Author Bio:
After a 21 year career in the Navy, Richard returned home to his native state of New Jersey. He followed his passion for the open waters and started a second career in the marine parts business. The dense population of New Jersey and its high cost of living encouraged Richard and his wife, Cheryl, to find a peaceful, friendly environment for his second retirement. Richard and Cheryl, now happily reside in Spink County, South Dakota.
Richard’s love for South Dakota and appreciation of its people are portrayed through his third career as an author of his six books centering around the fictional town of Helen, South Dakota. All his novels and stories tell the story of middle America and the rural lifestyle.
What inspires you to write?
The people in rural America have a particular way of looking at the world. They are the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of some of the more rugged pioneers ever to settle on the Northern Plains. These families have a history of surviving radically fluctuating grain and livestock prices, prairie fires, and the drought and depression of the “dirty thirties” dust bowl. They have a strong sense of family and a healthy respect for property.
I live amidst some of the finest people in the world. Though I am a transplant from the eastern seaboard, I love telling the story of small-town America, both current and past.
Tell us about your writing process.
I jokingly tell people I listen to my imaginary friends and write what the tell me. That’s not entirely true. I do not outline. I put my fingers on the keyboard and let them work. I write where my imagination takes me. Many times I have pulled away from the keyboard and looked at my day’s typing and said out loud, “I didn’t know that was going to happen!”
Writing for me is fun. It is telling a story. I tell it as it comes into my head. If I had to go through all the mechanics of outlining a plot and charting all my characters, it would become work. I would most likely lose interest.
So, for me, I work best not being sure where a story will go. I let the characters take me on the journey.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I do not talk to my characters. I do hear the dialog as I type. I know the voices of each character and can hear it as I tell their story.
Who are your favorite authors?
When I was young it was all about science fiction. Robert Heinlein and Isaac Asimov were my favorites. Later in life, I tended toward action books by Clive Cussler and Dale Brown. I even did short foray into fantasy with Hitchhiker’s Guide by Douglas Adams.
Recently I am more into stories in my genre. Rural America and small towns. Debbie Macomber, Carol Cox, and Jillian Hart. They are all wonderful storytellers. I can get lost in the worlds they create.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I am a self-published author. I like the control. In all honesty, I self-publish because Doubleday and Random House are not beating a path to my door. Having print on demand and e-book outlets are a great blessing to fledgling authors trying to get noticed. Thank you Amazon and Kindle Publishing for giving folks like me a chance to get my stories out there where they can be read.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
Self-publishing and the independent author is here to stay. The major publishing houses are losing their grip on the industry. We, as indies, can get in where we have been locked out in the past. Though they will still be around, the big publishing houses no longer control who wins and who loses.
What genres do you write?
Family Life, Light Romance, Small Town Stories, Rural America
What formats are your books in?
eBook, Print
Website(s)
Richard Skorupski Home Page Link
Follow Richard Skorupski On Amazon
Author’s Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
All information is provided by the author and is presented as it was submitted so you the reader get to hear the author’s own “voice” in their interview.
