Author: Michael H. Ritterhouse
-
Day One –
Survival Lessons from the Airport In The Long Walk Home: When the Power Dies, we meet fourteen-year-old Tommy as he navigates Denver International Airport, waiting for a connecting flight from San Antonio to Sacramento. His world, along with everyone else’s, is thrown into chaos when all electrical power abruptly fails. Tommy’s reactions, and those of…
-
Look Before You Leap: How to Trust Yourself in Tough Decisions
Over twenty-one years ago, I took a bold leap of faith, leaving a thriving career in finance—complete with three promising opportunities—for a life as a ski patroller and, later, a backcountry manager. How did I find the courage to trust myself in a decision that traded financial rewards for profound personal fulfillment? Navigating the self-doubt…
-
Targeting YA Teens, Hooking Adult Readers: The True Audience for The Long Walk Home: When the Power Dies
Who did I write The Long Walk: When the Power Dies for? The short answer: the young adult market—readers aged 13 to 18, likely skewing 60% boys and 40% girls at launch. With the short story I’m crafting as a reader magnet, I hope to nudge that toward a more even 55/45 split. But here’s…
-
Living the Adventure: Tales of Mountains, Seas, and a Boy’s Dream
Recently, I picked up Thin Air: Encounters in the Himalayas by Greg Child, a climber and mountaineer I’d heard of only in passing. I wish I’d discovered his writing sooner. His beautifully descriptive language evokes the siren call of the Himalayas. Published nine years before Jon Krakauer’s 1997 bestseller Into Thin Air: A Personal Account…
-
Conquering Writer’s Block: Steinbeck, Heinlein, and My Battle with Procrastination
Writer’s block has been a hot topic on my writing-related social media feeds lately, and most, if not all, writers experience it in some form. For some, it’s debilitating, pushing them to abandon writing as a career or even a hobby. On the other end of the spectrum are those who experience only a brief…
-
From Childhood Books to My Debut Novel: Updates, Stories, and a Call for Reviewers
Thanks for Your Questions!Over the past few weeks, I’ve received a flood of questions about my writing journey and my upcoming novel, The Long Walk Home: When the Power Dies. I’m thrilled by your interest! So pardon my dust! This post is a bit of housekeeping to answer those questions, share exciting updates, and invite…
-
A Teen’s Odyssey Through a Powerless World:
A Race Against Winter in a World Gone Dark Imagine a world where the lights go out—and stay out. In The Long Walk Home: When the Power Dies, fourteen-year-old Tommy faces this jarring reality. Fresh from summer camp, he’s thrust into a world without electricity, stranded at Denver International Airport with the Browns, his newfound…
-
Rainy Camps and Post-Apocalyptic Journeys: The Books That Inspired The Long Walk Home
What sparks the creation of a new story? For me, writing The Long Walk Home: When the Power Dies was a journey shaped by the books that left an indelible mark on my imagination. From tales of survival to stories of youthful courage, these works inspired the themes of hope, resilience, and discovery in my…
-
Soundtrack of Stories: How Music Shapes My Writing Journey
In my writing, place and music are vital background characters, shaping the narrative and my creative process in profound ways. Most often, it’s soothing background sound that minimizes distractions during the writing process. Nearby sights, sounds, or tempting alternatives often distract me, especially before I start writing. Another more present distraction is my thoughts –…
-
Chasing Words: Building a Writing Life Amid New Stories and New Orleans Streets
I’ve never been one for journals or diaries—writing regularly just wasn’t my thing growing up. This blog, though, is changing that. It’s the closest I’ve come to capturing my thoughts consistently, and it’s part of a bigger shift: building a writing life. For me, habits have always been about showing up—whether for a workout, a…
Michael H. Ritterhouse 