Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Neil Rucker I am a retired Law Enforcement man with thirty years of service. At the present time, I am a Polygraph Examiner with over 40 years of experience. I have written two books. My first book is Secrets of the Truth Trade is a collection of stories from my Polygraph career. I expose the horrific experiences of my clients who have been falsely accused of horrible crimes. My second book Two Men from Dead Fall is the story of my great grandfather and his best friend who grew up together in the pre-civil war rural wilds of Alabama. Both enlisted in the Confederate Army and I follow their careers as soldiers as written in the journal kept by great grandfather. I tell of their return home my great grandfather was minus one leg. I take them through the Reconstruction years and into political careers. My great grandfather was the Tax Collector and his friend Sheriff. My great grandfather was robbed and murdered while on his rounds in his horse and buggy collecting taxes. His friend the Sheriff relentlessly pursued the infamous outlaws who committed several other murders that are described in my book. The Sheriff and his posse captured the murderers brought them to Greenville, Alabama to jail. An enraged group of citizens took them from the jail and summarily hung them from the second-floor portico of the Butler County Alabama Courthouse.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Two Men From Dead Fall is the name of my book. The inspiration for my book came from my father. My father had told me the story on numerous occasions. However, when he was on his death bed, and the last time he ever spoke to me; he asked me if he had given me the picture of the outlaws dangling on the Courthouse wall. Along with with the newspaper account of the murder of my great grandfather, and subsequent lynching of the perpetrators.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to just sit down at my computer and begin typing the story as it flows into my mind. I doubt my method is unusual in that particular sense. However, on nights that I have problems going to sleep, I begin going through whatever I’m working on in my mind. At some point during this process, I will invariably think of something that will help a character or the story.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love William Falkner and also John Grisham. Maybe because they are both southern writers and I relate to many of the places they include in their writing. I particularly like Grisham’s stories. Of Course, I loved Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. During my law enforcement career, I had many occasions to co to Monroeville Alabama, the city that was Harper lee’s hometown and where she lived until she died. Truman Capote another Monroeville product is another favorite.
What are you working on now?
I am currently nearing completion of a book about my law enforcement career. A large part of my new story takes place during the Civil Rights Struggle. I grew up in Montgomery Alabama and I was an eye witness to Dr. Martin Luther King’s beginning of the bus boycott and many other events. By virtue of my father being Assistant Chief of Police and later Police Commissioner, I had an inside glimpse of so many events of the era. In 1964 I became an Alabama State Trooper in 1964 and witnessed so many events of the Civil rights era. No one has ever written the story of this period from my point of view.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I believe Awesome Gang is going to be a great site for me. I am just beginning my promotion and I suppose I will have to see what does best for me.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t ever give up.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
An author friend told me while writing my first book,” just sit down and let it flow don’t worry about what it looks like that first time”.
What are you reading now?
I haven’t been reading lately just writing.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to do something special with my next book entitled A Purpose for Aaron. I wrote this book for my childhood friend Aaron Lowery. Aaron who was an African American child was my best friend from almost birth until he was accidentally killed in a traffic accident at age nine. Having Aaron as my first best friend influenced me greatly especially being a man who was born and raised in the segregated south. A Purpose for Aaron is my book that tells many of the stories of the Civil Rights Struggle.
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?
I think I would try to find some John Grisham books I haven’t read.
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