Chatting with Rick R. Reed!

[Rick]

Lexi wrote: "Rick wrote: "Hey guys...
has been one of my most controversial books to date. Personally, I love it (and it still makes me laugh, even after repeated re..."

God bless your little heart, Lexi. I wrote it just for people like you.

[Christiane]

Rick wrote: "Speaking of HOMECOMING, how about an excerpt? Let me know what you think of this:
Even though it was only a little past nine, Chase thought there was really nothing l..."

Now that sounds like a beautiful story, Rick.

[Rick]

Sarah wrote: "Hi Rick,

As a writer do often find it difficult to avoid your books being repetitive, particularly when developing characters and plots.

How do you ensure that each one is unique?"

Hi Sarah...I just came across your question. Sorry for the delay.

I think the simple answer to that is I write the books I want to read...and for me, the greatest sin a writer can commit is boring someone. So I always start with my characters and ensure they are REAL PEOPLE to me (with flaws, with questionable, sometimes dumb motivation, with fears, doubts, hopes...) and then they take me--and hopefully, my readers--to new places.

[Rick]

Christiane wrote: "Rick wrote: "Speaking of HOMECOMING, how about an excerpt? Let me know what you think of this:
Even though it was only a little past nine, Chase thought there was re..."

It's one of mine that can still make me cry...

[Christiane]

The first book of Rick's that I read was HIGH RISK, and I've never forgotten it. Very very scary. I couldn't even think about sleeping until I'd finished it.

[Christiane]

Rick wrote: "Hey guys...
has been one of my most controversial books to date. Personally, I love it (and it still makes me laugh, even after repeated readings)...but ..."

I agree, this sounds funny as all get out. I really need to get a copy.

[Rick]

Christiane wrote: "The first book of Rick's that I read was HIGH RISK, and I've never forgotten it. Very very scary. I couldn't even think about sleeping until I'd finished it."

Now that was one that it was very hard making the slutty, promiscuous housewife sympathetic. But I loved her and even I hated putting her in some of situations she ended up in. I think, like I mentioned above, that story was a journey, though, of terror, yes, but of learning and coming to terms with one's own demons.

[Rick]

Anyone up for a DELETED SCENE from Dignity Takes a Holiday? I have a fun little excerpt where Pete and his harridan mother Helen visit an amusement park called DIZZYLAND that didn't make it into the final cut.

Wanna read it?

[Christiane]

Rick wrote: "Anyone up for a DELETED SCENE from Dignity Takes a Holiday? I have a fun little excerpt where Pete and his harridan mother Helen visit an amusement park called DIZZYLAND that didn't make it into th..."

Why not?

[Dee Wy]

Rick wrote: "Hey guys...
has been one of my most controversial books to date. Personally, I love it (and it still makes me laugh, even after repeated readings)...but ..."

Loved the excerpt! No worries, it's a great setup for a guy who desperately needs someone to care about him in his life. I sure hope you gave Pete an HEA or HFN. If not, I might have to remove my "to-buy" tag from this one. :-)

I didn't see it as funny, rather sad, actually.

[Rick]

Dee wrote: "Rick wrote: "Hey guys...
has been one of my most controversial books to date. Personally, I love it (and it still makes me laugh, even after repeated rea..."

Well, I should say you have to read the book to find out. But [SPOILER ALERT] I will share with you that Pete does find his prince charming and they find their HEA...but does Helen come along? You'll have to see how I work it all out in the end...

[Rick]

Okay, here's the deleted scene (part of a whole deleted chapter from Dignity Takes A Holiday. Let me know what you think of:

