A Year in the Life of Dr. Fox by Frederick L Malphurs Excerpt, Interview & Giveaway

A Year in the Life of Dr. Fox

Frederick L Malphurs

Genre: Thriller/Action/Adventure

Publisher: PageTurner Press and Media

Date of Publication: November 2017

ISBN: 978-1948304023

ASIN: B077KGMZGD

Number of pages: 338

Word Count: 101,400 words

Cover Artist: PageTurner Press

and Media Illustrations Department

Tagline: A legendary family is forced to fight against the most dangerous Pacific Drug Cartel. Will the de la Vega family succeed or will they die trying?

Book Description:

During the years of Mexican President Calderone, drug cartels fought pitched battles against other cartels, the police, the army, and the good citizens of Mexico. Kidnappings, murder, threats, and intimidation by drug cartels impinged on every facet of Mexican life.

This story of the de la Vega family in Culiacan, the state capital of the Mexican state of Sinaloa, tells of their struggles with the death of their beloved sister and the courageous brothers who become a force exacting revenge on the Pacific cartel.

The family ancestors moved away from Southern California during the 1840's as the influx of white settlers changed the culture and created certain discriminations against Mexican-Americans. The family legend is the de la Vegas sold out and relocated to Culiacan, Mexico where they quickly established prominence socially and financially. In Culiacan, the whispers are frequently heard of their great wealth and of being descendents of the great Zorro. Eduardo de la Vega, known for his dedication to his community and his patients as a noted benefactor and surgeon, and Teodoro de la Vega, a Jesuit priest, beloved by all who know him, vow to protect their city from the cartel. The de la Vegas act with extraordinary stealth, boldly striking at the cartel. Eduardo de la Vega leads a secret life of retribution abetted by his adopted brother, the business wizard, 'Flaco' Salas.

This is a tale of adventure, action love, honor, and strength of family despite constant danger and threat.

Book Trailer 1 https://youtu.be/peBjMCgjK8Q

Book Trailer 2 https://youtu.be/rULlmrCjVhc

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Excerpt:

An Untimely Arrest, January 5

Father Teodoro de la Vega was sitting in an ancient wooden swivel chair, working on revisions to his doctoral thesis Methodism in America, when he heard the soft buzzing of his cell phone. He picked up the phone, swiveling his chair around before he spoke to look out the high tiny window in his cramped office at the far end of the Culiacan Cathedral. “This is Father De La Vega.”

“This is Lieutenant Flores of the federal police. We are trying to notify the family of Diego Sanchez. He has you listed as the family contact.”

Father Teodoro’s eyes stayed fixed on the fronds of the tall palm tree growing in the cathedral’s backyard. “Yes, I am Diego’s brother-in-law. How can I help?”

“I am sorry to inform you that your sister’s husband, Diego Sanchez, was arrested this morning and is currently being held in custody in Culiacan prison.” The lieutenant sounded subdued, deferential to the Catholic priest, sympathetic.

Father Teo was silent for several moments. “Oh my God, this is a shock. My sister was kidnapped three days ago, on January 2. She and Diego have three young children, and now this.” Father Teo sighed deeply and made the sign of the cross.

“I know about the kidnapping. I am so sorry. It seems your family is suddenly confronting great adversity. I can assure you that all the police agencies are working diligently to find your sister.”

Father Teo took several deep breaths before responding. “Would it be possible for me to go see Diego now?”

