An Author, Musician, Photographer, and so much more. (See Update.)

Please, introduce yourself. Tell us about your personal life, family, education.

I am Charles King aka C.R. King (pen name). I have two grown daughters and three grandkids.

What do you like doing in your spare time?

I enjoy visiting ghost towns and museums

If you are active in career fields other than writing, what do you hope for the future of that business? Describe your work or business activities in which you are presently active.

I have been in the TV/Film Industry for darn near my whole life. I have one of my books optioned by Hollywood, hoping after the writers’ strike it will be funded. I was asked by a major Network to develop a new professional monitor for their News Trucks. I did I hired an engineer to build it. The MMRB15 Series of monitors was the outcome. All monitors are custom made and are ruggedize.

Hobbies

Do you have hobbies? How did you get started in them?

Hobbies: guitar (had four, gave them away now two incredible sounding). Photography (my first from age 12 on.) Art collection and Map collections (my oldest map is dated 1863 – 2 of them), next 1883. (1718 & 1820 both are newest of no real value) and I have a book of maps that is of great value. Also, I have one sixth of a dollar that was printed in New York in March 1776 (Colonial Currency). All together 16 pieces of Art, and a Remington Statuette. A slew of Indian Pottery as well.

If you are a writer, are you an avid reader?

Good question. I am a writer and I do read, daily. I research every day. Why so much research you may ask? I write Non-fiction and Historical-fiction books. Historical – fiction is because I have written in novel form meaning I added dialogue. The last book I read is the first part of two name from Cambridge History Native People of the Americas, Volume II Mesoamericana. Do I read, yes pretty much daily.

What is your ultimate writing goal as you see it today?

I have two books I am trying to finish by developing a book cover, input all the footnotes, etc., and find a publisher. This first book is comprised of 21 Short Stories of Old West highlighting various men and happenings; its pure Non-Fiction and around 30,000 words in size. The second is a booklet (under 9000 words). Here I am trying to come up with a title as well as a book cover. It may be a small book but it was very complex to write. It is the story of the First Americans that lived for thousands of years in what is now the Los Angeles basin. I believe I have one more book to write. It will be about my life. I have the title: I Am Nobody. In reality, I did a lot of good and never received credit for my efforts.

What inspired you to write your first book?

I stopped off at Tombstone, Arizona. Purchased a stack of old newspapers and came across a name, Arthur Moore King. I thought are we related? So, I starting researching this man. We are not related but his story had to be told. It took me a year to research and a year to write.

Deciding on Titles

How do you decide on the title of a book?

The first book was easy, Arthur Moore King, was Wyatt Earp’s last deputy, thus the name, The Last Deputy. The two men did not wear badges but they did work sub rosa for the Los Angeles Police as bounty hunters. King was 25 and Earp in his early 60s. The rest of the book title came from the subject matter with in each book. My next two books are named: A fraternity of Gunslingers: True Stories of Wild West Gunmen, Volumes 1 and 2.  Lies and Betrayal followed. It takes place between a husband and his wife. Both are corrupt policemen is a small town in upper California. This book is in novel form. Short Stories will be the third volume of Fraternity of Gunslingers with the addition of a new cover and the tag Volume 3.

Have you developed a specific writing style and why?

I just sit down and start writing, but after I have compiled its history. My style is to tell simply and write (which is not so simple). I have been told that I am a good “story teller.” There was a review and the reviewer wrote that he did not care for the book all that much, but then he wrote that there was something about the book and he read the book in one day and was mesmerized. So I guess I am a good story teller.

How much of your books is realistic and experiences based on someone you know, or events in your life?

All my books are realistic. They are based on deep research. Lies and Betrayal was different. I read the article of these two people and interviewed the D.A. and the lead Newspaper reporter. My son-in-law knew one person who was involved. I had to wait until the 4th trial ended before I started writing my sixth book about the First Americans to satisfy my cultural anthropology interest. The more I research the more determined I became to tell the true story starting in 1209 AD.

Who is your favorite writer, and what is it about their work that really strikes you?

Hands down – Mark Twain. I’ve read most of his books, maybe even all of them. I studied his life and wrote a Pilot on his life prior to renaming himself Mark Twain. He and his older brother Orion traveled to Nevada Territory in 1862. Orion was hired by the Lincoln Administration as Secretary of the Territory. He was second only to Governor Nye, also newly appointed, to form a government, to ready Nevada to become a state. Sam Clements (Mark Twain) had no job but he had a lot of experiences that influenced him.

Is there an author, past or present, you would love to meet? Why?

Ernest Hemingway. Look at this body of work, that says it all.

If you could not write, how would you express what you wish to convey through any stories?

I did not write for most of my life. I have always risen to the top as a leader of men. This

goes back to my time in the Military and continues today.

Update:

C. R. King has the following two new books out. You can find them at the links below.

New Author Advice

When you see new authors struggling, what single piece of advice could you give them on a moment’s notice?

Don’t give up. Set a day aside and x hours and sit and write the same time and same day of the week; it’s okay to struggle, I sure did.

How do you want others to see you or remember you? Is it important to you?

As a good honest man who stood up for others who never lied or cheated nor stole. It has never been important to be recognized but as I get older, I realize that just because I am a simple man, it doesn’t mean that I have not contributed to my community and beyond. I helped many throughout out the years and stood up for what was right.

Do you have a blog or website viewers can visit for updates, events, and special offers? Include links to any and all of your sites.

Yes, a website that is being upgraded:

www.historicalbooksandothers.com

https://www.facebook.com/cr.king.16/

https://www.facebook.com/cr.king.17/

https://www.facebook.com/rking2.books/