Urban-Reviews.com - Inside Out with A. P. Ri'chard

A. P. Ri'Chard

The multifaceted producer, author, screenplay writer, actor, and motivational speaker known as A.P. Ri'Chard has applied his gifts to a variety of endeavors. And while he creates wonderful stories for stage, screen, and books, his story is as remarkable as any of his works of fiction.

A. P. Ri'Chard, a Detroit native, left the Motor City for New York in 1997 with nothing more than the blessings of his family and friends. In doing so, he abandoned a well-established professional career as a computer engineer. His burning ambition to publish his manuscripts drove him to make that leap of faith - to migrate to the epicenter of the publishing world. As so often happens for so many passionate faithful, Ri'Chard's resources ran dry before his royalties rolled in. He found himself among the homeless, a paradigm shift in lifestyle, which ultimately provided him fertile ground for stories of struggle.

Likewise, as with so many who first fall before rising, he kept his quest moving ever forward through his consistent writing regimen. Shortly thereafter, through a fated benefactor encounter, traction using his extraordinary computer engineering skills for which he was self trained.

After a momentary game plan, he next met Cliff Benton, a literary agent and founder of Audacity, The Literary Consortium. Benton recognized his talent and the ever-requisite ambition. Mentoring Ri'Chard on the wiles of the industry, Benton gave him entree to the professional ranks, including Maxwell Taylor, Editor at A & B Publisher's Group. It is one thing to gain access to the inner sanctum, it is entirely another to deliver the plateau-caliber manuscript required to stay.

Considering “Damn!” one of his so-called park-bench gems, Ri'Chard amazed Taylor with his deft skill and artful stylings contained in the polished tome. A & B Publisher Group brought joyous and welcome news to the Detroit-based Ri'Chard family of their creative son and his first published book. Spurred on by this success, Ri'Chard plunged headlong into developing numerous manuscripts simultaneously.

As with each new opportunity comes both a challenge and responsibility. Striking out for uncharted territory Ri'Chard was introduced to a young man who stated that he was wrongfully imprisoned for the murder of a racist white male in his hometown. This story fueled Ri'Chard to pen a story inspired by this young man's dilemma. Facing the challenge of creating a manuscript worthy of this heart-wrenching reality, “Caged Innocence” was borne.

Ri'Chard is producing the feature-length film adaptation for “Caged Innocence” set for release in the second quarter of 2009. He has also penned a biographical feature-length film, a legendary tale of a controversial and world-renowned figure, called “King of Rhythm, the Ike Turner Story.” In support of screening and broadcasting his screenplays and television projects, Ri'Chard has launched an audio-visual production company, United Spirits, LLC, on the strength of his motto: “Like Hearts And Minds At Work”. A. P. Ri'Chard is well on his way to reaching his goals of writing for television, the silver screen, and the literary community.

Read A Full Excerpt of Caged Innocence: Click Here

Author's Myspace Page: http://www.myspace.com/apunitedspirits
Author's Official Website: http://www.unitedspiritsllc.com
Order Your Copy of Caged Innocence: Click Here

Urban Reviews: Can you tell us what your book Caged Innocence is all about?
A. P. Ri'Chard: Caged Innocence is about a teenager determined to end the reign of his abusive, alcoholic father, ends up accused of a murder he didn't commit. A noted Klansman, Miran Thompson, has been killed, and the prime suspect in this murder case is seventeen-year-old Larry Henderson. Complicating matters, Larry's father, Officer Perry Henderson, is deeply involved in the case. To the casual observer, the evidence against Larry is overwhelming. If convicted he would surely receive the death penalty. In order to avoid death row, Perry convinces his son to plead guilty. He promises to do all he can to prove Larry innocent. But are Perry's motivations so pure? The father and son's turbulent past has created a deep rift between them, and Perry is afraid of the teen's repeated promises for vengeance. Believing he is being set up for murder, Perry instead aims the evidence at his own son, thus allowing him to take the fall.

