Featured Post

Friday, March 6, 2020

Interview with Richard Mabry

by Patricia Bradley
Today I'm interviewing Dr. Richard Mabry, formerly one of our very own "sisters" on the Suspense Sisters! His latest book, Critical Decision released earlier this week. Back cover copy at the end. AND, Dr. Mabry is giving away a print copy of his book to one lucky commenter. (must have a US address)
If you had to describe yourself in one sentence, what would you say?   

“You’d think by now I’d know better.”

Love it, Richard! What do you do when you’re not writing? Any interesting hobbies?

A friend and I began playing golf once a week about 20 years ago. Since then we’ve gone through the deaths of both our wives, remarriage for both of us, and both good times and bad times. Now, when weather interferes, we have a hot dog and just talk. I don’t think our golf is great, but our time together is.

Golfing is something I've never tried unless you count miniature golf, and I wasn't very good at that. Tell us three things about yourself that might surprise your readers.

I served as minister of music at our church in the Azores and as a fill-in for the General Protestant services there, as well as for a small church in Dallas. I’ve played beach volleyball with the Pittsburgh Steelers, golf with Charlie Pride, and baseball with Mickey Mantle. And while honeymooning in Thailand I almost pushed my wife off an elephant.

Wow! You've met some interesting people! And I'd love to hear the story about the elephant. What genre did you start out writing? Have you changed course? Why or why not?

I started out writing about medicine because that’s what I know, but there was no form to my early novels. Then, at the suggestion of my first agent (who finally said, “I don’t know what we’re going to do with you”) I tried writing cozies—big mistake. Eventually, with a new agent I found my “voice” writing “medical mysteries with heart.”

And you do it very well! If you could go back in time and do something differently at the start of your career, what would it be?

When I was young, I thought it would be glamorous to be a pilot. Maturity has shown me the fallacy of that dream. Then I wondered about the law, but I was soon disabused of that. I guess I’d go through it all the same way again, with the same complaints and high points as before.

I'm with you there! What is the most valuable piece of advice you’d like to give to unpublished authors?

Make every piece you write (published or not) better than the last one. And don’t give up. If you’re the only one who reads what you’ve written, you’re reached at least one person.

I so agree about not giving up!

Here's the back cover copy of Critical Decision:



It began with an innocent-appearing package on her front porch
The box contained a cell phone, which rang as soon as she opened the package. A voice that called Dr. Kathy Hoover by name said that her husband had been kidnapped. To get him back she would have to poison one of her patients.
At first, she didn’t believe that her husband had been taken from the conference he was attending, but soon she discovered that the kidnappers really had Darren. If she wanted to see him again, she had to give medication that would murder Kelton Rush, former Vice-President. What was she to do? How would she handle this critical decision?


How would you handle this critical decision? Leave your answer in the comments and I'll enter you in a drawing for a print copy of Critical Decision! (US addresses only for print copy) Be sure to add your email address so I can get in touch with you.

Dr. Richard Mabry is a retired physician, now writing “medical suspense with heart.” His novels have been a semifinalist for International Thriller Writers’ debut novel, finalists for the ACFW Carol Award, Inspirational Reader’s Choice, and Romantic Times’ Reader’s Choice and Reviewer’s Choice Awards, and winner of the Selah Award. Critical Decision is his most recent novel. You can find more details at his web page and blog. He also has a presence on Facebook and Twitter.


65 comments:

  1. With being a Christian I wouldn't do it. It would trust God to release my husband.
    duellonlysisataoldotcom

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree it's quite a dilemma, Beverly! Always good to see you here!

      Delete
  2. With being a Christian I wouldn't do it. It would trust God to release my husband.
    duellonlysisataoldotcom

    ReplyDelete
  3. Well that is a dilemma, I would pray and ask God to direct me to the right people that could help me.

    Lourdes11743gmail

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lourdes, how true. It's not a place I'd like to find myself.

      Delete
  4. She would confide in the intended victim and they would concoct a plan to fake his death. Stella(dot)potts77 (at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Like your plan, Stella. We'll see how Dr. Mabry handled it.

      Delete
  5. Wow. Not really sure. I don’t think I’d be able to go through with it (as a Christian and as a physician), but my poor husband....
    mindyhoung AT msn DOT com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, Mindy. It would be an awful place to be in. Thanks for adding to the conversation!

      Delete
  6. I would want to fake his death somehow with his knowledge and with the help of the FBI.
    janeen dot bair at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Patricia, always a pleasure to be back with the Sisters.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really enjoyed the interview, Richard. You're welcome anytime!

