Rick Adelmann admits himself that he has been around the hill and has fallen off a few ridges. Always a writer, He started at the age of twelve. He spent a couple of years with the Cleveland PD, enlisted in the Air Force, worked at a Medina, Ohio radio station, then headed out to California to make his fortune. And, forty-five years later, he’s still trying to make that fortune.
At least he’s prepared himself. Rick kept writing as he worked for a BA degree in History, taught school, acted in a couple of movies, repossessed cars, sold real estate, work in security, and manned the cord boards at the phone company. His vast experience gave him a myriad of ideas for plots and characters. When not writing, he spends time with his lovely wife Gayle, greets people at his church, putters in his garden, watches baseball, and plays with his Dachshund, Cookie and his beloved cat, Cuddy. Learn more about Rick in this recent interview: |
You live in Arizona now ... what brought you here? Where were you born?
It was a long and tangled road that led me to Arizona actually…
I was born in Weehawken, NJ, and raised in Wayne Township as a child. At ten, we moved to Cleveland, OH. After graduating from John Marshall High School, I decided to become a police officer. So, I went to Cuyahoga Community College as I worked for the Cleveland PD.
However, the US was involved in Vietnam at that time. I enlisted in the USAF for four years … volunteered to go to Nam (what did I know, I wanted to be a hero like my dad!), instead I was sent to Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, AK. The most beautiful state I’d ever seen! I was stationed there for two years, then two years at George AFB (near Victorville, CA). You can say I went from the coldest spot to the hottest ... but I grew to love the desert. The two years in Alaska taught me that I was made for warmer climates. Then, the wanderlust hit me. I decided to pack up my few belongings and travel the country. So, with $600 in my pocket and an old Dodge Duster, I took off. Traveling in every direction and enjoying every corner of this wonderful country.
At one point, I was driving west through the Nevada desert when I discovered that my brakes were out. So, I decided not to stop. Easy solution, right? Well, I was coming into Las Vegas, and I knew I would be hitting some stop sign soon. But, I missed them all and got all green lights until I found a service station. I glided right into the lot. As I already mentioned, I didn’t have much money. So, I left the Duster at the service station and walked a couple miles to a casino. I forget which one, but I won enough to pay for the repairs.
The next day I drove off to southern California. I ran out of money when I reached Victorville, right back where I served in the Air Force. I got a job at a Beneficial Finance Co., as a loan officer and a repo man. I got to know the manager well and he invited me to meet his ugly sister in Pomona. (I knew she wasn’t ugly; I saw a family picture on his wall.) So, I accepted, and that day changed my life forever. His sister was nineteen- year-old Gayle. We went to a drive-in to see Young Frankenstein. Before the end of the movie, we were in love! A week later I proposed, and a month after that, we were married!
A few years and a new job later, I was transferred to Glendale, AZ. We moved with our two young daughters and made a wonderful life for ourselves.
What inspired you to start writing?
I started writing at the age of twelve when my sister asked me to write a play for her and her friends so they could perform it for their parents. It went well, and I caught the writing bug after that.
Where do you get your inspiration to write historical mysteries?
I have a bachelor’s degree in History from California State University, San Bernardino. I’ve always been a nut for reading historical books of all sorts. Since my birthday is on July 3rd, I was especially interested in the Civil War (Gettysburg was fought on that date). However, I found that the time period between the 1890s and the 1930s was the most pivotal in American history. It was the time period of great innovations, changes in societal norms, and a time that led to American dominance in the world.
Are you a dog person or a cat person?
Both! I love animals of all sorts. Though, I can see the differences between cat people and dog people. Simply saying, cats believe they are ahead of us on the evolutionary scale, and dogs see themselves as our servants. I like cats and dogs equally for their individuality. I have a Dachshund and a big gray cat; both females who get along famously and share my lap without fighting.
Who is your favorite character in the MG&M Detective Agency Mysteries?
