RICK KARLSRUHER
- Guest Author-
G'day folks,
I'm pleased to introduce a real character.
Welcome, Rick ...
1.
TELL US A LITTLE
ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR WRITING JOURNEY.
The journey for Standoff
started over thirty years ago when I wrote it as a script. Comedy legends Dick
Martin (Laugh-In) and Matty Simmons (Founder of National Lampoon, Producer of
films like Animal House, Vacation and many others) thought it was really funny,
but the studios said it was too far ahead of its time.
With new Cold War coming, I decided to make it into a book.
We need some laughs these days.
2.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY
MOST ABOUT BEING A WRITER?
I love the excitement
of finding and bringing a story to life. I’m not a grinder. I don’t do
formulas. If I don’t love the idea, I don’t write it, but when I do I might
with 2-4 hours of sleep every night for a couple weeks to get it going.
3.
WHAT IS THE HARDEST
THING ABOUT BEING A WRITER?
These days getting books sold is the hardest part. There
are so many writers and so many are giving away their work. Pushing, shoving,
begging Clancy for a little space to introduce myself to you is tough.
4.
WHAT WERE YOU IN A PAST LIFE, BEFORE YOU
BECAME A WRITER?
I’ve done promotions, managed a couple of bands, settled
down to international marketing and management, but I really want to make Standoff a success. I’d love to have
your help.
5.
WHAT IS YOUR
GREATEST WRITING ACHIEVEMENT?
Each of my books
created an achievement for me. My first was difficult to write as it was about
two horrible years of my life that changed the rest of my life. Reliving it as
I wrote was daunting. Even after finishing it, I’m not sure how much it was cathartic.
Turning my current project, Standoff, How the Cold War Really Ended, from
a script to a book was really difficult. I had to add an entire story line to
make it long enough. Knowing that expert had liked it was hugely encouraging
and frightening at the same time. I had to make it good.
6.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING
ON AT THE MOMENT?
I am working on getting
the word out on my new book, Standoff, How the Cold War Really Ended.
I could use everyone’s help who is reading this. As we descend into a new Cold
War, we need to know how the last one really ended. It’s funny, maybe
insightful. We can’t be serious all the time.
7.
WHAT GENRE DO YOU
WRITE?
I write what I feel like writing. My style is
conversational. I want to put you into the story.
8.
DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS
FOR NEW WRITERS?
Write what you love. Don’t chase trends. It rarely works.
9.
WHAT IS YOUR
GREATEST JOY IN WRITING?
Knowing I have created
something that others enjoy. We need more fun in the world.
10.
WHAT’S THE GREATEST
COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED FROM A READER?
The two I think about are when Dick Martin told me he loved
Standoff.
I mean this is the guy who got Nixon to come on his show and got Nixon
to make fun of himself. My other one was hilarious to me. I participate in a
forum from my university and have a rather wild persona there. Upon reading my
first book, someone said, “You know I hate you, but damn you can tell a story.”
I still smile when I think about that.
11.
WHAT WAS THE WORST
COMMENT FROM A READER?
I don’t remember. Nor should anyone else. There will be
people who don’t like you, are jealous of you or wished they could do what you
are doing. They will attack you. There are billions of other people in the
world. Forget about the “haters”.
12.
WRITERS ARE
SOMETIMES INFLUENCED BY THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THEIR OWN LIVES. ARE YOU?
Well, my first book, A Story Almost Told, is entirely
about what happened in my life. Standoff shows that politicians are
silly and that the little guys can win. I was influenced by the Cold War to
come up with a “real” idea of how it ended. Hey, my way makes as much sense as
what we have been told were the reasons…and it’s a lot more fun. J
13.
OTHER THAN WRITING,
WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE?
I love going to movies, music and sports.
14.
DID YOU HAVE YOUR
BOOK / BOOKS PROFESSIONALLY EDITED BEFORE PUBLICATION?
Yes, I did! You must!
The biggest reason is that the writer knows what your manuscript is supposed to
say, but you may not have typed it that way. You need to do this!
15.
WHAT WAS YOUR
FAVOURITE MANUSCRIPT TO WRITE? WHY?
Standoff was much more fun,
because it is a semi-detective story that turns into a farce. Or is it real?
Maybe I’m showing you why vodka has become so expensive. Do you really think Gorbachev
and Reagan woke up one morning and decided to call the Cold War a tie? If not,
maybe Standoff is closer to the “truth” than I think.
16.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE YOUR BOOKS MADE INTO MOVIES? EVER WRITTEN A
SCREENPLAY?
Standoff originally
was a script and I hope your readers buy enough copies to get a studio
involved. Hint! J
I think if Standoff
succeeds it will be natural to make A Story Almost Told will be made
into a movie.
17.
HOW MUCH THOUGHT GOES INTO DESIGNING A BOOK COVER?
I came up with ideas
for both of my covers, but had pros put them together. With a gazillion books
out there, your cover is incredibly important to draw readers. Be different!
18.
ARE YOUR BOOKS SELF-PUBLISHED?
Yes, but I am dialing Standoff
back a bit after the summer.
19.
ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?
First of all, I’d like to
thank my good mate Clancy for helping me promote Standoff. If enough of
you buy enough copies my book, I promise to fly to Australia to buy him a few
pints.
Think James Bond meets
Inspector Clousseau while on your way to meet Dr, Strangelove while wagging the
dog.
By the way, since I’m
here to pimp my book, I guess I can tell you it is among the Top 10 net reviewed
books out of 450,000 titles on the site, the #1 net best reviewed book
published in 2017.
Hey, if I’m not going
brag about myself, who will?
For all the writers out
there, congratulations! Don’t stop!
Thanks Clancy!
Clancy's comment: Welcome, Rick. Good luck with the book. I hope hundreds will buy your book so you can buy me a few pints.
I'm ...
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