THE BABY WHO SAVED DR. CYNICAL
Mills & Boon
Medical Romance
ISBN-10: 0263891550
Damn. He
hated these cases.
The little dark-haired girl wasn’t quite four
yet. She had big brown eyes that looked
up to him to make her feel better.
He flipped through her chart, noting all the tests
she’d gone through. The kid had been
poked by more needles than a porcupine had.
She couldn’t understand..
Stay objective. Sympathy doesn’t
fix anyone.
First the baby boy, Isaac, and now this little
girl was really getting to him. He was
going soft. It didn’t help that this was
the anniversary of his brother’s death—which should be the perfect reminder to
keep his emotions out of the equation.
He needed a stress-reliever.
One good night in Stephanie’s bed would fix him
right up. Her, too.
Medicine wasn’t the only think he took pride
in.
WANT TO READ MORE?
WHAT’S THE BOOK ABOUT?
To the outside world, Dr. Jason Drake is a brilliant diagnostician, but completely lacking in emotion and bedside manner. He is the genius everyone turns to when they have been unable to find the answer to a child’s medical problem, and his methods are unorthodox, his manner brash. Yet his boss, Dr. Stephanie Montclair, understands his burning passion for medicine – and over the last months has also been the recipient of his incredible passion in bed! But what was meant to be a no-strings fling has just turned complicated…
This book explores the foster care system and Phelan-McDermid Syndrome also known as 22q13 Deletion Syndrome
WHO’S THE AUTHOR?
I’m a Southern gal, born and raised. Y’all and Bless Your Heart are part
of my everyday vocabulary. In the Southern tradition, I married young to a
great man (thirty years so far), and have a brilliant daughter who graced me
with a fantastic son-in-law.
Like most writers, I’m a voracious reader. I’ve loved reading romance
ever since reading about Trixie Belden’s crush on Jim. I also read science
fiction and fantasy. And I write whatever comes to mind. My debut novel Taking
Flight is near and dear to my heart. It’s set in West Monroe where I lived for
eight years and it’s won awards!
I am currently writing for Harlequin/Mills & Boon and loving
it! My agent will soon be sending a ‘big book’ out into the world to find
a home, too! I belong to the writing organization, Romance Writers of America®,
a fabulous local writing chapter and some very inspiring online chapters.
For all of you who have stories in you that want to
come out–just do it. Sit down and write.
WHAT ARE THE ANSWERS?
ANGI: How often to you get lost in a story?
CONNIE: At least once a day. Although, I’m finding myself going for
shorter reads and leaning toward magazines ( I love magazines) as I’m learning
how to manage deadlines.
ANGI: What’s the first book you remember reading?
CONNIE: Clyde, the Clumsiest Cowboy. As a 1st
grader, I was invited to read it to the kindergarten class to inspire
them. Before my ‘performance’ the
kindergarten teacher thought I’d just memorized the book and kept pointing to
random words getting me to read them to prove that I was really reading.
ANGI: Can you tell us about a real-life hero you’ve met?
CONNIE: At a fundraiser, I met Dr Phelan, the researcher of Phelan-McDermid Syndrome which is featured in my book, The Baby Who Saved Dr Cynical. I got to sign a book to her—To Katie!
ANGI: What’s your favorite fairy tale?
CONNIE: I like the Drew Barrymore version of Cinderalla. My favorite part is when she throws the
prince over her shoulder and carries him away.
Epic!
ANGI: Connie, this is EVER AFTER. Dugray Scott is very good protraying the Prince. I just mentioned to Tim the other night that my all time favorite movies are EVER AFTER & UNDERCOVER BLUES (set in New Orleans).
ANGI: What’s your favorite “love” word?
CONNIE: Us
ANGI: What’s your favorite cartoon character?
CONNIE: Hmm.
Thinking way back, it was Speed Racer.
Go, Speed Racer, Go! Wasn’t his
name Devlin?
ANGI: I loved this show too! You know, I had to look it up. The only name he
has is Speed, and his brother is Rex Racer. Tim and I had to watch the first ever episode (available on hulu).
ANGI: What turns you off like nothing else?
CONNIE: People who dis me when they think I don’t know
what I’m talking about.
CONNIE: What clever question! I wrote The Baby Who Saved DR Cynical to a mix of
Adele and Grey’s Anatomy playlist on Pandora.
ANGI: Where do you read and how often?
CONNIE: I read at breakfast, before I go to bed and while
I’m waiting for my husband. Anytime we go anywhere together, I take a book
because he’s such a dawdler. Reading while waiting keeps me from getting
snippy.
ANGI: What sound or noise do you love?
CONNIE: Wind. I
love to hear wind in the trees. (Also love to feel it on my face. Of all the elements, I’m definitely a wind
girl.)
ANGI: Fairy Tale or Action Adventure?
CONNIE: I have to choose? Let’s go w/ action adventure. In the original fairy
tales, the protagonist is too often a victim of fate or evil godmothers. I
prefer to make my own destiny.
ANGI: What was the first story you remember writing?
