Ricky Baxter is a London born, fantasy author of novels and short novellas. He is an avid blogger, giving advice and thoughts to fellow creators from all walks of life. Starting out as a composer since graduating with a Ba(Hons) in music and multimedia, Ricky worked for many independent short film directors, gaining notable IMDB credits. Since then, he has embraced his earlier passion for writing fictional stories.
IG: @authorricky
https://www.facebook.com/rickyleebaxter
Rickybaxter.wordpress.com
1) First, I want to thank you for taking the time to do this interview with me! When did you know that writing is what you were called to do? What is it about being a writer that you love the most? What about being a writer frustrates you the most?
Hello, and thank you for having me! I had first realized that writing was my thing back in high school. At the time, my English teacher assigned the class an exercise titled “Original Writing,” which required each of us to write our own story. I wrote a story named Rei’s Great Adventure, a tale about a boy who is able to transform into a tiger. My work got an A Star, a grade I had never received before! Ever since then, I’ve loved writing and all that it involves. What I love about being a writer is the power and freedom it gives me. If there’s a burning message within my heart, I am able to get it out through writing. I have been writing for over 10 years now, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop. At the same time, writing does have its frustrations. I find that it can be quite difficult to juggle daily responsibilities with the need to write. Writing is quite a solitary experience (which I love), but it can be tricky to juggle a social life too!
2) Can you tell us a little about your book(s) and where our readers can find out more about them and you?
Well, I currently have around 12 books published, and readers can find out about them (including myself) on Amazon and a plethora of interviews online. My stories are all fictional, set in fantasy and sometimes sci-fi worlds.
https://contactanauthor.co.uk/Author/2119/ricky-baxter
https://rickybaxter.wordpress.com
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12016699.Ricky_Baxter
3) What projects are you currently working on?
At the moment, I am writing the sequel to my most popular novel: Blue Lunar & The Apex Grail. Of all the novels I have written, Blue Lunar is by far the most well-received, so it kinda makes sense to continue and build on such a vibrant world. At the same time, I am currently going on a few radio stations and podcasts to expand my reach to new readers!
4) What has been your most significant achievement as a writer thus far? Where do you see yourself within your career in the next five years?
My most significant achievement was my very first invitation to lead a writing workshop at a local primary school. It was a fantastic feeling, and everybody enjoyed the learning experience. It was wonderful sharing my journey of when I was a young writer and how I still continue to write today. Since then, I have continued to visit schools and even appear on multiple platforms to share my message and experience as a writer. In five years, I see myself on bigger platforms and appearances, talking about my novels and new releases!
5) How have you dealt with rejection within your writing career?
Wow, I could write a whole book about all my rejections! I simply take it in my stride and keep moving forward. One of the greatest pieces of advice I received early on was: There is no one-size-fits-all. As such, whenever I get a rejection or setback, I often remind myself that my path is unique to me.
6) Do you have a schedule for when you write? Do you outline your novels? How long does it generally take you to finish a novel?
I am typically a night writer, so I almost always write during the late hours. There is something beautiful about writing around midnight when there is an overall silence in the air. It helps me to concentrate. I have a vague outline for my novels, by drawing certain key moments in the story. However, I try not to be too controlled with this, as I always want to maintain those levels of excitement when writing! I find that the older I get, the more conscious I become when writing, which I believe isn’t a good thing. Hence why I try to take my mind back to being a child when I write, because children rarely second-guess their creative works. I would say that it takes me 2 years to finish a novel.
7) Do you believe that there is ever a point in life where it’s too late for an aspiring writer to become successful in this industry? Do you feel a late start would hinder their chances?
In my opinion, I don’t think it’s ever too late for an aspiring writer. Unlike other sectors such as modelling, acting or singing, authors and writers rarely have a shelf life. Perhaps this is because most readers rarely care about what the author looks like, as the idea is to enjoy the novel first. I admit that it might be tough for someone navigating the writing/publishing world if they have never done so before; however, I would say it’s more of a challenge rather than a hindrance. Most of my favorite authors never really became successful until their later lives.
8) Are you an avid reader and have you always been? What’s the first book you ever read that really touched you emotionally and moved you? Who is your favorite author? What book are you currently reading?
Funnily enough, I am not the most avid reader, at least of novels anyway. I tend to read self-help books more than anything! The very first novel that I read, however, was Psycho Busters, a three-part novella about a boy who goes on the run when the government discover his latent psychic abilities. I won’t spoil the ending, but it touched my heart in so many ways because throughout the story, he meets many enemies who later become dear friends to him. My favorite author in the whole world is Miyuki Miyabe. She wrote ICO: Castle in the Mist. This, perhaps, would be my second-best novel in the world, as the writing is so beautiful and poetic! I am not reading anything at the moment, so I am on the lookout for a new story to jump into!
9) Given the recent shake-ups in publishing, what are your thoughts about how the publishing industry is being represented today? Do you lean more towards traditional publishing or self-publishing as a preference? Does being a hybrid author interest you?
I have given this a lot of thought. I have always been a self-published author, and although there were times that I desired traditional publishing, I would soon remind myself of the many benefits of being self-published. Also, the idea of constantly pitching my work to a gatekeeper has never really sat well with me. It almost normalizes a way of thinking that tells writers that they will never be successful until someone chooses them. I think this is why many younger writers and authors have embraced different routes to success (Bookstagrammers or TikTok authors, etc.). I would be open to being a hybrid author, as long as it works. Who knows!
10) I feel like writing is a remarkable tool to help people not only express themselves, but also to cope emotionally and mentally. I know for me I write to be and feel more authentic. What unique quality is there about you, about your art, that you feel represents your authenticity? How does writing help you to be more empowered in your purpose?
I love this question. For me, writing helps me to stay connected to who I am, while at the same time learn about aspects of myself that I don’t often realize. Through writing, I’ve found that I value things such as friendship, family, belief and sacrifice. Unintentionally, almost all my stories have a mix of gods, mortals and sacrifice, which I find so interesting about myself. I find this helps to give me confidence as to the sort of person I am in this world. Above all, writing is a beautiful reminder of my humanity.
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