Authors are listed alphabetically by LAST name beginning with R
*All the information/websites/links were current AT THE TIME OF INITIAL POSTING. As time passes, please be aware that the links provided might no longer be active.
Dina Rae
Name: Dina Rae
Pseudonym (if you use one): Dina Rae
Genre(s) of your work: Sci-Fi, Horror, Mystery, Historical Fiction, and one nonfiction work.
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
The Sequel
The Best Seller
Big Agri
Big Pharma
Big Conspiracy
Bad Juju
Halo of the Nephilim
Halo of the Damned
The Last Degree
Bio:
Dina Rae has written eight novels. She lives with her husband, two daughters, and two dogs outside of Dallas. She is a Christian, avid tennis player, movie buff, teacher, and self-proclaimed expert on several conspiracy theories. She has been interviewed numerous times on blogs, newspapers, and syndicated radio programs. She enjoys reading about religion, UFOs, New World Order, government conspiracies, political intrigue, and other cultures. The Sequel, Volume 2 of The Best Seller series, will soon be released by Solstice Publishing.
@haloofthedamned
Blog: http://www.dinaraeswritestuff.blogspot.com
Trailers:
The Best Seller: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQER8wJmaf8
The Last Degree: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkbg6Yy8UKU
Halo of the Damned: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p89LXZNxOs
FB: https://www.facebook.com/DinaRaeBooks?ref_type=bookmark
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I love anything that has to do with aliens, the occult, secret societies, religion, Voodoo, New World Order, Nephilim, Nazis, and history.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
It’s something that I love to do. It’s like putting together a puzzle, except you are the one who has created the pieces. It relieves stress and provides escape. I also like being on blogs such as yours!
Who are your favorite authors and why?
Dan Brown, Jim Marrs, Brad Thor, Stephen King, Graham Hancock, and Joel Rosenburg are some of the many authors who I read. I appreciate the research in all of their books. It’s what makes them interesting.
What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?
I’ve signed at Half-Price Books before along with Chicago’s Printer Row, but Barnes and Noble are not so welcoming! I think these stores do not have a bright future. Especially now that Amazon is building their own book stores.
What do you hope your readers will take away from your work?
Number one goal is to provide entertainment and escape. I also hope they learned something new.
How much does personal experience play in your written work?
Some, but I rely on research for much of the stories.
How do you find the motivation to complete a book/story?
I love conspiracy theory. I make a fictional story about a popular conspiracy. My motivation is what I’ve learned. I also love the challenge. Finally, there is a real sense of accomplishment to completing a novel.
What makes you NOT finish reading a book?
Great question! Usually when there are too many characters and too many action scenes I start to check out. I am a fan of plot. Great characterization is a bonus, but plot is everything. When the story stops and a bunch of gratuitous action scenes take over, then I quit reading.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
Absolutely not! Never! No way! I don’t really care if it’s devil worship, Hitler, etc. About the only thing that might be considered taboo and worth censoring is child torture/sexual exploitation. However, free speech is free speech. It’s a fine line.
Any pet peeves in writing? In reading others’ work?
My biggest errors are repeating myself and then forgetting the spelling of a character’s name and having to go back and find it – LOL. I also tend to skip over articles and leave off the last letter of many words. Luckily, between me and the editor, many of these kinks get taken care of. My biggest pet peeve in others’ works is the lack of research. Google is only a click away!
Where can people find you and your work?
Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01G2AKGMS/ref=s9u_simh_gw_i1?ie=UTF8&fpl=fresh&pd_rd_i=B01G2AKGMS&pd_rd_r=56MEPCVA3QAZ3D2HVFQ0&pd_rd_w=x5WHO&pd_rd_wg=xtKr0&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=&pf_rd_r=KKC6J4N3BF5G4A9NH3XP&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=1cf9d009-399c-49e1-901a-7b8786e59436&pf_rd_i=desktop
https://dinaraeswritestuff.blogspot.com/
@haloofthedamned
https://www.facebook.com/DinaRaeBooks/
Charli Rahe
Your Name: Charli Rahe
Genre(s) of your work: Fantasy, Romance, and Suspense.
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
Scarlet Sorrow/2023
Jet Black Justice/2023
Indigo Nights/2023
Slated Scars/2023
Bio:
In 6th grade, I was told by my favorite teacher that I’d found my voice. I began journaling every day. By the end of high school I had filled six books with my day to day. I stopped and started several novels that went unfinished. In 2012, after I’d had my children, I was staying home with a toddler and twin infants devouring books nonstop. I discovered romantasy and things finally clicked. It was then that I decided to get a laptop and tell my own stories again. I haven’t stopped since.
