Cottonmouth

A deadly pandemic has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide. Dr. Alton McGuire, a brilliant, but retired molecular biologist has done everything possible to keep himself and his beloved wife, Marnie, safe. A brilliant educator in her own right, now also retired she has remained out of the public, in an effort to shelter in place. An unfortunate mishap threatens them all, and brings Dr. Lillian Manning into the picture. Dr. Manning, a senior pediatrics resident resides in their guest quarters and must play an integral role in the effort to thwart a danger that rivals the pandemic. Dr. Manning is extremely careful in all of her comings and goings in order to protect her aged friends from any contact with the virus. With no parents of her own she has largely adopted the McGuires to fill that role. Suffering total exhaustion most days from the front-line fight against the virus, she continues to try to be a part of their family life.
In one volume the narrative highlights the ills of an underserved medical community as well as many of the day to day challenges faced by groups of individuals that face unequal treatment. In addition, it outlines the terrible nature of infectious diseases and highlights the loneliness that may be a part of these tragedies. Cottonmouth will leave you with a new appreciation for those that fight on the front lines, and for agony suffered by the family members of those that have lost their lives when uncontrollable diseases strike.

Eric A. Yancy, M.D. has practiced pediatrics in Indianapolis, Indiana for over forty years. Located in an inner-city location he cares for a large number of traditionally underserved children. After completing a residency at Indiana University's James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children in 1979, the first African American physician to complete that residency, he chose to remain in the Indianapolis area. He previously obtained an undergraduate degree from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and graduated from Creighton University School of Medicine in 1976. In 2011 he was honored as the distinguished Creighton alumnus, and received that award. Dr. Yancy is active in his church and community theater. An accomplished baritone, he recorded his initial project "Modern Spiritual" in 2009. He continues to perform occasionally. He credits much of his success to his early cohesive family life, and the strong Christian values instilled by his parents. His father, Robert E. Yancy, Jr. and his mother, Delsie M. Yancy were always encouraging and stressed education. He remains extremely close to his siblings Robert E. Yancy, III, Dr. Saundra Yancy McGuire, and Annette Yancy. He has been married to Pamela E. Campbell Yancy for over forty-five years. He has three children, Shawn Yancy Wiseman, Erikka Yancy and Damion Yancy. He has an active social media presence, continuing to educate on various pediatric topics. Although he has enjoyed writing his entire life, Cottonmouth is his first full-length work of fiction. In his words, "everything happens when it is designed to happen, and I don't mind waiting on The Lord".