You Wrote A Book About A Duck Decoy?
I wanted to introduce you to one of the new authors
with the independent publisher,
CREATIVIA, My friend and colleague, Ron Richards!
CREATIVIA, My friend and colleague, Ron Richards!
Ron is a charming and hilarious man. His love for his family and the simple joys that life has to offer is just a refreshing blessing in this technologically controlled world of ours. I admire his closeness to nature, his commitment to family, and his respect for the waterfowl he hunts.
Not everyone is in support of hunting, but everyone will love his new book,
HERONK!
HERONK!
I am pleased to have Ron in the "hot seat" and I just know you will be glad he took the time to allow me to interview him!
My
Interview with Ron Richards
Thank you for taking the time
to allow me to interview you.
I am really excited about your new release, HERONK and I look forward to reading it. It sounds like it will be a really fun read!
I am really excited about your new release, HERONK and I look forward to reading it. It sounds like it will be a really fun read!
·
As
I do in all of my interviews, I would like to begin by asking you to describe yourself.
o
You will find me a jolly overweight grey to bald headed
“distinguished looking” (aka OLD) man who has a fishing pole, a shotgun or
rifle, or a steering wheel in his hands most of the time. Married to the same wonderful woman for 47
years after going steady for 6 years, starting at age 16, and still madly in
love. Two great kids and wonderful “kid
in law” who provided us two wonderful grandangels.
·
What
motivated you to become a published author?
What did your journey entail and what advice would you offer to a new
writer looking to publish?
o
In the beginning I had Big Dreams of writing a timeless novel. Then I decided I’d really just like to write
a book and get it published….and then….I realized I would have to self-publish
as no one was interested. I did self-pub
and it was a tiny success. I did end up
in the black.
o
As to Heronk specifically, it all started on a day in a duck blind
when nothing much was flying and I was a bit bored. I was hunting alone and found myself talking
to the decoys floating in the river in front of me. As I realized what I was doing, I got to
thinking……”What if a decoy could talk.”
Especially an old decoy that had been around and floated a few different
rivers for a few different owners. I had
a pen with me and my checkbook…when I got done with writing “notes” that day, I
was out of checks and deposit slips both.
Sadly, in a move or two, I lost my “notes”.
o
New writers have to be prepared for failure. But that isn’t the end. Keep firing and hope you find a company as
good as Creativia to make your dreams come true.
·
Looking
back, is there anything you would do differently if you were able to do
so? If so, what?
o
I wouldn’t change a thing.
·
I
read that you wrote HERONK because you are an avid waterfowl hunter. Does that mean ducks specifically or what
different kinds of birds do you hunt?
o
I hunt about anything that flies and is legal game. But my passion is waterfowl hunting. Ducks and geese are the primary birds that I
hunt.
·
You
have said that you wrote your debut novel because there weren’t many novels
about your passion, waterfowl hunting.
What led you to find such a passion for waterfowl hunting? How did you originally get involved in the
sport?
o
I suppose it was a combination of things that fueled my
passion. The fact that you have to decoy
and call the birds into range. Decoy
“setting” is almost an art. Calling is
one for certain. It is much easier to
scare them away than to call them closer.
Building blinds is a work of love.
And finally, watching a good dog retrieve a bird is such a great
feeling. Especially if it is your dog
and you have spent hours training him to do just that. My Dad and older brother got me started in
hunting and I just evolved into a waterfowl hunter.
·
You
mentioned that you used to read books about waterfowl hunting and that you
really missed reading them. Can you
share with us what books you read and which ones most influenced you? I realize this is a loaded question and can
be answered in a couple of ways, so I am specifically interested in knowing the
following:
1. Which books interested you as
a reader?
2. Which ones encouraged your
love of the sport?
3. What books or authors
inspired you to write your own story?
o
I really think the fact that there are no more Robert Ruark type
stories. Almost everything written today
about waterfowl hunting is a “how to” book.
I wanted to write an “I was here and I did this” book. An entertaining book.
o
Gordon MacQuarrie’s waterfowl hunting books probably inspired me
to write more than anyone else’s. He was
such an amazing author. Anyone would
enjoy his books…his humor is just the best!!!
His pathos and ethos are remarkable.
·
I
read that you said your story was based on your own personal experienced from
growing up along the Platte River . Does your lead character, Gustav speak on
your behalf or does he get entangled in some of the same adventures that you
personally had or do you mean that the environment is the setting in which you
were raised?
o
Yes. (LOL)
·
Can
you tell us a little about your youth?
What is your favorite memory from growing up along the Platte
River? How has the area you lived in
changed since you were a kid?
o
As a kid we were free to roam along the river without having to pay
much attention to whose land we were hunting on. No one really cared as long as you did no
damage and kept the gates closed. Today,
almost the entire Platte River from the Wyoming border to where it enters the
Missouri River is either owned or leased by hunters.
·
You
made a remark that your novel had a little “Kentucky Windage” in it. Can you tell us what that means exactly?
o
To me, Kentucky Windage is that story that might be true and based
on facts, but dimmed by memory. Or, it
might be a little white lie based on truths and facts. Or, it might just be a big fat lie.
·
Where
do you see yourself in five years?
o
Sitting in a duck blind with my son, grandson and granddaughter,
listening to their chatter, while I prepare a three bypass breakfast on the
cookstove in the blind.
Thank you so much for your
time!
It has been a pleasure to speak with you and I wish you great success!
It has been a pleasure to speak with you and I wish you great success!
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