The Story Underneath

Regardless of where you live, in a big city, in a small town, or out in the country, there’s a story to be discovered everywhere. Even as a kid I was always fascinated by the backstory, the story underneath. A few miles from my hometown there was this busy truck stop that most people called Service Town. When I was sixteen I wrote a poem about a girl named Shelly who survived off the travelers and truckers at Service Town. Through the years, more characters were added, Shelly had a backstory and the poem became a short novel that won the 14th Annual Quarter Finals Prize at the Writers Network Fiction Competition. Over the years I’ve experienced a lot, both negative and positive, and through it all creating stories has been my saving grace. We all have a backstory. There’s more to you than what’s seen on the surface. Maybe the main story is you, and it’ll be interesting to discover the story underneath. – Randolph Randy Camp

Everybody's Thing

Teen homelessness leads to human trafficking. Human trafficking leads to HIV. This is an endless cycle, which keeps evolving. This isn’t someone else’s thing. This is everybody’s thing. Sadly, the numbers are still rising, even in your hometown. Spreading the word, being more aware, and getting involved are little things in which we all can do to help confront youth homelessness. – Randolph Randy Camp
Learn more at https://prezi.com/gcen4hk_twcv/teen-homelessness

Turning Negatives Into Positives

Regardless of your age, gender, color, background, or which side of town you live on, you deserve to be happy, and always know that you are precious and uniquely special. Please don’t ever let anyone tell you differently.


One of my most enjoyable and greatest perks as a youth advocate and a writer is getting invited to various schools for classroom book talks. I absolutely love being around young, engaging students who genuinely care about their future and what’s currently going on, not only in America, but what’s happening all over the world as well.


Of course, these book talk sessions are primarily about one or two of my books, in which the students had read for a class assignment. But often, these book talks will slightly go off-topic, as a student may ask me a personal question, or perhaps, a student may get inspired to share some personal experience from their own life which relates to the story we’re discussing.


Just before summer break recently, in Kansas, a student had asked me what had inspired me to write my first novel ‘Wet Matches’? I love answering this particular question because it gives me a chance to talk about turning your negative experiences into something positive.


On the surface, we all know that ‘Wet Matches’ is about five homeless teens getting a second chance at a better life when a California couple takes them in. But the deeper origin and backstory of why I wrote ‘Wet Matches’ stems from my memory of being called the N-word at age 5 by a bigoted White man at a grocery store in Fredericksburg, Virginia.


I’ll never forget how low and dirty I felt when he’d called me that awful name. It made me feel worthless, like ‘wet matches’. So, as I got older and started to write more and more, I eventually turned this awful childhood experience into something positive. As I began to work on the first draft of ‘Wet Matches’, I would make quite a few changes to the plot and storyline but I always stayed true to the underlying tone and central theme, which is that absolutely no one, including the 5 homeless teens, should ever be treated in such a way that makes them feel worthless, no good, like ‘wet matches’.


As I’m telling the students about the deeper origin of ‘Wet Matches’, I always love it when one of the students suddenly feels moved to share a bad experience from their own life and then the whole class gets to weigh in on possible different ideas and ways to turn the student’s negative experience into something more positive.


‘Wet Matches’ won the Quarter-Finals Prize at the Writers Network Fiction Competition in Los Angeles. In 2012, The White House honored me with the President Volunteer Service Award due to the awareness ‘Wet Matches’ raised about teen homelessness and its correlation with rising HIV issues in America. (This 2012 Presidential Award is signed by President Barack Obama, and is encased and displayed in my hometown at the John J. Wright Educational Cultural Center Museum, located at 7565 Courthouse Road in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.)


As many of you journey through life, I hope that you also will try your best to turn any negative experiences into something more positive. – Randolph Randy Camp
Learn more at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp

Dream BIG!

It’s a laid back Sunday and I’m going to watch my all-time favorite movies, which are ‘Imitation of Life’, ‘Billy Jack’, ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’, ‘Butterfield 8’, and ‘A Patch of Blue’. Along with my love of music, these five movies all had a hand in developing me as a writer. Note that there are two film versions of ‘Imitation of Life’, the black and white original from the 1930’s and the colorized 1959 version. I love them both! Also, there are actually four movies in the ‘Billy Jack’ series. I’m partial to the second movie in the series, in which some, unofficially, calls it  ‘Billy Jack 2’. It’s the one whereby Billy defends the kids at the Freedom School (on the Reservation). What are your favorite movies? There’s something truly magical about movies, especially when you can identify and relate to certain characters. At a young age I fell in love with stories, characters, and writing. As a kid, I used to dream about writing my own book one day. I remember some kids would call me crazy for having such wild, far-fetched dreams. Now, all these years later, one of my novels ‘Wet Matches’ is on a long journey to come alive on the silver screen. Whatever your ‘thing’ is, please don’t let anyone discourage you from ‘going for it’….and don’t be afraid to dream BIG! – Randolph Randy Camp
More at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp
*(photo: Indie Movie Producer Rachel Rand and me)