      Delete
  8. Maybe I'd go ahead and (can't BELIEVE I'm typing this) kill the patient, use equipment and cameras to prove death for a few seconds, but have a resuscitation plan in place!

    Good interview. I'm looking forward to reading the book.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Spoken like a true writer, Priscilla! Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete
  9. Jeannie HolderfieldMarch 6, 2020 at 4:52 PM

    I don't think I could do it! But what a hard situation to be in!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It definitely would be, Jeannie. The only worse case scenario would be if a child was involved.

      Delete
  10. Would love to win it. sarahmom335@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I would pray and have God guide me to find the right people to help with this situation or a solution to this issue without actually killing anyone.My email is putt911@att.net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It would be a terrible situation to be in, Janet! Thanks for dropping in.

      Delete
  12. A real tough decision; however, with the Lord's help, hopefully there would be some law enforcement to help in this type of situation, so that no one would get hurt, plus the "bad guy" would promptly get caught:) Have enjoyed reading books by Richard L. Mabry, MD, before; so it would truly be wonderful to win a print copy of Critical Decision! Thanks for this opportunity to enter a great giveaway! Lual Krautter Email: krautter12ATbresnanDOTnet

    ReplyDelete
  13. It is true that you never know what you will do until your feet are standing in that position. I know that I could never deliberately take the life of another, but I also know I'd do whatever I could to save the love of my life. Also know that plans don't always go as planned. Not having the skills to fight the person on the other end of the line, I'd have to make contact with help praying to find someone that did have the skills AND were successful in helping me bring my husband home unharmed.

    Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy of "Critical Decision". It sounds fabulous. It's a book that I would definitely enjoy reading and is not on my TBR list.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

    ReplyDelete
  14. It's a real head-scratcher, isn't it? Keep those comments coming.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I think I would try to surreptitiously let someone know what was happening or switch the meds

    ReplyDelete
  16. What a dilemma! The meds would have to be changed somehow.
    mauback55 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I would inform the intended victim that the plan would be to administer a drug that mimics death and pronounce death. An undercover agent would assist with removing the body from the room and an antidote would quickly be administered in the elevator. I would pray for God's protection over the situation.
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
    Maryann

    ReplyDelete
  18. I would seek first God's counsel, then those who I trust.
    psalm103and138atgmaildotcom

    ReplyDelete
  19. I think I would have to pray and leave it in God's hands to find the solution.

    ReplyDelete
  20. That's an impossible situation. I would hope that I would not do it - but, wow!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And doesn't that make for a great story, Amy. I wish I'd thought of the idea. lol

      Delete
  21. Can't come up with an answer here. My first thought is I couldn't do that, it's not right, not fair - well, or course it's not, but it's my husband. One of those decisions you pray you never have to make, but I am sure it makes for great reading. Richard Mabry was one of the first authors I read on my nook back when nooks were pretty new. Enjoyed them. Thanks for the giveaway. sallycootie(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Love your answer, Grandma Cootie! And it's not a decision you ever want to be forced to make!

      Delete
  22. I would definitely contact the authorities and get help faking the death.
    paulams49ATsbcglobalDOTnet

    ReplyDelete
  23. No one really knows how they will react. One thing I do know is I will turn to God and His word. I can't possibly murder someone. Though they might make it seem so, I'm not responsible for the actions that other people will take against a loved one. The loss is upon me. It will be hard, so painful. But is that worth taking a life? It's a form of persecution people inflict on one another. God is faithful.

    ReplyDelete
  24. not sure
    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know! It would be an unbearably hard decision to make!

      Delete
  25. Enjoying the comments (and thinking that this was a good idea for a novel).

    ReplyDelete
  26. Oh my. Pray, pray, pray.
    I can't wait to read the book to find out how he handled the siruation.
    lhanberry1 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Wow, what a difficult situation that would be! I am grateful not to be facing that decision.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I'd probably try to fake out the kidnappers to save my husband. Would love to win a copy of this book. My e-mail address is boxtopscrazy@gmail.com.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I would inform the authorities and arrange to fake his death.
    dianah7272@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. maybe give them something that mimics the signs of death, but not actually kill him. 1955judymaharrey@g.....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good idea. You'll have to see how Richard handled it1

      Delete
  31. The question is challenging. It could be difficult to make a decision like the one you've described.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I'm not married but, neither of my ex-husbands probably would have been worth too much thought in that choice (JK). I'd probably call the police and try to set up something that would apprear to look like I'd killed him but not actually do it.
    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  33. And Random dot Org picked sarahmom335@yahoo.com as the winner of Critical Decision!

    ReplyDelete