Richard Mabry Interview

Q: How did you get your start writing fiction and what genre do you predominantly write in?
A. I was practicing medicine, giving no thought to writing beyond textbooks (ten written or edited, as I recall), when my wife died. I wrote a number of short pieces, mainly as a coping mechanism, and eventually several friends thought they might form the nidus for a book. At a Christian writing conference, I was introduced to writing, and in addition to that I was encouraged to “try my hand at fiction.” My non-fiction book was subsequently published (The Tender Scar, Kregel Publishing), and has remained in print for over a decade. In response to the other challenge (and I took it as such) I decided to “try my hand” at medical fiction. After forty rejections over four years I received my first contract for a novel. Now I’ve had twelve novels published, and Emergency Case is my fifth novella. But I didn’t set out to do that.

Q: What does your writing space look like?
A: I write in a space so small that, as the saying goes, the mice are hunch-backed. But it suits me fine. I use a MacBook Air hooked to a peripheral monitor and keyboard, and everything I need is just a few steps away. I keep the blinds closed to avoid distractions from the outside world.

Q: What part of a writing career do you find most difficult?
A. I suppose it’s social media. As I see the successes of my colleagues in writing—the awards and the novels they have completed—I have to constantly tell myself that it’s not a competition. As one person put it, on social media we see everyone else’s highlight reel, while we live the everyday grind.

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release?
A: Emergency Case begins with a female physician wondering why her relationship with her attorney husband has suddenly seemed to go sour. When her car backs over the body of a man he’s just defended, her doubts multiply as she must decide whether he’s a murderer or the next victim.

Q: What did you enjoy most about writing this book? Least?
A: From the beginning, I had a sparse outline of this book in mind, so it was easier to write than some. However, the characters took some unexpected turns (they do that, don’t they?) and required me to make some mid-course corrections.

Q: What is the main theme or spiritual message of this book?
A: Two changes are evident in this novella. The female lead—a physician—knows she must be forgiving, but it’s difficult for her. The male lead—an attorney—has made some mistakes along the way, but vows to do better. In both cases, they come to see that no matter how bad (or good) we are, God’s love is all that’s needed.

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?
A. Doctor’s Decision is one of those novels that begin from an author asking, “What if…?” In this case, I was idly wondering about the reaction of a physician who comes home to let her dog out, only to find an unexpected package on her front porch. When she opens it, she finds a cell phone—which rings. Hesitantly, she answers it, and finds herself trapped in a nightmare scenario. That’s the beginning of Doctor’s Decision.

Q: If you could have dinner with 2 people, who would they be?
A. I’d probably suggest two of my favorite crime novelists, the late Donald Westlake and Lawrence Block. What would I ask them? I wouldn’t. I’d just get the conversation going and then listen. I’ll bet it would be fascinating.

Q: Do you have a favorite hobby?
A. I have played golf once a week for many years with a dear friend. Of course, we’ve discovered that we play for fun, and we have more fun if we don’t keep score, so the purists are shocked by the way we play. But we enjoy it. Other than that, I spend lots of my time reading crime fiction and watching re-runs of sitcoms.

Q: What is the most rewarding thing you have ever done?
A. Although I’ve taught all over the globe, applied my medical knowledge to healing thousands of people, and been fortunate enough to see my name on the cover of a number of both textbooks and non-medical books, all this doesn’t compare with seeing my children grow into responsible adults. That’s rewarding.