Michael Woods

Photo by Michael Bernstein
Michael Woods is a science and medical writer whose nationally syndicated newspaper stories and columns have won numerous national awards. He directs a program at the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society, to inform the public about science. He and his wife, Mary B. Woods, have written almost forty books together. Michael is the writer, and Mary is the researcher.
Interview
What was your favorite book when you were a child?
Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by George Gould & Walter Pyle
Who are your top three favorite authors or illustrators?
Authors: Donna Jo Napoli, Patricia Beatty, and Avi. Illustrators: Jan Brett, Gennadii Spirin, and Jerry Pinkney
Why did you want to become an author or illustrator?
We wanted to share our love for science and medicine with young people. We hope that our books help get young people interested in careers in science, technology, engineering, or math.
Do you have any advice for future authors or illustrators?
You don’t have to write the entire book in one sitting. If you write just 200 words a day, day after day, you will have a chapter within a few weeks and an entire manuscript before you know it.