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.

Striking a pose with psychotherapist, writer, and international lecturer Margie Lawson. She's included my prologue to WALKING ON BROKEN GLASS in her Deep Editing workshop. Margie's the bomb!

The SWATS (short authors and teachers) aka Teeny-Tiny Teachers Club. From L...me, my roomie Jenny Jones, and Gwen Stewart,also repped by Rachelle Gardner

nOOkist is a website which enables you to track your sex life online, and gives you some insight about it with stats, charts and reports. You can also track of your STD tests and receive notifications on when your results are going to expire.

AND NOW ON TO WHAT REALLY MATTERS…

This picture is totally swiped from Jenny B. Jones’ blog (since we were roomies at the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference, I figured she’d be cool with it):

Jenny and I are awaiting breakfast here. I’m actually smiling before my first cuppa for the day [note the cup is still full].

The two of us met Gwen Stewart, and we may design t-shirts next year for our new club: Short Authors Who Also Teach. I’m thinking we could call ourselves the SWAT Team…Short Writers and Teachers. But it’ll need to go before the committee. Because, as I’m learning from politics, everything of any importance that doesn’t require an immediate decision goes before a committee. A proof-positive picture’s forthcoming as soon as I find my camera and download the photo of the three of us.

This is the cover of Jenny’s new book; her first venture into Women’s Fiction. Classic Jones. Get it. Read it. I’m especially proud to promote it because the title proves that “me” is the correct pronoun to follow “between.”

Many of you already know my pre and post Katrina stories. I’ll spare you the details. What’s important here that I want to share is looking back and seeing God’s hand shape what seemed to be globs of clay into a vessel He’s since filled with His goodness and gracious gifts.

Had we not moved to Lake Charles following the hurricane, I would not have met Jessica Ferguson, who–in her inimitable, no-nonsense fashion–told me, essentially, “Serious writers go to conferences. If you’re serious about writing, you need to go to the ACFW Conference.”

From that moment on, everything that could conspire against my being there roared out of some howling abyss and attempted to sabotage my plans. I plugged the abyss with persistence, and met Jessica in Houston. Then, with Marcia Gruver in the back seat, and Jess behind the wheel, we talked our way to Dallas on Wednesday so we could attend the Margie Lawson’s Early Bird Session. Sandra Robbins, Jess’ critique partner and one of our roomies, met us at the hotel.

I spent the next twenty-four hours staring at name tags and faces. I saw people who, for the past two years, had been only names on email, blogs, or websites, appear in the flesh. And, since I was new,  no one really expected me to know anyone and I had some leeway on the staring…well, Chip’s banquet attire notwithstanding, the prayer room-most definitely not, and clearly not in restrooms or elevators.

Sometime between the Early Bird Session and Thursday morning, I experienced a wee panic attack. Truly, I think it coincided with opening my packet for the 19th billion time and staring at the names of the agents and publishers on my schedule. The abyss morphed into a tornado spinning in my gut. At one point, curling into the fetal position under the desk in our hotel room seemed like a pleasant alternative to the weekend. The reality that I’d be meeting REAL agents and REAL editors who’d expect me to be a REAL writer was far too REAL. Oh, and my first critique was with the REAL Mary DeMuth. The first night of the conference!

The frenetic editor who lives in my brain jumped up and down, bounced like she’d been trapped in a pinball machine, and screeched, “OMG! Are you CRAZY? Who do you think you are? You’re going to sit in front of writers and agents? ACK!!! Abandon Conference. Abandon Conference. All insecurities on deck. Abandon conference.”

God placed Mary between me and hopelessness. Friday morning I woke up with God tapping me on my shoulder, reminding me that He was in control…I just needed to get out of His way.

I volunteered, met new friends (JennyBJones and I shared teacher trials and tribulations), finally had a chance to have face-to-face with “old” friends (Cheryl Wyatt, my consummate cheerleader; Gina Conroy, my WI connection), and I learned. I learned what I didn’t even know I needed to learn.

Cathy West blogged about what a difference a year makes. Can I hear an “AMEN!”? Because I wouldn’t let anyone steal my dream of attending that conference, I’ve had dreams come true. I finished my first novel. I signed with Rachelle Gardner of WordServe Literary. I’m ecstatic to have an agent who’s buoying me through this journey to publication. And I’m still learning.

And I’m still doing my prayerful best to stay out of God’s way.