Author Interview: Bob Richley

I had the opportunity to interview Bob Richley, the author of The Oregon Kids: The Big Catch. He seems like an incredibly real person who is trying to do it all - work, be a great father, and write in his spare time. I feel honored to have been able to work with him and get to know him a little better. I posted a review of his book already so you should check that out if you missed it. Now, grab some popcorn, sit back, relax, and enjoy the interview.

LRR: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Richley: I remember in junior high school, we were assigned to write about a movie we watched in class. The movie was about life beneath the ocean. I wrote it as a captain’s log so it read as a story. I think I was influenced by Star Trek. "Captain's log star date..." The teacher said if she had read my assignment first, there would be few "A's" given. She then read my story to the class and the class applauded. That's when I thought that maybe I had a talent to write, but I did not pursue it as a career when I became an adult.

While in college I wrote my stories for a single mom as a way to teach her kids values. I also write poetry. I've been writing poetry since High School. I do that mostly because I enjoy it and it provides me an outlet for my emotions. I never published the poems, but I did sell them as gift plaques. People actually cried reading some and then bought them.

I never really decided to become a writer. I decided to write. After getting married and having kids of my own, I decided to publish. I wanted to give parents a tool to help teach their kids. Also, my wife and I thought it might be means of extra income but that was a secondary motivation. The primary one was to help parents teach values to their children.

LRR: How long does it take you to write a book?

Richley: It takes a day or two to do an initial draft for a children's story. However, I am a perfectionist, so I'm constantly revising even years later. My publisher is ready to publish the second book in the Oregon Kids series, but I've been delaying sending the final draft. I'm still revising parts that I always felt lacked something. There are a few stories that I started to write years ago and still haven't finished.

LRR: What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

Richley: I don't really have a schedule. I work full time and have two little kids, a 2 year old and a 5 month old. Writing is something I do on those rare occasions that I have discretionary time. The best time is when both are napping, but they don't always nap at the same time. They are napping now as I write answers to these questions.

LRR: What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Richley: I don't think many modern poets rhyme much anymore. I still prefer to rhyme. It forces me to think and makes my poems better when I do.

LRR: Where do you get ideas for your books? The Oregon Kids reminded me of how my children act, did you get the idea from an actual experience with children?

Richley: Most of the events in The Oregon Kids: The Big Catch actually happened in my childhood. My mom did catch a bird while fishing. I loved to climb trees as my character Billy does and yes, I got the hook caught in a tree as Autumn did. Billy lets his sister reel in a fish he hooked. I never did that for my sister. My dad was the one who would hook the fish and let his kids reel it in. The next book in the series will be about a lost rabbit. My sister did lose a pet rabbit and had it returned by a neighbor who found it. It my story, Autumn finds the lost rabbit and is reluctant to return it. She does return the rabbit and gains both a friend a pet rabbit of her own by doing so.

LRR: When did you write your first book (published or not) and how old were you?

Richley: I wrote The Oregon Kids in college, but I didn't decide to publish them until almost 30 years later. I'm a little slow.

LRR: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Richley: As I said, I'm now a father of 2 little kids. I spend most of my free time playing with them. I like to take my oldest daughter to the park. I do like to run, but now I run pushing my daughter in a stroller. To her it means seeing ducks because I run around a small lake near our house. Occasionally, I'm able to run on the trails without her. I also enjoy hiking and camping. I still fish with my dad.

LRR: What does your family think of your writing?

Richley: My mom is my best salesperson. She's sold the book to her friends and even her dentist and his assistant. I have relatives in Canada whom I never met who bought my book. I've warmed hearts of family members with my poetry. Some plaques are proudly hanging on walls.

LRR: What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

Richley: I've learned that the most difficult job is not writing the book. The most difficult job is marketing the book. I'm not a salesperson.

LRR: As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

Richley: I actually wanted to be a priest. After learning of my ambition, my cousins would tease me and call me "Father Bob."

LRR: Any other random facts you would like to share?

Richley: I have always been passionate about fathers being involved in the lives of their children. I volunteered for years serving children of divorce. I've felt their pain. Some have been very angry at Dad for leaving. The dad in my stories is a very strong character and very involved with his children. Mom is more in the background. This is on purpose.

I married very late in life. I was 47. I married a wonderful Filipino wife, Rubilyn. She is my biggest fan and supporter. I would not have published the first book without her support. We now have 2 kids. My youngest is Autumn-Marie named, of course, after the character in my book because I have loved that name for 30 years. My oldest is Johanna. The next book will feature Autumn and Billy, but Johanna will be the main character. I had to rename the character from the name I had originally used 30 years ago. I couldn't have books with only Autumn as a character. We don't have a son, but if we ever do, he will be named William-Robert (Billy). My father's name is William.

I also invented a game and hope to have that published. It is similar to the Game of Life except to win doesn't require the most money but rather the most character. Also, a grace card is required to win. Like my stories, it is meant to help parents teach their children.

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