Welcome to my home on the Internet!
Unless you’ve stumbled upon this page by chance, you’re here because you’re interested in one of my many subject areas for rambling discourse. I’m Richard Estep, and I wear a lot of hats in my professional life: educator, paramedic, firefighter, Assistant Chief, hazardous materials technician, paranormal investigator, and one that is relatively new but very dear to my heart – author.
The short version is that I finally got round to writing my memoir a couple of years ago, and was able to successfully pitch it to a publisher. That book, In Search of the Paranormal, will be released on September 8th in the USA (and a month later in Europe) so suddenly this writing thing has gotten to be very real. I have always loved books, ever since I can remember, thanks to parents and grandparents who kept my desire to read fed on a regular basis.
But I was never quite able to see myself as a writer; that was always a profession for somebody else, somebody better qualified. Then I sold an honest-to-goodness manuscript to an honest-to-goodness publisher, received a check that cleared without bouncing – and thereby met Stephen King’s criteria for being a “talented writer.” You wrote a book, somebody paid you for it, and the check cleared.
Right now I am just finishing the manuscript of my third book, have a contract for a fourth signed, and have three more potential future titles lined up. I’m also finishing my first novel, which should hopefully be out there by the fall/autumn (delete as applicable depending on which side of the pond you are on) thanks to the joys of self-publishing.
I am therefore embarking on an earnest effort to build a career as a writer. That’s not to say that I want to give up any of my day jobs, as they’re all fulfilling in different ways; but writing is its own special thing to me, and I’m going to follow this particular star wherever it leads me.
I would be honored if you would join me for the ride.