Tough question! I modeled James Mallory and Sherwood Garth after the two sides of my own personality, so I can’t choose between them. Since I’m ambidextrous, Garth is my left side, Major Mallory is my right side. However, I’d have to pick Anneka ... I love redheads, and I based her beauty and personality on my wife, Gayle.
Which book so far in the series was your favorite to write, and why?
My favorite is the one I’m writing at the time. But, if I have to choose, it would be The Forgotten Murder Affair. I’ve always been fascinated by time travel, and I’d love to write a series about traveling to different periods in time. Something like the old cartoons, Mr. Peabody. Of course, you’d have to be as old as me to remember him!
If you could be anyone famous from the 1920s, who would that be, and why?
I'm not sure about being anyone "famous". The 1920s was an era of exploration. There were hundreds of men and women who set out to places unknown to explore and learn. And, many missionaries who set out to spread the Gospel. Being a Christian, I admire those hardy adventurers. If that were God’s calling for me. I’d do that. (Matt 29; 19: Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations.) But, if not, I’d travel around the world, enjoying all the diverse cultures before they became tainted by western culture. Western culture is fine for people brought up in that culture. But, other people have distinctive ways about them that are as civilized as our own. I don’t think every country should have a fast-food chain on every street corner. They don’t need to import western television or western music. Every corner of the world has its own culture; they don’t need to replicate ours.
Besides writing, what are some of your simpler pleasures in life that you indulge in from time to time?
Right now, I’m immersed in my garden. More than just planting and watering flowers. I’m building miniature villages for my imaginary Boogie Bears. When my daughters were small, I would tell them a story each night about a group of small bears who lived in the deep forest. Now I use my garden to make the stories come alive. I’m building small buildings and hiding them within the plants with small bears I bought from the Goodwill store.
Once my health gets back to where it should be, I’m going back to hiking the desert and bicycling. I love to do both activities, but I had to put them aside because of a horrendous car accident.
Are there any other genres that you have contemplated writing? If so, which ones?
Like I mentioned above, I’d like to write stories about traveling to different time periods. I also enjoy a good scary book to read. I’m a big fan of Dean Koontz and like his kind of stories.
If you had a magic wand and could have just one thing in your life that you don’t have now, what would that be?
Oh my! I’m a simple kind of guy. I don’t need a lot to make me happy. I’ve got a loving wife, great grandkids, and a God that loves me. However, with this heatwave we have in Arizona, I’d wave the wand and, poof!, there would be a big cool swimming pool in my backyard.
It was a long and tangled road that led me to Arizona actually…
I was born in Weehawken, NJ, and raised in Wayne Township as a child. At ten, we moved to Cleveland, OH. After graduating from John Marshall High School, I decided to become a police officer. So, I went to Cuyahoga Community College as I worked for the Cleveland PD.
However, the US was involved in Vietnam at that time. I enlisted in the USAF for four years … volunteered to go to Nam (what did I know, I wanted to be a hero like my dad!), instead I was sent to Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, AK. The most beautiful state I’d ever seen! I was stationed there for two years, then two years at George AFB (near Victorville, CA). You can say I went from the coldest spot to the hottest ... but I grew to love the desert. The two years in Alaska taught me that I was made for warmer climates. Then, the wanderlust hit me. I decided to pack up my few belongings and travel the country. So, with $600 in my pocket and an old Dodge Duster, I took off. Traveling in every direction and enjoying every corner of this wonderful country.
At one point, I was driving west through the Nevada desert when I discovered that my brakes were out. So, I decided not to stop. Easy solution, right? Well, I was coming into Las Vegas, and I knew I would be hitting some stop sign soon. But, I missed them all and got all green lights until I found a service station. I glided right into the lot. As I already mentioned, I didn’t have much money. So, I left the Duster at the service station and walked a couple miles to a casino. I forget which one, but I won enough to pay for the repairs.
