Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Please Welcome Professional Grandfather, Dr. Bob Rich

I am a professional grandfather. Four young people are genetically related to me, but I have hundreds of grandkids all around the planet. If you enter something like "I hate myself" in a search engine, one of my answers to such cries for help come up. I have the gift of being able to convert helplessness and despair into inner strength and hope, and many of the people I respond to keep in touch for years. They become my grandkids.
I am also the author of 14 published books, 4 of them award winners. They can be inspected at http://bobswriting.com

My genre is English. Whatever grabs my attention, and sometimes even what doesn't, ends up in my writing somewhere. This is why one of my short story collections is titled "Through Other Eyes," because in that book you can look through my eyes as I look through the eyes of 26 very different people.

Some of the people I write about are 3 feet tall, green, with three arms and legs and no head, but you'll love them anyway. These cute critters are the heroes of "Liberator," the lead story in "Bizarre Bipeds," which was a finalist in an EPIC e-book contest (don't know what was wrong with the judges in the final round).

One of my best is the award-winning "Sleeper, Awake," which is for sale at Double Dragon e-publishing http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com/single.asp?isbn=1-55404-153-8 It is set 1500 years in the future, but is spot on relevant to today. You'll like the world I created -- for one thing, women have all the power!
I also write non-fiction: on building, woodwork, psychology self-help, coping with cancer, and an award-winning biography.

Of course, writing is a spare time activity, the joy and relaxation in my life. I am also busy having 3 other occupations, and have already retired 3 times.
:)
Bob
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Dr Bob Rich
http://bobswriting.com/
http://anxietyanddepression-help.com
http://mudsmith.net
Commit random acts of kindness

Please leave a comment to welcome Dr. Bob to Spunky Senior Authors and Talents

28 comments:

  1. ...and I am here, waiting to respond to comments. Throw them my way!
    :)
    Bob

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  2. What a wonderful gift - to be able to convert helplessness and despair into inner strength and hope for people who need help. Add in the sense of humour you obviously have and I'm not surprised you fit the bill as a Spunky Senior. Anyone who writes about characters that are three feet tall, green, with three arms and legs and no head has a sense of fun. Your post made me smile and feel pleased to be a fellow senior.

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  3. Hi Teena,
    Oh no, my little 3-legged Greenies are not funny at all. They lived a challenging hunter-gatherer life on their planet when the monsters from space arrived to enslave them. Those monsters were... from our planet.
    The story is called "Liberator" because a little boy defeated them.
    The short story collection is "Bizarre Bipeds" because I think that's what humans are.
    In one of the other stories, there is an invasion of Earth, but the ETs are the good people.
    :)
    Bob

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    1. Hi Bob,
      I like the idea of the ETs being the good people. It would be sad to think we humans are the highest example of living beings. And you've piqued my interest. I'll add the collection to my reading list.

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  4. Bob, our paths have crossed several times on the Internet. Even though you might not remember me, I do remember your mischievous spirit, the one that makes me smile every time I read a post or an email of yours. Your article here is no different (it made me smile), so I couldn't resist going after "Sleeper, Awake"! We're fellow DDP authors, by the way :-D
    Your time is filled with positive activities that make a difference to many.
    Here's wishing success in all your ventures and writing projects.
    One question though...can you describe a typical day (if there's such a thing!) in your life?

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    1. Hi Su,
      You fog up my glasses. :)
      (Trouble is, I don't have any. I'm handicapped: only have one pair of eyes, can't take out my teeth,and worst of all, can't turn off my ears. That'd be REALLY handy sometimes.)
      I am glad I make you smile. Life is too short to be glum. I actually use joke therapy with many of my clients, the ones so depressed they can't crack a smile.
      You see, three things put endorphins in your blood: vigorous exercise, laughter, and enjoyable sex. Of these three, only laughter is available in a psychology session.
      Su, when you have read "Sleeper, Awake," I hope you let me know what you think of it, good or bad.
      Have a good life,
      Bob

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    2. >One question though...can you describe a typical day (if there's such a thing!) in your life?

      I forgot to answer this.

      Most weeks, 3 days a week I see clients as a counseling psychologist. However, I am punished for being good at what I do, and often it has to be 4/7. In school we were told that 4 clients a day is a good workload. Mine is 6 or 7, and I've been known to see 9.
      I am an elected Director of my professional society (Australian Psychological Society, 20,000 members), thank Heavens only until the end of September. Then I can retire for the 4th time. This means no work for a week or two, then I am SWAMPED.
      In between, I like to do whatever physical work my body still allows, though I am hanging out for a body transplant.
      I do editing when I have the odd 15 minutes in between other activities, or when a client doesn't turn up (psychologists have the second highest no-show rates after dentists).
      And in between all that, I write. At the moment, I am doing yet another revision in the best book I've written so far. Have queried a couple of agents, and of course they'll ask for the full MS :)
      And my current wip is currently in a hospital emergency ward. My 82 year old protagonist is in a wheelchair because she'd strained her knee, talking to 14 year old multiple murderer who is her special ward. He'd got drunk, lost consciousness and ended up with concussion. And that was the fault of a nasty policeman.
      I meditate once or twice a day, and play Freecell.
      :)

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    3. I'm exhausted just by reading your reply. I'm also roaring with laughter 8-D
      I guess meditation helps, but I suspect Freecell has a stronger influence. Okay, okay, I admit, I play Freecell when stuck in writing!
      Stay well, Bob :)

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    4. Freecell... I have now played the first 20,250 games. This means I am past the famous No. 11,982, which has no solution, but I've got all the other ones out.
      Not that I am obsessive or anything.
      :)

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  5. Welcome to Spunky Senior Authors and Talents, Dr. Bob. Joke therapy sounds like a great idea!

    Morgan Mandel

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    1. I had a client who had the sads seriously. I sent him home to get me a joke. He consulted an expert: his 9 year old daughter, and returned a week later with:
      "What's a fly without wings?"
      The answer: A walk. He laughed telling me.
      So, I invented a couple in response:
      What do you call an octopus with no legs?

      What do you know about an elephant with no trunk?

      :)

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  6. Welcome welcome welcome Dr. Bob Rich! I look forward to reading your website, and sharing mine with you. Down in the dumps myself this week (melanoma dx, the most recent) and will only benefit from your light infused posts!

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    1. Hi Terry,
      On my psych web site I have a page that tells you how to maximize your chance of recovery from any form of cancer. Also, my cancer book is only $5, and anyone who buys any of my books gets a second one free.
      [Shameless commercialism.]
      In summary, whatever is,is, and it's all right. I've got a melanoma. So what. AND I'll do my best to beat it.
      Acceptance puts peace into your heart. That makes your immune system work flat out.
      Look, the worst that anything (cancer, man with a gun, house on fire, having to face a job interview) can do to me is to kill me. So what! The only fatal condition is conception (think about it). Everyone has to die, and it's not how long I live that matters, but how well.
      One of my cliches is: "Only two things matter in life: what you take with you when you die, and what you leave behind in the hearts of others. Everything else is Monopoly money."
      :)
      Bob

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    2. Terry I wrote you a long answer and the internet gremlins chewed it up! So, I'll see if I can re-create it from memory.
      On my psych web site
      http://anxietyanddepression-help.com
      I have a page on how to maximize your chances of recovery. Also, my book on cancer is only $5, and anyone who buys any of my books is entitled to a second one, free [shameless promotion]
      Briefly, though, you need to put peace in your heart. Then you immune system is working flat out. The way to do this is to combined bloody mindedness (I'm going to do everything to beat this) with acceptance. I've got cancer, so what.
      This goes for every and any problem.
      A man is pointing a gun at me. I am facing a job interview. Those bullies in school are picking on me. So what. The worst it can do is to kill me.
      You see, the only fatal condition is conception. Think about it. and it's not how long you live, but how well.
      One of my cliches is, only 2 things matter in life: what you take with you when you die, and what you leave behind in the hearts of others. Everything else is Monopoly money.
      So, concentrate on Love, on equanimity, on giving and caring. This may actually make the cancer go away. But if it doesn't, so what. If the cancer doesn't kill me, then a car smash may, or Alzheimer's, or eating nasty food. Something is guaranteed to, sooner or later.
      And death is not the end of a book but the end of a chapter.
      So, put peace in your heart. Live Love. All else will be OK then.

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    3. I've noticed a few typos in the above. If that was my writing, I'd be hanging my head in shame.
      But...
      This is not writing but conversation. The difference is the same as between chatting to a friend vs. up on stage, addressing an audience.
      :)
      Bob

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  7. It's so much fun to see the "human side" of a professional man like you, Dr. Bob. Your post reminded me of an editor who once asked me, "Do you ever write anything serious?" I replied, "I am very serious about my writing, but I never write anything very serious."
    As for retiring, my oldest son keeps reminding me that I'm supposed to be retired, yet I seem to be busier than I've ever been. Still, I'm having way too much fun to stop doing what I'm doing. I keep telling him that I am retired. I got tired, then I got tired again, then got tired again. I can't count how many times I've re-tired.
    Janet Elaine Smith, multi-genre author