Urban Reviews: Where did you come up with the storyline for Caged Innocence?
A. P. Ri'Chard: The storyline for Caged Innocence came from an encounter I had with a friend's cousin. This young man told me the story of how he was falsely accused of murder and how his father was behind his frame up. I was so blown away that I asked him if he would mind me using some of the events surrounding his life in the creation of a story of fiction. I was more interested in doing a film, but thought, why not a book also.

Urban Reviews: A lot of elements in Caged Innocence are actually based on real events. Why did you choose to release it as fiction instead of non-fiction?
A. P. Ri'Chard: In doing my research, I was unable to verify with certainty the circumstances which led to the crime, or on who actually committed the murder, nor was I able to verify why his father chose to set him up. Plus, fictionalizing it gave me room to be as creative as I wanted to be. My hope was to deliver a compelling story and introduce the reader to one of the most remarkable individuals that I have had the pleasure of meeting.

Urban Reviews: What things did you do to help prepare yourself for the book business?
A. P. Ri'Chard: I never took any writing classes, but I did learn about the publishing business although my real interest was the movie business. But I realized that if I were going to try and write novels that I was going to have to read books, which was never one of the things that I enjoyed when I was coming up. I could never sit still long enough to read a book. I think the first book that I really actually read was George Orwell's 1984, but I only did that because I wasn't going to be allowed to play in a high school baseball game if I didn't.

Urban Reviews: Where do you see yourself in five years as far as the literary world is concerned?
A. P. Ri'Chard: I hope to be recognized as an author that draws in a diverse group of readers. I'd like for the word to get out that with every book he has been able to improve to a point that his titles are in great demand. I want people to enjoy reading my work as much as I do in writing. I would hope that they feel as if they were taken on a wonderful journey. But the main thing is the spiritual message that I plan on having in each--I want the reader to go away saying, "You know what, life ain't so bad if you believe that God has your back..."

Urban Reviews: Did you learn anything about the book business that you wish you had known beforehand?
A. P. Ri'Chard: It's a real subjective business. I like telling stories, it took me awhile before I learned that just because you can tell a story doesn't mean that you can write it the same way you tell it. Writing is a craft that takes years to learn, and even longer to master. I didn't realize that even if I got some to like my work that others would be so critical without being constructive... With me being self taught its a little easier for me to deal with rejection. You really need tough skin.

Urban Reviews: Do you have any upcoming projects that you're working on?
A. P. Ri'Chard: I'm in the process of working on two major motion pictures that I have just gotten financing on. One of the films is Caged Innocence. I've written several screenplays that have caught the eye of industry professionals. That in itself encouraged me to create my own film production company (United Spirits LLC). I am writing a novel off of every script that I've written. Shadow Of Memory will be my next novel. I'm also working on a film about a very controversial musician which should be going into pre-production March 2009.

Urban Reviews: Are there any African American authors or books that you enjoy reading?
A. P. Ri'Chard: I love my Strebor Family, Zane is one of my favorites...Jonathan Luckett, Allison Hobbs, Franklin White, Dywane D. Birch, D.V. Bernard, Stacy-Deanne... The entire Strebor family. Eric Jerome Dickey is one of my favorites also.

Urban Reviews: What advice would you like to share with the aspiring authors out there?
A. P. Ri'Chard: If you really have the desire to write then read the books of those authors that inspire you...read their books and see how they deliver their story. You have to know that it won't be easy. If it were, everyone would be doing it. Don't let rejection discourage you. There will come a time where you want to give up, but if it's meant for you to do this, then you'll find yourself right back in front of your computer. Don't come in thinking that you're going to make a lot of money. Understand that those that make a lot of money spent years putting in the work. If you want to write, do it because you love it. That is straight from my mentor...Thank you Zane!

Urban Reviews: Is there anything else you would like to share with us about you or your books?
A. P. Ri'Chard: As I feel very blessed to have been given an opportunity to do something that I really enjoy I can promise that I'm going to do all I can to improve, not just as a author but as a person as well. I believe that each of us should take on the responsibility of trying to improve as people first and foremost. Thank you so much for blessing me with your time and attention.