We are delighted to welcome author Rico Lamoureux to Omnimystery News today.
Rico's new crime novella, Riker's Calling (DramaticNovellas.com; August 2016 ebook format), is published today and we had the opportunity to spend some time with him talking about it.
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Omnimystery News: Introduce us to the lead character of Riker's Calling. What is it about him that appeals to you as a writer?
Photo provided courtesy of
Rico Lamoureux
Rico Lamoureux: Jeremy Riker is a Private Investigator, and Riker's Calling serves as his origins. He appeals to me as a writer because he's a modern-day warrior, determined and selfless when it comes to helping those in need. I also have a fondness for him because he's not one-dimensional, even showing that he has a sense of humor when someone jokes with him. I believe this combination of having a good heart while still being lethal is why readers have connected with him.
OMN: As Riker's Calling is the first in a series, how do you expect him to develop over time?
RL: Like the rest of us, Riker can't help but be changed, at least to some extent, by experience, but he is who he is, and this natural calling, this instinct to protect, will lead him to a number of different circumstances and adversaries, The Ghostwriter being his next, as indicated at the conclusion of Riker's Calling.
OMN: Suppose Riker were to interview you. What would be his opening question? And what would your answer be?
RL: Question: Why me? Why tell my story?
Answer: I respect what you do, Riker. I know you've given up a lot for others, which in this day and age can't easily be found. Also, you fascinate the hell out of me!
OMN: Into which genre would you place Riker's Calling?
RL: I'm a multi-genre author, with Riker's Calling being my first Crime Thriller. As a lover of story, both reading and writing it, I don't like to limit myself. As human beings we are multi-faceted, and I chose to have this reflect in my work/art as a storyteller as well.
There's definitely disadvantages to labeling one's work, the most evident being a potential reader closing themselves off to a great story just because it doesn't fall under a certain category. Great storytelling transcends genre and expands the horizons of a reader.
OMN: Tell us something about the book that isn't mentioned in the synopsis.
RL: One of the elements of Riker's Calling involves how the world around us as changed over time, including the repetitive hamster wheel cable news has become. I think this is another reason the story has resonated with readers. It provokes thought, and is in alignment with the world of today.
OMN: When starting a new project, which comes first: the character or the storyline?
RL: From my perspective, story can come out of character, and vice versa. Each book is different, and if you listen close enough, each will let you know how it wants to unfold, this result being like a wizard and his wand. Magic!
OMN: How much of your own personal or professional experience have you included in the book?
RL: I'll let readers decide for themselves, with my soon-to-be released autobiography, Power of the Pen. Like my fiction, it goes a lot deeper than what one might think upon first glance, and I'm looking forward to sharing the real-life stories of my diverse life with those who have supported my work.
OMN: Describe your writing process for us.
RL: It varies from one project to another. One story might require a lot of research, outlining, etc., while another will take shape as I go along writing it. That's part of the joy of it all. I never know how the blossoming is going to take effect until I sit down and really contemplate on the initial idea.
OMN: How do you go about researching the plot points of your stories? What have been your most challenging or exciting topics to research?
RL: The method often depends on the story. Personally speaking, the most challenging is when my research requires consulting with an expert. This is not always the case, as some people are very kind, but for the times when I come across ignoranus, it can be quite frustrating. But such is the case in the world we live in today.
As far as most exciting…? Well, I have written a few erotic tales!
OMN: How true are you to the setting of the story?
RL: One of my most primary concerns when writing is to be in alignment with truth, so yes, it's very important for me to get it right if a certain place is part of the plot and/or character's life. This turned out to be the case with Riker's Calling, the three most relevant locations being downtown Los Angeles, The Charleston Marina near Coos Bay, Oregon, and The Los Angeles Union Train Station, thankfully all of which I have spent time at.
OMN: What kinds of books did you read when you were young? Have any particular authors influenced how and what you write today?
RL: I grew up reading great stories, having no interest in limiting myself with genre. I thank that little boy for having the open mind to do so, because now I have a freedom most authors don't.
Robert Cormier, Stephen King, Anne Rice, and Ken Follett have all influenced me. Not by genre, but by great storytelling.
OMN: When selecting a book to read for pleasure today, what do you look for?
RL: As which has always been the case, I'm just looking for a great story. Unfortunately, the more saturated the market becomes, the harder it is to actually find 'em! If I come across a book by an author I'm not familiar with, I'll flip through it, and if they can draw me in with one or two random paragraphs, I'll usually make the purchase. Writing is an art, and when it's great I'm appreciative.
OMN: This is your twelfth publication. Do you see any of your stories suited for the big screen?
RL: As a storyteller, I can't help but say all are. As someone who has studied screenwriting, I'd have to say The Mirrored Staircase and Riker's Calling are the two most cinematic.
OMN: What's next for you?
RL: Well, I'm hoping to get a tattoo soon! I've never been inked, but I promised myself that if Riker's Calling becomes a bestseller I'll get the cover tattooed to my forearm. After fourteen years of marriage, my wife and I hope to have a child next year, and it would be great to one day tell our son or daughter the story behind it. That because of the success of this book, we were able to bring he or she into this world.
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Rico Lamoureux is an author who believes in substance over cliche writing, diversity over genre. He's a life-long lover of story, and has been a storyteller for over thirty years. His stories of substance engage, excite, and enlighten, as reflected by the critical acclaim they have received. "Great storytelling isn't easy to find. Whether it be in film, literature, music, or so on. I always feel grateful when I come upon a tale that moves me, and have made it my life's work to create such for those seeking the same."
For more information about the author, please visit his website at DramaticNovellas.com and his author page on Goodreads, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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Riker's Calling by Rico Lamoureux
A Jeremy Riker Crime Novella
Publisher: DramaticNovellas.com
From school bullies to the crime-ridden streets of his hometown of Los Angeles, Jeremy Riker has always felt the need to do something about the injustice surrounding him.
Just as he sets out on his journey as an urban warrior, he unknowingly gives rise to an obsessive adversary, who ends up becoming one of the most notorious serial killers the city has ever known. Dubbed by the news media as The Spyderco Killer, the methodical psychopath roots himself deep into Riker's life for the long haul, until his own madness propels everything into an intense climax.
— Riker's Calling by Rico Lamoureux
