CJ Lyons‘ work has been inspired (and made to ring true) by her career as a pediatric ER doctor, and her public speaking benefits from a bit of both of her vocations.  With three well-received medical suspense novels on the shelves, she’s a busy lady.

We’d like to thank her for taking the time to be part of our “5 Minutes Alone” interview series.

AuthorScoop: What was your very first publication credit?

CJ: I’ve been writing pretty much all my life (telling tales even longer, lol!)  My first attempt at publication (ie. Allowing “grown ups” to read my writing) came in third grade when I was the writer, director, producer and one of the voice talents for a weekly radio broadcast over the school PA system.

My first actual writing credit was a few years later when the school paper serialized my story about a blind Civil War orphan and her horse as they traveled the countryside helping people caught in the chaos of the war. All my stories back then had horses in them, even one I won my very first writing award for: The Red-headed Rebel, about a girl and a real-life distant relative of mine during the Revolutionary War, and yes, her horse….

AuthorScoop: Tell us about your latest release.

CJ: URGENT CARE is Book #3 in my Angels of Mercy series.  This series is a cross-genre blend of medical suspense with thriller pacing, romantic elements and is told from the point of view of the women of Pittsburgh’s Angels of Mercy’s ER.  In URGENT CARE, ER charge nurse Nora Halloran must face her greatest fear: the man who attacked and left her for dead two years ago.  Now he’s back and killing his victims, with Nora and the man she loves his next targets.

AuthorScoop: Aside from your own hard work, who else do you feel has contributed to your success?

CJ: Too many people to count!  Reader friends who give me honest feedback, writer friends who give me encouragement and the occasional kick in the butt, even bestsellers who have lent their support and mentorship.  Not to mention my medical colleagues and patients who taught me the true meaning of courage.  In fact, URGENT CARE is dedicated to all the nurses who worked with me during my 17 years of practicing pediatrics.

AuthorScoop: At what time of day or night do you do your best writing?

CJ: There’s no one “prime” time for me—I’m a terribly unregimented writer, I’m afraid.  Rebellion against all those years of my medical practice requiring me to be extremely regimented.  Now I write what I want, when I want, and it’s all fun!

AuthorScoop: Finally, what advice would you give to new or unpublished writers?

CJ: The best advice I have is exactly what I use as my own credo and teach my writing students: No Rules, Just Write!

If you have the vision, passion, and commitment to make your dreams come true (and believe me, it takes all three!) then you don’t need any rules.  Stop looking for the “right” way and put your butt in the chair and get to work.  No Rules, Just Write!

URGENT CARE is available in bookstores now, and through Amazon.com for delivery and Kindle download.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 5:51 pm and is filed under *Jamie's Posts, 5 Minutes Alone, AuthorScoop Exclusives. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.