While it is my first year in publishing, I’ve been writing for over a decade. In January of 2023, I published the first in my Tried & True Series; Scarlet Sorrow. I’m also a member of the Chicago Writers Association and Chicago-North Romance Chapter.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I fell in love with fantasy due to my sixth-grade teacher who encouraged me to read The Hobbit. I read almost all genres, but it will always be my first love.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
Typically, I’m an introverted person. With promoting books has come panels and speaking opportunities which consistently push me out of my comfort zone. Not to mention sharing a piece of myself every time a reader chooses my novels. It’s an everyday struggle, but all worth it when I get a message or text from a reader who tells me how much they love the world I’ve built.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
There really are so many. GRRM would have to top my favorites, though no one beats Tolkien. KMM and her Fever Series hold a special place in my heart because of the community of readers built around her series as well as the PNR author, Darynda Jones.
Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why?
They’re not going anywhere. I enjoy audiobooks because I’m extremely busy with three children, all their activities, and running the household while pursuing my writing career. While there are long road trips and busy lives, audiobooks will continue to flourish. With that being said, I wish there was a more cost-effective way to produce them for indie authors.
What have you found to be a good marketing tool? A bad one?
Word of mouth has been my most effective marketing tool. I do well in-person, likely because of my lack of filter and earnestness, and my target audience are people like me who also love the vibe at conventions. I can’t really speak to a bad marketing tool, though I didn’t get the hits I hoped for with a Bookbub deal. I would still try it again using a different tactic.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
If books are appropriately categorized and are transparent about their content, I think it’s okay. On page abuse — specifically minors and animals — should not be written in detail, in my opinion.
What is your opinion of Trigger Warnings?
Necessary. I’ve read a book without a trigger warning that really should’ve had one and it has stuck with me. My books have dark elements and I wholeheartedly believe that reading should be an enjoyable experience for everyone, so making sure my books don’t fall into someone’s hands that would be hurt by them is important to me as well as their mental health.
Do you find that you sell better in person (at events) or through social media (like a personal blog, website, or Amazon)?
In person! Virtually feels like cold calling to me at times. When I’m face to face with someone I can gauge their interest. Admittedly, my books are beasts and no one is going to pick them up for a casual read. After speaking to me, they get a better idea of what they’re getting into and usually want to know more!
Where can people find you and your work?
I sell signed copies direct on my website. I’m also on Amazon, enrolled in KU, and the first and fourth books are currently on Ingram Spark. The second and third will be uploaded sometime in July after I switched from expanded distribution.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/officialcharlirahe
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorcharlirahe
IG: https://www.instagram.com/charlirahe_author/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/charlirahe
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23992495.Charli_Rahe
Dave Ramacitti
Your Name: Dave Ramacitti
Pseudonym (if you use one): Dave Lager
Genre(s) of your work: Crime, Mystery, Thriller (Police Procedural)
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
Ro’s Handle (2021)
Hear Evil (2021)
Losses (2021)
They are the first three books of a projected series recounting the adventures of female Deputy Sheriff Ro Delahanty. Books four and five have been drafted and are in the polishing stage:
Secrets Never End (projected for early 2022)
Secrets Never End: Revelations (projected for late 2022)
Bio:
Dave Lager is the pen name of Dave Ramacitti, who is supposedly retired, except Ro won’t leave him alone, demanding that her story be told.
Dave’s career includes newspaper reporter and magazine editor and publisher and free-lance marketing / public relations consultant. Under his own name he has previously published non-fiction books and manuals for the small business market.
He has been married to his best friend for almost 30 years and has three grown stepchildren and seven step-grandchildren. He lives next to the Mississippi River in Rock Island, Illinois.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I’ve wanted to write fiction since junior high school. Over the years I tried my hand at science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary fiction. A dozen or so chapters of a novel might be drafted, but then life would get in the way and the writing set aside.
When I retired, I decided to get serious about my writing. I wanted to focus on a female protagonist, as I’ve always liked strong female leads – Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games, Sarah Connor of Terminator fame, and Ellen Ripley from the Alien films. Ro Delahanty is in that tradition.
Next, I decided to make her a cop so she would have plenty of opportunity for action and danger. However, there are loads of female private eyes, FBI agents, and big city detectives, so I made her into an ordinary street cop (a deputy sheriff) in a semi-rural county in Iowa.
