Tag: Speculative Fiction
-
Exciting News: My Interview on Voices of Taos Podcast – Diving into ‘The Long Walk Home’
Dear readers, I’m thrilled to share that I recently sat down with Ellen Miller Goins on the Voices of Taos podcast, hosted by Taos News, for a deep dive into my latest novel, The Long Walk Home: When the Power Dies. We explored the gritty realities of a post-electricity world—think societal collapse, human resilience, and…
-
Spoilers Ahead: Charley’s Unexpected Redemption in The Long Walk Home
Irredeemable evil has long been a staple of fiction, but in recent years, we’ve seen a shift toward more nuanced villains—from subverting expectations to exploring stories from the antagonist’s point of view. In contrast to contemporary writing tropes, in creating Charley in The Long Walk Home: When the Power Dies, I originally intended him to…
-
Fatherhood in Crisis: What Does Fatherhood Look Like When the World Falls Apart?
With tens of thousands of books on parenthood—and over 2,200 on fatherhood listed on Goodreads alone—you might wonder how a young adult adventure novel could offer fresh insights into being a dad. I didn’t set out to write a story centered on fatherhood any more than I intended to explore cults, bullying, or leadership. Yet,…
-
What True Leadership Looks Like in Crisis (and Why Tommy Nails It)
Leadership is a vast, timeless topic—one I’m so passionate about I could fill a whole book. We’ve seen it explored in ancient China, India, Greece, and Rome, then evolving through Medieval Europe. Think diverse thinkers like Sun Tzu, Confucius, Plato, Aristotle, and even Niccolò Machiavelli. Over centuries, leadership has shifted from innate traits to behaviors…
-
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…
-
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 –…
-
Future Tales: Crafting a Book for Tomorrow’s Teens!
Crafting a story for tomorrow’s teens is an energizing challenge. For my first book I had planned on writing a novel for an adult audience who preferred speculative fiction, but the story to which I felt most drawn was that of Tommy, the main character in my forthcoming novel, The Long Walk Home: When the…
Michael H. Ritterhouse 