Upcoming Interview

Posted on November 5, 2013 by R. Richardsson

In just a few short days, I will find myself with an opportunity that is bigger than I can possibly imagine.

For those of my readers who have yet to read my post regarding my book signing, I invite you to take a few moments to go check it out.

Are we all caught up?

Good! So then you know about the photographer I met while there? Excellent.

I took his advice and contacted the news reporter and with-in a couple hours I had a delighted response and invitation!

Just so we’re all clear here; I will be appearing on a local news station, for an onscreen interview, regarding my vampire hunter trilogy!

This is unheard of for me. When I sent off the email, at best I expected to be politely let down. I figured that a reply would find its way into my inbox, at the end of the week, explaining how they appreciated my candor, but this wasn’t something they weren’t interesting in doing at this time. Imagine my surprise when I was proven wrong a short time later!

There are a million questions running through my mind, but, am I nervous? Years ago, I participated in a trombone trio that went to State, as part of my band class. I had to perform before two thousand of my peers and the judges. I’ve given a few speeches to small crowds of people, mostly family, but also before my peers in Speech class. Of course, and most recently, I spent an evening describing the plot and story of the my first book to several interested readers. In every instance, once I got in front of the mic, everything else fell into place.

The question remains. Am, I, Nervous?

A little, admittedly. But it’s not like I will be speaking before a huge audience. At most, it will be myself, the interviewer and the cameraman. It will be in a comfortable setting that will make it seem like the interviewer and myself are having a friendly discussion, so I’m not to worried about the pressure. Of course, I don’t know what will be in the panoramic that isn’t seen from the viewer’s point of view, but that shouldn’t be too bad.

It feels more like I’m preparing to give exactly what it is; an interview. He will have questions, I will have answers, and before I know it we’ll be shaking hands and parting ways.

Do I have concerns? Of course I do. This is the first time that anyone in my immediate family will appear on TV for a good reason! *laughs* Okay, in all seriousness and joking aside, this is something that has a lot of potential to get my work out there.

Sure, I’ve sold some books. I’ve also donated some to the Little Free Libraries around town! Add in the signing and I have had a fairly good run these last two months. My concern is as to whether or not I am able to be concise, and more importantly, professional about the work I’ve invested so much time in creating. This is, after all, going to be my first author interview!

My plan is to treat it as if the reporter interviewing me is an interested reader. Since I will be speaking to him about the trilogy, I simply need to give my best synopsis, offer the baited hook and hope he takes a bite. If he believes it, the rest should fall into place, right?

Oh, but we shall see, won’t we…?

For now, I try to make sense of the hurricane in my mind, capture my thoughts as they are violent whipped to and fro and start writing some notes. I should prepare my best synopsis, practice reciting it and go from there.

Wish my luck, my friends.

——-

R. Richardsson Interview with Ralph Hipp, WIBW Channel 13, 4:00pm Central Time, November 11, 2013

For those unable to view the program, I will be later capturing the video and uploading it to my YouTube Channel.

She Has A Pretty Face Though (Part XXIX)

Posted on November 3, 2013 by R. Richardsson

Disclaimer

The following is one of many installments for a story designed specifically for my blog. While it does step out of my usual genre, there are some things still not suitable for a younger audience. Violent/Graphic descriptions, strong language and sexual situations may be found through different sections. Each entry will tell a small portion of the story during different times and may not directly follow the one prior to it.

This story follows the direct interactions, as well as the deteriorating thoughts of a young man who is struggling not only with the relationships he has with those around him, but with the relationship he has with himself as well.

Finally, all work is strictly fiction and does not reflect the views of the author. Any resemblance to actual person(s) is only a coincidence.

If this isn’t your cup of tea, then avoid these excerpts and hopefully I’ll see you around my other posts and webseries!

———

“Fucking bitch,” he muttered angrily. His words were muffled and barely recognizable, as if he were speaking through a mouthful of cotton. His hands shook with rage and from somewhere far away, he could hear the cold laughter of the ‘other’ mocking him.

It had only taken him a few minutes to get dressed. He had done so carefully, without once removing is eyes from the enormous mound of flesh on the bed. His heart hammered in his chest, pounded relentlessly in his ears and it was everything he could do to keep from betraying his actions with a careless gasp for air, but he was able to dress without so much as disturbing her.

He was hurt, on the inside as well out.

It seemed like it was so far away; that day when he sat across from her at Dewie’s Drugstore. It had been like a dream come true. Of course, he had known that she was there for a reason other than what he was thinking, but he had been unable to control his imagination. She had been wearing a white, short-sleeved blouse that was obviously a couple of sizes too small. It had clung against her skin, barely containing her bosom and he it was all he could do to keep his eyes from wandering too far down.

She had given him a friendly hug when he arrived, but he had been powerless to return it. His arms remained limply at his side, while other parts of him did not, and he would still feel her skin against his for many nights to come.

And it was that look in her eyes. After she had stopped Tommy from putting him in the hospital that day, she had thrown him a single, flirting glance before they were gone. Her smile had been like the sun, and combined with the effect of the one playful finger at her lips, he had thought there had been a promise of something more.