Never fear, though, Ro is very good at getting herself into all kinds of trouble!
In an upcoming book, Ro’s nemesis, a female captain with the sheriff’s department, calls her “a gunslinger,” it is not meant as a compliment.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
To have a novel published is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream, so there is a lot of personal pride involved.
The ideal for a fiction writer is to have their lead character “take over,” almost as if the character is dictating their story and the author is just writing it down for them. Ro has definitely “taken over” (my wife teases me that I’m having an affair with her). The next two novels in the series are drafted and I have notes and plot summaries for at least two or three more in the series, including one where she goes undercover.
Ro wakes me up at night with plot situations. When I am driving somewhere, or walking the dog, or tending to my outdoor plants, there is always a corner of my brain mulling over some aspect of Ro; a scene, a conversation, other characters she interacts with.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
Ernest Hemmingway. Partly because we are from the same hometown, Oak Park, Ill. But mostly because of he took the lean and spare journalistic style – packing as much information in as few words as possible – to a whole new level.
James Patterson because of his emphasis in police procedures.
Clive Cussler because he’s a master of action and adventure.
Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games) and Veronica Roth (The Divergent Series) because they know how to make their female leads both vulnerable and heroic.
Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why?
Somewhere in between. They are definitely an important way for authors to reach their readers, yet I am regularly amazed at the number of people I see still reading physical books.
What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?
They are pretty much irrelevant for self-published, indie authors.
What have you found to be a good marketing tool? A bad one?
I am still a neophyte at the book marketing game. I do book fairs and book signings because I like the physical interaction with readers but have found them to be of mixed success at selling books. I have not tried advertising on Amazon, Facebook, Goodreads or Bookbub yet; those were all waiting until I got my third book out, so are definitely on my to-do list for later this year and next year. The same with starting to build my own email list, which is also on my agenda for next year.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
Never! If for no other reason than bans of any kind don’t work, have never worked, can’t work.
Where can people find you and your work?
I am exclusive with Amazon for the time being: Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and softcover.
https://www.amazon.com/Losses-Book-Three-Ro-Delahanty-ebook/dp/B09DT9SSXX/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=dave+lager&qid=1630250393&sr=8-4
https://davelagerbooks.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Davelagerbooks/
Kristine Raymond
Your Name: Kristine Raymond
Genre(s) of your work: Historical western romance, Erotic drama, Contemporary romance, Cozy mystery
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
Hidden Springs series – historical western romance
2013 – Here to Stay
2013 – Hearts on Fire
2014 – Abby’s Heart
2014 – A Chance on Love
2014 – A Will of Her Own
2015 – Dancing in the Dark
2016 – Worth the Gamble
2017 – Coming Home
2018 – Enduring Traditions
Celebration series – contemporary romance
2015 – By Dawn’s Early Light
2017 – Reservations for Two
2017 – Under the Mistletoe
Standalones
2018 – Seasons of Love – contemporary romance
2018 – Tempted – erotic drama
Non-fiction
2015 – ‘write words’ A Year in the Life of an Indie Author
Finn’s Finds series – cozy mystery
2019 – Finn-agled
Bio:
It wasn’t until later in life that Kristine Raymond figured out what she wanted to be when she grew up, an epiphany that occurred in 2013 when she sat down and began writing her first novel. Over a dozen books in multiple genres later, there are a multitude of ideas floating around in her head thus assuring she’ll never be idle.
When a spare moment does present itself, she fills it by navigating the publishing and promotional side of the business. When not doing that, she spends time with her husband and furbabies (not necessarily in that order) at their home in south-central Kentucky, gardens, reads, or binge-watches Netflix.
To find out more, please visit her website at www.kristineraymond.com and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and BookBub.
Kristine is represented by Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I’m a romantic at heart (when I’m not plotting murder – fictionally speaking, of course), so it wasn’t a stretch for me to begin my career writing about happily-ever-afters. As my storytelling evolved, so did my desire to branch out into other genres. Or, maybe my characters are to blame. They’re the ones who tell me what to write.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
I’m more willing to take chances, both professionally and personally. I chalk this up to beginning a new career after the ripe age of forty-five…lol. I have more confidence, and am no longer afraid to ask if there’s something I want. Case in point – while dining with my hubs at our favorite pizza place, I saw a guy who was the embodiment of the hero in my then-WIP. So what did I do? I walked up and asked him if he’d like to be on the cover of a romance novel. He said yes, and just like that, I had the model for A Will of Her Own.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
There are too many to name. James Herriot will always be a favorite. I absolutely adore his All Creatures series. Dean Koontz was my first introduction into horror, though I don’t consider his stories horrific. Twisted and creepy, yes. I read Kathleen Woodiwiss regency bodice rippers well before I was old enough, and Sandra Brown, Karen Robards, and Linda Howard fulfilled my quest for romantic suspense in early adulthood. Nowadays, I read everything P.J. Tracy releases and I crave Dawn Hosmer’s psychological thrillers.
Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why?
Not so much a wave but the current tide. I don’t think they’re going anywhere, given how convenient it is to listen to a book while driving, working out, or cooking dinner.
What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?
As far as I’m concerned, any bookstore is a good bookstore. I know there are some that discriminate against indie authors, but there are just as many that don’t, and by filling their shelves with mainstream books they counterbalance independent bookstores. Profits and favoritism and corporate shenanigans aside, they fill a need and I hope they’re around for many years to come. And more independent bookstores!!
What have you found to be a good marketing tool? A bad one?
I’m awful at marketing on my own which is why I hired a publicist…lol. Seriously though, there are thousands of marketing tools out there and it’s up to the author to research and find the one(s) that works best for them. A few of my favs besides Creative Edge Publicity are Kindlepreneur, BookBub, and Bookfunnel.
Where can people find you and your work?
Check out my website at www.kristineraymond.com for links to all of my books, more about me, and previous interviews and appearances.
You can also find me on:
Bookbub
D2D Author Page
Anni Reinking
Your Name: Anni Reinking
Genre(s) of your work: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
I have many articles, but my books are:
Bouley, T. & Reinking, A.K. (2021). The Language of Implicit Bias: Microaggressions and Hidden Curriculum in Education. Rowman and Littlefield.
Reinking, A.K. & Bouley, T. (2021). The Economic and Opportunity Gap: How Poverty Impacts the Lives of Students. Rowman and Littlefield.
Reinking, A.K. (2019). Difficult Conversations: A Toolkit for Educators in Handling Real-Life Situations. Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group: Lanham, MD.
Reinking, A.K. (2019). Not just black and white: A white mother’s story of raising a black son in multiracial America. Front Edge Publishing: Ann Arbor, MI.
Reinking, A.K. (2017). Child development: Classrooms, Families, and Communities. Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt Publishing.
I also have one coming out in April, 2023.
Bio:
Anni K. Reinking, Ed.D., is the Founder and CEO of Reinking Education Consulting, LLC. She was a classroom teacher for 8 years in Mombasa, Kenya, on the Southside of Chicago, in Northwest Indiana, and in Central Illinois. She taught early childhood through middle school grades. After completing her Ed.D., she began her career in higher education. Since 2015, she has worked in the field of research and as a professor at various schools throughout Illinois. During her time in higher education, she has been able to connect with organizations and individuals statewide, nationally, and internationally. Through these connections, she has also been able to provide workshops, consultation, and leadership guidance, while also continuing her research. Additionally, she has worked at the state level as an independent contractor focused on competency-based education and embedded technology.
She is an elected official as a proud member of the Peoria District 150 (Illinois) School board, as well as serving on various other local, state, and national committees focused on equity. Finally, she is a bestselling author with her most recent book focused on Implicit Bias in education settings.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I am a lifelong educator and know that there is always room to learn and grow. Therefore, I want to share my knowledge and experiences for other educators to learn from, reflect on, and discuss.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
I have found writing so therapeutic. I know many people may look and say, “wow, you have written so many books.” However, this is my hobby, what brings me peace. It gives me a place for my brain to engage in challenging conversations, discussions, and share knowledge at the same time.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
When looking through the list of books I have read over the last few years, three authors stand out: Malcolm Gladwell, Karen M. McManus, and Nic Stone, all for different reasons.
Gladwell makes you think, question, and reflect on life.
McManus is my type of crime mystery, not too scary and not too simplistic.
Stone is an excellent writer and has been an author my son and I read together. Reading these books with my pre-teen son have facilitated conversations.
Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why?
I love audiobooks. I drive so much and am constantly doing things around the house, that audio books provide me a way to engage with reading that does not take away from being a mom while my children are growing up. Additionally, I find that books I listen to create a clearer picture in my mind with the voices and sound effects. For example, Malcolm Gladwell’s books do not have the same impact read as they do in audio book. Additionally, on a social media blog I follow, many people say they could not make it through the book Goldfinch when they read it. My suggestion, listen to it. It was one of the best books I have read.
