I vividly remember the moment my agent asked if I wanted to write this one. Until that time, I had written only children’s books, but this was a very different project. Commissioned to accompany a major Channel 4 series commemorating the 25th anniversary of the birth of the first ‘test tube baby’, this book was a major undertaking.

I had to read through the extensive notes and transcripts of the programme researchers, conduct interviews with the major players in the history of artificial conception, and write something that weaved together the scientific, professional, ethical and moral aspects of the technologies behind artificial conception into something readable and engaging.

Imagine how excited and pleased I was when a friend sent me a clipping from the British Medical Journal, with a very glowing review written by the director of an IVF clinic. The book received a four-star review, which I thought was great … until I realised that it was four out of four! I remain very proud of this book. Here’s the review:

From the publisher, Channel 4 Books:

“This title accompanies Channel 4’s six-part series on the revolutionary discoveries and practices of alternative conception. The desire to have children is a biological urge in all of us and today prospective parents have an enormous range of options available to them, although none can guarantee success. Beginning with research carried out by Patrick Steptoe and Robert Winston in the 1970s, “Unnatural Practices” traces the history of all the major developments: artificial stimulation of ovulation, laparoscopy, artificial insemination by husband of donor, “in vitro” fertilization, gamete intra-fallopian transfer, vaginal egg and sperm transfer and intra-cellular sperm injection among other less widely-used methods. But with advances the ethical debate broadens. This book examines the moral and social dilemmas both doctors and families have to face, especially in the case of options such as male pregnancy, surrogacy and genetic engineering of embryos. The book follows human lives that have been affected by both succesful and unsuccessful fertility treatment. It includes the testimonies of scientists and doctors who have been involved at the cutting edge over the years, and the families that have been the subjects of their experimentation. Set within a medical, historical and moral context this is a comprehensive story.”