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Chas Ridley has written since she could hold a pencil. She writes of life as she knows it, and especially of transitions — joys, sorrows, changes, children growing up, children who don’t grow up, relationships, business. She lives much as she writes, with enthusiasm and embracing variety.
She has taught writing groups and been in demand as an editor for many years, and enjoys both those activities also.
Her first paid writing was in junior high when she and her girlfriend Susan earned extra money selling tropical fish they raised. The little fish died much too often in their new homes, so she wrote booklets on the care and feeding of guppies, mollies and other small fish. Selling for five cents a copy, these small booklets were the beginning of a lifetime as a paid freelance writer.
Chas grew up writing stories and poems, then moved on to technical manuals, instruction for the Los Angeles Police Academy, business manuals, advertising, songs, academic work, family histories, newsletters — almost anything anyone wanted written that seemed interesting at the time.
Along the way she brought six children into the world and has watched them grow into adults with minds of their own, lives they design as they go, each one a distinct individual.
She enjoys self-publishing because it affords more opportunity for personal interaction with her readers than with traditional large publishers. She enjoys this Web site and its mailing lists also, for the chance to write to an audience that talks back often and with passion — much as her children always have.
If you like what you see on the site, she’d like to hear from you. If you have suggestions for new books or articles, let her know. If you’ve read something in one of her books, poems or articles that changed your life in some way, she’d like to know that, too. Write to Chas any time. We hope you’ll come back often to see what we’ve added to the site for your pleasure, education and entertainment.
After four years away, Chas is happy to be back in Western Washington.
January 2, 2009
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