CONNIE: Clyde the Clumsiest Cowboy. As a 1st
grader, I got to read it to the kindergarten class to inspire them to
read. Greate honor! Except afterward,
the kindergarten teacher kept pointing at random words for me to read to try to
prove to the 1st grade teacher that I had really memorized it. I hadn’t.
I could read the words. (Hmmm.
Maybe relates to the question about my turns me off.)
ANGI: What’s your favorite movie of all time?
CONNIE: Star Wars: A
New Hope, the first one released, which makes it the fourth one, right?
ANGI: Who’s your favorite villain?
CONNIE: The wicked witch, sister to the one that the house
fell on in Wizard of Oz. So
misunderstood. She was only trying to
rid Oz of that house-dropping scourge, Dorothy.
ANGI: Be honest, when reading...do you put yourself in
the heroine’s role?
CONNIE: I switch back and forth to whoever’s point of view I’m reading at the
moment. That’s one of the reasons I like
more than one point of view. I get to ‘live’ a bigger picture than just in one
person’s head.
ANGI: Is writing or story-telling easier for you?
CONNIE: Writing, although I enjoy story telling more. But I tend to get too caught up when telling
a story and I think I probably bore my audience. With writing, I can edit out all the boring
parts.
ANGI: What’s something you’d like to tell your fans?
CONNIE: Thanks! I
am so honored you used some of your precious time and resources to pick up my
book. Know that I respect you and try to give you my best in each and every
sentence.
ANGI’S GOTTA ASK: I love the forward from you in
DR. CYNICAL. Wanna share a little?
CONNIE’S GOTTA ANSWER: The people in my
stories (they get insulted if I reduce them to characters) come to me fully
formed in the opening scene when I write a story. The best thing for me to do is to sit down,
take dictation and stay out of their way.
Seeing what my subconscious brings up without my conscious leading the
way is the most magical part of being a writer.
ONE MORE THING: I know that Mills & Boon
Medicals aren’t in stores here in the U.S. I wanted to make sure you told
everyone how they can get a copy!
CONNIE SHARES: For a paperback copy, go to Harlequin
and look under the Medical Romance section (release date March 2012) .Pre-order
now for your Kindle or your
Nook for an
April release date.
WHERE’S CONNIE?
Contact Connie through her website or on any social media
where she plays.
UP NEXT: My next release is
The Return of the Rebel Surgeon and is an August release. It’s set in New
Orleans and tackles the tough subject of autism in puberty.
WHAT’S THE GIVE-AWAY?
I’d love to have a drawing. How about I give away 3 books to anyone
anywhere.
Note:
Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed internationally. Odds of winning vary due to the
number of entrants. Winners of drawings are responsible for checking this site
in a timely manner. If prizes are not claimed in a timely manner, the
author may not have a prize available. Get Lost In A Story cannot be
responsible for an author's failure to mail the listed prize. GLIAS does not
automatically pass email addresses to guest authors unless the commenter
publicly posts their email address.
DON’T FORGET to FOLLOW us on Twitter
or LIKE us on Facebook to keep up with all our guest authors and their prizes.
Join us next week for the debut of AN AFFAIR WITH MR.KENNEDY by our own JILLIAN
STONE. ~Angi
WHAT’S THE QUESTION FOR TODAY?
Would you prefer a moderately competent doctor
with a good bedside manner or a brilliant doctor with a gruff bedside manner? Ever
wonder what makes some doctors seem so distant?
I think with all the new medical technology that is out there now I would rather have a brilliant doctor with a gruff bedside manner. Sometimes I think they are distant because it is so easy to become attached to a patient and then they grieve for that person if the time comes when there is nothing else to be done for them.It's a survival technique.
ReplyDeleteI would prefer a brilliant doctor with a gruff bedside manner because at least if I had a hard to diagnose problem he would more likely be able to figure out what it was and take care of it.
ReplyDeleteAnd I will be looking forward to reading Dr. Cynical's book.
Hi Tina and Ellen,
ReplyDeleteI would prefer gruff, too, especially if he looked like Dr Drake on my cover! Thanks for stopping by!
I want the gruff doctor...because I want to be healthy!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, girlygirlhoosier52. But my mom is totally unresponsive to a dr who doesn't chat w/ her and make her feel comfortable. Different folks, huh?
DeleteTerrific interview, Connie and Angi, I love books that pull at heartstrings, and I love medical romances. This sounds like one just up my alley. Speed Racer, huh? Never saw it :)))) Best wishes on your sales, Connie.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Donnell, for the comment. This book surprised me in so many ways, including the depth of emotion it pulled from me.
DeleteI prefer my cute doctor with the long eyelashes. Although my brilliant doctor smells really good!
ReplyDeleteI've always found brilliance to be incredibly attractibe, too, Abigail.
DeleteBeing an RN for 26 years, I often wondered why so many docs were distant. My theory was that so many of these guys had their eyes on being a doctor (or their families did and forced them) from an early age and the focus of their lives was medicine. Socially many were underdeveloped, big time.