As Pete and Helen strolled through Kiddy Land, Pete spied a ride he wanted to go on.
“Oh Mother, look! The Scrambler! I used to love to go on that when I was a kid.”
“Right. And you haven't been a kid for many moons. Let's keep moving.”
“Oh come on. We haven't been on any rides yet. What are we going to do here for three days if we don't go on a few rides? It's not the Death Demon roller coaster, for cryin' out loud.”
“There was a very nice boat ride I saw when we came in. Why don't we go on that?”
“We will, Mother. But that's clear on the other side of the park. Come on, this'll be fun.”
“Pete, that ride's designed for little kids. We're...I mean, you're too big.”
“Oh, these rides are sturdy. Come on.” Pete tugged on his mother's hand.
“Oh all right.”
The two got in line. When it was their turn to board, the long–haired young man operating the ride glared at them with glassy eyes. “No adults,” he grumbled.
“What?”
“Come on, Pete.”
“I said, this here ride is just for the kiddies.” He looked Pete up and down and laughed. “You're too big.”
“See Pete, what did I tell you?”
Pete rummaged around in his wallet and brought out a ten dollar bill. “Now are we too big?”
“Pete, this trip is supposed to be free!”
“I'll expense account it.”
The ride operator took Pete's money, stuffed it in his pocket, and turned his head. “I didn't see you.”
Giddily, Pete skipped to the ride, with Helen lagging behind. They looked huge in contrast to the crowd of small children boarding the ride.
“This is ridiculous,” Helen said.
“Oh Mother, where's your sense of fun?”
“Go to hell.”
Mother and son got in the little white car and closed the door, making sure it latched. The operator came around and checked all the doors, to make sure they locked securely. He avoided Pete and Helen's car.
“Hey!” Pete bellowed loudly enough for several people in the park to stop and stare. “Don't you care about our safety?”
“Pete,” Helen whispered furiously, “This is supposed to be on the QT.”
Pete giggled. “Oh that's right.”
The operator came over and yanked hard on their door. “Whaddaya tryin' to do? Lose me my job?”
“My son here is an idiot. Please excuse him.”
The operator strode away and soon, the ride began. The wind rushed through Pete's hair as the ride picked up speed. “See now, Mother, isn't this fun?”
“It's not too bad.”
The ride shifted into high gear and Pete began to laugh as he slid against Helen.
“Jesus Christ,” Helen gasped, “You're crushing me.” Helen pushed against her son, straining.
“Oh Mum, be a sport.”
“I'm gonna be a pancake!” Helen punched Pete's arm.
Suddenly, the ride seemed to shift into low gear and Helen grabbed Pete's arm. The ride began a low moaning, almost like a cow's moo. “What's happening?”
Pete was laughing so hard he had to brush a tear from the corner of his eye. “It's all part of the ride. Don't you get it? This is a gas!”
Their car suddenly dropped. Helen's eyes bulged as the bottom of the car scraped the concrete below them, sending out a shower of sparks. “This isn't right.”
Pete continued to laugh, waving his hands high in the air. “I love it! I love it!”
Black smoke began to pour from the center of the ride and the little kids screamed. “Now do you see?” Helen cried. “There's something wrong. We're all going to die.”
“Oh Mother, it's just special effects.”
“Special effects, my ass. We broke this thing! We're too big.”
Sparks began to fly from the center column. The operator was trying frantically to stop the ride. Pete giggled: these amusement park people were such good actors! Everything was so realistic. “More! More!”
Helen slapped him. “What's wrong with you?”
Pete and Helen shrieked as their car suddenly detached from the rest of the ride and sailed through the air. The metal barricade surrounding the ride stopped them. They sat for a moment in stunned silence. Then, each did a quick inspection and were relieved to see they weren’t injured.
Pete caught his breath and began applauding. “Bravo!”
Helen kicked him. “Stop making an ass of yourself, Pete. We broke the damn thing. Let's get out of here before they try to make us pay.”
Pete walked by the people gathered round the ride. “Go on it! Best ride in the park!”

[Christiane]

Rick wrote: "Okay, here's the deleted scene (part of a whole deleted chapter from Dignity Takes A Holiday. Let me know what you think of:

As Pete and Helen strolled through Kiddy Land, Pete sp..."

I think it was better left out.

[Rick]

Christiane wrote: "Rick wrote: "Okay, here's the deleted scene (part of a whole deleted chapter from Dignity Takes A Holiday. Let me know what you think of:

As Pete and Helen strolled through Kidd..."

Oh? Why? Asking seriously here...

[Rick]

Christiane wrote: "Rick wrote: "Okay, here's the deleted scene (part of a whole deleted chapter from Dignity Takes A Holiday. Let me know what you think of:

As Pete and Helen strolled through Kidd..."

I mean, obviously, I agreed, but my reasons might be different than yours, Christiane.

[Sarah]

Rick wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Hi Rick,

As a writer do often find it difficult to avoid your books being repetitive, particularly when developing characters and plots.

How do you ensure that each one is unique?"..."

Rick,

Thank you. I honestly haven't read anything yet by yourself... I do have dignity takes a holiday on my to read shelf. I tend to shy away from horror books... I'm the biggest scaredy cat in the world. But after reading the excerpts have added some more... really like the sound of homecoming :-D

Not sure if anyone has asked this or not but... if you could turn any of your books into a film which would it be and who would you cast in the leading roles?

