Pat
Ritter- Author
Birth
date:
15th
June 1948
Where
are you from:
Booloo,
Queensland, Australia
A
little about your self `ie your education, Family, life etc:
After
my wife lost her fight with cancer eleven years ago I retired to
become a fulltime author. We were married for thirty-one years.
I
wrote a tribute of her life and you can download it FREE from my
website www.patritter.com.au,
it's called 'In Remembrance of Bub'.
Tell
us your latest book news?
Last
year I wrote and published 'The Shearer' a story about Joe Ryan who
was a leader of 'The Great Shearers Strike in 1891' which almost
crippled Australia. Here is a link:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/395642.
I'm presently writing the follow-on 'Click Go The Shears'.
When
and why did you begin writing?
In
1988 I published my first book 'Closing The Gap' - Link:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/52861.
This book resulted from when I was a Detective Sergeant in the
Police. At the time many teenagers 'ran away from home' and I never
had a clue on how to stop them. After studying a subject at college,
the lecturer, Bob O'Sullivan and I wrote the book to help parents
improve communication with their teenager.
When
did you consider yourself an Author?
After
writing and publishing my fifth book 'Confessions of an Alcoholic':
Link: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7688.
This book broke me away from writing non-fiction stories to using
fictional characters with non-fiction. Although this book is my own
story being an alcoholic, walking in the shoes of an alcoholic,
discovering a way to break out of alcoholism and live a refreshing
life. It was my first book to use the non-fictional character Bundy
Quicksiver.
What
inspired you to write your first book?
Like
I mentioned at the time I worked with teenagers and needed to find a
way to stop them from 'running away from home'. Lack of communication
between parents and their teenage child was evident enough to show
parents lacked the skills in communicating with their teenger causing
90% of the problem. After a counselling session with the parent and
teenage child I showed each parent improved ways to communicate with
their teenage child. Although this happened more than twenty-eight
years ago many parents have discovered a better way to communicate
with their teenager.
Do
you have a specific writing style?
Yes,
when I was fourteen years old my English teacher told me I had a gift
for writing in that I write the way I speak which is unique. Again
this same opinion was bought to my attention twenty years later and
told to me by Bob O'Sullivan who lectured me at college. Neither
person knew one another. I love to tell a story and there is nothing
better than when the reader provides positive feedback from reading
the story. Many have mentioned my stories are easy to read and the
reader sees in their mind the story I've written.
How
did you come up with the titles?
At
times this is not an easy task. If a title pops into my head and I
think it'll be a good title than I'll use it. Otherwise I listen to
what others tell me and if a title reflecks on the story I'm writing
then I'll use the title or something like it. For instance the book
I'm writing at the moment 'Click Go The Shears' came about when I was
researching the story.
Is
there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Yes,
a good story which will keep them turning the next page to read the
story. Many readers have given me feedback to tell me they needed to
turn the page to find out what was coming next. Also I love to not
over describe scenes too much. I love the reader to have their own
picture of the scene in their own minds rather than I place a too
descriptive one.
How
much of the book is realistic?
I
try and keep to the facts as much as possible with telling a story
I've either been involved personally or had heard some other person
tell me. My opinion is it's better to have the truth of the story
than some made-up version. Everyone has a story to tell.
Are
experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Initially
my first books were based on experiences of my own life. I remember
presenting a book launch on one of my books and I had the previous
ones I'd written displayed. One of the audience said, 'are all these
books about you?' I answered 'yes'. Afterwards I decided to make up
fictional characters and use these characters in my books from then
on. I've found it's taken me about five years of solid writing to
progress from writing about my own personal experiences in life to
write fictional.
What
books have most influenced your life most?
There
are many, too many to mention. I read as much as I write. My kindle
holds at anyone time more than twenty books I've downloaded to read.
I love to read an interesting story. If this story hasn't grabbed me
by page six than I delete the story and go to the next one. Also, if
when I'm reading a book and I can't put it down, this is the book I
love to read. It's got to be interesting, free flowing, no mistakes,
and a story which grabs hold of me and won't let go until the end. I
love to be wrapped up in the story and be a part of it.
If
you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
There
are too many to mention. If fact this is a difficult question to
answer because each writer is unique. Since digital books I would
probably read more now than I've ever read in my lifetime. When I
read a book which fires me up to read all night, I investigate the
author and see what other books they've written and if I like their
books I'll purchase them and read them.
What
book are you reading now?
I've
recently completed 'Sabrina's Man' written by Gilbert Morris. A great
story of love, adventure and finishing with a smile on my face and a
tear in my eye. I loved the way Gilbert wrote this story, it kept me
turning the page. When I investigated his Amazon site it told me he'd
sold six million books across the globe. I can hope this will happen
for me some day.
Are
there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Non
come to mind. Like I've said I read daily and nightly if the story is
good, like the book I've just completed. I couldn't put it down. With
the number of authors now published in the world there are so many to
choose from.
What
are your current projects?
I'm
writing my 15th novel 'Click Go The Shears' as a follow on from 'The
Shearer'. This book continues on from when Joe Ryan, one of the
leaders in the 'Great Shearer's Strike of 1891' is apprehended and
sent to gaol for three years on St Helena Island. Before Joe is
captured his friend decides to take his place and allow Joe to
continue the fight for better wages and conditions for their shearer
friends. I love writing this story.
Name
one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members:
From
personal experience of writing over twenty-five years I've found my
close family and friends look the other way when I start to talk
about my writing. Their comments are: 'we lived through your stories'
and that's about the end of it. I've found since publishing stories
as digital and promoting them on social media such as facebook, I've
found more people much interested in my writing.
