WHEN PEOPLE ASK “DID YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE A WRITER?” I HAVE TO SAY, “NO, I ALWAYS WAS A WRITER.”
As far back as I can remember there have always been three constants in my life: my love of music, reading and writing. Childhood memories of reading to my dolls; endless outpourings of adoration in the form of fan letters to my idols, The Beatles; scribblings in my diary of the mundane and the momentous, locked away for only me to see; pen-pal letters to that young marine in Vietnam whose name I’ve sadly long since forgotten; romantic notes to and from my boyfriend tucked away in an old cigar box.
In school I was the one who couldn’t wait to finish a novel so I could write a book report or spend hours working on an essay about the Great Schism of 1054. How clearly I remember the day my paper on “Doctor Zhivago” was returned to me with a big fat A+ stamped on the top in red ink followed by my teacher’s chicken-scratch: “Excellent work! We’ll make a copywriter out of you yet!”
Fast forward to another life. I’m married with two small sons. Reading to them became a daily tradition. Writing about them and to them in my journals was a joy. Some forty-plus years later and I still have those now yellowed journals which I read when feeling nostalgic or a new grand-baby enters our lives.
I never did become a copywriter or an author – life and all its trappings took over and those dreams fell by the wayside, replaced by others equally or more important. I was heavily involved with my church choir as music curator. One day I took a stab at writing new lyrics for a children’s hymn in an attempt to make it more relatable to the Gospel reading of the day. It was well-received and I felt that familiar joy of writing wriggling its way into my soul. It was a nice feeling.
Facebook became a big part of my life, connecting with old friends and making new ones. It was on one of The Beatles groups I belong to where I ‘met’ someone who commented on one of my posts. Obviously we were both Beatlemaniacs and while posting back and forth we discovered another thing we had in common: writing. We exchanged email addresses and developed a unique rapport and my new friend encouraged me to pursue my long-abandoned passion for writing. Then he shared an interesting piece of information: he belonged to an online creative short story writing group and suggested I give it a go.
That was the summer of 2017 and I was on vacation in Montauk. I replied to him that I’d check it out when vacation was over. After all, there was nothing to lose. As promised, I looked into it discovering it was more than just a little group of people writing about whatever popped into their heads on any given day. There were rules and writing prompts to adhere to such as: write a 300 word story starting with the word “impressive” and incorporate three additional required words in the body of the story. Each writer could submit up to three stories and had two weeks to accomplish this task. What’s more … it was competitive! Members of the group could vote for their favorite story and the winner would be announced two weeks later when a new assignment was posted. (To avoid “playing favorites” the authors names remained anonymous at voting time as did the names of the voters.) The love of writing combined with a challenge. No prizes were handed out, no money was awarded. It was all for the joy of writing, stimulating one’s imagination, improving writing skills, adhering to the rules and doing the best job possible.
Thinking “Hey, I can do this”, I submitted my first story on September 10, 2017 and to my utter amazement and sheer delight I came in first place on my first attempt! And I’ve been hooked ever since. What you see here on my site is a collection of every story I have written so far; a few are stories I wrote just for fun and several are guest posts by writers who have moved me beyond words. My passion for writing has been renewed. I face every new story as a challenge, determined to do my best, and I’m proud of my work. But it’s not always easy and there are times when I sit staring at my computer screen waiting for divine intervention. As you read through my collection you’ll find quite a few references and a couple of stories devoted to The Beatles; not to include them would be inexcusable. There are also a lot of stories about me but only those people truly in the know will be able to say for sure. Those are my little secrets!
I’ve been asked how I came up with the name ”The Elephant’s Trunk”. There are a couple of answers to that question. First, the elephant is my favorite animal; it is loyal, smart, loving and never forgets a kindness or a friend. Second, the word ‘trunk’ has more than one meaning: it is obviously the physical appendage of the elephant but it can also mean a treasure chest where all things precious and important are stored safely away.
My site is a labor of love and it has introduced my work to many new and diverse writers around the world; they have become my followers and friends. This site has also allowed me to reach other creative writing groups online, especially WordPress, where I have made many friends – short story writers, photographers, poets and even cooks. We share a passion for writing and a lively camaraderie. To mention names would be too difficult a task; I’d be afraid of leaving someone out and that would be unforgivable. I am proud beyond reason to say that my granddaughter Mckenna is a very talented young writer and a few of her stories appear on my site as a guest post. I see great potential in her and am sure she will go on to realize any dream she decides to pursue.
My newest endeavor is a site begun in March, 2023 on WordPress called “The Rhythm Section”, https://rhythmsection.blog/, where, together with Mr. Bump in England (mrbump.uk) and DA Whittam in Australia (the artist formerly known as nopenotpam.com), we have created an entirely new music blog. Our site includes interactive categories such as “At The Movie”, “Breaktime Whodunnit”, “In The Groove”, “Name That Tune”, “The Culture Club” and “World Of Music.”
Thanks to the lovely people at MasticadoresUSA, The Writers Club and Spillwords who have published several of my stories and poems. I was also featured as the subject of Spillwords Spotlight on Writers (Sept. 10, 2022) and have been a contributor to Songshine Sounds on WordPress. I had the distinct pleasure of recording a number of my short stories for the BBC Radio show “Upload”. I was also interviewed live on BBC Radio on the 40th anniversary of the death of John Lennon and read my story “The Eighth of December”. That was a trip!
And now I am a #1 bestselling author on Amazon as a contributor to the anthology “Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women” and “Hidden In Childhood: A Poetry Anthology”, edited and curated by Gabriela Marie Milton, international bestselling author and editor of Literary Revelations..
My husband Bill is my biggest supporter and encourages me every step of the way. I read my stories to him and he’s completely honest … something I value in a partner and friend. We have two adult sons, Bill and David, and four grandkids; they are my best accomplishments and my greatest loves.
So there you have it … the bio of Nancy Richy – wife, mom, Grammy, lover of family, friend, singer, musician, dreamer, Beatlemaniac, #1 bestselling author and writer of creative short stories about this and that and everything in between. I hope you’ll join me on my adventure.
drowning in a deluge of discarded drafts.
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The Elephant's Trunk 
Hi, found you via The Sound of one hand typing, having found him during the A to Z blogging challenge. Enjoyed your back story. It’s funny what makes you take to someone, I too have a grandson called Wyatt:-)
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Well, here I am, FINALLY reading your About as well! We both have the common thread of writing throughout our lives, and music as well! Our families, our friends, all these beautiful threads, that create the whole unique tapestry. What a wonderful adventure this all is!
There are times we tuck parts of our life away, then we miss them, and find them again, but they are always there.
I enjoy your writing immensely, and look forward to whatever I find in that elephant’s trunk!
Thank you for sharing all your beautiful words, and most especially, the whacky ones!
Love, D.
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It was a pleasure to start reading your stories, and your bio. I’m looking forward to following and reading much more!
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Thanks so much for finding me interesting enough to read and follow! I hope you continue to enjoy my site! It’s always a pleasure to say “hello” to a new reader.
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I just came across your blog thanks to Staci Troilo. I’m now following. I LOVE the Beatles!
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Every once in a while I stop by here to check on comments; this morning is one of those times. Thank you so much, Joan, for stopping by my site and leaving such wonderful comments. And remember this as you journey through life: “and in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make”.
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I am a child of the 60’s, growing up in London, walking down Carnaby Street, and the 60’s vibe, loved the Beatles. Not so much the Rolling Stones, don’t know why. Looking forward to reading your blogs.
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Sorry for this late response; I had no idea people were still reading my “About” section! It’s been a dream of mine to get to Liverpool and trace the steps the Beatles took; at this point in my life it’s doubtful I will get there. Thank goodness for their music and thank you so much for your interest in my site. It’s greatly appreciated! 🐘
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I love your blog’s name, The Elephant’s Trunk! And I enjoyed your About–you have a rich life! Blessings to you.
