Tell us a little about the book: 

In the book, I weave science, storytelling and humor to shed light on the little-known backstories behind STIs.  I also try to overturn common myths about STIs that exist in popular culture.  For example, many of us are taught that catching an STI is directly related to how many people you have sex with, when really it has a lot more to do with sexual networks and how they are structured.  I also try to make connections that people wouldn’t ordinarily think of, such as the relationship between mass incarceration and racial disparities in gonorrhea rates.

What inspired you to write this book?

First, I love our field and I wanted more people to know about the wonderful people who do this work and the incredible stories that we have to tell.  Also, after a decade in the field, I saw rates of STIs continuing to climb, and stigma about STIs running rampant.  While I didn’t feel like I could necessarily change the trajectory of the epidemic, I thought perhaps I could entertain and educate folks to realize that STIs happen to most of us, and we can accept that without stigma or shame.

You dedicate an entire chapter to STI contact tracers, which you refer to as sex detectives. What did you choose to highlight about contact tracing?

I wanted to share the stories of contact tracers from the 1970s to the present day, following them as they comb the streets, swingers clubs, and online chat rooms, and highlighting how much the practice has had to change due to emerging technology.  Of all the professionals that I’ve worked with in the field, DIS have the funniest and most interesting stories around, and this chapter is really a love letter to the amazing and dedicated people who do this work.

Strange Bedfellows is available on February 2nd, click here to order your copy!