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Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Guest Blogger Richard Mabry and Lethal Remedy

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DR. RICHARD MABRY is the author of four 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 latest novel is Lethal Remedy. He currently serves as Vice-President of the American Christian Fiction Writers. You can learn more about him at his website: http://rmabry.com. He blogs at http://rmabry.blogspot.com.

LETHAL REMEDY
by Richard Mabry
Published by Abingdon Press

ABOUT THE BOOK

Dr. Sara Miles’ patient is on the threshold of death from an overwhelming, highly resistant infection with Staphylococcus luciferus, simply 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 experimental 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.

Lethal Remedy (Abingdon Press, 2011) is Dr. Mabry’s fourth novel of medical suspense. His next book will be released in early 2013.

Readers, buy your copy of Lethal Remedy today!

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR FEATURE AUTHOR

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Fame And Fortune

There’s a wonderful line in The Muppet Movie. The Muppets have come to the big city looking for fame and fortune, and they encounter Orson Wells, playing a big-time producer. At the end of the scene, he tells his secretary to prepare the “standard rich and famous contract.” I guess that’s the kind of contract an author dreams about, but so far as I can tell, it only exists in the movies.

From the outside, being a writer seems exciting. At my first writer’s conference, I was awestruck by the published writers there. These were people whose names were household words—well, not in my household, but I was just getting started, so I could be excused for not knowing all of them. But surely they were celebrities in their hometowns. Most certainly they had to stop and give autographs in the grocery store or dry cleaners. And undoubtedly they lived in the lap of luxury. After all, they were published authors!

When my first novel was published, I’ll never forget the thrill of opening that box and seeing the cover with “Richard L. Mabry, MD” printed at the top. I listened carefully, but so far as I could tell, there were no cheering crowds outside my window, no marching bands in the street. I opened my Internet browser, but there was no headline about the book. What I did find, however, were a bunch of emails about interviews and guest blog posts that I’d lined up to get the word out. No matter that there were no cheering crowds yet. Surely these would do the trick.

Now, fast-forward about two years. That’s when I opened a carton and removed another book with my name on the cover above the title, Lethal Remedy. This was my fourth published novel, and by this time, reality has set in. I took a minute to thank God for having brought me this far. I showed the book to my wife, Kay, and gave her the personalized copy I wanted her to have. I pulled enough books out of the box to cover the give-aways I’d promised. I made sure I was current with the blog interviews and guest posts I’d set up. And then I got back to writing the proposal I hoped a publisher would accept. I didn’t take the time to listen for cheering crowds and marching bands.

At church, a few people know I’m an author, and we talk a bit about it. I’m sometimes asked to sign a book. I’ve been asked to share a little about the publishing industry with my home fellowship group. But that’s about it for the famous part. And as for rich, well that’s not going to happen, either.

Do I mind that I never got that “standard rich and famous contract?” Not at all. My words have been read by many more people than the population of the town where I grew up. If I’ve succeeded in my mission, when those readers turn the last page of my novel they find they’ve been left with a message—not a hard-sell of Christianity, because that’s just not my style, but rather a message that no matter how far we drift from God, we can always turn back to Him. I’ve been allowed to use the printed page as my pulpit. And that’s rich and famous enough for me.

* * * * *

Thank you, Doc, for sharing with us today.

Guest Question:  How about you? Which matters most to you—that the book you’re reading sold a million copies and garnered rave reviews, or that it speaks to you, even if no one else is talking about it? What do you say?

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 the book featured above. 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 residents only.

4 comments:

Amy C said...

One of my favorite books came from a country gift shop in the middle of nowhere. The author was a local of the area. I've never heard of the author before. Never heard anyone talk about it and I'm pretty sure it didn't sell million copies. But it did speak to my heart and that's all that matters.
Thanks for a great interview!
Amy Campbell
Campbellamyd at gmail dot com

Cheryl said...

A book needs to be relatable. I don't tend to read a lot of bestselling authors. It's not a conscious choice, I just happen to find many authors from small indie publishers in my line of work. I know some reviewers won't touch self-published books, but I am always open to them.

Thanks for a great post.

Wishing you the best,

Cheryl

ccmal(at)charter(dot)net

squiresj said...

What is important to me is that the book minister to me. It seems God puts books in my hands just when I need them. It is easy to pass them on and bless someone else.
jrs362 at hotmail dot com

Richard Mabry said...

Tiff, Thanks for hosting me. Sorry to be so late to the party--tied up with family stuff, which happens, even to authors.

And thanks to all those who commented. Appreciate it.