ReplyDeleteIf we're talking surgeons - I would much rather have a brilliant surgeon on my case than Dr. SMiley. However, my primary care doctor must have decent bedside manner, plus they can consult with other doctors about things they are puzzled by.
Hey - your blurb lured me right in, Connie! I look forward to learning more about 22q13 Deletion Syndrome. And for the record - Drew Barymore's version of Cinderella was my and my daughter's favorite, too!
Hi Lynne,
DeleteI interviewed a surgeon's wife who gave me insight to her husband and how he had to keep his tenderheartedness out of the hospital to spiritually survive. It still took a major toll on him when he lost patients.
I'm guessing, from knowing a lot of focused engineers, that their drive may be part of it. But a lot of the engineers I know just can't express the emotions they feel--maybe even borderline Auspergers for some of them.
Hope you enjoy the story!
GOOD MORNING CONNIE ! And all of our commenters !
ReplyDeleteI actually have a female GP. My husband was embarassed at first, but after 14 years, we're pretty comfortable. And that's a good thing since our daughter plans on being BOTH choices, Connie. She's good-looking, nice bedside manner and plans on being a brilliant Oncologist. >>grin<<
~Angi
Any daughter of yours, Angi, can handle it all, I'm sure!
DeleteLynne is right about some of them being socially underdeveloped. I am also an RN and RNP, so I've seen doctors with all types of personalities. MY theory is that doctors are distanced because to be emotionally involved with every patient is simply too draining. You end up with nothing left.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most brilliant pediatric heart surgeon IN THE WORLD killed himself on Christmas Eve about 3 years ago. Children traveled from all over the world JUST for him. He was known for his love and involvement. But when the children died regardless of what he could do for them, it was a personal loss for him as well as for the family. It drained him until I don't think he had anything left. He left behind a family of his own.
So I think doctors (and nurses and other health care professionals) can be distant as a self-preservation mechanism.
I love the medical romances. Reading one right now by Wendy Marcus. I'll be grabbing yours!
Great interview. Sorry for the long response. I can get chatty!
Love the chattiness and love Wendy Marcus, too. Her latest is on my TBR stack.
DeleteWhen I worked in hospitals as an engineer, I saw the same thing w/ doctors, Cynthia. I was definitely 'unnoticed' as I worked on equipment and saw a lot of the heartache that went on in private.
Thanks for the comment!
Great interview! This sounds like a wonderful story. I love reading books about babies and kids. Will have to check out your books.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Quilt Lady! I guess I'm partial to babies and kids in my stories, too. My first book, Taking Flight, has children in it, too. And my medical romance that comes out in August, Return of the Rebel Surgeon, features a kid, too. Not planned--just the stories that came to me.
DeleteI'll take the brilliant doctor with the gruff manner every time. I'm a big girl, I don't need people to be nice to me, I can reassure myself.
ReplyDeleteDoctors seem distant because people tend to put them up on a pedestal and also because they have to maintain a professional distance. One of my neighbours is a doctor and because of sheer convenience, she's now my doctor and my family's doctor too. We get along really well but I'm always careful not to overstep the mark too much because the professional relationship would become difficult otherwise. Keeping a little distance is not only wiser, but possible also. It means not taking someone for granted, basically.
Connie, it's been so nice to read your interview. I wish you great success with the book and will try to get a copy. Medical romances don't ome out in my country of residence, but I never let that stop me from getting my hands on a good book!
Hi Maria,
DeleteThanks for dropping in-and I know your neighbor, the doctor, appreciates your understanding and respect! The good news about Harlequin/Mills and Boon medical romances is that you can get them internationally. Try the amazon you usually use. You can get a copy there, or download to your Kindle!
I'd prefer the the Doctor with the good bedside manner. The one with the good bedside manner gets more info from the patient and less stuff gets missed.
ReplyDeleteThat's my mom's choice, too. She doesn't respond well to stoicism. She had a cute Scottish dr in the ER once that she thought was worth getting ill for!
DeleteI would definitely want a brilliant but gruff doctor, but he could be cute too. That would be just dandy. For some reason, if a doctor is too nice I just don't trust him. LOL.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview, Angi and Connie!
ReplyDeleteI'd be happy with brilliant but gruff - as long as the doctor is prepared to take time and really listens!
I'm really looking forward to Stephanie and Jason's story, Connie!
:)
Sharon
Hi Connie!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading Stephanie and Jason's story. It sounds so wonderful!
Congrats on the release!
SORRY FOR THE DELAY IN CHOOSING A WINNER -- Your brain sorts of forgets everything else when you're in deadline mode...all you can think about is "THE END"
ReplyDeleteANYWAY...CONGRATULATIONS to:
Lynne, Gina & Quilt Lady
If you send an email to GetLostInAStory@Gmail.com I'll pass your information along to Connie.
~Angi
My son has the deletion for PM Syndrome as well as aniridia. He has two very rare disorders but is absolutely amazing!! Thanks for writing about something so rare and raising awareness! :)
ReplyDelete