Do
you see writing as a career?
Certainly.
I write and publish one novel per year and if you click onto my
website www.patritter.com.au
you will see I write and publish stories (one minute reads) which I
write each Tuesday at the Pomona Writers Group. After twenty-five
years of writing I've finally found something which I love and enjoy.
I will be writing, publishing, promoting, marketing and selling my
books until my last breath is taken.
If
you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your
latest book?
No!
I'm extremely happy with the storyline. In actually fact how the
story came to my mind was because of a secret in our family. When my
grandmother was ten years old her mother died giving birth to her
youngest sister named Nellie. My grandmother told me this story when
I was young. She said her father was an alcoholic and wouldn't take
on the responsibility of raising four children under ten, so he gave
them away to the townfolk of Cunnamulla 'like a litter of pups'.
Nellie being a baby was given to a relative to be raised as their own
in another town. My grandmother never again saw her sister. This was
in 1913.
My
grandmother passed away many years ago. I wrote a tribute in a story
of her life and mentioned this information in the story and posted on
my website under stories. Out of the blue one day I received an
e-mail from a person who claimed they read my story and told me she
was Nellie's eldest daughter. She had been forty years searching for
her extended family.
I
couldn't believe how this event bought us together and more
especially when I discovered this person was not only a relative but
also a published author. After I settled down I decided to write 'The
Shearer' and use our great grandfather Joe Ryan as the main character
in the book.
Do
you recall how your interest in writing originated?
I
suppose since I was fourteen years old and told I had a gift for
writing. At the time I didn't understand what this meant because I
never understood what the teacher was teaching me at the time. I
wanted to write the way I wanted to write which wasn't the done thing
at the time.
Then
twenty years later to be told by another teacher of this 'gift', I
started to write the way I always wanted to write and it went on from
there. After writing and publishing fourteen books I'm comfortable
with my writing and write daily. I love to write!
Can
you share a little of your current work with us?
Yes,
as a continued story from my latest publication 'The Shearer' the
main character Joe Ryan is arrested by the police for 'leading the
strike'. Before he is arrested his friend Joe Gibson swaps places
with him and goes in his place. They are of similar looks, size, most
things else other than the colour of their eyes.
The
new Joe Ryan is sentenced with twelve other leaders to three years
gaol in St Helena Island Prison. Conditions are harsh. In the
meantime the real Joe Ryan now disguised as Joe Gibson continues
shearing and works his way to Barcaldine in central Queensland, the
place where the original strike occurred.
The
thirteen leaders are eventually released after serving their time and
return to Barcaldine as heroes. Both Joe's meet at the local hotel
and return to their original identities.
Is
there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
All
the time particularly research. With my latest book 'Click Go The
Shears' research has been demanding because I've attempted to have
the story run parallel with Australian history. Takes time and effort
to join the characters into the proper time of history especially in
the 1890's period.
Who
is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about
their work?
Like
I mentioned before I admire all authors because I know what it takes
to write and publish a book. I don't have one author in particular
but many because I know the effort they take to finalise their work.
Do
you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?
No,
not any longer because of the internet. Everything is at my
fingertips. Without google honestly I don't know what I'd do. I've
been previously to the many places I write about so I know the lay of
the land, characters and different aspects of the towns and
surroundings.
Who
designed the covers?
I
have Melissa Smith. She resides in America and does a wonderful job
to design the covers of my books; here is her e-mail address:
melissasmithbooks@hotmail.com.
I highly recommend Melissa, she does a fantastic job.
What
was the hardest part of writing your books?
Thinking
of each scene. I live in a bush setting on acreage with no close
neighbours. Each scene of my story I reenact it out in my mind and
talk much about what I want to write. After I'm satisfied with what
I'm about to write, I write the chapter or scene I have in my mind.
Don't think I'm ready for the lunny bin but many times I also dream
about the scene and have it clearly in my mind.
Did
you learn anything from writing your books?
Yes
most certainly. I'm much more confident with my writing now than I've
ever been before in my life. Once I was concerned about what I wrote
but now to tell a story I write what I want to write and hope the
reader enjoys my storyline.
Do
you have any advice for other writers?
Yes,
NEVER GIVE UP! Follow YOUR DREAM and feel the joy of writing and what
you've written.
Do
your have anything specific you would like to say to your readers?
Yes,
many thanks for your feedback and may you continue to read many of my
books to come with my present ones.
Do
your remember the first book you ever read?
Yes,
I was in grade four and it was a story about a sailor who was
shipwrecked on the coast of Australia. I found the book at a stall a
few years ago and puchased it.
Other
than writing do you have any hobbies?
Not
really because my writing takes up my whole life. To set a goal of
writing a novel per year I've got to write daily plus marketing my
books on the different sites, answering e-mails and living life.
Couldn't be much better than I have it.
What
TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?
Castle,
anything to do Australia especially the latest show 'Anzac Girls'.
Another Australia show 'Winners and Losers' anything to do with
Australia.
Favorite
foods / Colors/ Music:
Chinese.
Colour - blue. Music - Australia country and western.
If
you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?
I've
done everything in my life I've always wished and now I have the joy
of writing about those experiences. If you want to read a great story
than click onto my memoirs 'Dream Angel' Link:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/5928
which will tell you all there is to know about me.
Do
you have a blog/website?
If
so please share your links.
Yes,
my website is www.patritter.com.au
and click onto my facebook page and other links to my books.
Are
you on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest etc. Please share those links
also.
Yes
- Facebook, LinkedIn.
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