Media Kit

Media Kit

1. Contact information
2. Product information
3. Promotional information
4. Interview questions and answers
5. Press Release
6. Paradise Unfallen and True Status book excerpts—Chapter 1 pdf
7. Paradise Unfallen and True Status One sheets pdf

1. Contact Information

Email: Chuck@ChuckRichardsonStories.com

Website: https://chuckrichardsonstories.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Chuck-Richardson-Stories-102476425056471

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chuckrichardsonwriter/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/rcrichardson2222/

Author Bio – Short

Chuck Richardson writes speculative fiction with a Christian worldview for people who question everything and seek truth, and he blogs about the Bible. Chuck is a former engineer, technical writer and freelance newspaper writer.

 Chuck’s debut novel, True Status (2023), was a 2024 Next Generation Indie Book Award finalist. Chuck believes the most important thing for everyone to learn is what God thinks about them. His writing explores questions about sin, redemption, sanctification, and the battle between good and evil. Chuck’s second novel, Paradise Unfallen, imagines a world where the first parents did not sin.

Chuck is a native of Rome, New York, and he currently lives in Louisville, Kentucky with his wife, Ruby. He earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Education degree.

Author Bio – Long  

Chuck Richardson writes speculative fiction with a Christian worldview for people who question everything and seek truth, and he blogs about the Bible. Chuck is a former engineer, technical writer and freelance newspaper writer.

Chuck’s debut novel, True Status (2023), was a 2024 Next Generation Indie Book Award finalist. Chuck believes the most important thing for everyone to learn is what God thinks about them. His writing explores questions about sin, redemption, sanctification, and the battle between good and evil. Chuck’s second novel, Paradise Unfallen, imagines a world where the first parents did not sin.

Chuck was born and raised in Rome, New York. He always loved reading and writing and even considered majoring in English in college, but practicality won out and he earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Education degree. Over the years, Chuck pursued his interest in writing as a freelance writer for a Black community newspaper and a local business newspaper, editing newsletters for a Friends of the Library group and for a professional association. Chuck considers himself to be an educator, so after fifteen years as an engineer for two large manufacturing companies, he changed careers to work as a quality management consultant and trainer in which he endeavored for eighteen years.

Chuck now lives in Louisville, Kentucky with Ruby, his wife of over thirty-seven years. They have two adult daughters, Brittany and Jillian. Chuck was a Curriculum Developer for a company that produces e-learning technical training materials in Southern Indiana until he in retired in March 2023. Chuck’s position combined technical writing and being a subject matter expert.

Chuck has served as an elder, deacon, and teacher in the churches of Christ for more than thirty-five years. He is a passionate believer in Jesus Christ. Chuck enjoys teaching adult Bible classes and especially likes helping teachers become better teachers.

Chuck enjoys doing yard work, and before he began spending most of his free time reading and writing, he tried to complete one or two woodworking projects each year. He ran track and cross-country in high school and is still interested in sports, watching college and professional basketball and football games now and then.

2. Product Information

3. Promotional Information: Paradise Unfallen

Subtile: The human adventure God intended

Back cover blurb:

What if Adam and Eve had resisted the serpent?
Welcome to Erimea—Earth’s twin world, untouched by original sin.

Solis and Livi, the first parents of Erimea, begin their lives in perfect fellowship with God. But their obedience does not end the war. Satan and his legions simply turn their fury upon the new world.

As the population of Erimea rises, tensions crack the harmony of paradise. A powerful life-giving resource becomes scarce. Rumors spread. God is silent. And a restless humanity flirts with fear, force, and false gods.

To save their descendants from repeating Earth’s tragedy, Solis and Livi must confront deception, division, and the relentless pressure of darkness. Their journey—from innocence to holiness—will determine the future of an unfallen world.

If you enjoy Christian fantasy, biblical what-ifs, spiritual warfare, and epic worldbuilding, you will love Paradise Unfallen.

Perfect for fans of:
C.S. Lewis
Ted Dekker

Step into the world that might have been—and the war that still rages.

 

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3. Promotional Information: True Status

Front cover tagline:

From death into life—A perilous passage.

