Back drop to the Nude Mouse story

(Actually posted this a little earlier, but we're learning the ins and outs of blogging, choosing categories etc).

This is in regards to the Nude Mouse piece, shown earlier today...

This wierd little conversation piece initially began as a query to the Believer for a fiction interview piece. My letter to Matt Derby went as follows:

>Dear Matthew,

So I've been quite enjoying your interviews of late, and wanted to query how it is that one gets involved. In this respect, I'm a little on the naive side, since my writing endeavours have only been in practice for the last year or so. However, what I do think I can bring to the table is a science sensibility to any piece in question, and the ability to make it both enjoyable and readable to those that wouldn't classify themselves as being science attentive.

However, to be honest, I'm not sure how to go about querying an interview piece. My scientific mind reels and I have the following hypotheses I'm working on:

1. I first suggest possible interviews to the Believer and then use that permission to secure the piece with said fricking cool folk.

2. I check with fricking cool folk to see if they are amenable to an interview, and then contact the Believer with a query saying that I have so and so on board.

3. I rely on stochastic but otherwise fortuitous events, whereby the fricking cool folk tells me, "so the Believer phoned me the other day and asked for an interview - do you want to do it?"

Anyhow, it would be great to know what the rubrick is. Related to this, I also have a creative piece brewing in my mind that takes the form of me interviewing a "nude mouse." This is a creature often used in genetic research - it has no immune system and no hair (a sort of bald bubble mouse). For some reason, I'm of the opinion that such a piece could make interesting fodder for discussions into genetically modified organisms, stem cells, intelligent design, animal welfare, and yes, media representation of what science is doing in society. Perhaps the following image says it best (http://www.bioteach.ubc.ca/TeachingResources/Genetics/Mouse&Ear.jpg).

Yes, the mind boggles. Really, who wouldn't have an opinion about that?

Thanks for your time.
Dave Ng

Not from the 'David Ng' - But from a different David Ng whose Dad beat up Bruce Lee.

Anyway, the Believer sort of bit, but not really (although I did make contact and has some stuff coming up at the Believer), whereupon, I passed off to Ben to rework for potential use at Seed Magazine, where upon it still didn't fly, so back to the SCQ it was and viola!

In its own way, it was kind of a successful query letter.