greggbrickman

from pain, other physical causes, emotionally, or spiritually. Nurses treat the patient's response to illness (doctors treat the illness). We learn to sleuth out the problem.

That's why I like reading mysteries and writing them as well. Mysteries explore the full spectrum of the human condition.

You admit to being a "voracious reader," who loves mystery, thriller or suspense. What authors are always first on your list of "must have these novels?"

Gregg: Barbara Parker reigns supreme on my must have list. I eagerly await her next novel.

Elaine Viets has a marvelous sense of humor and timing.

Janet Ivanovich's Stephanie Plum series keeps me laughing.

Lisa Scottoline keeps me involved and entertained.

Pendulum Press published "Illegally Dead" in October, 2004. Tell us about former Special Forces medic Tony Conte turned Amateur Sleuth when mysterious poisoning deaths of medical malpractice lawyers hit Sawgrass Medical. How does Tony, who is a nurse at the medical center, get involved?

Gregg: Tony Conte is in the Emergency Department when paramedics bring the first victim. He notices the almond smell on the victim and makes the connection to cyanide. The prime suspect is a surgeon who Tony likes and respects, and who is Tony's sick wife's doctor. He is motivated to get involved on two levels.

Who does he team up with and what skills help him along the way?

Gregg: Tony is friends with homicide detective Howard Epstein. Howard respects his opinions and advice and often seeks him out unofficially to answer questions that are medically related.

Tony's military background includes covert operations. He has an array of skills to draw on in that area. He doesn't use a gun, but uses his martial arts skills, which he honed in the military.

Tony's military and nursing careers fine-tuned his innate critical thinking abilities.

What research was necessary to write this medical drama and criminal investigation?

Gregg: I researched the various poisons in both medical references and writer's guides.

Though I'm comfortable with hospital settings, I verified the medical facts for accuracy.

It was necessary to research Tony's military background to get the terminology accurate and to place his combat history in the Gulf War.

Lawyers questioned me on three different occasions. I was able to draw on personal experiences to create the deposition scene.

Did you call upon any law enforcement professionals for information regarding standard investigation procedures?

Gregg: Even though the novel is not a police procedural, it was necessary to check basics there as well. I was lucky enough to attend the Citizen's Police Academy, which provided reference materials along with the opportunity to ask questions. Additionally, a helpful local police sergeant spent time answering my questions.

Why did you choose your protagonist to be a man?

Gregg: For two reasons, I wanted a protagonist with sex appeal to draw women readers and macho appeal for the men. Further, I sought to fashion an image of a competent, caring, male nurse. Male nurses seem to get public attention when something goes wrong in their practice. I tried to create a positive, forceful personality.

Who is Fanny Flamingo and how is she able to get her hands on the $50,000 missing from Grabstone Corp? What is a forensic accountant? How does her life take a wrong turn instead?

Gregg: A group of mystery writers created the progressive novella, Naked Came the Flamingo. Fanny Flamingo is the forensic accountant protagonist.

The project was the brainchild of Barbara Parker, who wrote one of the chapters and was the content editor. Elaine Viets wrote chapter one. She introduced the Fanny Flamingo character and gave us our starting point-a sexy accountant, a strange assistant, a mysterious chauffeur, a butler in a tux, and a tank full of piranhas. Murder on the Beach Mystery Book Store in Delray Beach, Florida published the limited-edition novella. I wrote chapter 14.

A forensic accountant is someone who follows the money. In the book, a member of the Grabstone corporation's board of directors dupes Fanny into taking a case. She's drawn into a murder.

What are you currently writing?

Gregg: I'm writing a mystery with the working title No Place for Murder: College. It involves the murder of a nursing student. The protagonist and prime suspect is nursing instructor, Jillian Grey.

I'm also marketing Imperfect Murder. In Imperfect Murder, Sophia Burgess' live-in boyfriend and former fiancé, Police Detective, Ray Stone, is a man with something to hide. The past stings him when the prime suspect in the savage murder of a young family is Alfred Leon Pyle, the same man Ray helped send away many years ago. Believing Pyle is carrying out the threats he made in court, Ray focuses on the murders, but Sophia focuses on Ray. She doubts his integrity. Once a cop, now a resourceful and inquisitive nurse with a plan, Sophia pokes at Ray's past and raises a hornet's nest… and the possibility that she might be stung herself.

Do you belong to any mystery egroups or organizations?

Gregg: I'm active in Mystery Writer's of America, Florida Chapter. I'm also the member of a local critique group. When it comes to e-groups, I'm a lurker.

-- Denise Fleischer, gottawritenetwork.com

Buy your copy of Illegally Dead, an eBook from Pendulum Press or from Gregg's website today!
email: Gregg@GreggEBrickman.com