Back cover blurb:

Billy Yates, a forty-two year old Black college math professor, holds deep skepticism about God’s goodness and power, but after a series of strange occurrences, Billy realizes that he is the prize in a terrifying spiritual battle between good and evil.

While recovering from surgery Billy is confronted by an angel who challenges him to examine his past rather than accuse God of wrongdoing. After the surgery, Billy discovers a strange message on his body that he believes is from God. Confused and afraid, Billy accepts the angel’s challenge and in so doing he learns the depth of his own sinfulness which plunges Billy into despair.

Ezriah Reynolds, a Christian and Billy’s best friend, encourages Billy to join him in taking a seminary class called Jesus in the Old Testament, and for the first time in his life, Billy seriously considers what the Bible teaches about covenant, sin, and salvation. Billy, smitten with Nurse Angeline Otl, begins pursuing her even as his surgery commences. Angeline struggles with her own past, but she and Billy draw together and become vital pieces in the other’s spiritual journey.

4. Interview Q and A: Paradise Unfallen

Why did you become a writer?

I have always enjoyed writing. During high school and college, I found that writing about the books I had read helped me understand the concepts much better. I probably love writing because I want to teach something.

What inspired you to write this book?

In 2004, a friend gave me a book of essays by Frederic L. Godet entitled Studies in the New Testament. Godet was a Swiss theologian who lived in the 1800s and this quote from Godet’s essay “The Work of Christ for Us” began a line of thinking in me that produced Paradise Unfallen.

“Man, as created by God, was good, not in the sense that he was perfect, but that he had all that was needful for becoming so. It was goodness at its starting point, not at its goal. Moral perfection can only be the fruit of freedom, the result of a series of decisions, perfectly voluntary, in the direction of that which is right. Man was therefore called to cooperate himself, in the realization of his moral destiny; that was the reason why he was created innocent, but not holy.” Page 165.

The sin of Adam interrupted God’s plan for bringing humanity to the point of true holiness. Paradise Unfallen explores what God intended to do with humanity before the fall ruined things.

Can you tell me about the book?

 The setting is Erimea, a twin planet of Earth. The first parents of Erimea are Solis and Livi. They begin life identical to Adam and Eve, but Solis and Livi resist the serpent’s temptation. The impetus driving the plot is a passage from Genesis, “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:27-28 NASB)

God’s assignment to the first two humans was a huge task: raising a family, building a civilization across the planet, and ruling every living thing well while being opposed by Satan. Even without the burden of sin, God intended a great adventure for humanity. Paradise Unfallen is the story of how I imagine that adventure could have unfolded.

What well-known stories would you use to describe Paradise Unfallen?

I think of it as a combination of The Odyssey and The Screwtape Letters. Paradise Unfallen is a adventure tale that lasts many years like The Odyssey and it provides the demonic perspective and strategies like The Screwtape Letters. However, the primary point of view is that of the humans and how they experience the world and spiritual attacks.

Tell us about your road to publication.

I began writing in 2023 and completed the story in early 2024, so writing took about a year. I enjoyed working with the publisher of my first novel, True Status, but I wanted to sign with a bigger publisher. I pitched the book to two literary agents at the Right to Publish conference in June 2024. Both agents requested a full proposal, but after months of waiting, I still didn’t have an agent.

I decided to self-publish, and I knew that meant I would have to hire an editor. I found my first editor on Reedsy, but before we could start the project Reedsy terminated the editor I selected and wanted to assign me a different editor. That’s where I made my first big mistake. I liked the editor so much I ignored the warning from Reedsy and contracted directly with the editor. The editor delayed and delayed my project for six weeks until I canceled the contract. The only positive was that the editor refunded all my money. I contracted with a second editor for two rounds of line editing, but after completing one round of editing the editor ghosted me for weeks.  I canceled and received a partial refund. I contracted with a third editor, and she has been great.

I hired a book cover designer and bought formatting software for the interior of the book. The release date is April 8, 2026. I plan to make the book available for pre-orders in January.

I’ve been growing my email list, and I’m pitching podcasts, so hopefully I can tell new readers about Paradise Unfallen.

Self-publishing is not easy, but I have enjoyed the process so far.

What did you learn when writing the book?

I learned about writing from a third person limited point of view. My editor was a huge in helping understand how to do that. My first novel, True Status, with written in first person. The main character narrated the complete story. I found it easy to only include thing the protagonist could know.

Paradise Unfallen has two primary characters and many supporting characters. In third person limited point of view each scene should have a single point of view character. Although I knew what I was trying to do with point of view, it wasn’t until the editing process that I realized how often I had messed up on point of view. My editor was great at pointing out my POV mistakes, and as I made corrections, there was a vast improvement in the story.

What surprised you the most?

I wanted my main character to compose songs spontaneously at various points in his life, but I’ve rarely written poetry. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed writing poetry. One of the supporting characters also composes songs. I hope the poetry will help deepen reader understanding of the characters and the challenges they face.

How are your characters like you? Different?

My protagonist and I are both analytical thinkers. We both question things and demand logical answers.  

What does the title mean?

The Garden of Chara was a paradise like the Garden of Eden in the book of Genesis. Adam and Eve in the creation story sinned and all their descendants and all creation fell under God’s curse. We live in a fallen world. Paradise Unfallen refers to the fact that despite all the challenges the characters face they live in an unfallen world in close fellowship with God.

Where do you get your ideas?

I get lots of ideas from the Bible and observations of what happens in life. As a Christian who believes the Bible is true, I know supernatural beings exist (God, angels, Satan, demons). The pervasive inhumanity we see in our world points to the wicked influence of spiritual enemies outside the human race.    

Does your book relate in any way to current events?

Yes. We live in anxious times and people have trouble distinguishing truth and lies. The characters in Paradise Unfallen are spiritually close to God, but they still struggle with the own doubts and fears as well as unseen demons whispering bad ideas into their minds.

What is your advice to fledgling writers?

Read blogs and books on writing craft, read the work of other writers in your genre, attend writer’s conferences, and join professional organizations for writers. Every manuscript can be improved, so seriously consider feedback from readers and editors. However, have a clear vision of what you want your book to be so you don’t make changes that result in something that you will not be happy with.

4. Interview Q and A: True Status

Why did you become a writer?

I have always enjoyed writing. During high school and college, I found that writing about the books I had read helped me understand the concepts much better. I probably love writing because I want to teach something.

What inspired you to write this book?

I am inspired by the Bible to write and to teach, but my daughter, Jillian inspired me to try my hand at writing fiction. Jillian was taking a creative writing class back in 2018 and listening to her talk about the class led me to write a short story. Jillian’s interest in what happened to the characters in the short story caused me to expand the tale into a novel.

Can you tell me about the book?

It is the story of a man who is skeptical about God. He is a black college professor who begins having some supernatural experiences that get his attention and cause him to question his own character and integrity. Eventually these strange occurrences lead him to take a seminary class where for the first time he seriously examines what the Bible says about covenant, sin, and salvation. His encounter with the scriptures is what begins to change his thinking about God to the point that he must make a life-altering choice while being opposed by temptation and the forces of evil.

Tell us about your road to publication.

I started writing True Status in January 2018 and after three years of work I sent queries to ten agents and got only negative responses. Then I submitted the manuscript to a hybrid publisher, a friend who had worked in publishing, and a $99 critique service. These three professionals gave me similar discouraging feedback. Things like:

• “Your current writing style is didactic.”
• “Convey the message you want to convey without the reader feeling preached at.”
• “The pace often gets interrupted by too much description.”
• “We encourage you to work on pacingand showing rather than telling.”
• “The book often includes random details that don’t add to the story.”
• “Certain chapters and passages read more like a Bible tract than a novel.”

This criticism hurt, but it was exactly what I needed to hear. During the next eighteen month I researched fiction writing and rewrote the entire novel. In June 2022, I attended the Kentucky Christian Writer’s Conference and pitched the reworked novel to two publishers. I subsequently submitted proposals to those two publishers and two agents. Elk Lake Publishing offered me a contract in September 2022. I worked with an Elk Lake editor for five months through multiple rounds of editing. My editor urged me to be concise and to only retain content I needed to tell the story and keep the reader engaged. My editor and I formed a great team. On July 26, 2023, True Status was released for sale.

What did you learn when writing the book?

