Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Back in the early 90s after a rather unpleasant divorce, I somehow got the notion to start writing. I took classes and went to seminars, even took the Writer’s Digest course. I discovered at that time that I wasn’t particularly clever and didn’t seem to have much knack for short stories, so I wrote a novel. It was heavily autobiographic of my situation and not very good, but I kept at it and ended up writing seven novels during that period. The publishing world is notoriously difficult to break into through normal channels, and none of my novels got published.
Although I continued to think about writing, I let it slip for a number of years until several years ago. I found a website called www.FaithWriters.com and discovered they had a weekly writing challenge. They provided a topic that you had to write to and a word limitation of 750 words. I decided to just start doing it, and by writing a short story every week, I accumulated about 130 stories and a number of highly ranked ones by FaithWriters Editors Top Ten. I’ve turned those into the several books of short stories you can see on my website or at Amazon. Everything I’m doing right now is self-published through the Amazon tools at Createspace and Kindle.
In that time period of writing short stories, I decided to tackle another novel. That turned into Sow The Wind with its follow-up books in the series Reap The Whirlwind and There Is A Time.
While in the editing process of There Is A Time, I pulled out The Tattooed Cat from my long-ago stash of novels and liked it a lot. I did significant editing on the book and released both it and There Is A Time in Fall 2018.
I write end-times thrillers because I got saved by reading the Left Behind series. How could I not write in the same genre when that is such a strong interest that I have?
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
There Is A Time is the third book in my end-times thriller Whirlwind series. I love to read and in the mid-2000s read the Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. That led to my being born again as a true Christian believer. There Is A Time fills in the gap between now and when Left Behind begins.
I originally wrote The Tattooed Cat in 1998 and only pulled it out of my dusty archives in 2018. Frankly, I was impressed with how good a story I’d written back then and decided to update it to my current Christian worldview.
I released both of these books in Fall 2018.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
This is probably unusual for the secular culture in which we live. I read my Bible and pray every morning. In that time it’s not out of the ordinary for God to give me both insights into His character, but for Him to also give me inspiration for my writing.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Left Behind series
Frank Peretti – This Present Darkness
Bill Myers – speculative Christian fiction
Davis Bunn – The Warning, The Ultimatum
John Grishom
Ruth Rendell
What are you working on now?
Hollywood and the media have done a pretty good job of promoting UFOs and the belief that alien cultures exist, that these aliens are advanced and evolved lifeforms. A common theme is that they are here to help humanity because we’ve completely messed up and are on the verge of extinction which only they can prevent. As a Christian I have a completely different perspective on aliens. Yes, they are real. No, they don’t come from “out there.” No, they are not evolved beings who want to help us. In fact, they are created, rebellious, and fallen, who want nothing more than to thwart God’s plan for all creation.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve primarily used AMS – Amazon Marketing Services – up till now.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
You have to love to read before you can write. Read as much as you can in the genres you love. Take classes. Learn the art. Then practice a lot.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
As a writer: Write what you love to read.
As a lost and sinful man: Repent. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
What are you reading now?
Just finished Dance Hall of the Dean by Tony Hillerman
Now reading Some Lie and Some Die by Ruth Rendell
What’s next for you as a writer?
Continue on with my alien thriller
Maybe pull another of my ancient manuscripts out of the closet
Potentially write a 4th book in my end-times Whirlwind thriller series
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?
Bible
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
A good dictionary
A book on building seaworthy boats and rafts
Author Websites and Profiles
Gary Ritter Website
Gary Ritter Amazon Profile
Gary Ritter’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile