Mel Harter: Some Kind of Angel
Reading Group Guides

January 6, 2009. Queenie D talks with author Mel Harter about his novel, Some Kind of Angel.

Reading Group Guides: Interview with Mel Harter

The back of your book states that you are "a retired doctor with years of experience in the medical-legal arena." How closely related to your own life is Sneetz's story?

Sneetz is a younger version of me. He was obliged to seek another career after the tragic loss of his thumb forced him out of a brilliant profession in surgery. I was not "forced" out of my private practice of Internal Medicine. I sold my practice to my very eager young partner at a time it became more difficult to practice freely (without insurance company interference) that caused higher overhead expense as fee collections fell.

Also I had been "on call" (24 hour availability) an average of every third day and every third weekend for decades. I was introduced to disability evaluation and rating by a retired LAPD Police Board Officer turned private lawyer who had liked my reports of retirement evaluations of policemen which I had done for many years. He referred twelve policemen with toxic injuries sustained working at huge chemical warehouse fire. I loved learning the new "trade." Incidentally, this set up the plot of my next "Sneetz and Muldoon Thriller," a work in progress.

Reading Group Guides: Interview with Mel Harter

How much truth is there to "RXT-2 gene abnormalities" and "death by inability of red blood cells to carry oxygen?" Would this really leave a person mummified?

Some Kind of Angel is science-fiction! It is meant to be thrilling, not factual.

I see this book as broad-stroked depiction of comic book proportions. The only yes is death by blocking oxygen transportation by red blood cells as in Carbon Monoxide poisoning. As for the rest, Buck Rogers rode rocket ships long before the development of space exploration and Captain Nemo sailed deeply underwater before submarines came to be. So, who knows? Maybe the future will make me a soothsayer.

Reading Group Guides: Interview with Mel Harter

Here's an offhand but definitely curious question, why does Sneetz say "cheezola?" What is the significance of that phrase?

I wanted my hero to have some odd trait so people would remember him and the book. The word itself is a childish, comic book deformation of the exclamation "Oh, Jesus!"

Reading Group Guides: Interview with Mel Harter

I assume Sneetz is somewhere in his early 40s. He seems, from life experience and from some of his personality traits, to be much older. How did his character develop?

I refer you to my reply to your first question. He is distinctly above average in just about everything—except operating a power saw.

Reading Group Guides: Interview with Mel Harter

This book obviously lends itself to a series with Sneetz and Muldoon as the stars. Where can we expect to see them in the future? Can you share with us any information about your current projects?

One Hollywood movie maker who reviewed my novel suggested it is made for a cable TV series and suggested some producers. He said he'd love to cast my characters.

My current projects?

Sequel to Angel.

A very much fun musical comedy.

Love poems. Coping with recent move from hot, hot desert to perfect climated Santa Barbara.

Coping with loss of a fabulous spouse who simply can't be replaced as I wander about in search of a new companion. (No applications, please! The process is coming along just fine, about right on schedule.)

Reading Group Guides: Interview with Mel Harter

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