Rica Ramos-Keenum
Rica Ramos- Keenum is a former journalist and the author of “Petals of Rain” and “Nobody’s Daughter: A Memoir of Healing the Mother Wound.” She writes about autism, raising a son with ADHD, family trauma and more–sometimes it’s difficult with her 60-lb dog on her lap.
Instagram: @rica_writesbooks
Facebook: @authorricakeenum
Is there a genre of music that influences your writing/thinking? Do you listen to music while you write?
I listen to classical music or anything purely instrumental. Lyrics can be distracting for me in two ways. They either make me want to get up and dance, or they interfere with my word choices. I certainly wouldn’t want to plagiarize a Taylor Swift song!
Is your go to comfort food sweet or savory? Is it something you make yourself? Does food inspire your writing?
My favorite food is ice cream, as much as I wish it weren’t! Why can’t it be spinach? But perhaps I could make the ice cream cravings work in my favor. Now you’ve got me thinking about bribing myself with a scoop of ice cream per chapter. I may have to try that!
Not all books are for all readers. When you start a book and you just don’t like it, how long do you read until you bail?
Sadly, I’ve abandoned many books because I have the attention span of a sugared-up toddler. But sometimes my mood is just off so I return to the book to give it another shot. If I’ve read really intriguing reviews, or had a friend recommend a book, I’ll typically be more patient and try to go half way before I put it down for good.
Have you ever experienced Imposter Syndrome?
Absolutely! I have two voices in my head. One says I’m amazing and the other says I’m full of it. I think it helps to have a bit of both in my ear. That positive voice is like a cheerleader, and the negative one challenges me to prove it wrong.
Do you have another artistic outlet in addition to your writing?
I love art. I like to sketch and paint. I have a rolling cart that holds my go-to supplies, and I wheel it out some evenings when I’m watching Netflix with my husband. It looks like a nurse’s medicine cart, so when he hears it rumbling down the hall, he says, “Here comes the med cart!” That’s actually an appropriate metaphor since creating art does feel like a really good chill pill.
