Madam Ricketts follows a second-generation reporter who is writing a book on his father’s research leading him to talk with an elderly Madam in a whorehouse on the Mexican border. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

Madam Ricketts is inspired by real life, much closer than you might think. Years ago, I ran out of fuel in Tucson, escaping with my family from a cult. Possessing no skills other than trying to make things better, I quickly found myself on the margins of society, where I met the characters this story is modeled after. There I met bandits with hearts of gold and deep insight into life. Humor without parallel. I enjoyed the company. It seems they enjoyed me, too, because I was included.

The door was open, and I was shown around. I was inspired to write. I began this book in early 1990. I’ve tried to express the spirit of the characters accurately. I avoid reference to any specific person for my personal safety. Although they may have hearts of gold and the humor of standup comedians, they don’t forget or forgive. So everything I write is made up and smudged. Be assured, dear reader, the truth is even more bizarre.

What was your writing process to ensure you captured the essence of the characters?

I watch the movie in my mind, flashing lights, action, adventure, and frustrated love. I buy a ticket, close my eyes, and start writing. There in the midst of my fuzzy thoughts, foggy notions, vanities, and embarrassments are shiny nuggets of gold. The characters are sketchy at first, then come forward to present themselves.

My job is to see them and pass them on. I’m the first person to see the movie. I watch it in my mind. The book is my attempt to be a good scribe.

On capturing the character’s essence, the characters tell me. They show themselves to me. Maudie Ricketts was a very minor character when I started. I thought she was a nobody. How wrong I was.

Some say a book should be written backwards. Start at the end, and work your way back, then everything fits, and you don’t have to go back and correct things. I think that is admirable, but it doesn’t work for me. I like being surprised by what the characters do, just like the readers.

Did you find anything in your research of this story that surprised you?

I didn’t do a lot of research. I created my own world with the help of the Muse. That way, noone can call me wrong, and say: That’s not how it was!

I also wanted to avoid the work it took to be historically accurate. I choose to watch an exciting movie in my mind rather than do homework.

Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?

Yes. The second book, The Demise of Madam Ricketts and Other Stories is finished and is in the clean-up stage. It should be ready in early 2024.

It tells the story of the survivors of the first book. Seventeen characters from Madam Ricketts are each given a chapter and followed into the future.

The third book of the series, Food Truck Murder is currently being framed up. It tells the story of the survivors of the second book, following them even further into the future, looking at the consequences of decisions made long ago. So there’s more frustrated love, aging semi-heroes, Indians, drugs, a border town of crusty characters, and new dramas.

Is there anything else you want to share with your readers?

Yes. I’ve been a songwriter my whole adult life, and it’s reflected in my style. I deliberately tried to instill a feeling of rhythm in Madam Ricketts: So many words to a sentence, so many feelings in a paragraph, a balanced bite with each breath, move it along, breezy and easy to read, not cramped and crowded. Sometimes I make up words. I use words that rhyme all the time. No soliloquy. No filler. Sexual allusion but no trash. Bloody but not messy.

Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon