Bio: Dr. Richard Mabry is a retired physician, past
Vice-President of the American Christian Fiction Writers, and the author of six
published novels of medical suspense. His books have been finalists in
competitions including ACFW’s Carol Award and Romantic Times’ Inspirational
Book of the Year. His novel, Lethal Remedy, won a 2012 Selah Award from the
Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference. His medical thriller, Stress
Test (Thomas Nelson), garnered rave reviews from Library Journal and Publisher’s
Weekly. Richard’s latest novel, Heart Failure, was released on October 15.
How did you come up
with the idea for this story?
The story is a product of two things—an article I read and
the question Alton Gansky taught me to ask—“What if…?” I read an article about
a man in the Witness Protection Program (which I learned is really called the
Witness Security Program, or WITSEC for short). Then I began to wonder—what if
the man fell in love? Would he tell his intended about his past, or try to keep
it a secret? What if something happened that forced his hand and made him tell
about his past? What would her response be? I wrestled with all that for a
while, but eventually came up with Heart
Failure.
If you were planning
a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would
you invite and why?
Since most of the Christian fiction I read is in the genre
of thrillers and suspense, the invitation list is going to lean heavily toward
those authors, with no disrespect to all the others out there. I’d invite Jim
Rubart and Harry Kraus because I know they’d keep the conversation lively, even
if they were just talking with each other. Then I’d ask James Scott Bell and
Brandilyn Collins, because I’m certain they’d have a lot to say about the continuing
changes in the publishing paradigm. Finally, I’d ask the two ladies who
comprise the trio we’ve dubbed The Medical Musketeers, Candace Calvert and
Jordyn Redwood, because, sooner or later, conversation at all the dinner
parties I attend includes a medical question, and maybe one of them would
answer it and give me a rest.
And I’d want to be a
fly on the wall, so I could listen in. What about the guest list for a party of
six non-authors? Who would you invite and why?
I’d start with my pastor, Chuck Swindoll. I suspect that
Chuck could fill the entire evening with anecdotes, his laughter is infectious,
and with him there I wouldn’t have to do grace before the meal myself. Then I’d
include my friend/golf partner/attorney Jerry Gilmore, because he and his wife,
Janie, must know most of the people in the world. We could spend much of the
night just playing “three degrees of separation” with them. I’d want to invite
pitching legend Nolan Ryan, not only to regale us with baseball stories, but to
give us the inside scoop on the Texas Rangers. And, if I could get him, I’d ask
professional golfer Phil Mickelson to join us and perhaps tell us how he
manages to maintain his clean-cut image as a family man when so many professional
athletes are no longer role models. My wife, Kay, would have to be there, of
course, since she’s actually the glue that keeps me together in social
situations—she’s gracious, thoughtful, and the perfect hostess.
With this one, maybe
I could be part of the wait staff who could listen in. 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?
Just as in sports, where a player is only as good as his
last game, an author is only as good as his or her last book. I was fortunate
enough to have my first four books published by Abingdon Press, but those four
books involved three separate contracts. After that I got a three-book contract
from Thomas Nelson. But when that expires, I’ll need to come up with additional
ideas, put them in the form of a proposal, and see if I can get yet another
contract. So at present, I’m working on what would be my eighth novel. Right
now it’s difficult for me to make myself write when there’s no guarantee of
publication. But that’s what writers have to do—even multi-published ones.
Yes, and in the
current publishing climate a lot of good, multi-published authors are in the
same place. Tell us about the featured book.
Here’s the back cover copy for Heart
Failure.
When her fiancé’s dangerous secrets turn her world
upside-down, a beautiful doctor must choose between her own safety and the man
she loves—and thought she knew.
Dr. Carrie Markham’s heart was broken by the death of her
husband two years ago. Now, just as her medical practice is taking off, her
fresh engagement to paralegal Adam Davidson seems almost too good to be true .
. . until a drive-by shooting leaves Carrie on the floor of his car with glass
falling around her.
When he confesses that Adam isn’t his real name and that he
fled the witness protection program, Carrie is left with an impossible choice:
should she abandon the fiancé she isn’t sure she really knows, or accept his
claim of innocence and help him fight back against this faceless menace?
Please give us an
excerpt from the book.
This is the end of the first scene in the book:
…Carrie found the garage remote on her key ring and raised
the door. When they were inside the house, with the garage door closed, she
took a seat on the living room sofa. Adam went through the small house, drawing
drapes, closing blinds, and making sure all the doors and windows were locked.
Finally, he returned to where Carrie waited. He started to
sit beside her on the sofa, apparently thought better of it, and sank into a
chair. “I’ve wrestled with this all the way home. I thought I was finally safe,
but maybe I’m not. I know what I’m going to tell you may change things between
us, but you deserve an explanation.”
That was the understatement of the year. Thirty minutes ago,
she and Adam were a newly engaged couple, winding down an enjoyable evening. By
now they should be feeding each other ice cream like two lovebirds, talking
seriously and making plans about their future together. But instead… “Yes,” she
said, “you owe me an explanation, a big one. So explain.”
“Let me say this first. What I’m about to tell you started
long before I met you. My life has changed in the past eight months. I’m
different, and it’s because of you. I’m …” Adam leaned toward her. He clenched
and unclenched his fists. “To begin with, Adam Davidson isn’t my real name.”
My book just arrived
this week. I will start reading it today. Can’t wait. How can readers find you
on the Internet?
They can learn more about me at my website, and read my blog posts twice a week. I’m on Twitter and have a Facebook Fan Page. I’m also on Goodreads,
although I don’t make it there as often as I probably should.
Thank you, Richard, for sharing this new book with us. You know that both my husband and I love reading your medical suspense novels.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Heart Failure - Christianbook.comHeart Failure
- Amazon.comHeart Failure - Kindle
Leave 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 Google +, Feedblitz, Facebook, 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
