Black Market Trade of Human Body Parts

This week my debut novel, Proof, releases! To celebrate, anyone who leaves a comment on my blog during this weeks posts will be eligible to win a free copy! I'll also be drawing from my followers/subscribers lists as well. So, plenty of places for you to win. Drawing cutoff will be Sunday, June 3rd. Winners announced Tuesday, June 5th. To claim, you must e-mail me with your info so definitely check the June 5th post. Must live in the USA.Welcome...

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Puncture: Medically Accurate or Not?

This week my debut novel, Proof, releases! To celebrate, anyone who leaves a comment on my blog during this weeks posts will be eligible to win a free copy! I'll also be drawing from my followers/subscribers lists as well. So, plenty of places for you to win. Drawing cutoff will be Sunday, June 3rd. Winners announced Tuesday, June 5th. To claim, you must e-mail me with your info so definitely check the June 5th post. Must live in the USA.Back to...

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Contest and Preview

Hello Redwood's FANS!!How are you? I am ecstatic! This week, my dream comes true. My debut novel, Proof, officially releases June 1. To get a preview, you can find free Chapters over at my website.To celebrate, anyone who leaves a comment on my blog during this weeks posts will be eligible to win a free copy! I'll also be drawing from my followers/subscribers lists as well. So, plenty of places for you to win. Drawing cutoff will be Sunday, June...

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Cujo Gave Me Rabies

I remember working in the Pediatric ICU taking care of a boy who was from another country. His symptoms were strange neurological symptoms. The intensivists were concerned when they began to hear reports that he may have been in contact with bat feces in his home country. They began to discuss the possibility of active rabies infection. One thing that struck with me was the mortality rate of nearly 100%. I don't exactly remember what happened to...

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Mangy Mutt Bit Me: Treatment of Dog Bites

Some mangy mutt bit you and you're off to the ED. Dog Bites can be devastating, particularly when it's a child, and if you have a character that has been bitten by a dog-- or any animal-- certain care is required.First, I'm going to talk mainly about dog bites but you could lump other animal bites into this category. Unfortunately, dog bites tend to be more destructive than say cat or other animals.The first consideration is how extensive is the...

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Pacifiers: Detrimental or Beneficial?

I'm so pleased to have Tanya Cunningham back as she discusses another popular medical myth-- or is it? Do pacifiers cause difficulty with breastfeeding.I think it's important on a couple of levels for an author dealing with these issues to be aware of both sides. A seasoned, nursing professional keeping up with research is going to know this information. Our responsibility as nurses is not to sway the patient to our belief (though, of course this...

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Up and Coming

Hey Redwood's Fans--- how has your week been?Mine crazy-- the work of a soon-to-be published author is insane! But joyously insane.What's been going on with you?This week:Monday: Tanya Cunningham, baby nurse extraordinaire, is taking on the medical myth that pacifiers disrupt breast feeding.. or is it a myth?Wednesday: Mangy Mutt Bit Me!! One of the more common injuries I see in the pediatric ER, unfortunately, is dog bite injuries. Here I cover the emergency treatment of dog bites.Here is a recent incident of a local news anchor that was...

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The Death Chill 2/2

Today, we're continuing with Ramona Richard's two part piece on her personal experience with hypothermia. Her details are critical for getting the symptoms right.Welcome back, Romona!I’ve been soggy drunk, and I’ve had serious sugar lows. Those two experiences are the only ones I know that can compare to the sensation of having your body and brain stop talking to each other, then try to shut down completely. I wanted to sleep, but the divemasters...

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The Death Chill 1/2

I'm so pleased to host amazing editor with Abingdon Press, Ramona Richards. Ramona has been a great supporter of this blog and she is sharing a first hand experience of hypothermia. I believe first hand accounts are invaluable when writing scenes where a character might experience these symptoms.Welcome Ramona!I didn’t realize I was in trouble. Fortunately for me, my dive instructor did. I was about thirty feet underwater, still clinging to...

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Micro Premies: Terri Forehand

I'm pleased to host neonatal nursing expert Terri Forehand. She will be doing several posts on the unique problems as it relates to gestational age. This is very important for writing medical accuracy into novels as to what these tiny charges and their parents face.Welcome, Terri!The neonatal intensive care unit is a frightening place for most visitors. Infants from 23 weeks gestation and older can be found attached to as many tubes and wires making...

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Up and Coming

What's up Redwood's Fans! How has your week been?Lots of stuff happening in the writing life. Proof is soon to release (June 1!) and I've gotten word from my publisher that book #2 of the Bloodline Trilogy is Poison and will release February 2013! A nice romantic, suspense tale for your loved ones...For you this week:Monday: Terri Forehand discusses the micro premie-- age 23 weeks and those special details writers can add to make their scene feel authentic.Wednesday and Friday: I'm so excited to have Abingdon Press editor Ramona...

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Dissociative Fugue: Tanya Goodwin

I'm so pleased to have Dr. Goodwin back. She is a lot like me in that the rare and unusual fascinate her. I thoroughly enjoyed this post and I think it makes for a good character disease/developemnt.Welcome back, Tanya!In case you missed my last month’s guest post on necrotizing fasciitis, rare or unusual medical conditions fascinate me. Today’s weird condition is dissociative fugue, the basis of my debut novel, If Memory Serves, in which my protagonist,...

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Author Interview: Candace Calvert 2/2

We're continuing today with my interview with medical thriller writer Candace Calvert. Be sure to pick up her latest and greatest novel, Trauma Plan.Welcome back, Candace!Jordyn: Tell us about your current release. Candace: Trauma Plan is the first book in my (Texas set) Grace Medical series. Here’s the back cover blurb:Sidelined by injuries from a vicious assault, nurse chaplain Riley Hale is determined to return to ER duties. But how can she show...

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Author Interview: Candace Calvert 1/2

I can't tell you how excited I am to be interviewing Candace Calvert today and Wednesday! She's a fellow medical thriller writer, a great mentor and true friend. Her novel, Trauma Plan, just released so be sure to pick up your copy.Welcome, Candace!Jordyn: Tell us a little about your nursing/writing path. Were you always an ER nurse? Have you always written stories? Or, did writing come after nursing?Candace: I was an ER nurse for more than...

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Winner!!

The following fabulous commentors have won a copy of Lacy Williams's book The Homesteader's Sweetheart.Valri: Paperback versionJoanne B: E-book versionCongratulations ladies. Please e-mail me at jredwood1@gmail.com and I'll get you hooked up with Lacy for your prizes.I am so excited for this week at Redwood's Medical Edge! One of my favorite author heroines is stopping by for an interview. Candace Calvert!! I'm a big fan and admirer and am so honored...

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Obstetrical Emergencies: Prolapsed Umbilical Cord

If you're a writer and you are wondering about a grave situation to put a pregnant, delivering woman into-- this might be your solution. A prolapsed cord.Heidi Creston, OB RN extraordinaire returns to discuss this obstetrical emergency. Welcome back, Heidi!The umbilical cord connects the baby from its umbilicus (belly button) to the placenta (afterbirth) inside the uterus (womb). The cord contains blood vessels, which carry blood, oxygen and nutrients,...

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