Sunday, August 8, 2010

Richard L. Mabry's "Code Blue" or "Medical Error"



We're happy to have Richard L. Mabry, M.D. with us today talking about his books, Code Blue and Medical Error. To learn more about Richard and his book, read on!

1) How did these stories come to you?
With Code Blue I decided to follow a young doctor who retreats to her home town to put her life together, drawing on my thirty years of medical practice and my knowledge of towns like the mythical Dainger, Texas.
The inspiration for Medical Error was the experience of a family member with identity theft. I began wondering, “What effect could that have on a doctor and his/her patients?” After that, the story just flowed.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting these book published.
After three unsuccessful novels and forty rejections, I actually quit writing, but a series of circumstances convinced me to try once more. I signed with agent Rachelle Gardner, who pitched my latest book, which became Code Blue, to editor Barbara Scott who was charged with starting the fiction line at Abingdon Press. Through a series of circumstances that can only be termed providential, I wound up with a three-book contract with Abingdon.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
a) I’ve played volleyball with the Franco Harris of the Pittsburgh Steelers and baseball with Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees.
b) I love TV sitcoms, especially the old ones.
c) I’ve sung with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’ve just completed reviewing the galley proofs for my third novel, Diagnosis Death, which will be published by Abingdon Press next spring.
Now I’m working on another novel of medical suspense, Strong Medicine. It deals with a “wonder drug” that has side effects, hidden by one of its developers and now putting patients’ lives in danger.

5) Parting comments?
If you’re a writer, never stop trying to improve your craft. And don’t give up. If the only person who reads your work is you, you’ve still affected one person.

6) Where can fans find you on the Internet?
My website is http://rmabry.com/
My blog is http://rmabry.blogspot.com/


I’m providing a signed copy of Code Blue and another of Medical Error for Dawn to give away. Enjoy!

27 comments:

  1. I would love to win either book. I love medical thrillers- they sound great!
    hanns3@sympatico.ca

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  2. I absolutely love reading books about the medical profession ... please enter me to win either of Dr. Mabry's books.

    janmarien[at]embarqmail[dot]com

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  3. I love medical mysteries and would love Medical Error. Love his writing style and technique.
    Please enter me.
    desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

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  4. Thanks, ladies, for the nice comments. Although flattery won't get you a better chance at winning a book, it does give this old guy a warm, fuzzy feeling. I appreciate it.

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  5. Medical thrillers are my absolute favorites to read! Both of these books sound fascinating!
    Please enter me:
    edwina[dot]cowgill[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  6. Medical Thrillers are great to read. My first author was Frank Slaughter, then Robin Cook. I haven't read anything by Richard L. Mabry, M.D. but I would love to read his work. I also love old TV sitcoms, especially Golden Girls, The Nanny, Happy Days, and I Love Lucy.

    rbooth43(at)yahoo.com

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  7. I love books in the medical genre. Would love to read both of them.

    ~Steph
    soklad@hotmail.com

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  8. Stories about medical practices, research, mysteries are all enjoyable reading to me. Please add my name to the giveaway and I appreciate the opportunity to win either book.

    Being ill for a number of years after surviving a bacterial flesh eating disease (necrotizing fasciitis), I'm quite used to medical mysteries about my condition as various infections continued to plague my body. That infection has affected the rest of my life in many ways. But thank God, due to wonderful medical staff and God, I made it and am alive to tell about it.

    I'd be delighted to be a winner.

    Grace & Love in the Rapha God,
    Barb Shelton
    barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

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  9. I'd love a chance to win Code Blue, I love an exciting suspense story. Thanks!
    worthy2bpraised[at]gmail[dot]com

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  10. I love reading medical mysteries. Please enter me in this giveaway.

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

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  11. Great interview... I would love to read these. I love reading medical mysteries. I watch all the shows on TV about medical mysteries. I can't seem to get enough. I should have become a nurse.
    thank you for the wonderful interview and the giveaway..

    please add me to the giveaway...

    Heidi
    heidijohnjeffATverizonDOTnet

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  12. Please enter me. I have been interested in medicine since my father took me on a tour of a hospital and I watched operations from above in the moperating theatre. That really hooked me having been book that have a medical slant and medical series ever since. CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

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  13. Am definitely interested in medical thrillers. Please enter me in the drawing.

    Thanks and blessings in your future endeavors,

    childofking88@aol.com

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  14. I worked in a hospital for almost 20 years and these are my favourite books.
    A really super giveaway.

    cenya2 at hotmail dot com

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  15. I like medical mysteries.
    wsmarple/at/gmail/dot/com

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  16. I like reading mysteries. You are very accomplished!! Please enter me!
    I am a subscriber!

    alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  17. No one more qualified to write a medical thriller than Richard.

    Please enter me.

    A J Hawke
    ajhawkeauthor at aol dot com

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  18. I love medical mysteries! Please enter me, I'll be a subscriber by the time I leave this page!

    dancealert at aol dot com

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  19. Nakia George(nakiassgeorge@yahoo.comAugust 11, 2010 at 10:40 AM

    I'd love to win this, I love an exciting suspense story

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  20. would love to read this novel...thanks for the chance :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  21. I'd like to read one of these books to try something new. I've never read a medical mystery!!

    diseth22@gmail.com

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  22. Thanks for the opprotunity to win a copy of this book! Sounds like a terrific read :)
    Anne
    homesteading[at]charter[dot]net

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  23. I love books that have story lines within a hospital as well as the doctors who work there. I really admire and respect all the medical personnal that work in all sections of the hospital and all positions. In the late 60's I worked in the emergency room of our local medical center. I saw all types of patients from car wrecks, children who had drank household cleaners, to children who had cancer and sucides. The people working in that emergency room as well as the doctors were just fantastic.
    I would love to win Code Blue. Thanks.

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

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  24. Please enter me! tiffanyniekro at gmail dot com

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  25. I would love to enter to win a copy of Medical Error! I read Mabry's Code Blue and fell in love with his work! I LOVED watching medical dramas on TV like ER and House and many CSI episodes and such, but I have converted from that to reading books like Mabry's! Please consider this my entry!

    Mollydedwards AT yahoo DOT com

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  26. Thanks for spotlighting Richards books and for the interview. I coordinate The Redeemed Readers book club at my church and am very interested in reviewing his writing as a possible selection for our group. We love a good Mystery/thriller.
    Please enter me in the drawing.
    Thanks, Sheryl
    RedeemedReaders@bellsouth.net

    ReplyDelete

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