Note from Christa: I first met Richard four years ago when we were both on the verge of publishing our first novels with Abingdon Press. He now serves as Vice-President of the American Christian Fiction Writers. His novel, Lethal Remedy, was nominated for ACFW’s Carol Award. Richard gives generously of his time and talents.  He is an encourager and supporter, and I have appreciated and enjoyed his friendship.

When people discover I’m a published author, they always have questions. “How much money do you make from this?” Not nearly enough. “Is it difficult to get published?” No more difficult than swimming the English Channel with one hand tied behind your back and an anchor on your leg. And the number one question, “Where do you get your ideas?”

I hadn’t given much thought to the origin of my ideas until I’d been asked that question a number of times. And as I considered it, I realized that sometimes these things just seem to materialize in my brain and take on a life of their own.

My first novel, Code Blue, is about a young doctor who flees from her big city practice when her life falls apart, going back to her hometown only to find that some of the people don’t want her there, and at least one wants her dead. The book begins with a black SUV running her vehicle off the road, and I had that scene in my head when I began writing, but frankly, beyond that, I was totally winging it. I’m a seat-of-the-pants writer anyway, and for this one, I just let my imagination take me forward. My characters surprised me at times, and I honestly didn’t know who the villain was going to be until I started writing the last few chapters of the book.

The books that came afterward had varying origins. The focus of Medical Error is medical identity theft—that is, someone stealing an identity and using it to obtain medical treatment. I began pursuing this because one of my family members is almost paranoid about identity theft, having been a victim. The third book, Diagnosis Death, features a doctor accused of the mercy killings of several patients. I started writing that one after a similar charge was leveled at a colleague (who was subsequently exonerated). My most recent novel, Lethal Remedy, centers around a “what-if” scenario: what if one or more of the people involved in researching a new drug decided to falsify data and hide side effects in order to get the drug on the market?

There’s not a lot connecting these books, is there? The common thread is that they sprang from my day-to-day experiences, resulting in ideas I thought were worth pursuing. Do I have other ideas? I have a number of them, preserved on my hard disk and in my memory, and I’ll pursue them one at a time in novels as long as I’m able.

So, back to the question, “Where do you get your ideas?” The answer is simple. They’re the product of life, experience, circumstances, and an active imagination. What more does a writer need?

MORE ABOUT RICHARD:

http://facebook.com/RichardMabry

RICHARD’S  BIO: Dr. Richard Mabry retired from medicine after a distinguished career as a respected clinician, teacher, writer, and researcher. He entered the field of non-medical writing with the publication of his book, The Tender Scar: Life After The Death Of A Spouse, written after the death of his first wife. Richard is the author of the Prescription For Trouble series of medical thrillers. He and his wife Kay make their home in North Texas.

Over a decade ago, my brother-my only sibling-told me he was gay. The news fractured our relationship, but the truth of it is, I was the one with the hammer.

It took years, too many years, for me to realize that placing the word “gay” in front of the word “brother” did not change the substance of the person I’d known and loved all my life. He is my brother, and I don’t define him by his sexual orientation. In fact, he doesn’t define me by mine either.

My brother’s partner of over fifteen years  being attacked  in the French Quarter was my motivation for getting serious about the novel.

I’m sharing this because it’s important to me that my readers know this book is rooted in my own experiences, and my brother fully and enthusiastically supported this novel.

While still in the process of writing, I had the following conversation with a friend:

Friend:  ”What’s the premise of  your new novel?”

Me: “It’s about a sister who finds out that her brother is gay.”

Friend: “And?”

Me:”It’s being published by a Christian publishing house.”

Friend: “Oh!”

I am deeply grateful to Abingdon Press, as a Christian publishing house, for bring this novel to print. Their willingness to stand behind this project has been a gift.

Patricia Woodside, in her review of the novel for Fresh Fiction (where you can read the entire post) wrote:

“With the increasingly visible and vocal presence of homosexuals in American society, with Christians at odds over gay churches, gay marriages and gays, in general, this book might help readers to do what in-your-face protests, media broadcasts and legislative changes cannot, i.e. to consider the totality of God’s love and grace.”

Amen, sister, Amen.

 

Six resources are listed on page 329, all of which would be helpful for struggling families or individuals. One resource that I didn’t mention, clearly a brain cramp on my part,  is Parents, Familes and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. PFLAG is a national non-profit organization with over 200,000 members and supporters, and over 350 affiliates in the United States. What I find so remarkable and encouraging for those, including me, who are apt say, “I’m only one person, what can I do?” is how this organization began.

