Author Russ Ray

Interview by The Heat Seekers

The Heat Seekers: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Russ Ray: I was raised in Colorado by a single, English immigrant mother. I am an Army veteran. I have studied English literature and law. I am a father of two sons. I have traveled from Hawaii to eastern Europe, from northern New York to southern Mexico.

THS: What made you decide to be serious about writing/ being an author?

RR: It was one of those life decisions that made itself. Reading and writing has always been a part of my life.

THS: Which people or books have had the most influence on your career and why?

RR: There are so many. William Shakespeare, Mark Twain, Kurt Vonnegut, and Michael Herr for starters. This list is long.

Follow Author Russ Ray on his adventures on Instagram at: @eat.travel.type

THS: What would you say is the #1 key to success as an author?

RR: Reading and writing every day – not as a chore, but as a part of a routine.

THS: Talk about the biggest failure you’ve had. What did you learn from it?

RR: I wrote a story as an assignment in the 6th grade. The teacher read it to the class aloud as an example of how not to write. There have been many more times my writing fell flat. What I have learned is not to dwell on them. It’s best to move along.

THS: What advice can you give other individuals who want to follow in your footsteps?

RR: I have no advice. Writing is such an individual endeavor. Ideas come from life experience.

THS: Have you ever had writers block? How did you get back on track?

RR: The stories and vignettes I write come from recent or past experiences. So long as one has a good memory and a vivid imagination, there is no such thing as writers block.

Follow Author Russ Ray on his adventures on Instagram at: @eat.travel.type

THS: What projects are you currently working on? (That you can talk about).

RR: I am always writing. I work on more than one project at a time.

THS: What’s your all-time favorite book and author?

RR: This is an impossible question. I like good writing and good story telling.

THS: We hear that you love typewriters. Please share your Instagram, so we can follow you on your adventures.

RR: Sure, you can follow me at: @eat.travel.type