Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Ritter.
Hi Mary, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Oh my, it is a really long story. I retired several years ago to keep my first grandchild, which has been grand for sure. I now have two grandchildren. And that makes it even more special. However, I wasn’t totally ready to retire. In the professional world I worked in the HR field. I could, and have in the past, opened my own Staffing Company. I had a good deal of success with that endeavor. At this point in my life, I wanted to try something new.
I have worked with children on a volunteer basis for over forty years. Which has always brought me so much joy. I have authored many stories to utilize in Children’s Church and Girl’s Ministry. I thought, why not try my hand at publishing some of the stories I have written. So, the adventure began. No Editor, No Illustrator, No Publisher. I didn’t let that deter me.
Some of my early stories centered around a little girl named Charlotte. She is a sweet and kind little girl who faced much adversity. In one story she goes to a prince and princess party at her church. What fun!! I mean, most girls love the thought of being a princess. She encounters a not-so-nice girl at the party. What follows is tender and touching. The children (and adults) loved the story.
I began with the Charlotte Series. The books were self-published in booklet form. A local print shop put them together for me. I utilized royalty-free pictures I found on free sites to provide illustrations for the stories. I have been fortunate to sell many of these stories through friends, sponsorship, churches, and word of mouth.
My booklets are a bit different than what you might pick up at the bookstore; however, the stories are just as good. My early writings have been “to tell” as opposed to “read.” I have joined Word Weaver’s International ( A Christian writers association) and have learned a great deal. My latest stories are much improved for reading. Although I really love storytelling, I have been advised that in book format, it is not as successful.
I have a variety of stories that fit together in series. As mentioned above, The Charlotte Series a few others are: Mary Jane and The Boys: Unsung Heroes and Modern-Day Saints. Most of my stories take snippets from either my childhood, my mother’s childhood, other loved ones’ childhoods, mentors’ childhoods, spiritual leaders’ childhoods, or friends’ childhoods and weave a story (fictional) around those snippets.
I’m not sure what the future holds, but I will keep writing, growing, publishing, and enjoying every success along the way.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all smooth. I would compare my writing to my child. I am enormously proud of my stories and having less than positive reviews often feels crushing. However, there’s nothing to do but pick yourself up and write on!
I’d say some of my biggest struggles have been trying to do it all on my own. No editor, no illustrator, no publisher. Trying to figure out how to play all of those roles has been a struggle. Also, nay-sayers can be very distracting. I’m a bit of a dinosaur (ok, I am a dinosaur), so trying to learn how to use the software for producing my own cover has been a big challenge. I keep at it, but that part is exhausting.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I really enjoy writing. I have been told by a few that my stories remind them a lot of the Laura Ingalls Wilder stories. That really blew me away.
Most of my stories have a moral or point to finding our way home. I believe that our true purpose in life is to help each other find our way home—our eternal home.
I love to hold book readings to children; I have had the privilege to read a few of my stories to children at Falcon Children’s Home in Falcon, North Carolina. What a joy!
What sets me apart? I believe you will know once you read one of my stories. I do have one book currently self-published on Amazon. It is a sweet story entitled VEE. It is one of the stories from my Unsung Heroes and Modern-Day Saints series.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Oh wow! I love listening to Living Real Podcast. It provides great inspiration. Also, being a member of Word Weaver’s International has been a great resource to me in honing my writing skills. And, as far as the ultimate inspiration in life, The Bible. The key for living a life well.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: Yhttps://www.facebook.com/mary.ritter.98096
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-ritter-8b3a83a8/