About the Author:

Fred Malphurs spent over thirty-seven years working for the Department of veterans Affairs, almost all of which was spent in the Veterans Healthcare Administration. He is the retired CEO or Director of the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Healthcare System based in Gainesville, Florida, and is a retired Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Married to Robin, a nurse executive, between them they have six children. Having transferred thirteen times, been on three long term details, and service in the VA Central Office in Washington on three different occasions, Fred has been exposed to the inner workings of health care delivery, the political administration in the executive branch, and has testified before various House and Senate Congressional committees. His career spans from the impact of returning veterans from the VietNam War, Iraq to the current war in Afghanistan. In the course of serving in the VA, Fred received numerous awards during his career, including the two highest: Presidential Rank, at both the meritorious and distinguished levels. Medical Centers under his direction have twice received the VA's highest award for quality, the prestigious Carey Award. As a network director, the networks under Fred's leadership twice received the VA's highest award for quality, the Kizer award, in addition to being recognized many times for having the best practices in a wide variety of administrative and clinical areas. He has published in health care periodicals, given media interviews, and appeared on television in the course of his career.

In retirement, Fred turned to writing, lifelong goal. He has published his memoirs: My Life in the VA: Lessons in Leadership, and three novels: Meanie Mouse versus the Orlando Operators: The Adventure Begins, Mexia: A Novel: The Memoirs of J.C. Mulkey, and Spies and Lies: The Paradox. He is currently working on a play, The Patio Club, and is revising his next novel, A Year in the Life of Doctor Fox. Fred lives in Gainesville, Florida.

Interview

1.      What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?I’ve gone to Mexico three times for research both on Dr. Fox and an earlier novel, Mexia: A Novel, the Autobiography of J. C. Mulkey. I would love to visit Spain and the museums and history associated with its historic literature.

2.      What is the first book that made you cry? I don’t remember, but at an early age I watched and read Westerns a lot, so I’d guess some of the adventures of the Cisco Kid, the works of Bret Harte and others.

3.      Does writing energize or exhaust you? I would venture that it energizes me. It certainly does not exhaust me. Once I start writing, I almost always just have to tell myself to stop, otherwise I’d soon become a not so good husband, father, and be even more neglectful of socialization for myself.

4.      What is your writing Kryptonite?Interruptions, one or two won’t get to me, the continuous chiming of my cell phone will get me into what I call an Olympic moment, i.e., fantasizing about how far I could throw my cell phone.

5.      Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym? No, got nothing to hide and no reason to mislead anyone. You may not like my writing or what I have to say, but that’s really my name on the book.

6.      What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer? Not really, my experience as a writer is really a personal journey and one which I want to write about my ideas and do it my way. I did have a fascinating conversation with Ace Atkins once which I value very much. I value my friendship with David Colburn a noted historian, but we do not discuss writing very much.

8.      Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book? I hope my books stand on their own. I often have thought about doing a second book after one or the other of those books I’ve written and have some notes regarding that, but so far the new concepts win the day.

9.      What authors did you dislike at first but grew into? I have never flipped this switch. There’s just too much to read to revisit or give another try to an author who’s work I didn’t care for. I will say in a genre I didn’t read much in and didn’t think I’d enjoy, I’d say, George R. R. Martin surprised me greatly, but I had never read him before.

10.  What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel? Of my own, I’d have to say they are all underappreciated, but I did think A Year in the Life of Dr. Fox would be of much greater interest due to the ongoing illegal drug smuggling, border fence politics, etc. Secondly, I would say Spies and Lies.

11.  As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal? Off the top of my head, I am going with a flamingo.

12.  How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have? Only my current writing project, tentatively entitled, Misforgotten Lies. I need another year or so to finish it and without some kind of divine intervention, I will.

13.  What did you edit out of this book? Nothing specific, just words, I can go on at some length and do try to keep in mind, Elmore Leonard’s excellent advice on writing.

14.  If you didn’t write, what would you do for work? I am a retired health care executive, but I think as a fantasy and perhaps if career A hadn’t worked out, I would have gone into Hotel management or sports management. I could very readily see myself as a CEO of a huge hotel in NYC or as an agent for professional golfers.

15.  Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find? I did hide a few family secrets and undisclosed, unknown events in the delivery of health care, but I doubt if anyone could find them. Those secrets are deliberately disguised and altered.

16.  What is your favorite childhood book? The Weekly Reader from elementary school days.

http://fredmalphurs.com/

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