“Fat fucking Lucy Winters,” he had screamed afterwards. How his chest had ached! As he sped away on his bike, it had barely contained the remnants of his broken heart and he would have been none the better had Tommy just flattened him instead of pulling abruptly before him.

“More like Crazy Fucking Lucy Winters,” he growled.

He couldn’t believe he had been so gullible. Not only was she a complete and utter tease, but she was no better than the shitbag that she was dating. She came at him, trying to be his friend, but in reality…

“Oh get over it already,” the other whispered from his thoughts.

…she was setting him up. It wasn’t enough that they talked about him behind his back. They couldn’t simply be happy continuing to stare and laugh at him every time he walked by. Apparently, even the occasional ass-kicking was no longer any fun! Even worse, it was probably her idea. Only a woman would think of a way to completely destroy her enemy; heart, mind and soul.

“…don’t ignore me Scottie. I’m the only friend you’ve got.”

He stood silently across the room, lost his in his thoughts and staring at the sleeping form before him. His skin crawled as he remembered the feel of her against him. His skin was still damp from the light sweat that coated her, and smelled faintly of sweat and stale Fritos.

He felt like he was going to be sick.

“Some friend,” he countered silently. “Do you really think that there’s any way in hell I would have stayed after what she did to me?”

“Do you think you would have gotten what she did to you from anywhere else,” it answered sarcastically.

“SHUT UP,” he screamed. He raised his right hand, balled it into a fist and punched it through the wall next to him. The effect would have been no less devastating had he swung a hammer at the wall instead. The plaster gave beneath the force of his blow, folding inward and belching a light cloud of dust around his wrist.

NaNoWriMo

Posted on October 31, 2013 by R. Richardsson

National Novel Writing Month, for those of you who are wondering. This isn’t just a witty acronym, it’s a world-wide phenomenon! Every November, hundreds upon thousands of writers gather together under one unified cause; to write a novel in the span of but one month’s time.

Last year, about this time, I began to hear about this ‘NaNoWriMo’ for the first time. I was deeply entrenched in writing ‘The Hunter Reborn’, as well as with promoting The Rise and Fall of John Rizzerio on my social media. I wanted nothing more than to take place in this event, but between finishing my current book and having to deal with full-time hours at what was supposed to be a part-time job, I didn’t have the energy to keep up that kind of commitment.

This year, however, I’m pondering. “Can I find it in myself to write the approximate length of a novel?” “Better yet, can I do it in a month’s time?”

I now have a set schedule, which gives me eight more hours a week to work with this year, but it isn’t my job that would stand in the way this time. Having a set schedule is wonderful, but it was set in such a way that would now allow me to attend family functions, holidays, parties, etc. Not that I’m complaining, mind you! I’m thrilled beyond words that I’ll be able to spend more time with my family! It’s just that this event couldn’t have picked a worse month!

Can I write the approximate length of a novel in one month? Yeees… (Please note, that should sound hesitant.) I wrote TRaFoJR in less than three months, but that book was only a novella. It’s sequel took around eight months, five if you subtract the HUGE rewrite I had to make due to a computer crash, and was only 28k words longer.

My plans for this book are much more grand than those of the previous books. I’m not only tying up several loose ends, but I’m introducing two huge characters, one whom has been built up from the very beginning! The story has grown, along with characters, and I’m anticipating the word count to be a bit more than the first two books put together!

Currently, my work on J.R. Van Helsing, the third and final installment of the ‘Ballad of John Rizzerio’, has been tentative at best. I find myself working on promotions more often, as well as trying to strengthen connections I have made in social media. Last week, as my most loyal readers know, I put on a very eventful book signing. I sold a half a dozen books, but spoke with twice that number of interested, and interesting, folks. As a result of this night, I also made a couple of great connections, one, the result of which is me appearing on television for an interview about my work!

And yet, the question still haunts me. Even on this day, during which the dead will walk and we must wear our masks in order to remain hidden, I wonder if I can do it? Knowing that I will be giving up my days to attend family functions, only to lose sleep in the evenings, leaving me to work while locked in an epic battle with the Sandman.

Can I do it?

I don’t so much as intend to join the group as I want to at least accomplish the purpose of the event. I’m sure I would have a great community standing beside and behind me, valuable tools at my disposal and various other benefits from doing so, but I know that it will stretch me out a little too thin. At least, this year it will. Hopefully, by this time next year, I won’t have to work at my part-time job and will be in a position where I will have more time to focus on something new.

I can only hope.

For now; I know that regardless of what I decide, before this day is over, I will continue to do the one thing I most enjoy. I will remain focused on my passion for spinning a good yarn. I’m currently wrapping up the final touches to my upcoming short story, Trespasser, and I have mapped out the last posts of each of my webseries. When I’m not working on my website stories, I’m continuing to add to my current book, as well as to the book following shortly behind it..

In the very least, I will still be meeting my current goals, and that’s all that I can hope for.

50k words in one month?

Let me think on it for a bit longer. As for tonight? Tonight I must don my own mask and celebrate the festivities of Samhain, and I pray…I pray that the dead do not take notice.