Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in Bakersfield, California and have been a resident ever since. In fact, my family has been in Bakersfield since 1893. It has always been my belief that a person never stops learning, so, I attended California State University, Bakersfield and earned a BA in History, a teaching credential, a MA in Education (Curriculum and Instruction), and a MA in History. By profession, I teach high school Social Studies, and I am an adjunct professor at Bakersfield Community College. I enjoy outdoor sports and recreation, playing ice hockey, researching and writing, and spending time with my family. At this point, I have written two books, but I have several more in various stages of completion.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
A Branch Too Weak is my latest book. It is the first book in a series that I will release as they are completed. I suppose that the inspiration for the series is my love for history and the outdoors. In recent years I have read a lot on New Western History and I began to look at the American West differently. Added to that is my interest in California and local history. Ultimately, I decided to write a Western / historical fiction novel surrounding the beginning of the California Gold Rush.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
For some reason, my favorite time to write is on Saturday and Sunday mornings, between 4:30 and 10:00. It’s just me, my laptop, a cup of coffee, and some westerns on the TV. Some of my best ideas also come to me while driving or in the shower.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
As far as history, I enjoy reading historians who write about history in an approachable way–Elliott West, Stephen Ambrose, and Patricia Nelson Limerick are some of my favorites. And Louis L’Amor is probably my favorite writer of Westerns.
What are you working on now?
Currently, I am working on the second book in the Golden Empire Series, but I have a few other projects that are in progress, such as a follow-up to my Bootlegger book and a history of homesteading in the Greenhorn Mountains of Kern County, California.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m pretty new at this, so, promoting my books has been a process of trial and error. Facebook has been helpful a helpful tool, and so has conducting a giveaway on Amazon. I hope running a promotion on Awesomegang will be fruitful.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t be discouraged, and practice your craft. I’ve found that many people will be supportive, but there will always be those who are negative and pessimistic about what you can and cannot do. Try to ignore them and focus on what matters most to you. Even if it takes you years to finish your work, keep plugging along.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I like this advice on writing by Mark Twain: “You need not expect to get your book right the first time. Go to work and revamp or rewrite it. God only exhibits his thunder and lightning at intervals, and so they always command attention. These are God’s adjectives. You thunder and lightning too much; the reader ceases to get under the bed, by and by.”
What are you reading now?
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson, Scars of Independence: America’s Violent Birth by Holger Hoock, and The Border Legion by Zane Grey.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m going to continue writing. Unfortunately, I don’t have the luxury of time to dedicate to writing full-time. However, I will continue to bounce between books in my spare time until they are complete, and then, inevitably, I will start a new writing project.
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?
Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival
SAS Survival Handbook, Third Edition: The Ultimate Guide to Surviving Anywhere
100 Deadly Skills: Survival Edition: The SEAL Operative’s Guide to Surviving in the Wild and Being Prepared for Any Disaster
WILD WEST Boxed Set: 150+ Western Classics in One Volume
Author Websites and Profiles
Richard Roux Amazon Profile
Richard Roux’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile