Guest Post from Author Rick Glaze
How Ralph & Murray Came to Be
Ralph & Murray
is a pandemic book. Yes, it was easy to find time to write while literally
everything was shut down. But, as I’ve heard from writers and others, the whole
uncertainty and anxiety of this unknown event took a toll on mental space. I’m
grateful that a lighthearted book was on my agenda. Ralph and I shared serious
chuckles writing it.
I had planned a memoir incorporating growing up in a small
southern town in the 1950s, leading later to the abrupt changes and unhinged
people I encountered in Silicon Valley. It had some nice twists to it. The
California segment was planned to be live interviews with a group of disparate
characters that I was hoping to be quite juicy. Sounds kind of fun, right?
Okay. Maybe you’re guessing what happened. My March 8, 2020
flight to Silicon Valley was postponed for a week or two until this little
virus thing blew over. Instead, it blew under the rug, under the sheets, and
stole all the toilet paper.
The interview format was going to be a stretch for me in the
first place, because it was a new approach. So, with no visits to the west
coast and no interviews, I was relieved to enlist Ralph, my dog, to tell this
story. I gave serious thought to the format, because I had some concern that
there was little in the way of a fixed plot running through the various
vignettes.
Synopsis (from Amazon):
In the quaint backdrop of
a small southern town, circa 1959, an extraordinary tale unfolds through the
charming narration of an unlikely storyteller - Ralph, a spirited four-legged
companion with a knack for punchy humor.
Amidst a world where most
dogs merely wag their tails and feline neighbors purr quietly, Ralph and his
witty counterpart, Murray, emerge as remarkable exceptions, gifted with
extraordinary abilities.
As they traverse the
idyllic landscapes of their hometown, encountering ghosts, hobos, and even the
iconic twist dance craze spearheaded by Chubby Checker himself, Ralph and
Murray's adventures take on a whimsical, yet deeply resonant quality.
Through their escapades,
readers are treated to a delightful journey brimming with empathy, kindness,
and compassion, serving as a poignant reminder of the power of standing up for
others.
From unraveling the
mysteries of why pencils have erasers to discovering who might have alligators
for lunch, Ralph and Murray weave a tapestry of nostalgia from a bygone era
with heartwarming humor and infectious charm.
Readers of all ages are
invited to immerse themselves in a world where the bonds of friendship and the
beauty of diversity reign supreme, leaving behind a trail of laughter, wisdom,
and unforgettable memories.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/4cTDBxp
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195721040-ralph-murray
Author
Bio:
Rick Glaze published the kayaking adventure, The Purple River in 2021, Spanish Pieces of Eight, a sailing
adventure/mystery, and Jackass: Short
Story Collection in 2022. He was a Columnist at San Francisco’s Nob Hill Gazette, attended the Stanford
University Creative Writing Program, and is a graduate of Peabody College,
Vanderbilt University, and MTSU.
He is an award-winning songwriter with two CDs, a
Pandora radio station, credits on Country Music Television (CMT), BBC Radio, as
well as radio airplay. Rick has rafted the Grand Canyon, the Salmon and Rogue
Rivers as well as sailed throughout the Caribbean Sea.
Website: https://rickglaze.com/
Facebook: @RickGlazeBooks
Twitter: @RicksbooksRick
Instagram: @rick.glaze
Praise:
“"Rick
Glaze does an amazing job of sharing what life was like in the 50s and 60s
through the perspective of a dog and it makes for a hilarious and unique
book."
— Red Headed Book Lover
Blog
"Ralph
& Murray is a delightful journey into nostalgia that will resonate with
readers of all ages, making it a perfect shared experience for the entire
family."
— Going Dad Blog
"A funny, smartly observant, and
philosophical animal tale; a heartwarming read."
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
One of the most popular contemporary memoirs was a favorite
of mine, and this was a perfect time to re-read Tuesdays With Morrie, a deeply touching and intimate story where
the only plot was that the story took place every Tuesday. Like with every
book, I was worried whether or not the book would find an audience. Ralph and
his zany buddy, Murray saved the day, and as you can tell there is
overwhelming, laugh-out-loud interest.
During the writing, there is a chance if you were around me
and had something whacky or offbeat going on, you got a little ink or maybe
your own chapter. For example, I escaped to Florida for a week and visited the
Everglades. The fan boats skidded across the swamp and the guide explained details
of the food chain, as in the adult racoons eat the baby alligators and the
adult reptiles eat the racoons. As you may know, Murray chewed this one up in
the chapter called, “The Big Ones Eat the Little Ones.” Thank you, Murray!
Now a confession. When Ralph is reading the letters from
Uncle Art, it may be pure plagiarism. Is it stealing if I wrote in a different
format? I hope not. A couple of these came from my previous weekly column in
Silicon Valley, The Uncle Art of
Investing. I’m not surprised these short, whacky pieces made it into the
book. But I am surprised they made it into the newspaper in the first place.
There is a grain of truth in most of the vignettes in the
book, even though the dog and cat mix things up a bit. That is, except for Zeke,
down by the creek. I created Zeke so he could wind through some stories and
places that the dog, cat, and the kids couldn’t go. In the end this is my
memoir, even though I recruited Ralph and Murray to do the heavy lifting, so
the last chapter finishes on a nostalgic note, which makes me feel just fine.
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