Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself.
Q: Where did you get your inspiration for A Heartbeat Away?|
Harry Kraus interview with Susan Sleeman
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September 16, 2012
A. I am a surgeon missionary practicing in East Africa involved in special outreach to Somali people. Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? A. I had my first idea that I wanted to write when I was a chief resident in general surgery at the University of Kentucky. This was a CRAZY time to figure out I wanted to pen a novel. I was super busy, almost no personal time and spending many, many nights in the hospital. Q: Could you give us the highlights of your professional writing career including how you got your first writing break? A. My first writing break came from Crossway Books in 1993 when they asked to see a medical thriller manuscript that I was working on. Q: Would you tell us about your current book release A Heartbeat Away? This novel tells the story of a female surgeon protagonist who undergoes a heart transplant after falling ill. Not only does she get a new heart, she gets memories that were transplanted from her donor. Unfortunately, these memories were dark, haunting and hinted at remembering how her donor was murdered! But not only does my protagonist get new memories, the new heart gives Tori Taylor, MD a new chance at faith and love. So the book is part medical thriller, part romantic suspense, and part contemporary drama.
A: I was researching a crazy but true scientific phenomena known as cellular memory where transplant recipients gain new personality traits, new likes and dislikes, and in some rare cases….new memories! When I read this, I started playing the “What-if” game: What if a heart transplant recipient has memories of how her donor died? What if the memories are dark, memories of murder? What if someone isn’t too excited that the truth may come to light? Q: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story? A: I always want my readers to form an emotional bond with the protagonist and be inspired as the character faces a crisis of faith. For this novel, I want the reader to see that the Christian faith can be embraced by intelligent professional people Q: What is your favorite scene/chapter from the book? A: I had a lot of fun playing with the scenes where Tori Taylor is haunted by troubled memories that began to surface after her transplant. As it turns out, the memories are a mix of her own troubled past (some of her own true memories were repressed) and from her heart donor. Q: What inspires you to write? A. My number one passion is to see Jesus treasured in the hearts of my readers. Q: How has being a published novelist differed from your expectations of the profession? A: I think I thought that I would progress faster. It has been more of a slow building of new readers. Q: What advice or tips do you have for writers who are just getting started? A: Don’t slack off on studying the craft. I didn’t consult the teachers until I was holding a contract for my fifth novel! I would have matured as a writer much faster if I would have read the many great teachers that are available. Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now? A. I’m working on a novel about a researcher that is stricken with a brain tumor. Interestingly, because of the added blood flow demanded by the tumor, the researcher suddenly has new insights that may help solve a medical problem that has plagued modern medicine from the start of time. But treatment of the brain tumor may ruin the chances for completing the project which has the potential to help millions. What to do? Get life-saving treatment and live or avoid treatment and help millions, but die in the process. Q: When you’re not writing what do you like to do? A. I’m a full time general surgeon currently working in East Africa. If I find a minute to spare, I love to read, run, and cook! Q: Where can readers find you on the internet? Q: Anything else you’d like to tell or share with us? A. I’m starting a new blog that should be up soon. I’ve joined forces with Jim Rubart and Dan Walsh to start threemenwalkintoablog.com
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Harry Kraus MD is a board-certified general surgeon currently practicing as a missionary surgeon in East Africa. He is the best-selling author of 14 novels and three non-fiction books. His books are known for their signature of medical realism and he is known to have gotten some of his best ideas with a scalpel in hand!
