The New Voice of the American West: Writing and research are my passions; edgy historical fiction the consequence.
Rich Ritter discovered a passion for writing during his tumultuous high school years. This zeal was consumed by technical writing during his lifelong profession as an architect until the age of 49, when he began work on his first novel. Ritter was born in Iowa, raised in the social cauldron of Southern California, completed his architecture degree (Cal Poly SLO) in Denmark, and is a 40-year Alaska resident. He has traveled the world in search of adventure including such diverse destinations as East Berlin (twice through Checkpoint Charlie), Russia, the British Isles, Western Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, Southern Africa, Mexico, Central America, Canada, and the United States, particularly the west. His fascination of Silver City, Idaho inspired him to write Nor Things to Come: A Trilogy of the American West, an endeavor that consumed five years of historical research and writing. Ritter is the author of five books including Heart of Abigail: A Lyric Novella of Juneau, Douglas and Treadwell, and Toil Under the Sun: A Novel.
TOIL UNDER THE SUN
"Ritter artfully and realistically depicts a rough road to adulthood with a wartime motif." --Kirkus Indie Reviews
"Ritter, whose father served as a lieutenant in the US Army during the Korean War, and whose son is a Marine, is at his best when he focuses on the experiences of men in combat."
"Toil Under the Sun is a touching story that continues to unfold throughout its entirety with characters who are warm and easy to understand. I found this book intriguing to read with its vivid imagery and thoughtful insight. A great choice!" --Capital City Weekly
HEART OF ABIGAIL: A LYRIC NOVELLA OF JUNEAU, DOUGLAS AND TREADWELL
"Ritter's descriptions brought me back in time, as if I was sitting amidst the bustling traffic of Treadwell during its prime." --Capital City Weekly
"I loved his book Heart of Abigail: A Lyric Novella of Juneau, Douglas and Treadwell. It weaves a fictional story with a historical base. Absolutely remarkable book!" --Alaskan Book Cafe
THE PERILOUS JOURNEY BEGINS
"OK I'm hooked! When is book two coming out? I may have to travel to Silver City myself just to figure it out! When does the Mini-series air? Let me know." --Email from a reader
"All in all, a splendid read. Good work. I hope you continue to hone your writing and storytelling skills. You've got a great talent."
