Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Chad Rickard and have have just completed my first book, a memoir about my time in Afghanistan as an embedded Combat Advisor to the Afghan Army. I recently retired as a Sergeant Major, after 27 years of service to the U.S. Army. I grew up in Central Pennsylvania and moved to California in 1996 where I have lived since then. I’m married with three children, one in college, one in high school and one in elementary. We live on a 10 acre ranch with chickens and goats and I spend my time taking care of the animals and land now that I’m retired.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is called “Mayhem 337: Memoir of a Combat Advisor in Afghanistan” and it is a story based upon my time embedded in the Afghan Army in 2008-2009 as a U.S. Army Combat Advisor. It was a particularly dangerous mission, my third combat tour following two tours in Iraq, and many of my friends and family thought it worthy of sharing. I initially sat down to write a long letter to my oldest son about why I missed so much of his young life being deployed all of the time and the it morphed into a book that is now published and doing well on Amazon as a Kindle e-book. It is due to release in paperback around November 1st.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am overly critical of myself and a perfectionist which caused quite a delay in getting this book ready. It took me a while to be able to get words on paper and be comfortable with the fact that I could come back and edit later. Once I let go and started writing the book was much easier to get out in the initial draft.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am a HUGE fan of Vince Flynn and the Mitch Rapp series. I also read everything John Grisham writes. I don’t believe either of those authors influenced my memoir but I thoroughly enjoy their writing style. I also read just about every non-fiction, military history book I can get my hands on.
What are you working on now?
I’m developing ideas on writing about my second tour of duty in Baghdad, Iraq with the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division. My Battalion received a Valorous Unit Citation at the completion of an 18-month tour of duty based on experiencing the longest sustained combat of any Battalion in the war’s history. We suffered over 20 Soldiers killed in action and roughly 125 Soldiers wounded in action in heavy fighting in an around Baghdad. My focus will be on the Soldiers we lost in battle as I do not want their sacrifices lost in history.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still new at writing and promoting. So far I have only used word of mouth through Facebook and Instagram. I have relied on my friends and family to push the word and share the links to my book which has kept my book as the #1 new release in it’s genre for the first week. I’m also holding strong in the top 20 overall in Afghan Military History against books with big name publishers and promoters.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Sit down and start writing. I procrastinated for a long time before I forced myself to start. Once I began and it just flowed naturally. Have confidence and take a chance.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“You will never know if you don’t try.”
What are you reading now?
I am patiently waiting for a new book called “All Secure: A Special Operations Soldier’s Fight to Survive on the Battlefield and the Homefront” by Tom Satterly
What’s next for you as a writer?
Research and compiling data for my next endeavor. Lots of traveling to visit the families and friends of fallen comrades that I will feature in my next book.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Good to Go by Harry Constance
Inside Delta Force by Eric L. Haney
American Assassin by Vince Flynn
The Bible
Author Websites and Profiles
Chad Rickard Amazon Profile