SUSPENSE SISTERS: Interview with Patricia Bradley

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 What is the most valuable piece of advice you’d like to give to unpublished authors?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

This was supposed to be release day for Justice Delivered, my 10th book, but turns out, it was released on April 1! I guess that was an April Fools joke on me. Anyway, I thought this would be a good time to tell you a little about me and my writing.

First of all, with the book I turned in Monday (the first in my National Park Rangers series) I've written over a million words since 2014. Five years. When I stop to think about it, it blows me away. But then, I rarely have time to think about that sort of thing--I'm too busy writing. But I love that I'm living my dream.

I know my writing journey has been God's favor, I just don't know why. Then I figured it out -- it's nothing I've done. It's His gift. But why me? I don't know. I'm so very thankful, though. I did do the hard work of persevering for many years, learning the craft of writing, never giving up. That enabled me to walk through the door He opened.

Enough reflection! Here's the opening to Justice Delivered (Be sure to leave a comment with a way to contact you, and I'll enter you in a drawing for a copy of Justice Delivered) :

Prologue

January, 2010

Jasmine eased out of her cell-like room and down the dimly lit hallway. Two light raps on another bedroom door brought no response, and she turned the knob and slipped inside.

Moonlight filtered into the darkened room through narrow slats on the window. Labored breathing coming from the bed sent her heart spiraling to the floor. It was almost time to go, and Lily was still in bed. She eased closer, noticing that the thin blanket shook.

“It’s me, Jasmine,” she whispered. “You have to get dressed.”

Lily didn’t respond. If she wasn’t ready when Blade came to get them, there would be consequences. Jasmine touched her shoulder, feeling the tremor in the girl’s body. And the heat. Her hot skin made Jasmine wince.

“C-can’t . . .”

She knelt beside the bed and smoothed the girl’s hot brow. She was pretty sure from the way her friend had been coughing that she had pneumonia.

Lily’s eyes fluttered open, and she turned toward the only window in the small room. “It’s dark already?”

“Yeah, but don’t worry—maybe they won’t make you go tonight.” Even as she said the words, Jasmine knew they would. And if Lily didn’t bring in her thousand dollars, Blade would beat her or worse.

“I-I have t-to. C-can’t go in the H-hole again.”

The Hole was why Lily was sick. A week ago she’d had a toothache and begged off hitting the streets. And for two days he’d shut her up in a tiny room in the basement of the house where they lived. With no lights and only the bare floor to sleep on, she’d come out of it disoriented and feverish.

“You’re too sick to get out of bed.” Jasmine swallowed and lifted her chin. “I’ll tell Blade I’ll see your clients tonight too.”

“They won’t let you,” Lily said. She tried to sit up and fell back on the bed. Tears dropped from the corner of her eyes. She tried to take a deep breath and fell into a fit of coughing. When she got her breath, she slipped a bracelet from her arm and pressed it into Jasmine’s hand. “I’m not going to make it, Jaz.”

Jasmine clenched the thin chain in her hands as if holding on tightly would make Lily well. She didn’t know what she’d do if Lily died. “You have to make it.”

“I’m so c-cold.” She squeezed Jasmine’s hand. “Jaz, you . . . have to . . . forgive . . .”

“Lily, don’t ask me to do that. These men don’t deserve forgiveness!” she whispered fiercely. Someone had given Lily a Bible, and after she started reading it, she’d changed.

“None of us deserve forgiveness . . . and it’s for . . . you. If you don’t forgive . . . it will eat you alive.”

She didn’t have to ask if Lily had forgiven Blade or the one responsible for her being sold into prostitution. Peace showed on her face. Jasmine gripped the bracelet tighter. Her anger at Austin King and Blade was all she had to hold on to, and she wasn’t letting it go.

Lily closed her eyes briefly. She tried to breathe deeper and triggered a spasm of coughing. When she got her breath, she turned, and her eyes pierced Jasmine.

“You have to find a way to get out of here. Find those women.”

Last night four women from some shelter had brought coffee and doughnuts to the girls on the street. She’d ignored them, but Lily had talked to one of the ladies. Jasmine shook her head. “I can’t leave you like this. I have to get medicine and bring it to you.”

“No . . .” Lily’s chest barely moved. “Can’t breathe.” Her feverish eyes locked on to Jasmine’s. “Promise.”

Jasmine wanted to promise, but after the “modeling agent” sold her to Blade, she’d tried to get away. Escaped three times. She rubbed the scar inside her forearm. The first time, a cop found her and took her back to Blade. He branded her with his initials and beat her until half her ribs were broken. The next time he locked her in a closet for a week. The last time, he’d beaten her and locked her in her room for three weeks with nothing but moldy bread and very little water. She never tried again.

They both jerked as Blade’s voice thundered from the front of the house, ordering the women to assemble for the ride into town.

“Those women . . .” Lily’s breathing grew shallower. “They . . . will . . . help.”

Jasmine couldn’t think about trying to escape again. “They may not be there. Blade will probably drop us off in a different part of the city,” she said, looking toward the door when he shouted her name. Maybe if she told him how sick Lily was, he’d get help for her.

She turned to tell Lily she’d be right back and her heart stilled.

Lily was dead.

***

You can order Justice Delivered here.

Don't forget to leave a comment, and if you hop over to my blog and read more about Justice Delivered and leave a comment there, I'll enter you in a drawing for the book there, too.