Defiance Press: Rick, you’ve had an remarkable journey to publication, starting to write fiction at 63 and dealing with challenges like dyslexia along the way. What would you say to someone who thinks they’re starting too late or facing too many obstacles?
Rick Steeby: It’s never too late if you’re willing to do the work. I got my college degree at age 50, started writing seriously at 63. People need to understand that every obstacle is just that – an obstacle, not a stop sign. I have a favorite quote from Theodore Roosevelt that I think sums up my philosophy perfectly:
“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”
Defiance Press: That’s powerful. What practical advice would you give someone just starting their writing journey?
Rick Steeby: First, manage your expectations. Every writer probably goes back to the advice they found helpful when they decided to turn their hobby into a career. The advice I got from established authors like Rick Campbell, Brad Thor, Jenny Milchman, and Craig Johnson was clear: if you plan to get rich off writing, look for other work. If you plan to publish something worth reading, prepare to write eight to ten books and spend a fortune on classes, computers, and editing.
If that sounds harsh, ignore it. It sounded reasonable to me, and ten years later, with thirteen manuscripts written, I have a book being published. The key is perseverance.
Defiance Press: How important is it to “write what you know”?
Rick Steeby: “Write what you know” was my first takeaway about writing fiction, and it’s served me well. I don’t do science fiction and prefer settings before technology became a character in the story. My background in law enforcement, my time in Alaska, my experiences with different kinds of people – all of that goes into my stories.
But “write what you know” doesn’t mean you can only write autobiography. It means using your life experiences to create authentic characters and situations. I know what it’s like to be afraid but push forward anyway, to feel like you’re not living up to family expectations, to work in dangerous situations where backup might not come. Those emotions and experiences translate into any character, any setting.
Defiance Press: What about the actual craft of writing? Any advice for developing those skills?
Rick Steeby: Read everything you can get your hands on, especially in the genre you want to write. When I first wrote Escape from Playa del Carmen, people told me it sounded like Lee Child’s Jack Reacher. I’d never heard of Lee Child! Same thing happened when someone compared my work to Craig Johnson’s Longmire books.
I went to the library, discovered these authors, and learned from them. Both now occupy a lot of real estate on my bookshelves. You learn by reading good writing, by seeing how successful authors handle dialogue, pacing, character development, plot structure.
Also, don’t underestimate the value of classes and critique groups. Twenty years of Toastmasters helped me enormously with structure and communication. I learned to critique others without personal attacks, and I learned to view criticism as an opportunity to learn rather than a personal attack.
Defiance Press: How do you handle the emotional ups and downs of writing?
Rick Steeby: Don’t do it if it affects you negatively. I know people who self-medicate through writing therapy, but if you don’t feel better afterward, why put yourself through it? My goal is to entertain, not depress people. If a book got that dark, I would choose a different “what if” premise and start over.
That said, writing can be emotionally draining sometimes. I wrote a scene in Getting Home that brought me to tears because it touched on subjects that haunt me from my police work. But writing about it actually helped me process those experiences. Sometimes the emotional impact is part of healing.
Defiance Press: What about dealing with rejection and criticism?
Rick Steeby: In Toastmasters, we learn that the inability to grasp the point of a speech or a book can be on the speaker or writer, but it can also be on the listener or reader. Sometimes you’re just reaching the wrong audience, and that’s okay.
I must evaluate if criticism has merit. If it does, I try to learn from it and, if possible, thank the reviewer for enlightening me. If it’s a hit piece because of my beliefs or just someone being nasty, then I disregard it and move on. Dwelling on the negative does nothing to make me a better writer or a better person.
Defiance Press: How important is persistence in this business?
Rick Steeby: Everything. I wrote thirteen manuscripts before one was accepted for publication. Apparently, the first twelve were for practice. Each one taught me something new about the craft, about storytelling, about myself as a writer.
I have a quote I attach to my emails from Orson Scott Card: “Everybody walks past a thousand story ideas every day.” As a former police officer, I saw people’s lives change in an instant by random occurrence. The ideas are everywhere – the challenge is recognizing them and having the persistence to turn them into stories.
Defiance Press: What role does community play in a writer’s development?
Rick Steeby: It’s crucial, especially for someone like me who started late in life. I had some incredible connections through a remodeling client who knew established authors. Don’t be afraid to reach out to other writers, join writing groups, attend conferences.
I’m looking forward to the Killer Nashville writers conference – events like that are opportunities to learn, to network, to realize you’re not alone in this crazy business. Most writers are generous with their time and advice if you approach them respectfully.