The next day I drove off to southern California. I ran out of money when I reached Victorville, right back where I served in the Air Force. I got a job at a Beneficial Finance Co., as a loan officer and a repo man. I got to know the manager well and he invited me to meet his ugly sister in Pomona. (I knew she wasn’t ugly; I saw a family picture on his wall.) So, I accepted, and that day changed my life forever. His sister was nineteen- year-old Gayle. We went to a drive-in to see Young Frankenstein. Before the end of the movie, we were in love! A week later I proposed, and a month after that, we were married!
A few years and a new job later, I was transferred to Glendale, AZ. We moved with our two young daughters and made a wonderful life for ourselves.
What inspired you to start writing?
I started writing at the age of twelve when my sister asked me to write a play for her and her friends so they could perform it for their parents. It went well, and I caught the writing bug after that.
Where do you get your inspiration to write historical mysteries?
I have a bachelor’s degree in History from California State University, San Bernardino. I’ve always been a nut for reading historical books of all sorts. Since my birthday is on July 3rd, I was especially interested in the Civil War (Gettysburg was fought on that date). However, I found that the time period between the 1890s and the 1930s was the most pivotal in American history. It was the time period of great innovations, changes in societal norms, and a time that led to American dominance in the world.
Are you a dog person or a cat person?
Both! I love animals of all sorts. Though, I can see the differences between cat people and dog people. Simply saying, cats believe they are ahead of us on the evolutionary scale, and dogs see themselves as our servants. I like cats and dogs equally for their individuality. I have a Dachshund and a big gray cat; both females who get along famously and share my lap without fighting.
Who is your favorite character in the MG&M Detective Agency Mysteries?
Tough question! I modeled James Mallory and Sherwood Garth after the two sides of my own personality, so I can’t choose between them. Since I’m ambidextrous, Garth is my left side, Major Mallory is my right side. However, I’d have to pick Anneka ... I love redheads, and I based her beauty and personality on my wife, Gayle.
Which book so far in the series was your favorite to write, and why?
My favorite is the one I’m writing at the time. But, if I have to choose, it would be The Forgotten Murder Affair. I’ve always been fascinated by time travel, and I’d love to write a series about traveling to different periods in time. Something like the old cartoons, Mr. Peabody. Of course, you’d have to be as old as me to remember him!
If you could be anyone famous from the 1920s, who would that be, and why?
I'm not sure about being anyone "famous". The 1920s was an era of exploration. There were hundreds of men and women who set out to places unknown to explore and learn. And, many missionaries who set out to spread the Gospel. Being a Christian, I admire those hardy adventurers. If that were God’s calling for me. I’d do that. (Matt 29; 19: Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations.) But, if not, I’d travel around the world, enjoying all the diverse cultures before they became tainted by western culture. Western culture is fine for people brought up in that culture. But, other people have distinctive ways about them that are as civilized as our own. I don’t think every country should have a fast-food chain on every street corner. They don’t need to import western television or western music. Every corner of the world has its own culture; they don’t need to replicate ours.
Besides writing, what are some of your simpler pleasures in life that you indulge in from time to time?
Right now, I’m immersed in my garden. More than just planting and watering flowers. I’m building miniature villages for my imaginary Boogie Bears. When my daughters were small, I would tell them a story each night about a group of small bears who lived in the deep forest. Now I use my garden to make the stories come alive. I’m building small buildings and hiding them within the plants with small bears I bought from the Goodwill store.
Once my health gets back to where it should be, I’m going back to hiking the desert and bicycling. I love to do both activities, but I had to put them aside because of a horrendous car accident.
Are there any other genres that you have contemplated writing? If so, which ones?
Like I mentioned above, I’d like to write stories about traveling to different time periods. I also enjoy a good scary book to read. I’m a big fan of Dean Koontz and like his kind of stories.
If you had a magic wand and could have just one thing in your life that you don’t have now, what would that be?
Oh my! I’m a simple kind of guy. I don’t need a lot to make me happy. I’ve got a loving wife, great grandkids, and a God that loves me. However, with this heatwave we have in Arizona, I’d wave the wand and, poof!, there would be a big cool swimming pool in my backyard.