[Christiane]

Rick wrote: "Christiane wrote: "Rick wrote: "Okay, here's the deleted scene (part of a whole deleted chapter from Dignity Takes A Holiday. Let me know what you think of:

As Pete and Helen stro..."

IMHO, it makes Pete sound real life bratty. He was risking children's lives, and if I was his mom, I'd have kicked his butt, hard. I would not have gone with him.

BTW, off subject here, but check the Seattle Examiner--I'm famous!

[Damon]

I'll agree with C on this deleted scene, Rick. I don't think the beat provides new information or raises stakes. Pacing and structure is so critical to comedy, ESPECIALLY farce. This ran the risk of being a narrative plateau.

Good cut.

[Lexi]

*raise hand* I liked it.

It's just me but I laughed through half of it but it's just me and the type of sense of humor that I have. I have a brother or two who I have smacked for something similar.

Black smoke began to pour from the center of the ride and the little kids screamed. “Now do you see?” Helen cried. “There's something wrong. We're all going to die.”
“Oh Mother, it's just special effects.”

[Sue]

You are a very prolific author. How many books do you write a year?

[Rick]

Damon wrote: "I'll agree with C on this deleted scene, Rick. I don't think the beat provides new information or raises stakes. Pacing and structure is so critical to comedy,, ESPECIALLY farce. This ran the risk ..."

It's nice to be validated, Damon.

[Rick]

Sarah wrote: "Rick wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Hi Rick,

As a writer do often find it difficult to avoid your books being repetitive, particularly when developing characters and plots.

How do you ensure that each on..."

Well, the only book I've mine that has actually ever been optioned by a real live Hollywood production company was


so I'd say that, with Jake Gyllenhall and Macauley Culkin in the leads...

[Damon]

LOL Thanks. :)

And it's so hard to know with comedy whether it's icing or cake you're slicing.

[Rick]

Lexi wrote: "*raise hand* I liked it.

It's just me but I laughed through half of it but it's just me and the type of sense of humor that I have. I have a brother or two who I have smacked for something sim..."

Big grin...

[Rick]

Sue wrote: "You are a very prolific author. How many books do you write a year?"

I don't really keep track. I suppose, if you're talking full-length novels, one or two per year. But if you factor in ebook novellas and shorter work, the average would probably be closer to a half dozen or so...

[Elizabeth]

Rick wrote: "...are you listening, Elizabeth..."

I'm listening. :D

[Rick]

Lil' Grogan wrote: "Really? Macauley Culkin? I haven't seen anything of his since "Home Alone"..what in his acting do you think fits?"

Have you read IM? I think he'd be perfect as the serial killer. Here's a description of the killer from early in the book:
THE GUY WAS a mess of a different sort. From a distance, he appeared almost a boy, no more than fourteen or fifteen years old. A lithe body, at best only 5'5" or 5'6", topped with a shock of golden hair hanging straight and almost covering his eyes. As Ed drew nearer, the eyes revealed themselves to him in all their pain: red-rimmed, the palest of blue irises floating in a bath of warm wet; salt tears tracked down his face.
An officer murmured something in the boy’s ear and the boy tried to rein in his tears, straightening his shoulders and drawing in great quivering breaths. He met Ed’s eyes, waiting with an expression revealing both curiosity and despair.
“Hi, my name’s Ed Comparetto.” Ed moved closer and extended his hand as he reached the boy. The hand that barely gripped his was small, the bones beneath the pale soft flesh like bird bones, tiny and fragile. “I’m a detective with the Chicago police department, homicide division.”
The boy—and Ed mentally corrected himself because this was no boy at all, but a man—the man was perhaps as old as his mid-thirties. Close-up, tiny crow’s feet surrounded the red-rimmed eyes and the face had a certain weathering that came only with age.
The man nodded, mutely, as if he didn’t know what to say.
“What’s your name, sir?”
“Timothy. Timothy Bright.”

[Rick]

Elizabeth wrote: "Rick wrote: "...are you listening, Elizabeth..."

I'm listening. :D"

:D right back at you. Thanks for dropping by.

[Sarah]

Rick wrote: "Lil' Grogan wrote: "Really? Macauley Culkin? I haven't seen anything of his since "Home Alone"..what in his acting do you think fits?"

Have you read IM? I think he'd be perfect as the serial kille..."