What have you found to be a good marketing tool? A bad one?
I have found social media is a good marketing tool as well as word of mouth.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
No, I believe that widening perspectives is part of being human.
What is your opinion of Trigger Warnings?
I provide trigger warnings, because when I have not in the past, especially with the information I share in my books and workshops, I have created uncomfortable situations. Therefore, I am an advocate for trigger warnings, especially when discussing reality and experiences that people may have had in their reality.
Do you find that you sell better in person (at events) or through social media (like a personal blog, website, or Amazon)?
Amazon.
Where can people find you and your work?
www.akreinking.com
Gregory Lee Renz
Your Name: Gregory Lee Renz
Genre(s) of your work: Upmarket fiction
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
BENEATH THE FLAMES/2019
Bio:
I was involved in a dramatic rescue of two little boys from their burning basement. I received a series of awards for this rescue, including induction into the Wisconsin Fire and Police Hall of Fame in 2006. When I was asked to share the dramatic rescue at several awards banquets, I was moved by the emotional responses I received and was struck by the power of storytelling.
I’ve always been an avid reader and thought maybe I could craft a compelling novel if I could learn how to get these stories on the page. Ten years of creative writing courses, workshops, and conferences later, I typed The End to BENEATH THE FLAMES which is the 2019 Readers’ Favorite International Book Award gold-medal winner in fiction. The story was inspired by two adorable little girls, around eight and five years of age, who lived across from an inner-city firehouse I was stationed at for three years. Those two girls stayed in my thoughts over the years, demanding I tell their story. They are two of the main characters in the novel. I hope I did them justice.
After serving the citizens of Milwaukee for twenty-eight years as a firefighter, I retired to Lake Mills, Wisconsin with my wife, Paula. In addition to my role as an author, I am also a professional speaker.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
The best description of upmarket fiction that I’ve seen is that it is commercial fiction that brushes up against literary fiction due to important themes. My story addresses race and social injustice and is character driven with gripping action that drives a fast-paced plot. I’ve been asked why I write fiction rather than memoir since I have so many stories from my twenty-eight-career as a firefighter. From the very first creative writing courses I took, I realized I loved creating stories and characters. The story that had been resonating in my head for years and had demanded to be told was fiction and I had to go with it.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
Once I began to realize the power of the creative mind and storytelling, I knew there was no going back. There was no better high than hearing from instructors, beta readers, and editors that a scene I wrote had them in tears. And now that the published book has been receiving such high accolades (78 five-star reviews out of 81 reviews on Amazon), I can’t wait to get started on my next novel.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
I especially enjoy reading Wisconsin and Midwest authors because their stories resonate with me, and I think it’s important to support local and regional authors. So a few of my favorites are Michael Perry, Nick Petrie, Nickolas Butler, and J Ryan Stradal.
Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why?
I hear from so many people that they just don’t have time to read and ask if BENEATH THE FLAMES is available in audiobook (it is available from most audiobook retailers but not on Amazon’s Audible). So I believe audiobooks are another way for our stories to reach people and not necessarily competition for written books.
How much does personal experience play in your written work?
Most of my novel is drawn from personal experiences or the experiences of other firefighters who have shared their stories with me. But I need to point out that the firehouse sex scene was not drawn from personal experience. My wife would appreciate me pointing this out.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
No. Because who is to decide what should be censored?
Where can people find you and your work?
I have a website where I share information about myself and a YouTube video of a dramatic rescue of two boys from their burning basement bedroom. It’s quite moving. A personalized copy of my novel can be purchased from the website. https://glrenz.com
I encourage everyone to support their local indie bookstores, so please consider purchasing a copy of my novel at Mystery to Me or a Room of One’s Own in Madison, Books and Company in Oconomowoc, Arcadia Books in Spring Green, or Boswell Book Company in Milwaukee. Any bookstore can get a copy for a customer, just ask.
I know there are many who are Amazon Prime members and yes my book is available on Amazon.
Both Barnes and Nobel stores in Madison should also have it on their shelves. If not, ask for it, they carry it.
