Mystery
Date Published: Nov. 7, 2019
Publisher: Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc.
Set in Southwest Virginia and inspired by actual events and the story of the small town's most revered doctor, who may just be a serial killer. A local police officer with a tarnished reputation, a reporter who manipulated facts, and the doctor's chief intern, who may be a thief, have pieces of the puzzle. Yet no one in authority believes the great doctor could be responsible. All the while, patients are dying.
Interview with Amelia Townsend
How many books have you written and which is your favorite?
Hello, I have written two books so far. The first is called Keepsakes for the Heart. It’s the true story of Sarah Bishop Hart, a woman from Southwest Virginia, who was cast out into the dark mountains at the age of five. Yet, she had a fierce desire to have a family and home. She always said, “Be tough. believe in the good and God and keep the good things in your heart.” The current book is called The Best Doctor in Town. It is inspired by actual events. When a disgraced cop, a shady reporter hellbent on conspiracy theories and a medical resident who may be a thief suspect someone is killing patients at the hospital, no one believes their outlandish conclusion – that the best doctor in town may be the culprit.
My heart will be with the protagonist in Keepsakes --Sarah Hart. I think it’s because I knew her, her grit, her determination and her unwavering optimism. I would like to see her story on film. But I love the best doctor because of the layers of intrigue and seemingly benign information that solves the mystery.
If you’re planning a sequel, can you share a tiny bit about your plans for it?
There will be a sequel. Currently it’s in the research phase. The working title is A Likely Story. The main characters from The Best Doctor in Town are again present with a new addition or two. Once again, reporter Tierney Baynes thinks she’s uncovered a conspiracy, and no one believes her. This time, she is joined in her pursuit of the truth by her grandfather, a retired coal miner.
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?
While each book stands on its own and there may be sequels, each novel is connected by the culture, the people and the places of Southwest Virginia – deep in the coalfields of Appalachia. Therefore, the entire series is called Tall Tales from the Hills.
How did you come up with the title for your book?
Originally, the title was something else. However, during my title validation search, we unearthed the title of an upcoming TV series of that same name. So, I went back to interviews conducted with the people who inspired the story of the novel. People kept referring to main doctor as “…the best doctor in town.”
How long did it take you to write this book?
Originally, the title was something else. However, during my title validation search, we unearthed the title of an upcoming TV series of that same name. So, I went back to interviews conducted with the people who inspired the story of the novel. People kept referring to main doctor as “…the best doctor in town.”
What does the title mean?
The title means trust and faith in a person and in an ideal.
What did you learn when writing the book?
I learned just how easy it is to fool a system fears litigation and people are pre-disposed to believe the best in someone.
What surprised you the most?
I was struck by two things -- the willingness of officials to “pass the buck” and the unquestioned trust people place in leaders.
Have you ever killed off a character your readers loved?
Well, that’s a little tricky to answer because it gives away part of the story of The Best Doctor in Town.
What do you do to get inside your character’s heads?
As a former journalist, to learn what people think, I do my best to interview real people who inspire the stories. For The Best Doctor in Town, I also used interviews I gained through other journalists.
About the Author
Amelia Townsend loves telling almost true stories. She has worked as a newspaper and TV reporter, freelance producer and director, writer, and now PR hack. She is a proud graduate the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Contact Links
Instagram: @ameliatownsendauthor
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