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Ray Goodrich won a story-writing contest in 4th grade. He’s been writing ever since. After a post-college detour into marine mammal training, he embarked on a 30+-year career in sports and travel television, with stops at ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox Sports, ESPN, and TNT Sports. His work appeared across dozens of networks and platforms, winning eighteen Emmys for producing and writing.
Having served two of his passions—animals and storytelling—he turned to a third for the next decade: craft beer. As Marketing Director for Foothills Brewing, he rode the wave of boom years in the craft beer industry and was recognized by the national Craft Beer Marketing Awards for his groundbreaking work in cause-related social media. Somehow he also found time to run seven marathons, including two in one week, to honor two friends who passed away from blood cancers. Ray recently completed his debut thriller novel, Nature Of Evil, which was awarded Top 100 in the Cheshire Novel Prize. A native Floridian, he now lives in North Carolina with his wife, daughter, and two demanding dachshunds (which, as dachshund owners know, is a redundant term). |
Interview with Ray Goodrich
about his story "Shell Game"
Honorable Mention for The Scribes Prize
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What inspired this piece?
I belong to a writing group called Write Launch--every month we have a 1-hour writing session based on prompt pictures our moderator randomly picks on the internet. This particular week had a picture of an armadillo, money and a doctor—my brain just kinda took it from there.
What draws you to the micro-fiction format?
It’s great training for establishing stories and building reader investment quickly.
Who are some authors that inspire you?
The list is long, but starts with John D. McDonald. Also Lee Child, Daniel Silva, Steve Berry, Dan Brown, Riley Sager and Tana French.
If you could continue writing your story after these 100 words, what would happen next?
Stan rationalizes that the MRI must have given him a temporary superpower, and calls his long-suffering broker Rhonda. She’s been trying to get Stan to invest in anything for years. Now he wants to liquidate his safe, stable index funds and pour the cash into this Paraguayan guava jam venture. The armadillo (whom Stan has named Mr. Digby) translates the wire transfer terms from his burrow. The investment pays off immediately, making Stan rich. However, Mr. Digby demands Stan start acting as his “Above-Ground Liaison,” forcing him to attend bizarre, burrow-based financial meetings with other speaking animals from Stan’s backyard, further compromising his sanity but exponentially increasing his wealth.
What's next on the horizon for you?
Hoping to secure representation for my novel! Please follow me on Instagram or check my website for updates.
What would people be surprised to find out about you?
I was a marine mammal trainer when I first got out of college. I have 18 Emmys for writing and producing sports and travel television shows and features. And I’ve run 7 marathons—including two in one week, to honor two friends who passed away from blood cancers.
I belong to a writing group called Write Launch--every month we have a 1-hour writing session based on prompt pictures our moderator randomly picks on the internet. This particular week had a picture of an armadillo, money and a doctor—my brain just kinda took it from there.
What draws you to the micro-fiction format?
It’s great training for establishing stories and building reader investment quickly.
Who are some authors that inspire you?
The list is long, but starts with John D. McDonald. Also Lee Child, Daniel Silva, Steve Berry, Dan Brown, Riley Sager and Tana French.
If you could continue writing your story after these 100 words, what would happen next?
Stan rationalizes that the MRI must have given him a temporary superpower, and calls his long-suffering broker Rhonda. She’s been trying to get Stan to invest in anything for years. Now he wants to liquidate his safe, stable index funds and pour the cash into this Paraguayan guava jam venture. The armadillo (whom Stan has named Mr. Digby) translates the wire transfer terms from his burrow. The investment pays off immediately, making Stan rich. However, Mr. Digby demands Stan start acting as his “Above-Ground Liaison,” forcing him to attend bizarre, burrow-based financial meetings with other speaking animals from Stan’s backyard, further compromising his sanity but exponentially increasing his wealth.
What's next on the horizon for you?
Hoping to secure representation for my novel! Please follow me on Instagram or check my website for updates.
What would people be surprised to find out about you?
I was a marine mammal trainer when I first got out of college. I have 18 Emmys for writing and producing sports and travel television shows and features. And I’ve run 7 marathons—including two in one week, to honor two friends who passed away from blood cancers.