Yeah he fits perfectly

[Dee Wy]

Rick wrote: "Well, the only book I've mine that has actually ever been optioned by a real live Hollywood production company was IM so I'd say that, with Jake Gyllenhall and Macauley Culkin in the leads... ..."

Cool, I'll keep both those actors in my head when I read the book! Good luck with this - if they can just get funding to bring it to the big screen.. you never know. King was a mostly unknown when Carrie was made into a movie.

[Rick]

Okay, folks, it's time to give away one more copy of HOMECOMING. Within the hour, I am going to post another excerpt from the novella and if you can guess the page number from which the excerpt is taken before I post it, I'll give YOU the book. (Hint: I'll be using manuscript pages and the excerpt will come in between 1-91).

Ready? Go.

[Indie Reviews]

Hi Rick!

My questions stem from my observations of Mute Witness (MW).

You have publicly mentioned that the inspiration for MW was the fear of losing your son (through divorce) and in the story you tackle the most disgusting of homophobic lies perpetuated by religion and society at large against gay men.

But my observations relate to your actual treatment of the issue of sexual abuse in the story. I'll preface by saying that in my RL work I often deal with folks that are suffering from the inter-generational effects of physical and sexual abuse and one of the impacts of this is that some victims are more likely to become offenders themselves. One of the aspects of your writing of MW that I immediately noticed was that aside from the fact that you write the story from the perspective of most of the central characters including the perp, you do so without judgment. The easy way out would have been to write the perp as a complete monster (which in effect he is based on his actions) and yet you nuanced that character in such a way that the reader understood what made him so.

How difficult was it for you to write MW and in particular to write the perp's perspective?

My second observation is that practically all of the adult characters, even the perp, are victims of abuse themselves whether emotional, physical and/or sexual.

Was this a conscious decision on your part or did this naturally emerge as part of the story and characterization?

Indigene

P.S. Sorry for the lengthy lead in to the questions.

[Elizabeth]

Rick wrote: "with Jake Gyllenhall and Macauley Culkin in the leads..."

Which would be brilliant casting. I've been waiting for years for Macauley Culkin to show people what he can do as an adult.

I'm going to quit lurking and go back to work now. Have fun!

[Dee Wy]

Rick wrote: "Here's a question for anyone within earshot (eyeshot? Is that a word?). Anyway...is there anything you'd like to see more of from me (in terms of books, I mean)?"

Well, if you're well known for you horror, you probably want to keep that up, but for me, I'll be looking for action/romance titles - the more the better! Without your blurb on moving into romance, I'd have passed you by. If I love the romance, I'll probably try some others as well.

[Rick]

Indigene wrote: "Hi Rick!

My questions stem from my observations of Mute Witness (MW).

You have publicly mentioned that the inspiration for MW was the fear of losing your son (through divorce) and in the story y..."

Great question, Indigene. I think one of the things I try to do in all my work is show people in various shades of gray...no one is either black or white (I mean in the metaphorical sense). Although it would be easier to write about people as pure monsters, or evil, I think it's more interesting to show a little bit about how they got that way, as I did with the abuser in MW...he was a victim himself. It's a challenge for me to write people that are "real" as opposed to heroes or villains...and if I succeed sometimes, then I'm on the right track.

[Rick]

L.C. wrote: "Rick wrote: "Okay, folks, it's time to give away one more copy of HOMECOMING. Within the hour, I am going to post another excerpt from the novella and if you can guess the page number from which th..."

Good guess. I'll post the answer and the excerpt on the upcoming hour. Right now, LC, you're the only one playing, so you're winning...

[Rick]

L.C. wrote: "Rick wrote: "Well, the only book I've mine that has actually ever been optioned by a real live Hollywood production company was IM..."

That is so exciting! What is that status on that? Do they sti..."

The option was a couple of years ago and I have lost my enthusiasm for it ever being produced, I'm sorry to say. It's some small comfort to know that only a small percentage of books optioned for film ever make it all the way through to production. But it was nice to know a producer thought the book was good enough to offer me a contract.

[Christiane]

Rick wrote: "Okay, folks, it's time to give away one more copy of HOMECOMING. Within the hour, I am going to post another excerpt from the novella and if you can guess the page number from which the excerpt is ..."

Page 61

[Sarah]

ill play page 10

[Sarah]

Rick wrote: "L.C. wrote: "Rick wrote: "Well, the only book I've mine that has actually ever been optioned by a real live Hollywood production company was IM..."

That is so exciting! What is that status on that..."

