Science fiction and fantasy stories frequently include medical and scientific scenarios, but how does an author stay medically truthful? On Saturday Oct. 25, Dr. Susan MacDonald will present a workshop that will look at some examples of medical mistakes in contemporary science fiction and fantasy and discuss methods of how to stay correct in writing while still moving the story forward.

The workshop takes place at Canon Wood Hall on Military Road in St. John’s and is part of the Writers’ Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador AGM and professional development conference. Dr. MacDonald, who works in palliative care, is an associate professor of medicine and family medicine at Memorial. She has won awards for her undergraduate teaching in the medical school. Her other interests include filmmaking and acting. She and her husband, Dr. Christopher Kovacs, have presented this panel at Worldcon and other SF conventions.

Dr. MacDonald’s two novels, Edge of Time and Time of Treason, are published by Breakwater Books. Edge of Time received a Gold Medal for the 2012 Moonbeam Children’s Award for YA Fiction- Fantasy/Sci-F and was shortlisted for the 2012 Bruneau Family Children’s/YA Literature Award (NL Book Awards). She has also co-written several publications with Dr. Kovacs on medical myths and errors in genre fiction.

For full details of Dr. MacDonald’s workshop, please visit http://wanl.ca/resources.