Readers, I've known
Richard Mabry for over ten years. He's a good friend and a very good author of
medical suspense books. When his books arrive, they go to the top of both my
to-be-read list and my husband's to-be-read list. Whoever reaches the end of their
current book gets to read it first. They are always wonderful medical suspense
novels.
I have loved every
one of his novels, and Critical Condition is, of course, the best one
yet.
Richard’s books have
strong, well-developed characters with flaws. And his medical details are
authentic. I have a hard time putting his books down, and Critical Condition is
no exception. A real page-turner in every sense of the word.
BIO: A
retired physician, Dr. Richard Mabry is the author of four critically acclaimed
novels of medical suspense. His previous works have been finalists for the
Carol Award and Romantic Times
Reader's Choice Award, and have won the Selah Award. He is a past
Vice-President of American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of the
International Thriller Writers. He and his wife live in North
Texas .
Welcome back, Richard. Why did you become an author?
When I retired
from thirty-six years in medicine, I had no idea of writing novels. I’d just
had my first non-fiction book published: The
Tender Scar: Life After The Death Of A Spouse. While I was attempting to
learn about publishing and writing, I received encouragement from authors like
James Scott Bell and Alton Gansky so I decided to try my hand at writing
medical suspense. After four years, four books, and forty rejections, I got my
first contract. Critical Condition, which released on April 15, is my seventh
published novel. I guess God didn’t want me playing that much golf during
retirement.
If you weren’t an author, what would be
your dream job?
Assuming I could
turn back the clock and had the talent, I’d be a professional baseball player.
I’ve always loved the game—I’ve played it and coached it, and can think of
nothing I’d enjoy more. At least until the first hot line drive came back
through the pitcher’s mound.
Yeah, there have been several pitchers
injured that way, a couple of them this year. If you could have lived at
another time in history, what would it be and why?
I’d prefer to go
forward—maybe fifty years or more—to see how technology and the inventions that
make our everyday life easier have progressed in that time.
You’re the first author I’ve interviewed
that said they’d go forward, but I like that answer. What place in the United States
have you not visited that you would like to?
Although I’ve
been fortunate enough to see a lot of our country, I’ve never made it to Mount
Rushmore and Yellowstone National Park , and I’ve only seen the Grand Canyon from the air. It would be nice to mark those
off my bucket list.
How about a foreign country you hope to
visit?
I’ve been to Great Britain and Scotland ,
but never Ireland .
Since I’m of Irish descent (one-quarter, if you’re curious), I’ve always wanted
to go there.
I’m one quarter Irish, too. I’d love to
go there. What lesson has the Lord taught you recently?
He’s taught me
the same one over and over: God always answers prayers. Sometimes the answer is
“yes,” sometimes “no,” but frequently it’s “not yet.” I’ve learned to accept
that.
Tell us about the featured book.
Critical Condition is my seventh published novel of medical
suspense, all of them freestanding (not a series). Here’s the back cover copy.
It was supposed
to be a quiet dinner party with her colleagues, not the scene of a murder. But
the shooting of a stranger on her front lawn is only the first in a string of
events that have Dr. Shannon Frasier's life teetering on the edge of chaos:
She's unable to make the deeper commitment her boyfriend deserves. Her sister
shows up at Shannon 's home needing a place to
stay, but with no promise she'll stay clean and sober. And her father is
diagnosed with cancer.
Then Shannon 's life stops teetering and plunges into the
abyss. Because the person behind the guttural voice on the phone wants to know
what the stranger said before he died. And he won't stop until Shannon tells him what he wants to know—even if she
doesn't have it.
He's coming for
her. She's not sure the police on the case can be trusted. And her only hope of
escape—for herself and those she loves—is to overcome her buried past.
Please give us the first page of the book
for my readers.
Dr. Shannon
Frasier looked around her and smiled. She was surrounded by some of her
favorite people, she wasn’t on call, and she had a long holiday weekend ahead
of her. Things couldn’t be better.
Three people sat
with Shannon at her dining room table tonight.
On her right was the man who referred to himself as her “almost-fiancĂ©,”
pathologist Dr. Mark Gilbert. She knew that given the opportunity, Mark would
remove the “almost” from that designation. Shannon
didn’t fully understand the barriers that held her back from that decision, but
tonight wasn’t the time to examine them.
Across the table
from Shannon sat Dr. Le Duan (Lee) Kai.