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    1. Hi Janet,
      My answer to you disappeared too. Again, I'll try to reproduce it.
      Nice to "meet" you here.
      Compliments gratefully accepted, but don't insult me by calling me human!
      I refuse to be part of a silly species that is destroying its own world. Let me tell you, I am temporarily condemned to be in a human body as punishment for a serious past misdeed.
      Did you know, humanity is currently using 1.5 Earths' worth of natural resources? We are mining the future, and the main reason for many of the things going wrong today is that the past did the same to us. One fifth of all plant species, and one fifth of all vertebrate species are at risk of extinction, which hasn't happened since the dinosaurs left us.
      So, we need to make big changes, those of us who care for our grandchildren.
      :)

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  8. How wonderful to be able to help people around the world. And, I love that you retired three times!

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    1. Hi Karen,
      Yes, my main joy is that I have the ability to get people to see the world differently. Words are magic.
      You can see lots of my answers to cries for help in my newsletter
      http://mudsmith.net/bobbing.html
      :)
      Bob

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  9. Very nice to hear more about you Bob. Your kind deeds are an inspiration to me. I will have to do better!!

    *Books for Kids – Manuscript Critiques
    http://www.margotfnke.com

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    1. Thank you Margaret.
      We can all do better, but there is a Shintoist saying: "There are many mountains to God and many paths up each mountain."
      And Buddhists say, "There is a Buddha in every person."
      My worry is, how did he ever get in there???
      :)

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  10. Oh, and there is an archive of a great many writing-related articles in my newsletter Bobbing Around.
    http://mudsmith.net/bobbing.html#writing
    :)
    Bob

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  11. No one commented on my jokes.
    OK.

    An octopus without legs is an octopus. They have tentacles, not legs.

    An elephant without a trunk can get through the airport without having to check it in.

    Right, I know, not brilliant, but you do better!

    :)
    Bob

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  12. Wow, you do have a varied and interesting life. So nice that you are able to help so many young people. Kudos to you!

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    1. Thank you Maryann. You may remember Robert Heinlein? Sf writer of the 60s. He said, "The ant is a specialist. A man is a generalist." Of course, today he'd be rapped on the knuckles for sexist language, but in those days, English teachers told their students "The masculine embraces the feminine."

      Yes, it's great to be able to help troubled souls, but it'd be so much better if less of that was necessary! My clients, paid or unpaid, are victims of a crazy society.

      When people ask me to introduce myself, I often say I'm a visitor from a faraway galaxy. At home, I'm an Historian of Horror, so Earth is my favourite place in all the Universe. Where else do you find an organised game (called war) in which intelligent beings kill each other? Where else are child-raising practices designed to damage children? And best of all, where else do you see the entire economy of a species designed to destroy the life support system of their planet? For an Historian of Horror, that's delicious.

      :)
      Bob

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  13. Dear Dr. Bob, I wonder if you're not a God-sent now. I have a cousin who is almost giving up on life, and we are terrified of what can happen. He was born with cerebral palsy, a twin who lacked oxygen for a few seconds during a difficult delivery. Thanks to his wonderful parents, Dad is a doctor, and Mom dedicated herself to helping him, he led an almost normal life, with swimming, riding, and continuous therapy. He finished college and law school. It was very difficult but he made it, but working as a lawyer was very stressful. He was laid off , developed more problems, and lost his colon in surgery. Now it's depression as he stays home and looks at the ceiling all night and sleeps during the day. A psychiatrist put him on Cymbalta. Would you be able to help him, please? mona@monarisk.com

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    1. Mona, you honor me. If he wants to talk with me, get him to send an email to bob@bobswriting.com

      He can be helped by the geniuses at survival. When everything seems hopeless, we can do things the way they do. Two are Viktor Frankl "Man's Search for Meaning" and Najaf Mazari "The Rugmaker of Mazar-e-Sharif."

      :)
      Bob

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  14. I am not a grandfather, so I cant comment on Dr. Bob Rich's ability as a grandfather.

    However, I am a psychiatrist, and I can comment on his ability as a psychiatrist. In my humble opinion, he is a hack and what I would call "internet beggar". Wherever you see his name, he is simply trying to get you to give him your money.

    Good bit of reading as to quality of this person can be found here:
    http://www.queendom.com/advices/advice.htm?advice=222
    where is is trying to ask 13 year old, depressed, possibly suicidal, little girl for money in order to help her.

    I read that article completely randomly, I do not know Dr. Bob Rich and I have nothing against him personally, however reading that article made me look him up through search engines, and I am disgusted by what I found him to be.

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