served us all despite the personal risk.
Thank you to the talented authors who generously gave their time to support this debut novelist: Sarah Pekkanen, Greer Macallister, and May Cobb.
To my GRYT Health family, thank you for staying by my side throughout the ups and downs of cancer survivorship, as well as for your support during my publishing journey. Dave Fuehrer and
