RX: MURDER - Richard L Mabry. MD - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I met Dr. Mabry when we first organized DFW Ready Writers, a local chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. He’s helped me a number of times when I needed a medical expert’s help for a work in progress. Both my husband and I love reading his medical suspense novels. I know you will, too.

Welcome back, Richard. Why did you become an author?

During my 36 years in medicine, I wrote or edited eight medical textbooks and over one hundred published papers for medical journals, but never considered any other type of writing until my wife of forty years died suddenly. I used the journaling from that episode as the basis for a non-fiction book, The Tender Scar: Life After The Death Of A Spouse. During the process of learning how to craft that book, I became interested in writing fiction. Like golf, bowling, or any other activity, once I took it up I decided I not only wanted to try writing, but to become proficient at it. Since I’ve now published seven—soon to be eight—full-length novels, perhaps I’ve succeeded.

Yes, you have. If you weren’t an author, what would be your dream job?

When I was in grade school, I wanted to be a pilot. Later, I thought about law as a career. But my dream job? I wanted to play professional baseball. I was a pitcher, and a pretty good one. Unfortunately, this was before the days of the designated hitter, and although I could throw a curve ball, I couldn’t hit one.

If you could have lived at another time in history, what would it be and why?

I guess all of us look back at the past and think how nice and simple things were then. We fool ourselves when we do. I’ve decided that looking back is futile, looking forward involves guessing, so I’m trying to adopt the philosophy of the Apostle Paul and make the best of my current circumstances.

What place in the United States have you not visited that you would like to?

Kay and I would like to see more of the Northwest—specifically, we’d like to visit Mount Rushmore.

How about a foreign country you hope to visit?

I’ve been fortunate enough to visit a number of countries in Europe and Asia, but never Ireland. Because of my Irish ancestry, I’d love to see that country.

What lesson has the Lord taught you recently?

I’m not sure I’ve learned it, but I’m trying—be patient. God’s timing is not our timing, but whatever He has in store for us is ultimately better than what we can plan for ourselves.

That is so true. Tell us about the featured book.

Because slightly over a year has elapsed since my last published novel, I wanted to remind my readers that I’m still around, while perhaps introducing my work to other readers before the publication of the next one. The answer to that, since I’ve already fulfilled my contract with my current publisher, was self-publication of a novella. Rx: Murder became available April 1.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Mary Lou Sawyer cowered, half-crouching, in the corner of her living room. She felt consciousness slipping away, and fought it with deep breaths. If she could only escape the blows long enough for the room to stop spinning…

“I don’t want to hear about money any more!” Luke Sawyer accompanied his slurred words with a blow that, despite her flinch, sent her reeling against the wall. “Tired of your nagging!” Spittle flew from his mouth as he half-yelled, “It’s all your fault.”

Mary Lou saw him draw back his fist. She tried to dodge, but this time her muscles refused to react in time. He hit her, and the world turned gray for a moment. She crumpled to the floor, where she lay in a fetal position, shielding her head with crossed arms, dreading what might come next. He’s going to kill me.

Luke took two lurching steps toward the door, then turned back to where she lay. He bent toward her and almost fell with the effort. When he spoke she smelled his breath, reeking of alcohol and cigarettes. “I’m goin’ out. Don’t know when I’ll be back. But when I come through that door, better not hear no questions about where I’ve been or how much I’ve had to drink.”

When no reply came, he pointed to the residuals of the skirmish: an overturned end table, magazines scattered on the floor of the living room, curtains askew. “And straighten all this up before I get back.” He slammed the door behind him and was gone.

An upended chair lay next to her. She grasped it and slowly, painfully managed to get it upright. After a moment to catch her breath, Mary Lou used it to pull herself up, first to her knees and then to her feet. She tottered there for a moment, balancing with one hand on the back of the chair.

She should go to the kitchen, put some ice or something on her face. But first, she needed to pause until the haze clouding her vision cleared. Mary Lou took a deep breath, then another. Her free hand went to her belly. Please, God. Don’t let any of this hurt the baby.

I want to know what comes next. I'm sure my readers do, too. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is here, my blog is here. I also have a Facebook fan page—rmabrybooks—and have an account at Goodreads.

Thank you, Richard, for sharing this new book with us.  I'm eager to read this book.

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