Barry Pollack, who still works in the frontline trenches of medicine as an ER doctor, has a creative life that spans a variety of venues. After a master’s degree in film from Stanford and a fellowship at the American Film Institute, he began as a documentary filmmaker and went on to write and direct two feature films, several prime-time television dramas, and a series of newspaper columns. His debut novel, THE PATRIOT GENE (alt title FORTY-EIGHT X), is the story of the Lemuria Project, a gathering of the world’s greatest scientists on a secret island to genetically engineer a new kind of American warrior—lethal, near invincible, expendable. Pollack takes two fascinating romatically mismatched couples on an adventure around the world, challenging military and political roadblocks, until they uncover the secret of a chimera, a new species that might one day vie with the human race for dominance. Also, look for his most recent feature films: IT'S NOT A DATE and, soon to be released, LIFE ON THE ROCKS. For more information about Barry Pollack and THE PATRIOT GENE, visit www.barrypollack.net