I am pleased to have another UK indie author—R.L. Baxter—join us here at Nothing Any Good. R.L. is the author of Gideon and the Crimson Samurai, Mother Gaia, A Sinless Horizon, and The Worst Death. He is an avid blogger and speaker, giving advice and thoughts to fellow creators from all walks of life. Welcome Ricky!
Let’s jump right in. You’ve said before, “Believe in your work. Believe in you.” What did you mean by this?
I said this after I woke one morning and saw a great review for my title: Gideon and the Crimson samurai. The review was so accurate, and I could tell the reader captured the message and intention within the book. As such I was thankful to myself that I never gave up on my title, as it took many years to complete. When you’re a making a piece of work, it’s hard to know what others will think of it – which is why sometimes we discard a piece of work, out of fear others will reject it. Because I never gave up on my title (even though I wanted to at times), I was able to witness what other people thought about it. This is why it’s importance to believe in your work and you. You just might have a diamond waiting to be revealed.
That is a great ideology to hold close to the heart. You say that your titles highlight concepts of race, religion, war, and poverty. Do you mean literally the titles or the content within the books?
I would say a bit of both, as it depends on the title. For example, Gideon and the Crimson Samurai as a title doesn’t bring to mind anything along the lines of: Race, religion, war and poverty. However once read, these concepts slowly show themselves throughout the story. On the other hand, my novella: The Worst Death clearly warns the reader that the story will contain some hard-hitting things. Based on many reader’s thoughts, I will happily concede that my stories reflect the society we live in.
Race seems to be an important issue for you. Here in the states, Ta-Nehisi Coates has made some waves in recent years with his articles in the New York Times and the Atlantic, and his two published books The Beautiful Struggle (a memoir) and the fantastically powerful (and #1 New York Times Bestseller) Between the World and Me. Have his works made a impact on discussions surrounding race in the UK?
Unfortunately I haven’t read any of his works, but they seem very intriguing. I would say that the issue of race has always been a concern with me. Not only because of my own experiences, but the experiences and cultures around the world. Thanks to social media, we no longer need to listen to a narrative portrayed by the media. Now we can see for ourselves the type of issues many others face around the world. This offers an endless pool for writers to discuss and voice through their work. After all, my work (like many others) is a portrayal of this world and the many possibilities it may take. This could be told either idealistically or pessimistically of course.
“Thanks to social media, we no longer need to listen to a narrative portrayed by the media. Now we can see for ourselves the type of issues many others face around the world. This offers an endless pool for writers to discuss and voice through their work.”
Personally, I’m drawn to your idealistic approach to the world. You seem to look at the world, not as it is, but as it could be. Where did that belief that the world can be better than most people believe it is come from?
I think it’s because I am naturally an idealistic person, who’s always been quite a dreamer. As I got older, I observed much of the things in society and realized that many of the rules and regulations we follow are made by an unfair system. As such I have always been optimistic things could get better. Don’t get me wrong; I am aware that this world will never be the way many of us would like for it to be; however, that doesn’t stop me from hoping. In my stories, this ‘hope’ comes in the form of many things. In Mother Gaia, I used the spirit of earth as the ‘hope’ to bring change. The same theme runs through my other novellas, which basically portray an intervention as a way to affect mankind.
You seem ambitious and driven. Being completely vulnerable and open, where would you hope to see this secondary career be in 10 years? Again, be completely honest. I won’t accept a fluffy everything is great and what happens will happen answer. What’s the dream with your writing career?
In all honesty, I would love to achieve a loyal and conscious fan base where I can dedicate my writing to. That would be perfect! I used to be a composer for short films a while back, and would create many scores for indie directors. However, as much as I enjoyed composition, I couldn’t quite tell my own story with just that. Since being a writer and author, I have the tools to put a piece of myself in the literature. In doing this I am able to communicate my views and stories in a way that I’ve never achieved before.
“Self-publishing has been a test of endurance and patience which gradually reaps benefits.”
What’s your YouTube Channel about?
Oh… that, hahaha. Well just before I started drafting Gideon and the Crimson Samurai, I created a visual novel for youtube. It’s called: Colours of Destiny, and it’s a mixture of my compositions and creative writing. Told in episodic form, Colours of Destiny is about the imaginary people within our dreams and ‘what if’ they had real feelings, knowing that once the dreamer wakes up, they would cease to exist. I did it for purely arts sake, as I thoroughly enjoyed the process from start to finish. It’s mind blowing, that’s for sure!
While uncustomary and at the risk of being a rude host, I am taking the last question myself, and it’s not even a question, it’s a quote…from you:
“Self-publishing has been a test of endurance and patience which gradually reaps benefits.”
Truer words about self-publishing have not been spoken.
Thank you, Ricky! I am grateful for your time. Please visit us often. You have tremendous creative talent and we wish you all the success in the world!
Thank you so much for interviewing me!
About the Author
Ricky Baxter is a writer and author to many novels and novellas for your reading pleasure. His titles are a reflection of our own society; highlighting concepts of race, religion, war and poverty. His most notable work is Gideon and the Crimson Samurai. Born and bred in London, Ricky has always been an inspired lover of weird and wonderful concepts, and his work is no exception. Also an avid blogger and speaker, Ricky Baxter’s message is one of awareness of ourself and the world around us.
Find more writing and publishing tips at Nothing Any Good.
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