You can read more here about what happened when one mom, Jeanne Manford marched with her son in a New York Gay Pride parade almost forty years ago. She decided to start a support group when so many gay and lesbian people approached her during the parade begging her to talk to their own parents. Twenty people attended that first meeting held at a local church. Twenty. Multiply that by 10,000 to reach the membership today. One person, one parent, one mother who walked the walk with her son.

A portion of the royalties from the sales of my novel will be donated to the first two resources listed on page 329: Project Lazarus and The Trevor Project. This decision grew out of my wanting to not limit my investment in this novel to my butt strapped to my chair pounding out words and the emotional energy consumed.

Also, I could not be prouder of Abingdon Press for their trust and faith in publishing this novel. And because I believe that it truly was prayed into publication (I know that sounds Christianese…but, seriously, a Christian publisher and fiction about reaching out to the gay community in love…seriously), I want to do what I can to pay it forward.

I chose Project Lazarus because it is located in New Orleans, and from their website:

Project Lazarus was founded out of compassion and service to all people. Project Lazarus provides services to people with AIDS who can no longer live independently, or whose family can no longer take care of them. The primary purpose of Project Lazarus is to provide continuity of care in a homelike environment. The highest goal of Project Lazarus is to enhance the quality of life of those it serves. Project Lazarus does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, gender, economic status, sexual orientation, or handicap.

They are celebrating their 25th year serving the Gulf Coast Region.

Next time I’ll give more information about Project Lazarus, but today I’ll introduce you to The Trevor Project.

I chose The Trevor Project because, and again from their website:

The Trevor Project is determined to end suicide among LGBTQ youth by providing life-saving and life-affirming resources including our nationwide, 24/7 crisis intervention lifeline, digital community and advocacy/educational programs that create a safe, supportive and positive environment for everyone.

As a high school teacher for over 23 years, I have witnessed the heartache of teens struggling with their sexuality, with exclusion and being labeled and mocked in the most offensive ways. I’ve taught straight students who have gay siblings, gay parents, or gay relatives, and they too find themselves in an emotional tug-of-war.

Last October 20 was designated Wear Purple Day in remembrance of the seven gay teens who committed suicide during that month. This YouTube video speaks to that, and I wanted to post here because it is entirely the heart of one student. It’s not slick, not flashy, not even scripted which makes it all the more special.

The Trevor Project established the Trevor Lifeline which provided the first and only nationwide,  24-hour suicide and crisis prevention for LGBTQ teens. I encourage you to browse their site because they offer free resources for parents and educators, workshops, internships, whatever it takes to keep teens alive.

I am grateful, so very grateful that my brother found a way to make it through those years.  I admire him for persevering, for having the strength to go forward when I’m certain there were days he wasn’t sure that’s what he wanted.  I respect him for raising his son, and I treasure him for never giving up on me.

When I talk to teens today, I see his face. Afraid, confused, lonely, harassed. Of course it’s  far too late for me to reach back and comfort that  young man of  all those years ago. But I can make a difference today. I can do my best to reach kids and maybe not prevent their pain, but at least provide a place to lay it down.

The cool thing is that it’s not a revision or an update of an existing translation; it’s a bold new translation designed specifically for Christians who desire to dig deeper into the New Testament. One hundred and fifteen leading biblical scholars from 22 denominations worked on the translation team, and 77 reading specialists did field testing in 12 denominations. It’s written at a comfortable level for over half of all English readers. I think anything that brings a heart for Jesus closer to Him through understanding of His word … Well, that’s something I can really get behind.

This week, you can go to Amazon for the CE Bible New Testament on Kindle for a FREE DOWNLOAD.

But if you would like to have a hard copy of this amazing book, I’ve cooked up a little giveaway with two of my fellow Abingdon authors, Loree Lough and Sandra D. Bricker.

Here are the simple rules:

Post a comment on one (or all!) of our blog posts about the contest telling us your favorite scripture verse and why (in just a few sentences).

At the end of October, we’ll each choose one winner at random. That winner will win an autographed copy of our latest novel AND a copy of Abingdon’s Common English Bible New Testament.

BONUS BONUS BONUS: If that winner has posted a review of one of our novels on Christian Book Distributors’ site, he or she will receive A SECOND COPY of this innovative Bible to give away to a friend. Perhaps as a Christmas gift????

It’s that simple for you to own your very own copy of The CEB New Testament.

So, post your comment and let us read it! What’s your life verse of scripture, and why??