At AuthorsWiki, we are delighted to connect with Rick Clogston, an author from New Hampshire, USA, whose debut novel, The Princess Key, opens the door to the expansive science-fiction universe of the Shattered Worlds trilogy.
Rick Clogston is a retired US Postmaster, US Navy veteran, semi-professional musician, former guitarist, singer, and songwriter for The Red Hat Band, certified Methodist lay-preacher, and experienced announcer. He has also worked as a local stock car track announcer and has been a long-time announcer for the annual Sandwich, New Hampshire Fair antique tractor pulls.
His journey as a storyteller began long before he became a novelist. His father, a long-haul truck driver, was known for always having a new story or joke to tell, while a fifth-grade teacher introduced Rick and his classmates to timeless works such as The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and The Hobbit. Music later added another dimension to his storytelling, with learning the guitar leading him into songwriting and learning to type eventually leading him into novel writing.
The Princess Key, the first novel in the Shattered Worlds trilogy, introduces readers to Lisa Allen, a thirteen-year-old girl whose life is violently transformed when she is forced into slavery after the murder of her parents. An unexpected escape with one of her captor’s alien slave girls takes her into a dangerous new world—and the beginning of a completely new life.
In this exclusive AuthorsWiki interview, Rick Clogston discusses the inspiration behind his storytelling, his unconventional “pantser” writing style, his influences, his journey from songwriter to novelist, and the many stories still waiting to be told within his science-fiction universe.
AuthorsWiki: Apart from writing, what is your occupation for livelihood?
Rick Clogston: I’m retired from the US Postal Service and a semi-professional musician.
AuthorsWiki: Tell us something about your first book.
Rick Clogston: Picture this: You’re a thirteen-year-old girl wearing nothing but a blood-stained blanket. The blood came from the brutal thug who just murdered your parents and took you to be his slave.
His bleeding was caused by one of his space-alien slave girls, who then hot-wired one of his light-speed shuttles and invited you to escape with her. You arrive at a space station about two steps ahead of the thug’s friends, enemies, and business partners. Welcome to the first day of Lisa Allen’s new life.
AuthorsWiki: Would you like to tell us about your published books?
Rick Clogston: The Princess Key is my first published novel. I have finished the second part of the trilogy, as well as the first two instalments of a spin-off series titled The Pathfinder Chronicles. Beyond that, I’m working on part 3 of the trilogy. I also have four other non-sci-fi novels finished that I hope to publish in the near future.
AuthorsWiki: Where did you get the inspiration for publishing books?
Rick Clogston: The stories just keep flowing. I reached a point at which it was time to turn my hobby into something more closely resembling a business. Even though it’s possible to self-publish for next to nothing, professional editing and book design do require some capital outlay. I’m hoping that The Princess Key will attract enough attention to keep me doing this. It would be nice if my writing habit paid for itself.
AuthorsWiki: How do you manage your time to write a book?
Rick Clogston: More like, how do I manage to find time to do anything else? The books exist fully formed in my mind, in rough form. An hour here and there and, voilà, there it is. Being retired has been a big help in that department. I now have the luxury of devoting entire days to transcribing the movies that continually play in my mind. I’m fortunate in that I’ve never had to deal with writer’s block.
AuthorsWiki: What is your favourite writing method—the one in which you write the most?
Rick Clogston: I’m what some folks call a “pantser,” meaning I fly by the seat of my pants. I can see where putting together a detailed outline would be helpful, but so far I’ve managed to function with a clear sense of the final destination and some consultations with my compass along the way. The closest I ever get to an outline is a short list of events that need to happen between the green and checkered flags.
AuthorsWiki: When did you start writing, and how did your interest in writing begin?
Rick Clogston: My Dad, a long-haul truck driver by trade, was that guy your Dad knew who always had a new story or joke to tell. My favourite memories are of hanging out with him, listening to him tell about all the places he’d been, interesting people he knew, growing up during the Great Depression, playing scrub baseball with a broken cantdog handle, going to a one-room schoolhouse, and so forth.
Another big influence was a fifth-grade teacher who read to the class for an hour every Friday. In that year, she read us The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and The Hobbit. Learning to play the guitar turned me into a songwriter. Learning to type turned me into a novelist.
AuthorsWiki: Is there any special achievement in your life that you would like to share with us and your readers?
Rick Clogston: Hmm. I don’t think it counts as an achievement, but I became a Christian when I was 28. I would say winning my wife’s heart and having four children are pretty great achievements. Beyond that, I don’t have any special achievements, but I have done a lot. I suppose if I could choose anything I’d like to be remembered for, it’s being a good tipper.
AuthorsWiki: Are you planning to write or publish a book in the present or future?
Rick Clogston: I’m hoping to, yes. As I mentioned above, I have several completed manuscripts of various types, and a few more that I’ve begun and would like to finish. The science-fiction universe in which the Shattered Worlds trilogy takes place has loads of potential.
AuthorsWiki: Would you like to give a message to your readers and fans?
Rick Clogston: Yes. Continually asking “why” will never steer you wrong. It might get you in trouble, but that’s because it’s a Godly word and will lead you into the land of truth. That’s a good place to be. Some people think of it as a scary place, but it shouldn’t be. It’s a place where edifices of lies fall apart.
AuthorsWiki: Every writer has their own ideal. Do you also have an ideal writer? And what are your favourite books that you always want to read?
Rick Clogston: Whew! How long ya got? It’s hard to beat Tolkien. I don’t think there’s ever been a better world builder, including civilizations and places. Stephen Lawhead is also brilliant in these areas. His Arthurian novels are without parallel.
Recent favourites include Patrick Rothfuss and Jesse Sutanto. Both have a firm grasp of the human condition and are gifted at spinning fascinating tales. Arthur Conan Doyle’s writing is timeless. In Sherlock Holmes, the 1800s feel like they’re happening right now. It’s why Holmes fits so well in any contemporary adaptation, while still being a character of his time.
AuthorsWiki: Apart from writing, what are your other hobbies that you enjoy in your free time?
Rick Clogston: I love playing the guitar and writing music. Performing for an audience is a lot of fun. I enjoy following baseball and various motorsports. I find hanging out with family and friends is always fulfilling, but so are long, solo drives. When I’m getting antsy, my wife will toss me my car keys and say, “See ya later.”
AuthorsWiki: Would you like to remain in the writing world in the future as well?
Rick Clogston: I most definitely would. I love to write, and I also love talking to people about writing. I don’t have a lot of training in the craft, so I love picking the brains of other writers.
About Rick Clogston
Rick Clogston is an author from New Hampshire, USA, and the writer of The Princess Key, the first novel in the Shattered Worlds science-fiction trilogy. A retired US Postmaster and US Navy veteran, Rick has also spent years as a musician, songwriter, announcer, and Methodist lay-preacher. His storytelling roots can be traced to his childhood, particularly the stories shared by his father and the books introduced to him by a fifth-grade teacher.
He has completed the second novel in the Shattered Worlds trilogy, the first two instalments of the spin-off The Pathfinder Chronicles, and several other non-science-fiction manuscripts. With a growing fictional universe and numerous stories still in development, Rick Clogston plans to continue writing and expanding his literary world.
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It was a pleasure conversion with Rick Clogston, whose journey and reflections offer a meaningful glimpse into the creative life of a writer. We sincerely thank them for sharing their time and wisdom with the AuthorsWiki community.
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