Richard C. Trice -- Author

Here's the "blurb" that describes my new book, and which will appear on the back cover. A good blurb is supposed to make someone want to buy the book instead of putting it back on the shelf. So what do you think? Following the events detailed in ACT OF CONTRITION (the first book of his story), Trent Carter, former Colfax County deputy sheriff, has finally retired to peacefully live out the remainder of his days with his new wife, Maggie, on her horse ranch east of Raton, NM—or so he thinks. But when he responds to an urgent call for assistance from his former boss Ben Ferguson, who is investigating an unusual murder at the ruins of a stagecoach stop on the old Santa Fe Trail, Trent is swept into a convoluted mystery involving political assassinations, a secret paramilitary organization, a missing helicopter, two missing girls, and the inexplicable presence of a ghostly Ute Indian warrior. LAND OF MY SOJOURN spans 150 years, from the Civil War...

Write hard and clear about what hurts -- Ernest Hemingway Ernest Hemingway will always be at the top of my list of favorite writers for many reasons, not least of which is his ability to tell it like it is. One of his best pieces of advice was for would-be writers to "write hard and clear about what hurts." Uh-oh. You mean, actually talk about my  emotional life? Why in the world would I ever expose myself like that? In absorbing that nugget of wisdom I was reminded of a bit of dialogue I once had with the Creator of the Universe, God, when I was asked suddenly to "fill in" at church for the pastor, who had just come down with the flu. A scant thirty minutes prior to the teaching time, I was still completely clueless as to what I would present to the congregation. I had no choice but to finally acknowledge said cluelessness, get out my chair, and go to my knees to ask God if He  had any clue as to what I should talk about.  ( Brief sidebar here: Lesson #...

Typical Day of Productive Writing: 10 minutes opening windows and doors to let the cool air in  1 hour drinking coffee, eating breakfast, watching news, and checking social media. 45 minutes working out 10 minutes to close all the windows and doors to keep the now hot air out. 20 minutes sitting down at my computer and staring out the window to see what the neighbors are doing. 1 hour rereading my book outline and marking it up in red ink. 5 minutes coming up with a brand new title to Chapter 26. 30 minutes staring at the otherwise blank screen 45 minutes for lunch 10 minutes checking social media again and posting pithy memes. 45 minutes to walk to post office and back 2 minutes tossing all the mail into the trash because it's all junk. 45 minutes deleting unwanted emails 2 minutes reading the desirable emails 1 hour and 55 minutes slugging through my editor’s most recent heavily notated changes to my manuscript. 20 minutes cursing and kicking the furniture 5 minutes putting a ...

Still haven't read the 1st book in my "Trent Carter" series? Go here to order "Act of Contrition," before Book #2 comes out soon! A perfect Father's Day gift! Click here to order paperback or Kindle versions! https://www.amazon.com/Act-Contrition-Trent-Carter-Novel-ebook/dp/B07CMTJ8FB/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3QSB44WP4L5UI&keywords=act+of+contrition&qid=1560534726&s=gateway&sprefix=act+of+cont%2Caps%2C241&sr=8-5