CARDIAC EVENT - Richard L Mabry, MD - One Free Ebook

Dear Readers, Cardiac Event is available now for pre-order via Amazon (click the cover in the left sidebar of this blog, and it will take you to the book). Or you can use the book icon below. It will be released on July 28 with a special pre-publication price for the Kindle version until then.

Welcome back, Richard. How did you come up with the idea for this story?

Like most writers, I began with a “What if…?” question. In this case, while thinking about physician interactions, I asked myself, “What if a couple of physicians continually crossed swords, but then—when the older one has a heart attack—he asks the young one to care for him…virtually holding his life in his hands?”  I sort of massaged this a bit, and came up with the idea for Cardiac Event.

That sounds interesting. I’m eager for the release date. If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

Wow, that’s tough. I suppose I’d start with people I know, especially those who write in roughly the same genre I do. Off the top of my head, the list would include Candace Calvert, DiAnn Mills, Jordyn Redwood, Harry Kraus, James Scott Bell, Jim Rubart… That’s already six, isn’t it? But there are so many more.

And I love reading all those authors’s books. It’s a very good group. Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

Don’t tell anyone, but I rarely read in this genre. Nevertheless, there are people whose names stand out, and I’d definitely include them. I’d want Lauraine Snelling, Myra Johnson, Sarah Sundin, Francine Rivers, Jody Hedlund, Robin Lee Hatcher…and several others.

Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?

It’s deciding whether to indie-publish or seek a contract. Despite the perception of readers (if they think of it at all), writers sometimes don’t stay with the same publishing house for the totality of their careers. If book sales don’t justify continuing the association, no new contract is offered. All authors are familiar with the situation where the publisher has discontinued its Christian fiction line. And sometimes, the book offered isn’t a good match for the publisher. Now, with the relative ease of self-publication, some authors are moving toward that pathway. Since I’d already done three novellas as a “hybrid” author, this wasn’t the scary situation some writers envision, so I decided to self-publish my next novel.

I indie-published my last full-length novel, and it’s one of three finalists for the FHL Readers’ Choice award in the long historical category. Tell us about the featured book.

Why don’t I give you the back-cover blurb? “Cardiologist Dr. Kirk Martin continually crosses swords with Dr. Cliff Hamilton, so he is surprised when Hamilton asks him to care for him after a heart attack. When he is ready for discharge, Hamilton is found dead in his hospital bed, and Martin is suspected of murdering him.

“After another doctor is found shot to death, Martin’s girlfriend, nurse Janet Rush, reminds him to be careful because he may be next. Can he save his own life while searching for the identity of the real murderer?”

Please give us the first page of the book.

Dr. Cliff Hamilton watched the bright green lines of the EKG dance across the monitor screen. It wasn’t until the tracing had remained normal for several minutes that he allowed himself to relax. I think that second shock did it. He took a deep breath and felt some of the tension turn loose.

           

The patient, Matthew Gaines, was an older male with known coronary artery disease and increasing symptoms. Heart specialist Dr. Kirk Martin had admitted him to Sommers General Hospital for further testing and treatment. When Gaines reached the cardiac unit and was hooked up to a monitor, Nurse Anna Scott noticed the man’s heart rhythm becoming more and more erratic and his rate increasing beyond acceptable limits. The heart rate sped up quickly until Gaines was in full-blown ventricular tachycardia, the beats coming at a rate of more than two hundred per minute, and the nurse knew she had to do something.

“I need some help here,” Anna called. Her voice, only slightly above conversational level, was still loud enough to get Dr. Hamilton’s attention as he passed by the room.

Now both doctor and nurse were bathed in perspiration. Gaines was pale, but his heart ticked along in a normal rate and rhythm. Despite the stress of the past few minutes, Hamilton felt the elation that went with snatching another patient from death.

“Mr. Gaines,” Hamilton said. “Your heart acted up for a while there, but I think it’s under control now.”

Gaines’s eyelids flickered but did not fully open. His lips parted, but no sound emerged. He nodded slightly, made one movement as though to sit up, held there for a few seconds, then fell back onto the pillow. His breathing deepened, and he seemed to relax.

“Do you want me to page Dr. Martin and tell him what’s going on?” Anna asked.

“That won’t be necessary.” The voice from the doorway was quiet, but the tone was measured and biting. “Cliff, what are you doing with my patient?”

Thank you, Richard, for sharing this new book with us. I know my readers are as eager as I am to read it.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

I post on my blog Tuesdays (general “stuff”) and Fridays (“the writing life”). Readers can sign up at that location for my newsletter, which gives them information and previews about my books. I also post a couple of times a day on my Facebook fan page.  My twitter handle is @RichardMabry.

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