I learned that I had a lot to learn about writing a novel. I had always viewed myself as a nonfiction writer. Many years ago I did some freelance writing for newspapers and other publications.

I have learned a lot about fiction, but there is tons left to learn. I’ve always enjoyed doing research and learning new things, this experience taught me that I enjoy reading and learning about the craft of writing fiction.

One of the most interesting things is that as a novelist you usually have to make the lives of your characters and difficult as possible. If you create conflict at every turn so your protagonist must fight to achieve their goals, then the readers will be engaged to see how the character overcomes challenges or how they fail. But there are so many things I’ve learned like show don’t tell.

What surprised you the most?

How difficult it is to be a published writer and how much there is to learn about better fiction writer.

How are your characters like you? Different?

My protagonist and I are both teachers and analytical thinkers. We both question things and demand logical answers, so my own spiritual search was similar to that of my character. We are different in that my main character is much more negative about God than I was and he has many more tragic experiences than I have had.

What does the title mean?

I heard that the most important thing about a person is what they believe about God.  A related but more important question is what does God think about you. The title has to do with what God thinks about you.

Where do you get your ideas?

I get lots of ideas from the Bible.  I also get ideas when I listen to people interviewed in the media. A few of the scenes in the story were inspired by exercises from writing craft books.

Does your book relate in any way to current events?

Yes. True Status touches on issues of racial prejudice, abortion, and domestic abuse. However, it is primarily about the gospel of Jesus Christ, so it is most relevant because of the uncertainty of life. At any moment, we should all be prepared to meet our maker and give an account of the way we lived.

What is your advice to fledgling writers?

Read blogs and books on writing craft, read the work of other writers in your genre, attend writer’s conferences, and join professional organizations for writers. Every manuscript can be improved, so seriously consider feedback from readers and editors. However, have a clear vision of what you want your book to be so you don’t make changes that result in something that you will not be happy with.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Chuck Richardson

Chuck@ChuckRichardsonStories.com

From Engineer to Christian Novelist

Retired engineer, Chuck Richardson, has written his second novel, Paradise Unfallen, release date April 8, 2026. What if Adam and Eve had resisted the serpent? The novel explores Erimea, Earth’s twin world, untouched by original sin.

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCY —Longtime Jeffersontown resident, Chuck Richardson, retired in 2023 after a 43 year career as an engineer for several manufacturing companies.  Most recently Richardson worked as a Curriculum Developer for a southern Indiana company where he wrote technical training materials.

 He always loved reading and writing and even considered majoring in English in college, but practicality won out and he earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Education degree. Richardson’s first novel, True Status, was published in 2023 and it takes readers on a spiritual journey with a religious skeptic. The novel was a Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist, 2024.

Larry J. Leech II, writing coach of award-winning authors said of Paradise Unfallen, “Chuck’s command of storytelling will take you on a thrilling adventure that’ll make you smile, but also consider what changes you can make in your life to enjoy a oneness with the holy trinity.”

Paradise Unfallen is the story of Solis and Live, the first parents of Erimea. They must save their descendants from repeating Earth’s tragedy, Solis and Livi must confront deception, division, and the relentless pressure of darkness. Their journey from innocence to holiness will determine the future of an unfallen world.

Available from Amazon and many other retailers as paperback, e-book, and hardcover.

ISBN numbers

979-8-9927258-1-0: Paperback

979-8-9927258-0-3: e-book

979-8-9927258-2-7: Hardcover

About the author

Chuck Richardson writes speculative fiction with a Christian worldview for people who question everything and seek truth, and he blogs about the Bible. Chuck is a former engineer, technical writer and freelance newspaper writer.

 Chuck’s debut novel, True Status (2023), was a 2024 Next Generation Indie Book Award finalist. Chuck believes the most important thing for everyone to learn is what God thinks about them. His writing explores questions about sin, redemption, sanctification, and the battle between good and evil. Chuck’s second novel, Paradise Unfallen, imagines a world where the first parents did not sin.

Chuck is a native of Rome, New York, and he currently lives in Louisville, Kentucky with his wife, Ruby. He earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Education degree.

Media press kit available at www.chuckrichardsonstories.com

6 Book excerpts—Chapter 1

7. Paradise Unfallen and True Status One Sheets