A Conversation with Author Ruth Dickson

I adore Ruth Dickson. This octogenarian has endless spunk and is not afraid to put it out there for everyone to see. When I read her latest book "Life, Death, & Other Trivia" I knew I had to interview her.

According to the blurb for the book, it is: Politically incorrect opinions, observations, sexual adventures and solutions to world problems, written from the standpoint of a wicked octogenarian. Funny, irreverant and guaranteed to amuse and offend practically everybody.

Well, she missed her mark with that. The book did not offend me in the slightest. It offended those around me as I read it, though. You see, I could not help laughing loudly and frequently. People do not like not being in on what the hell is so funny. I told them to go buy their own copies.

Now, before I get to my little conversation with Ms Dickson, let me give you a bit more background to set the situation firmly in your mind. Ruth was on the Best Sellers list in the 60s with her books "Marriage is a Bad Habit," "Now That You've Got Me Here, What are We Going to Do," and "Married Men Make the Best Lovers." It has been 30 years since those were published and I have been unable to obtain copies of them, much to my utter irritation. So. I have not read them. I could only guess as to their content. I mean I have talked to Ruth quite a lot, and loved "Life, Death, & Other Trivia" but really, it never occurred to me that I was being an idiot by asking for the interview.

You see, I wanted the interview for a Teen magazine. I sent her the usual interview questions.

Here, then, is Ruth Dickson's response to that request:

Teens??!! You want the woman who wrote one book advocating adultery, another dissing marriage and a third that gives fucking lessons to give advice to teens? (And two others, under another name, about lesbians and three-ways?). Are you mad, woman? You trying to get me arrested for corrupting minors, or what?

As for your questions:
Me: When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?

Ruth: I never wanted to be a writer. It was just the easiest thing I could do to make a buck without really working. I just wrote for money while I decided what I wanted to be when I grew up. I didn't start answering "writer" to the question "what do you do" until after my second book was published.

Me: Did you take any writing classes or just wing it?

Ruth: I took a couple of journalism courses as electives because they were snap credits, easy A's. Not sure I learned anything, but I aced 'em.

Me: Where do you get your ideas from?

Ruth: The Cosmic Mind? The Great Universal Intelligence? Divine Inspiration? If anyone can answer that question with any assurance, I'd really like to meet him/her. I guess I haven't written much about it on G., but one of my areas of interest is the origin of thought, since I know the Mind isn't in the brain and that humans are just conduits of information that comes from....? If I had the answer to that question, I'd rule the universe.

Me: Any advice for our readers who have the writing bug?

Ruth: Yeah. Write. (To quote a cliche: "writers write". Period.)

Obviously, she is correct. I cannot put her in a Teen magazine. So here she is for all you lucky Associated Content readers. Go buy her latest book. Do it now.