In keeping with the theme of Nicola’s blog, we’ll dive right in and take a look at:

Myths . One of the great myths is that anyone can write, draw, paint, sculpt, sing, dance, or act. Mechanically, technically, probably yes. Creatively, no.

There was a time when we believed that anyone could do anything in the creative arts, given the appropriate training and inspiration to nurture obvious talent, and to bring latent talent to the surface.

Nope. No more.

Time has taught us that not everyone has the innate talent to express themselves through the written word, visual arts, or performing arts.

So who was it who first set down the basis for the myth that “You can be anything you want to be?”

Probably someone out to make a buck or two off of all the wannabes.

In the case of writing, that sort of thing is still going on through a variety of real and pseudo discover-your-talent ventures, running the gamut from “Write for a Living” classified ads in the backs of dubious (and not-so dubious) magazines; a host of monthly and annual writers publications; writing contests and competitions; the paid services of freelance editors, book doctors, and writing coaches; to an overwhelming number of MFA programs, many of them run by tenured professors and starry-eyed TAs.

And now we’re involved in the great battle between those marching for the time-honored cause of traditional book publication and those who follow the banner of independent publishing. Right now it’s impossible to predict a winner. We’re still getting an avalanche of unreadable books from both combatants.

Munchies . Had a number of things to say about this, but heard the refrigerator calling and now there’s barely enough time to finish up the blog piece before deadline.

Madness .

To start writing a new book in the current publishing environment, you have to be very dedicated, oblivious to what’s happening, just plain mad, or possibly all three.

We like to put ourselves in the “dedicated” category, but since we’re never oblivious, we’ll probably just move on to madness.

As a collaborating (and cohabitating) RN and journalist couple, we’re always searching for articles and information about the field of medicine that will spark our imaginations.

Out of that comes a “what if” scenario where new information, past, present, or future, can be turned into a tense, out-of-the-ordinary medical thriller.

In our current book, Sin & Bone, the jump off point was a series of articles about a shortage of cadavers for medical schools and research. A shortage not because people were no longer willing their bodies to medical science, or that there weren’t enough John Does dying, but a shortage because underground body parts dealers were finding ways to control the supply of body parts and whole cadavers through theft, high-jacking, pay-offs, and any other means available.

Follow-up research revealed the scope of such activity and the money involved had expanded way beyond snatching homeless people off park benches for midnight cut-and-paste kidney operations.

The question for us was who are these people that control the black market trade in human body parts? And, how would this corrupt and often inhumane activity affect an RN working in a hospital since our on-going protagonist, Gina Mazzio (introduced in Bone Dry), is a nurse?

So, for us, location, sometimes treated like another character in a book, is usually predetermined — hospital, clinic, medical office, research lab. Anyplace where nurses work.

Then comes story development — characters, situations, conflict, resolution.

Simple!

Well, maybe not so simple with crime fiction. To be effective, you probably should possess more than a little basic knowledge in one or more specialized fields, or have access to people who have the knowledge. It’s also a big help to be very, very curious and sharp at research. With Bette being an RN, and J.J. a former investigative journalist, we’re pretty will situated in all three areas.

In Sin & Bone, we dropped Gina Mazzio smack dab in the middle of an on-going illicit and dangerous black market body parts operation.

The story opens with Gina, working as an Ob/Gyn telephone advice nurse, about to leave on a Friday evening. It’s the eve of her wedding to fiancé Harry Lucke and their honeymoon. She takes the last call of the day.

“She’s all cut up,” says a deadly serious male voice.

Gina wants to know, no, insists in knowing, who the caller is, and who he’s talking about. Despite being put down by the police, her administrator, and Harry, she digs and digs, eventually connecting the caller to a series of nurse disappearances, a human body parts ring, and, of course, murder.

Oh, yes, about the madness? We’re busy working on the third RN Gina Mazzio book.

Bette and J.J. Lamb’s Bio

[weaver_show_if_mobile’ type=’touch’]
[/weaver_show_if_mobile]Bette Golden Lamb, a feisty ex-Bronxite, writes crime novels and plays with clay. Her sculptures and other artistic creations appear in exhibitions, galleries, and stores. She also hangs out with her 50+ rose bushes, or sneaks out to movies when she should be writing. Being an RN is a huge clue as to why she writes medical thrillers.

J. J. Lamb intended to become an aeronautical engineer/pilot, but was seduced by journalism. An AP career was interrupted by the Army, which gave him a Top Secret clearance; a locked room with table, chair, and typewriter; and the time to write short stories. A paperback PI series followed, then collaboration with wife Bette Golden Lamb.

The Lambs, who live in Northern California, have published three medical thrillers – Bone Dry, Sisters in Silence, and Sin & Bone – and a suspense-adventure-romance novel, Heir Today. They are members of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers.

Visit their website at: www.twoblacksheep.us
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