Website https://glrenz.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/greg.renz.9
Twitter https://twitter.com/glrenz,
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RNNP4HG?pf_rd_p=ab873d20-a0ca-439b-ac45-cd78f07a84d8&pf_rd_r=E2V4EN2FY4A0VP1Y9C7Z
Morning Blend television appearance https://www.tmj4.com/shows/the-morning-blend/how-a-firefighters-life-inspired-his-first-novel
WPR Radio Interview Larry Meiller Show https://www.wpr.org/listen/1483621
Youtube video of dramatic rescue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TibMih2SzDo&t=33s
Madison Moth appearance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfKSePPZGpQ
Publication and marketing of my novel have opened opportunities as a professional speaker. I’ve been asked to be the Sunday morning headliner at the UW Writers’ Institute Conference in March and invited to give a talk at the Untitled Town Writer’s Conference in Green Bay. I’ve been the keynote speaker at a fire department awards ceremony, given talks at retirement communities, Rotary Clubs, Kiwanis clubs, libraries, and local arts groups. I’m also a member of the National Speakers Association. So you never know where your writing may take you.
N E Riggs
Pseudonym (if you use one): N E Riggs
Genre(s) of your work: Fantasy and Science Fiction
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
Tomb of the Moon: Shadows of an Empire 1, 2016
Center of the Universe: Only the Inevitable 1, 2016
Optimizing Evil, A More Efficient Fantasy 1, 2020
Gray Police: Thousand Eye Universe 1, 2020
Each series has many more titles, which I won’t list here for brevity 😊
Bio:
N E Riggs is from Chicago and currently lives in Vincennes, Indiana. N E is a math professor and martial artist who likes to combine fantasy and science fiction elements in new and weird ways.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I find the real world to be disappointing. That’s why I like living in other worlds, hence science fiction and fantasy. Also: I like spaceships and dragons.
I can’t write hard sci-fi, though, because that gets too close to my day job, and if there aren’t equations (and of course there never are), I get annoyed.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
I’ve always thought about stories. When I read books, I would come up with my own version, not because I disliked the way the book unfolded, but because I liked having my own ideas.
Writing is my creative pursuit, and the only right-brained activity I can manage 😊
Who are your favorite authors and why?
I am a huge fan of Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman (only as a team) for the amazing Death Gate Cycle, C. J. Cherryh for the Fortress Series and the Forgotten Sun trilogy, and Robert Jordan for the Wheel of Time, the longest series with the most detailed world.
Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why?
I think they’re somewhere in between. Tons of people like audiobooks, because it means they can do other things at the same time, from driving to chores to exercise. However, plenty of other people still like to read things.
I wish I could listen to audiobooks. I love podcasts, but I struggle with audiobooks because they contain only one voice and because I can’t keep track of details.
I am talking to a narrator, and so I hope to have audiobooks soon. I can’t read my own stuff since I have a lisp.
What have you found to be a good marketing tool? A bad one?
I am still struggling to market effectively. I despise social media, and I am generally awkward online. I’ve been using mailing list promos and exchanges for the past few months, and it seems to be working somewhat.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
I do not believe that any topic should be censored. However, I do not believe that every author should talk about every topic. Not because their story is not important, but they may not be the best one to tell that story.
This especially applies to authors who write the story of a minority to which they do not belong – and I mean this as the main story and protagonist, since side characters and stories are exactly that. There are so many pitfalls there, even for authors with the best intentions. Especially if that author never talks to a person in that minority. Even just talking to one member of that minority doesn’t cut it.
Every person’s lived experience is different. But to write the story of a person from a group that is currently or recently oppressed is arrogant. While I do not believe that should be censured, that author should also rightly be criticized.
I am a member of an actively persecuted minority – and because I am frightened, I will not come out and specify. My story does not match the stories of others in the same group. To think that a person could write one of our stories without talking to any of us? Yes, they can write that story. Should they? I do not think so.
What is your opinion of Trigger Warnings?
No one has ever put up warnings for the things that trigger me, but that’s because true love conquering all is supposed to be a good thing 😊
More seriously, I appreciate that people who have gone through difficult experiences want to avoid the topic entirely. A topic can be approached from many angles, from casual like it means nothing, to taking it slowly and seriously. But even the most sensitive approach doesn’t always work. Sometimes you just don’t want to hear about something.
My big problem is that certain trigger warnings might also be spoilers. I do not want to disclose parts of my plot in advance. General warnings (extreme violence, sex, drugs, etc) should be given, but I don’t want to say anything specific.
Do you find that you sell better in person (at events) or through social media (like a personal blog, website, or Amazon)?
I sell best in person. I hate social media and am generally awkward online.
Where can people find you and your work?
My website is NeRiggs.com which has links to all my books. You can read some of my work for free by joining my mailing list.
Sue Rovens 