James J. Farley

Amazon.com Jim Farley author's page

[Q] ADVERSE EVENTS is your second Tom Keenan novel. You have the same cast of characters and you introduce more. You also introduce another detective.

[A] Yes, I introduce Ryan Hathaway, the youngest detective in the Savannah Police Department. He is a University of Georgia graduate and former football player for the Georgia Bulldogs. I think Tom and Ryan form a good team. Tom is still assisted by Brute and Rep, and of course, Stacey.

[Q] Why did you set this story in Savannah, Georgia?

[A] There are two reasons. The first is that Savannah is a beautiful city. There is much history in Savannah. It is Georgia’s First City. The second is that the city wants to have new businesses get established there, and there is no pharmaceutical company in Savannah. A drug firm coming to Savannah would be a big deal.

[Q] Is this based on a true story?

[A] The events in the story are fiction, but they represent events that could occur. I felt it important to bring this potential real-life problem to light and inform the readers. Many of the readers are consumers/patients who take drugs to ensure health, and they have the right to believe that the medicines they take are accurately represented on the labels.

[Q] Tom Keenan is a sharp dresser. Do you have any comments on that?

[A] Most chemists are.

[Q] You like to have the readers learn something in addition to their reading enjoyment. What is the lesson here?

[A] I want people to realize that many problems can be solved readily when information is shared and individual and collective decisions are made. I am certainly not a fan of committees; however, when information is shared by a few persons, decisions can be made rapidly and accurately.

[Q] How did you choose the title?

[A] An Adverse Event (AE) is a term used by the U S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to describe a harmful side effect of a drug. While it is accepted that all drugs have side effects, not all side effects are harmful. Those that are harmful are called adverse events. They are reported to the FDA on a form 3500.

[Q] Do you have an agent who represents you as you reach for the stars?

[A] No, I don’t have an agent, and yes, I am reaching for the stars. Perhaps I’ll meet the right agent and we’ll form a good business relationship and explore other media. A television movie or series would be great. However, I must always remember that the reason I write the Tom Keenan series is to provide the reader with enjoyment - that is my primary goal.

[Q] Will we see some adventures in areas other than the pharmaceutical industry?

[A] It’s very possible.

[Q] Thank you for the story and for informing your readers about the pharmaceutical industry.

[A] Thank you!

September 27, 2013