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Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Welcome Doc Richard Mabry and Lethal Remedy

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Richard L. Mabry, MD, is a retired physician and medical school professor who achieved worldwide recognition as a clinician, researcher and teacher before turning his talents to non-medical writing after his retirement.

Richard’s book, The Tender Scar: Life After The Death Of A Spouse, has ministered to multiple thousands of grieving individuals. His meditations and short pieces have appeared in The Upper Room, In Touch, and other periodicals.

He is the author of three published novels of medical suspense. One of them, Medical Error, is a finalist for this year’s Carol Award of the American Christian Fiction Writers. His fourth novel, Lethal Remedy, is scheduled for publication in October.

Richard and his wife live in North Texas, where, when he’s not writing or trying to improve his golf game, he tries to be the world’s best grandfather. His website is http://www.rmabry.com.

LETHAL REMEDY
by Richard (Doc) Mabry
Published by Abingdon Press

ABOUT THE BOOK

This “miracle drug could kill more than bacteria.

Dr. Sara Miles’ patient is on the threshold of death from an overwhelming, highly resistant infection with Staphylococcus luciferus, known to doctors as “the killer.” Only an experimental antibiotic, developed and administered by Sara’s ex-husband, Dr. Jack Ingersoll, can save the girl's life.

Dr. John Ramsey is seeking to put his life together after the death of his wife by joining the medical school faculty. But his decision could prove to be costly, even fatal. Potentially lethal late effects from the “wonder drug” send Sara and her colleague, Dr. Rip Pearson, on a hunt for hidden critical data that will let them reverse the changes before it’s too late. What is the missing puzzle piece? And who is hiding it?

Readers, buy your copy of Lethal Remedy today!

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR FEATURE AUTHOR

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WRITING LIFE

I’ve been a published author long enough now to realize that people are more curious about the writing life than I ever thought possible. I’m asked these questions when I meet with book clubs, when I do signings, at parties, at church, even at family gatherings. So I thought it might be fun to share a few with you, along with my answers.

I want to write a book. How do I go about it? What I want to say is, “Do you realize you’re asking me to distill what took me four years to learn into a few sentences?” But I don’t. Never antagonize a potential reader, the little voice inside me says. Instead, I tell them something like this:

-Learn the craft. Attend a writer’s conference. Study a half dozen of the most basic books. Read the work of others, and learn from what they do (and don’t do).

-Practice the craft. Write, get someone knowledgeable to critique your work, revise, write some more. Lather, rinse, repeat.

-Mainly you get your work in front of editors via an agent. Get an agent. Identify the ones you want to represent you, learn what they want in a query, revise your query letter until it shines like gold and cuts like a diamond, and be prepared to wait…and be rejected.

I’m thinking of self-publication. With e-books, it seems so easy. Like most things that seem easy, it isn’t. Either of these routes begins with hiring a professional editor to polish your work and put it into the proper format. Then you’ll want a professional to do the cover graphics. After that, you’ll need to work very hard to market your book—twice as hard as if it were conventionally published, because, even though authors grouse about how little their publisher does to market their work, it’s still nice not to be alone in the efforts.

Can you make money as a writer? You can if your name is James Patterson (who will gross an estimated $100 million this year) or Stephen King. Otherwise, don’t quit your day job.

But don’t writers get paid for books? A writer gets an advance against royalties for each book under contract. This is usually paid in increments, divided into several payments (varies with the publisher). This isn’t money for free, it’s an advance on royalties, and if your book doesn’t “earn out,” that’s all you’ll get. The author doesn’t have to repay any royalty not earned out, but by the same token they don’t get any more money for it. And all that assumes a contract in the first place.

Once you’re published, you don’t have problems getting a contract for other books. Right? Wrong. Oh, so wrong. And whereas it’s tough for an unpublished writer to get a contract, sometimes it’s even tougher if you’ve had one or more books published and they don’t sell well. You think writers hate the term “platform?” Even more, we hate poor sales numbers. The other factor to keep an established author from getting a contract is that what you write might no longer be in fashion. You might be able to avoid that if you pitch an Amish vampire missionary nurse romance.

Now, imagine you’re at a dinner, seated next to your favorite author. Which author would that be, and what question would you ask him/her?

* * * * *

Thank you, Doc, for sharing with us today.

Guest Question: Imagine you’re at a dinner, seated next to your favorite author. Which author would that be, and what question would you ask him/her?

ENTRY RULES Readers, leave your email address (name at domainname dot com/net) along with your answer to the question for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of any one of Doc's 4 novels (Code Blue, Medical Error, Diagnosis Death or Lethal Remedy.). If you do not answer the question, and your email address isn't provided, you will not be entered.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

9 comments:

Richard Mabry said...

Tiff, thanks for this opportunity to interact with your readers and share with them my answers to the questions I get asked all the time.
I'm anxious to read their response to the question I posed for them.

Bev Bender said...

Thanks, Richard for your take on the writing life.

My favorite author is C.S. Lewis. I would ask Mr. Lewis: "Would you please critique my latest writing effort because I've always admired your writing and wanted to write like you--simple prose that reveals deep truths."

writerbev(at)aol(dot)com

Jo said...

My favorite author is Neta Jackson. I really love the Yada Yada prayer group series and how she brings all different women together.

Blessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

Richard Mabry said...

Thanks, Bev and Jo, for chiming in. Let's hear from others about their favorite author and what question they'd ask.

Giveaway Lady said...

I would have a hard time deciding on my favorite author, but one of my favorites is Laura Frantz. And I would probably ask her about her research on history. I love her books and the historical info that is in them. Please enter me in this giveaway.
Thanks!!

esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com

Patti Shene said...

Great interview. As a former nurse, I would enjoy to read medical fiction.

I like many authors of varied genres, but I would like to interview Jerry Jenkins. I would like to ask him how one begins to write biblical fiction.

My email is patgonzales(at)arkvi(dot)com

Thank you!

Pamela J said...

I had such a difficulty picking just one favorite author that I MIGHT sit beside at dinner, there are so many, that I picked a newer most favorite author, whose book I recently read that made me decide I want absolutely ALL her books if given a chance. Her name is Ann H Gabhart. The question I would have to ask her is, of any of her characters in her books, do they resemble anyone she knows, and if so, does that person ever take offense at seeing themselves for who they are in real person? (assuming they recognize themselves depicted in the story)
Pam Williams
cepjwms at wb4me dot com
(I am going to be gone next week and don't want to miss the winner announced, when is the drawing?)

Jackie S. said...

I would love to read Richard's books....loved medical reads and I plan to read all of his when can. Hard to pick a fave, but guess I would say Julie Lessman...to meet, and I would ask her how does she stay so "passionate" about everything! Thanks for the chance to win a book.
jackie.smith[at]dishmail[dot]net

Tiffany Amber Stockton said...

I've been horrible at returning to post the winners selected. But having 2 little ones under the age of 3 takes its toll on my free time...and my brain. :)

Here is the winner for this drawing:

Patti Shene

Congratulations! I'll go now to post the winners of the other drawings up through current. Thanks for your patience.