Roxy Rich

Author Pre-Interview: Hi, I’m Roxy Rich (but depending on what kind of trouble you’re looking for, you’ll find me under R Richards, Roxy Rich, or R Roxy). I’m a homeschooling mum of two based in Somerset, UK, which means I juggle teaching fractions by day and plotting zombie apocalypses, psychological meltdowns, and darkly delicious romances by night.

I’ve already unleashed 10 books into the wild (sorry, not sorry), and my 11th will be shambling, screaming, and seducing its way onto shelves in October 2025.

• As R Richards, I serve up gut-spilling, brain-munching zombie apocalypse tales.

• As Roxy Rich, I twist minds with psychological thrillers darker than a British winter at 4pm.

• As R Roxy, I dive headfirst into sinful, shadowy, spicy dark romance because apparently, the end of the world isn’t hot enough.

Basically, I’m like a literary hydra: cut off one head, and two more terrifying, thrilling, and tantalising ones appear.

When I’m not wrangling kids, caffeine, and chaos, I’m wrangling words into books that (hopefully) keep you up all night, for all the right reasons.

Books so far The Working Girl Series, flashback to when my writing career started, not my best work as I was still finding my feet and style as a writer. 

Exposed a domestic violence espionage thriller.

The Foot Locker, first person pov from a serial killer, who has a foot fetish.

Demons coming out in October, a domestic thriller about institutionalized abuse and coercive medical abuse.

The GRAVEPULSE TRILOGY, A zombie apocalypse story set in the USA. The zombies have upped their game.

The DEADPULSE SERIES, all standalone stories set in the UK again with zombies with a PHD in psychological warfare.

Author Interview:

1.What inspires you most to write?

I’m inspired by coffee, nightmares, and the intrusive thought that says, ‘Hey, wouldn’t it be fun if this nice trip to the countryside ended in absolute carnage?’ That, and the fact that if I don’t write, the voices in my head start demanding rent.

2. What is your favorite genre?

Zombie apocalypse horror, because I love the idea of a world with no rules, no curfews, and no one telling me the kids’ handwriting needs improvement. Just survival, chaos, and a baseball bat with personality.

3. Who is one author you admire if any and why?

Martina Cole. I’ve devoured nearly all of her books, but Goodnight Lady is my favourite, it’s dark, gritty, and unapologetic, just the way I like my fiction. She proves you don’t have to sugarcoat the ugly side of life and I admire that rule-breaking honesty.

4. How do you overcome blank writing spells?

Blank writing spell? Not a problem. I’m a serial manuscript juggler. If one story’s giving me the silent treatment, I dump it and go hang out with another. Zombies never sulk, they’re always ready for more action.

5. What legal publishing advice can you give?

"Copyright is your best friend. Protect your work like a zombie protects its brain, fiercely, and with occasional growling at anyone who looks suspicious."

6. How many books have you written, are any a bestseller yet?

I’ve written 11 books, and yes, one of them (Deadpulse: The Council Estate Queen) reached number 5 in British Horror. So I guess you could say my undead minions aren’t the only things rising… My sales chart did too.

7. If you had the opportunity to rewrite one movie script which would it be, why?

Definitely 28 Years Later. The film broke my heart — all those weird edits, and the zombies… oh, don’t get me started. Naked, bloody people aren’t zombies, they’re just… sad. I’d add real horror, proper gore, and maybe a few exploding heads for good measure.

8. What are some difficulties you've experienced in your writing career; how do you handle book critiques/criticism?

My ADHD sometimes means I repeat scenes, sentences, or zombie attacks more than necessary. I’m working on it… mostly. Critiques? I try to take the useful stuff and leave the rest for the zombies to chew on.

9. What are your best experiences in your writing career?

Seeing Deadpulse: The Council Estate Queen hit number 5 in British Horror was amazing, nothing beats knowing people actually like the chaos and carnage I cook up. Also, finishing a manuscript without losing my sanity (too much) always feels like a personal victory.

10. Do you prefer to write in silence and or have some sort sound in the background?

Writing in silence is a myth in my house. My daughter keeps me company 24/7, and with Triple X Syndrome and ADHD, there’s never a dull moment. So I’ve learned to embrace the background noise, it’s like a live, unpredictable soundboard for my creativity.

11. What are some encouraging words you'd give to another author/writer?

Write like nobody’s watching… because honestly, most of them aren’t. Keep going, embrace the chaos, and don’t worry if your first draft looks like a zombie apocalypse threw up on the page,  it can be fixed later.

12. How did you decide the pricing of your material; how did you go about promotion/advertising and distribution of your work?

I’ve been learning the hard way since lockdown! Promotion is still a nightmare, and pricing… well, as a self-published author, you don’t really get a choice. But I did just figure out that making my books bigger on Draft2Digital keeps the pricing sane, lesson learned the messy way!

13. Why should anyone read your book?

Because they’re thrilling, dark, and a little spicy, a mix of horror, suspense, and twisted fun that’ll make you question everything… and maybe even the people around you.

14. Did you have a book coach?

No book coach for me! Costs have to stay low, and honestly, I can’t justify it over family needs. Plus, my ADHD brain doesn’t cope well with annoying voices even if it’s supposed to be helpful. So I stick to my own chaotic methods instead.

15. What was your favorite subject in school?

Honestly, nothing. I hated school. Left at 12 because I was tired of being told I’d never amount to anything. Now, every time I publish a new book, I imagine handing it to those teachers like, ‘Not bad for a dropout, eh?’

16. Are you self-published or have an established publishing contract elsewhere?

I’m 100% self-published. That way, I make all the decisions, covers, editing, deadlines and if it all goes wrong, that’s on me. Plus, waiting for months like in a traditional contract? My brain would explode. I need speed, control, and chaos, thank you very much.