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 What is the most valuable piece of advice you’d like to give to unpublished authors?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.