Multi-published author, editor, speaker and now associate publisher, Ramona Richards is a ‘born writer’ and a natural storyteller, who comes from a family of storytellers. Her mother bought her a typewriter at age ten, and she began writing down her stories. That was just the beginning.

Ramona has freelanced for more than a dozen publishers, and worked an as editor for Abingdon Press, Thomas Nelson, and Rutledge Hill Press, as well as Ideals magazine. She has edited more than 500 publications, including fiction, trade nonfiction, scripts, and Bibles.

Now the associate publisher for Iron Stream Media, Ramona lives in Birmingham, Alabama.

 

When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

When I was about seven, my brother caught me hand-copying a biography of Daniel Boone. He asked what I was doing, and I told him that I wanted to write a book. He explained that I couldn’t copy someone else’s work, that I had to write my own. That I had to make up my own stories. I’d already been doing that, telling my family stories I’d made up during our long car trips, for a few years.

Apparently, I arrived on the planet wanting to tell stories. I honestly cannot remember a time when I did not want to be a writer.

Sometimes God sends us down an unexpected path, one that blesses us more than our original plan. Have you ever experienced such a “Divine Detour”?

How much time do you have?

Seriously, there are times I think my entire life has been one long detour after another. God’s intended journey for our lives seldom coincides with our own dreams. But, as in my case, there’s almost always a lot of overlap.

“Apparently, I arrived on the planet wanting to tell stories. I honestly cannot remember a time when I did not want to be a writer.”

How does your faith play into your writing?

It’s an integral part of my creativity. I believe my writing is a gift from God, and I hope to honor Him with whatever I do with it. I’ve been Christian most of my life, and my faith forms how I see the world. I can’t imagine—and don’t know if I could—write from a perspective other than that.

Let’s talk about Murder in the Family (Firefly Southern Fiction, September 2019). Please tell us about it.

Murder in the Family developed after some up close and personal encounters with a few hoarders. I became fascinated with what I would do if I had to face that from one of my family members.

Here’s the description:

Storm chaser Molly McClelland must return to her small Alabama hometown when she unexpectedly inherits her hoarder aunt’s house . . . and all of its contents.

Despite her suspicions that her aunt was murdered, Molly wants nothing more than to sell everything and get back to the life she loves. Especially once her homecoming reignites the decades-old family conflict that drove her away in the first place. But when Molly uncovers caches of cash, journals revealing secrets-and a body-amongst the stockpiles, she finds herself locked in a cat-and-mouse dance with a deadly endgame.

Molly teams with local sheriff, Greg Olson, to find the truth. But will her determination and his skills be enough, or will the killer-or killers-put an end to their efforts once and for all?

“I believe my writing is a gift from God, and I hope to honor Him with whatever I do with it.”

What’s next for you as a writer?

Burying Daisy Doe, a new cold case suspense tale, will release this fall from Kregel Books. My book of editorial advice will be available at conference this year, and will release in the fall. I’m working on four other novels, so I’m staying busy. If folks want to connect with me, they can find me on Facebook primarily, but I’m also on Twitter and Instagram.

Thanks, Ramona! It’s great to have you as a guest at Divine Detour.

This was fun! Thank you for hosting me.

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