Interview with richard heinreich
Author of Day of the Cross / Rick Kurtis
Rick Kurtis is a man with many talents, born in a small rural town, known as Columbus, Wisconsin. He grew up on a farm, and raised with good Christian values. He loves sun rises and long walks through nature. This gives him plenty of time to relax and think, using his extreme imagination.
He raised five children and taught Sunday school in his younger days. He always enjoys making up games or telling stories so children can learn. This led into writing his stories to share with others.
He has over 40 children’s books, 10 mid-grade and teen, along with 7 family and 3 screenplays for people to enjoy.
His other hobbies include drawing, wood working, sculpting, and making something new from discarded waste. He resides in Las Vegas, Nevada with his wife and works as a porter at McCarran International Airport and still enjoys writing with many more stories to follow.
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How would you describe Day of the Cross to a new reader?
- Day of the Cross was a dream that I had where I was the boy who walked with Jesus. It compelled me to read the Bible and found boy references who did walk with Him. This I had to share. It's a religious faith building book and make us think about ourselves.
To what extent is Day of the Cross based on your own experiences?
- I'm not very religious, but this book turned my life around and brought me closer to God. When I picked up the pen, the words just flowed across the page.
Day of the Cross is a good example of this genre. Who has inspired you?
- I would have to say The Bible, God who gave me that dream. It's hard to explain to why I wrote it, but this was my first with fifty plus that followed.
You make good use of locations in the book – there’s a real sense of place. Are these locations significant for you?
- For the most part, the places can be anywhere. They aren't real, only fictional, but my readers felt as though they where right there no matter where it was.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors? How would you advise a new author about traditional publishing versus self publishing?
- I do this because I enjoy writing and want to share with the world. If you have a passion to write no matter what it is, Then write, write, and write. As far as publishing, all authors lose with 7million books on the market and no way to be heard, we are stuck on the bottom either way. Traditional rule taking 90% and may market some, but your writing must be pristine and you submit along with 6,000 others a month for only 8 to 12 openings per year. Self publishing, at least your book is out there so friends and family can read it and you can feel proud for your accomplishment. Also you control all rights and have to self promote, the same as you would for traditional. Just think, you could be the next J.K. Rowlings or Steven King because some big wig was bored, looking for a story and found yours, whether written well or not, he liked it. They can't see it if it sits in your desk drawer.
Which authors do you most admire? Which qualities, in particular, have influenced your writing?
- To be honest, I am not a reader. I write because I have a passion to do so. My style is unique and I don't copy from other authors, but have advanced my skills by editing advise and watching U-tube videos by famous authors sharing their knowledge.
Day of the Cross is a thrilling read, a real page turner. How important was it to you to write with pace and energy?
- It was very important to me. It was something I promised to do, so it became my first. Yes, structurally, many will scoff, but getting past that many have read it in its entirety with out stopping, even though they had to work the next day. I became so moved while writing it, two more books entered my thoughts to continue from this one.
If Day of the Cross were to be adapted for TV or film, who would you see in the lead role? Who did you have in your mind’s eye when you wrote him?
- Many children actors grow up so fast and movies take two years to produce, so it is hard to pin point. Zack Efron in his younger days, or even Angus McLuaren. Now days, I would say Young Sheldon or Jeremy McGuire when they become 13 or 14.
How have readers responded to Day of the Cross?
- As stated before, They loved it. So moved they couldn't put it down. Others have their skepticism and had to refer to their Bible to question a fiction story, but this was the whole idea, to make people think and read the Bible.
Where next? What are you working on now?
- Day of the Cross II, Preparing for Christ is complete and waiting to be published with four or five others. Day of the Cross III, Judgement is at hand is half way through and is being entertained while writing on two others. I have forty other children's picture books ready once I have drawings and a means to publish. Thanks for your interest, and Happy Reading.