Defiance Press: Any thoughts on the business side of writing?
Rick Steeby: I’m learning that the marketing side may be as difficult as the writing itself. Unlike some of my author friends, I’m not the introvert type. I like meeting people and even speaking to groups. Twenty years of Toastmasters training helped get me past the public speaking hurdle.
But there are aspects – email lists, blogging, website building, social media promotion – that I find challenging. I’m getting help with a lot of that and guidance from Defiance. The key is recognizing what you’re good at and getting help with the rest.
Defiance Press: What keeps you motivated to continue writing?
Rick Steeby: I want to keep my mind engaged, solving mental riddles I create on the page. At 72, every day is a gift that gets more valuable as time goes by. I feel I can write enough to do as many as four books a year, although since I don’t need them to feed me, one or two good ones seems like a better target.
Being retired, I have the luxury of writing because I love it, not because I have to. That takes a lot of pressure off and lets me focus on telling the best stories I can tell.
Defiance Press: What would you say to someone who’s written several manuscripts but hasn’t been published yet?
Rick Steeby: Keep writing. Keep finishing stories. Keep learning. My first goal was simply to write a novel – if no one read it, that was still more than most people accomplish. The second step was learning to take that first draft and edit it into something a professional felt was worthy of publication. That took a dozen tries.
I don’t think I’ll ever see myself as a writer with nothing more to learn. First, it would be boring, but most of all, it would be a lie. With this first book, I look at it and think, “This is my first commercial published book.” I can’t compare myself to the writers I admire today, but I do think about how my first compares to theirs – and I don’t go searching to find out because that way lies madness.
Defiance Press: Any final wisdom for aspiring writers?
Rick Steeby: Write your story. Whatever obstacles you’re facing – age, education, financial constraints, learning disabilities, lack of connections – they’re just obstacles, not stop signs. I started writing fiction at 63 with dyslexia and a high school education, and here I am with a book being published by a respected press.
Remember that perseverance and overcoming the past are themes that resonate in both life and literature. Continue to push ahead, keep finding redemption in the future. If you’re passionate about storytelling, if you have something to say, then say it. The world needs your stories.
And finally, be patient with yourself but never stop working. Success might come slowly, but it will come if you persist. Baby steps count as progress. Right now, receiving the first copy of Gold Miner’s Daughter would be a success for me. After that, we have a launch date and pre-sales. One success at a time.
Defiance Press: Thank you, Rick. Any last words for readers of this interview series?
Rick Steeby: Just that I’m grateful for this opportunity to share my journey with Defiance Press readers. Writing has been one of the most rewarding challenges of my life, and I hope my story encourages others to pursue their own creative dreams, no matter when they start or what obstacles they face.
I’m excited for readers to meet Wyatt and Amy and experience the Alaska I knew as a kid. If you enjoy Gold Miner’s Daughter, there are more stories coming in the series. You can find me at RickSteebyAuthor.com or on my Facebook author page. I love talking to readers about what I’m writing, what I’m reading, and my favorite authors.
Be inspired by Rick’s journey and discover where it all began in “Gold Miner’s Daughter” – coming soon from Defiance Press and Publishing.
About Rick Steeby: Rick Steeby is a retired police detective and construction company owner who began his writing career at age 63. Born in 1953, he moved to Alaska as an infant and spent his formative years in the Last Frontier during its transition from territory to statehood. After serving as a Military Police Officer, he worked pipeline security and spent twenty years with the Anchorage Police Department, including time as a detective investigating crimes against children and robbery cases.
Following his police career, Rick owned and operated a construction company before being forced to retire due to health issues. It was then that he turned seriously to writing, drawing on his extensive life experiences in Alaska, law enforcement, and his interactions with the remarkable people who chose to make their lives in America’s last frontier.
Despite being diagnosed with dyslexia later in life, Rick has completed thirteen novel-length manuscripts. He credits twenty years of Toastmasters training with helping him develop his communication skills and his ability to handle public speaking and promotion.
Rick currently lives in Virginia with his wife, staying busy with writing, woodworking projects, gardening, and spending time with his extended family, including ten grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. Gold Miner’s Daughter is his first published novel, with more books in the Wyatt series already completed and in development.
Follow Rick Steeby:
- Website: RickSteebyAuthor.com
- Facebook: Author page at facebook.com/sackett.chronicles
- Social Media: Available on LinkedIn, X (Twitter), Instagram, and GETTR
Contact Defiance Press and Publishing for review copies, interview opportunities, and promotional materials. Gold Miner’s Daughter will be available wherever books are sold upon release, with audiobook format to follow.