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Thank you, Leyde! I dig the name, too! I remember seeing an antiques shop in town while on vacation with that name and thought it would be perfect for my site. Thanks for your lovely comments. Blessings to you as well.
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Thank you.
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Hi Nancy, thanks so much for the follow and good words 😊 I’m enjoying checking out your blog. That ‘The secret to being a writer’ quote is spot on!
Best – Ford
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I’m running out of “thank yous!” LOL!! Really incredible how this WP thing just snowballs, isn’t it? I’ve made so many new friends. Love being here. So glad you read that writer’s quote; it’s a winner! 🌟
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Congratulations on your success in multiple realms! I really enjoyed these glorious family pictures–no small feat. Blessings to you and the whole crowd 🙂
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Thank you for your lovely comments! My family is my greatest accomplishment and my greatest joy. ☺️
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I don’t doubt it, and I admire you greatly. Not everyone is gifted with a fine, loving family.
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Such a blessing and a story like family. Lovely to be here on always a writer’s page. A pleasure.
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Thank you, Narayan. What a lovely thing to say! We are far from a perfect story-book family but we have had more than our fair share of blessings (with a few adversities thrown in). It’s very nice of you to stop by and comment. Thank you for visiting my page.
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Happy Mother’s day…
“Paperback writer…”
The Beatles reinvented the world. (Hey guys? Where are you?)
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Somehow I don’t think I ever saw this message! Thank you for your lovely Mother’s Day wishes. Paperback Writer, indeed! I’ll tell you where the Beatles are: in the hearts and souls of everyone who ever had the privilege of hearing their music. A group like that comes around once in a lifetime and we are the lucky ones who got to share the universe with them for a short time. Thank you, my friend, for stopping by. Please forgive me for missing your comments from May. ☺️
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No problem. Time is really an illusion.
And as for the Beatles, I still have Sgt Pepper’s and the Double white original LP’s… (Blackbird singing in the dead of night…)
And I was fortunate to attend a concert by Paul, 15-20 years back, here in Mexico. Magic…
Take care Nancy.
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What a lovely story about yourself and your very beautiful family. It is really nice that your husband shares your work by lending an ear and being honest. Mine does the same thing which I appreciate. Thank you, I wanted to pinch that precious little ones cheeks. Big hugs, Joni
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We are very blessed, Joni. I don’t know too many people who can say they are married 50 years. The baby is two already and such a precious child. Big hugs to you, also!
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I don’t either what a blessing is true. What a beautiful family you have. I am also blessed and try never to forget it. Thank you for sharing your happiness with the rest of us. Big hugs, blessings to you and your family. 🤗❤️
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Wow Nancy, thanks for sharing your story, inspiring. Keep going my friend. ♥️
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Thank you! We’ve been blessed with a good life and even in these extremely troubling times we keep going upward and onward. Keep the faith, my friend! 💜
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I totally agree with Simon Nancy. Thanks for your kind visit and comment on my post so I could find you and your wonderful way with words and short stories that are entertaining, interesting with a great message and short enough to keep my attention. I look forward to reading more of your work. 🙏🌷
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How very kind of you and lovely to hear! Thank you. 💐
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It’s my pleasure.
You are most welcome💖
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Wow, you should get an award for this, Nancy, the most informative and entertaining About page I’ve ever read, and simply beautiful photographs too! I’m looking forward to exploring your blog and re-reading some of the wonderful stories that entertained us in the little writing group you mention, Write Away!
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Thank you, Simon. You know writing is very dear to my heart and I enjoy every aspect of it. If I can make one person think or laugh or even cry then I feel like I’ve accomplished what I set out to do. Thanks so much for your kind words and for checking out my site. I deeply appreciate it.
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