Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hey, my name is Richard Becker, and 50 States is my debut collection of short stories. While this is my first book of fiction, I’m no stranger to publishing. I’ve contributed to five nonfiction books and also have a sketchbook shelved with the Brooklyn Art Library.
Aside from books, I’ve worked as a professional writer, journalist, and communication strategist all my life. Telling stories is not new, but having the freedom to express ideas outside of commercial restraint is especially liberating.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
50 States started as an unnamed project to write one short story a week for 50 weeks. As the work progressed, the idea of placing each story in a different state and touching on a different state of mind naturally evolved.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m pretty much a wake-up early, work out, and settled in front of the computer with a cup of coffee kind of writer. However, with the self-imposed deadline of one story a week, there were occasions I found myself thumbing a draft on my phone at the softball fields while my daughter was at practice. I’ve gotten pretty good at it!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Ernest Hemingway and John Updike were especially influential in writing straight, honest prose about human beings. Even when some of my stories drift away from what’s real, my characters must be true to themselves and whatever situation they face.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on several projects at once. Most notably, I’m writing more short stories that intersect or continue the stories that readers will find in 50 States. Initially, I thought of releasing it when I had 50 more stories, but some people have asked to put a smaller collection out sooner.
I’m also working on a novel-length project. I’m keeping it under wraps for now, but it does include characters that people will find familiar.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Promoting a book is a very hands-on venture. While I’ve certainly benefited from some spikes along the way, such as an excellent review from Kirkus Reviews, I’ve taken a very grassroots approach to establish a steady, sustained track record. It’s working.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Expect to invest as much time in book promotions as you did writing the book. While some publishers are doing the heavy lifting, authors are expected to do more than ever before. Book sales happen one reader at a time.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Put your own dreams first. Unfortunately, it’s so easy to get wrapped up in other peoples’ dreams that sometimes we put on own on the backburner. Dreams don’t happen on the backburner. They only occur when you make them a priority.
What are you reading now?
A digital copy of Vicious by V.E. Schwab is on my phone. The Mote In God’s Eye by Larry Niven is playing when I drive or work out. A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders is what I read right after lunch. And Willa of Dark Hollow by Robert Beatty is what I’m reading with my daughter. We’ve been reading out loud to each other, alternating paragraphs, since first grade. I’ll likely be picking up a classic to read next, and I’ve been looking for some undiscovered writers.
What’s next for you as a writer?
While I’ll continue to write fiction and build an intersecting body of work, my most immediate task will be to produce a book trailer and put 50 States out as an audiobook. After that, look for more shorts to be released a collection — stories that expand on those in 50 States but also stand on their own.
What is your favorite book of all time?
I don’t have a favorite book as much as I have favorite writers, so I always answer this question differently. This time out, I think give the nod to Dune by Frank Herbert. It was handed to me by a seventh-grade teacher as a challenge after I coped out on a book review assignment by choosing the shortest book I could find in the library and finishing the semester-long assignment in a week. Dune really woke me up as a teenager and solidified what would become a lifelong appetite to read, learn, and carve a path.
Author Websites and Profiles
Richard Becker Website
Richard Becker Amazon Profile
Richard Becker Author Profile Other Bookseller
Richard Becker’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account