I've added the book to my to read list... my be honest will it scare me... :-P

[Rick]

Sarah wrote: "Rick wrote: "L.C. wrote: "Rick wrote: "Well, the only book I've mine that has actually ever been optioned by a real live Hollywood production company was IM..."

That is so exciting! What is that s..."

There are parts that may scare you, yes. But I think it's one of my most can't-put-down-until-you're-done books, so I hope you stick with it...

[Rick]

Only three entries so far for "guess the page number and win a copy of


You all still have forty minutes...

[Christiane]

Which, of all the many books you've written, Rick, is the one closest to your heart?

[Rick]

Christiane wrote: "Which, of all the many books you've written, Rick, is the one closest to your heart?"

Out On The Net

This is the story of a man realizing he's gay on his wedding day to a woman and how he subsequently goes about finding out what it means to be gay after this happens. It parallels my own life (although much more compressed...I was married for seven years) and the portrayal of the jilted bride, Alice, is very sympathetic I think, because she's modeled after my own ex-wife, whom I still, and will always, love.

[Juniper]

P 72

Love Paul Richmond's covers & thought the one for Dignity Takes A Holiday was really quirky & fitted well. Wondered, though, if you have much say over your covers & if you have any particular favourites?

[Wendy❤Ann]

Rick wrote: "Okay, folks, it's time to give away one more copy of HOMECOMING. Within the hour, I am going to post another excerpt from the novella and if you can guess the page number from which the excerpt is ..."

Page 81?

[Rick]

Juniper wrote: "P 72

Love Paul Richmond's covers & thought the one for Dignity Takes A Holiday was really quirky & fitted well. Wondered, though, if you have much say over your covers & if you have any particular..."

I love Paul Richmond! He's an amazing artist and both covers he's done for me

and

have been superb! I consider myself very lucky to be paired with him to put a face on my work. To your question, though. I am not a cover artist. I paint my best pictures with words. So, I have found a curious thing: my best covers are actually the ones where I've only given a small amount of input, a general direction, and let the artist take it from there. Allowing the artist to be free to come up with his own idea usually results in a better cover. My worst covers (and no, I will not mention any names!) are the ones where I actually had the most exacting direction, providing way too much input, which just goes to show I am better off wearing the author hat over the cover artist hat.

[Beth]

Page 14

[Rick]

Okay, everyone, here's the excerpt from HOMECOMING I promised. I will give you five more minutes to guess the original page manuscript before I declare the winner.

Oh and let me know what you think of this excerpt from
Homecoming. I think it goes particularly well with the cover

Chase found his way back to the Belmont el station and climbed the stairs to await the arrival of the next northbound Red Line train. As he peered down the long platform, dotted here and there with other commuters, searching for the headlight in the distance, he wondered what he had just done.

That was so not like you. Even when you were single and things like that did occasionally happen, it was rare. What the hell got into you?

Chase felt his lips rise on either side in a sad smile. He knew what had gotten into him—it had been two months, maybe a little more, since he had physically connected with another man. And that other man had been Toby. He had been too busy nursing his broken heart after losing him to think much about sex. When the need for it had arisen, he had dispensed with it by plopping down in front of the computer, finding some free gay Internet porn, and efficiently and hastily whacking off onto a few squares of toilet paper appropriated for just that purpose. The whole process took less than a minute usually, and left Chase feeling empty. He knew now that he was giving himself crumbs when he wanted a meal.

And so, is that what you just had—a meal? Chase didn’t think so. The sex had been frenzied and hot and Dan one of the most gorgeous men he had ever laid eyes on. If he hadn’t just fucked the hell out of him and had only seen him on the street, Chase would have surmised the guy was out of his league. Yet there remained in him the same old emptiness since that horrible, awful night of Toby’s birthday party. Odd how Toby had come into the world and left it on the very same day.

But as physically drained as he was, something was missing. As soon as he had climaxed, the room had gone from being sexy seedy to just being sad and desperate, the lair of a young gay man who sought these connections out restlessly and was never satisfied, Chase assumed. Why? Because he never really found the connection he sought, the one born just as much of the heart as the groin.

Chase stopped thinking as the train pulled smoothly into the station.

[Rick]

She was the first to hazard a guess and her guess was closest. LC wins the free copy of HOMECOMING. LC, contact me at jimmyfels@gmail.com and we'll make arrangements (I hope you have a Dreamspinner account).

And by the way, the excerpt was from page 47. LC guessed 57, only ten off.