Yesterday was June 30, the last day of the academic year and the final day of
Lee’s residency. He was about to enter private practice, and although she knew
he would do well in that environment, Shannon hoped one day Lee would join her
on the faculty of the Department of Surgery at Southwestern Medical School,
working, as she did, to prepare other doctors for the specialty of surgery.
Beside Lee sat
his diminutive wife, Ann. An audiologist, Ann worked at the medical center, but
that could change, since the couple made no secret of their desire to start a
family once Lee’s practice was well established. Shannon
envied them that.
A noise from
outside—three flat cracks—made her pause. “Did you hear that?” Shannon asked. “Is someone getting an early start on the
July Fourth weekend?”
“I guess it
could have been firecrackers,” Lee said.
“Maybe it was a
car backfiring,” Mark offered.
“Not three in a
row. Besides,” Lee said, “that’s rare now that fuel-injected engines have
largely replaced those with carburetors.”
She turned on
the porch light and opened her front door. Warm July air rushed in, but nothing
caught Shannon ’s eye. The porch was empty. No
cars moved in the street outside her house. Then she saw it on the lawn—a
crumpled mass, like a pile of old clothes. She jumped, startled, when the
clothes moved, and she could discern a hand clawing at the dirt. A faint cry,
like that of a wounded animal, reached her ears.
How can readers find you on the Internet?
Richard Mabry's latest medical suspense, Critical Condition, is receiving high praise. USA TODAY says, "Mabry combines his medical expertise with a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat."
Richard is celebrating the release with a Kindle HDX giveaway!
One grand prize winner will receive:
- A Kindle Fire HDX
- Critical Condition by Richard Mabry
Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Richard's blog on May 13th to see if you won.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Critical Condition - Christianbook.comLeave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
23 comments:
Portsmouth, VA
It's always fun to read more about Richard L Mabry MD. He's such a fascinating author. :)
Amy C
VA
If I keep trying, maybe I will get lucky and get one of his books yet. They are so good.
California
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Dr. Mabre, You will enjoy Yellowstone NP, Mt. Rushmore and the Grand Canyon when you get the chance. They are each beautiful in their own way. Be sure to see Mt. Rushmore at night to catch the lights on the monument and enjoy the patriotic show. Love to read your medical suspense. sm, CA wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com
Lena, thanks (as always) for hosting me. I appreciate this opportunity to interact with your blog readers, as well as your friendship and support through the years.
What an intriguing excerpt! I can't wait to read more! I enjoyed this great interview and thank you for the opportunity to be a winner!
Britney Adams, TX
I've read a couple of Richard's books and always enjoy them. This one sounds right up my alley; edge-of-the-seat suspense. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy.
I hope you make it to Ireland! Perhaps a research trip for a book ;)
Anne, rural NC
thanks for the chance to read this fabulous novel :)
karenk...from PA
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
Would love to win and then would review.
jrs362 at Hotmail dot com
Live in Wasola, Mo.
I am a huge fan of Richard Mabry's books and would love to read this new one.
I live in Canada.
cenya2 at Hotmail dot com
Enter me!!
Sharon Richmond Bryant
Conway,SC
sharonruth126@gmail.com
I would love to read Richard's book. Not a category I would normally pick, but would love the opportunity to try it out.
Patty in SC
Reading the Sue Barton books in gMary's. and 7 (1940s gasp) started me on my way to becoming a nurse! I love medical mysteries! Looking forward to reading Dr. Mabry's books. I am in Eugene, OR. Oregon is a beautiful place in which to live!
Need an edit key! Should read grades 6 and 7!
Thanks for the continuing new comments. I appreciate your dropping by. Good luck in the drawing.
Sounds like a great read. Thanks for the interview and giveaway.
Melissa O
NC
I've been intending to read Richard's book for a while now, but haven't done so yet. I'd love to get started by winning his book :)
Tennessee
I'm about the same as KayM, as she said, I have been wanting to read one of Richard Mabry's books, but haven't yet, would love to win a copy! Please enter me!
Blanch, N.C.
Love medical drama and as a doctor, he does a great job in making it real. Recently read Heart Failure and loved it! This one is on my TBR list! Great interview! Thanks for the giveaway!
Cyndi in AL
Please enter me. Sounds like a really good book!
Tonja S. From Virginia
Critical Condition sounds like a thrilling read, thanks for a chance to win it!
Merry in MN
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