From Anthrax to Ebola: How Feedback Fuels My Indie Thriller Series – Guest Post!
- J.H. Jones
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
Meet MILLICENT EIDSON, the author of the MAYAVERSE MEDICAL THRILLER series. Through her fascinating books, and her strong female main character, she explores pandemics, epidemics, viruses and medical mysteries around the world. Her action and suspense thrillers are based on her career as a public health veterinarian and epidemiologist, working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health departments in New Mexico and New York. Earlier this year, she published her latest novel, EBOLA: A MICROBIAL MYSTERY, which is garnering rave reader reviews. Subscribe to her Substack and YouTube Channel, and follow her on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram.
When I created my alphabetical medical thriller series with “Anthracis: A Microbial Mystery,” I had no idea how the type of prepublication feedback would change—not just for polishing my prose, but for shaping the entire series arc. With the release of “Ebola: A Microbial Mystery,” crucial elements of the process have evolved, setting me on a clear path toward “Zika”!
The Early Days: Finding My Footing
In preparation for querying literary agents with “Anthracis,” I leaned on a network of family and friends for initial reads. Their encouragement kept me going, but I also benefitted from more rigorous critiques through open genre and novel groups at the Burlington Writers Workshop (BWW), then Green Mountain Writers, both vibrant local (now international) author communities.
These weekly and biweekly workshops were transformative. They helped me refine my craft, especially the elusive art of “showing vs. telling.” Two agents requested character changes that compromised my series vision so I chose indie publishing, a decision I’ve never regretted.
My informal advance reader copy (ARC) group responded positively to the shocking ending of “Anthracis,” though two of them wished for a different conclusion. Their prepublication feedback sparked revisions that ultimately expanded the story arc across future books.
Growing Through Community
As I continued writing, BWW remained a cornerstone of my development. I even helped lead some workshops, which deepened my understanding of storytelling and critique. But over time, I craved a more consistent group—writers who would stay with me through the ups and downs of a long-form series.
In early 2023, that vision became reality with an offshoot biweekly Zoom workshop that’s still going strong. The other five authors write and publish poetry, memoir, and short stories. They provide me invaluable feedback, especially about balancing scientific accuracy with reader-friendly storytelling.
Finding My Tribe: Sisters in Crime
Around the same time, I joined the Sisters in Crime (SinC) Guppies chapter. Initially, I participated in a small workshop created by SinC for us. We shared chapters via a dedicated site, emailed feedback using Word’s track changes, and met biweekly on Zoom. While the group was committed and supportive, I realized I needed peers who were further along in their indie publishing careers to help me grow as an author.
Later in 2023 through marketing and promotion discussions, I connected with indie authors who had well-established mystery series. Together, we formed a new biweekly workshop—four writers, each in a different sub-genre, united by a shared passion for craft and success.
What Makes These Groups Work
Both my multi-genre and mystery series workshops share key elements that make them incredibly effective:
Biweekly Zoom meetings: On a consistent date and time for the mystery authors
Stable membership: Allows us to assist each other’s author journeys
Submissions up to 5,000 words: Per author each session via a private Google Drive folder; submissions are optional but provide a great incentive to keep writing, especially for the mystery series authors
Strong commitment for written and verbal feedback: Even during travel whenever feasible
Submission deadlines: For mystery authors, new chapters are due to Google Drive the Sunday after Tuesday meetings
Feedback deadlines: Consolidated comments on the Google Drive are due a week after submission for mystery authors, giving us time to edit our work before getting additional verbal feedback during the workshop
Respect for author autonomy: Authors choose which edits to make based on the honest but kind critiques
Broad publishing discussions: Includes publishing options, covers, blurbs, and marketing strategies
Final Thoughts
Prepublication feedback has been the lifeblood of my writing journey. From informal readers to structured critique groups, each stage has brought new insights and deeper connections. If you’re an author—especially one working on a series—I hope my experience inspires you to seek out the kind of feedback that not only sharpens your writing but sustains your creative momentum.
Millicent Eidson, a master of intrigue and suspense, weaves her literary magic through the pages of the Maya Maguire microbial mystery series. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for scientific puzzles, she invites readers into a world where microbes hold secrets more treacherous than any criminal. But Millicent’s journey doesn’t begin and end with her computer keyboard. Her life story reads like a thrilling novel itself.
From Statistical Software to Literary Feats: Dr. Eidson’s career as a public health veterinarian and epidemiologist began at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Her days were filled with pathogens and outbreaks, but her nights belonged to the whispered tales of microbes dancing in her imagination. The high desert of New Mexico and the forests of upstate New York were the settings as she chased down leads both scientific and mysterious.
The MayaVerse Unveiled: Millicent’s passion for storytelling blossomed into the MayaVerse, a universe where microbes become characters. Join the MayaVerse reader list at https://drmayamaguire.com/ for a free spooky story about a transformational birthday party.
Awards and Accolades: Millicent’s talent has not gone unnoticed. She snagged the Best Play award in the literary magazine “Synkroniciti.” A short story in her “Microbial Mysteries” collection was recognized by the Arizona Mystery Writers with an Honorable Mention.
Life Beyond the Microscope: Millie’s roots stretch across the Southwest. She cherishes family trips to Arizona, where cacti whisper secrets and ancient rocks hold forgotten stories. Fate led her to the green hills of Vermont where she resides with her daughter, Lian. Lian, adopted from China, embodies resilience and wonder—the essence of Maya Maguire.
Follow the Clues: Millicent Eidson’s life is a tapestry of science, suspense, and storytelling. Her microbes may be microscopic, but her impact on readers is immeasurable. Dive into her world, and you’ll find that even the tiniest organisms can harbor the grandest secrets.
Get Millicent's latest book here:
Purchase all of Millicent's books in her series: Millicent Eidson (books2read.com)
Thanks for such a detailed analysis. You've given a great road map for a writer's journey.
An excellent post by a writer whose dedication to accuracy and reader fulfillment is the touchstone of her work. Having read most of Millicent Eidson's stories (and being a member of one of the critique groups she mentioned), I have had the pleasure of following her journey as a writer and a valued member of the writing community.