Glimmer of Hope

One of my childhood joys was riding my bike through the back roads of Spotsylvania County. Sometimes, my cousins, my brothers and I would ride together. I’ll never forget this one particular summer’s day when I was riding alone. I was slowly pedaling pass a white house with green-trimmed windows. I heard a young voice yell out “Randy! Randy!” From around the corner of the house one of my classmates was excitedly waving ‘hello’. I slowed to a stop and we chatted about how our summer break was going and how we both were wondering who our teachers would be once school starts in several weeks. We were both unapologetic book nerds and the kind of “weird” kids who couldn’t wait to go back to school. Our friendly chat was abruptly cut short when the front door hastily flew open and her angry, red-faced father yelled and ordered her to “Get in the house!”
Growing up as a Black kid in America certainly wasn’t easy. Many people of color could tell you countless stories of walking casually along the country road or city sidewalk and someone yells out a derogatory word from a passing vehicle. When I was a kid I would always wish and hope that things would get better between the races. It seems as though I was always looking for that glimmer of hope.
Nowadays, as I strongly advocate “start with one person at a time”, I wholeheartedly believe that things will get better, and my proof and example of my faith and hope stems from one of many personal life experiences. Remember the young White classmate who I was chatting with on that summer’s day and her racist father told her to “get in the house!”…Well, she had moved away from her racist father and now owns a small independent bookstore near the Virginia-Maryland state line. We still keep in touch, and she proudly has my four books on full display near the entrance of her store, especially ‘Wet Matches’, she says, as it carries the message of “don’t judge anybody.”
We’re in the fall of 2017 and America is seemingly regurgitating history, instead of moving wisely forward and learning from it. My message to everyone (especially to those kids out there who are currently wishing and hoping that things will get better) is to keep doing what you’re doing and please don’t fall into the trap of negativity. There are far more positive people in this world than negative ones, and you’re certainly one of the good ones. And that glimmer of hope for a better world will come from you. – Randolph Randy Camp
More at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp

Writers' Stuff: A Pinch of Salt

Along with never having your characters sound the same, I think that adding a little spice to your character is one of the best tools in creative writing because it makes your characters more realistic and it certainly adds flavor and depth to your story as well. In my novel ‘WET MATCHES’, the backstory of one of my adult characters named Jack was revealed as the plot unfolded. In the story, the reader connects a childhood incident in which Jack experiences in the 6th grade with his current, sometimes unpredictable behavior when he’s interacting with certain individuals.
Providing your readers with some insight into your characters’ childhood experiences or their backstory is a very valuable tool. Showing how your characters are different or may have grown from chapter one through chapter ten is another valuable tool in creative writing, and it’s clear evidence of your characters’ growth.
In real life, no two humans are the same and this should be the same in your stories. No two characters should sound or behave in the same manner. Revealing a character’s backstory is a great method of adding spice and seasoning to your character, which will only enhance and make your whole story more interesting and tasty to your readers.  – Randolph Randy Camp
More Writing Tips at http://www.goodreads.com/randolphcamp

Wet Matches: One Shot

Thank you to all of my readers, followers and everyone else who’ve been so supportive of me and my work. This ol’ country boy from the backwoods of Spotsylvania County, Virginia is honored and forever grateful to you all. I’m truly blessed and I take nothing for granted. Here’s an update on the film adaptation of ‘Wet Matches: A Novel’


We’re still in the early stages of pre-production. It’s a long process going from script to screen. Because this independent movie project won’t have the financial backing of a big name Hollywood studio, securing the funds for production will be a challenge for the producer. Crowd funding, such as Kickstarter, have been discussed and is still a viable option.


Also, there have been a couple of suggested titles for this film. Possible working titles so far includes ‘Wet Matches: The Journey’, and most recently, ‘Wet Matches: One Shot’. All titles fit the storyline of novel, but no final decision has been made yet.


As a writer, this whole process is already a dream come true. I hope that each one of you have something to shine about in your life, and may your goals and dreams are realized as well. – Randolph Randy Camp


*(photo: Indie Film Producer Rachel Rand with writer Randy Camp)
More at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp

What Abby Did

As America celebrates its independence, I would like to share with you a recent letter I’d received that gives a true snapshot of today’s America and offers a bit of hope for our future, and a better America for our kids and grandkids. With her permission, here’s Shannon’s exact letter:


Dear Mr. Camp,


My name is Shannon. I live in a small town in Georgia. Me and husband got married in 1995 and we have a beautiful daughter in high school named Abby. One day our daughter excitedly brought a book home in which they had read as a class assignment and kept urging her father to read it. Mind you, my husband is not a book reader in any sense, but my daughter was persistent and somehow got him to read it. After dinner my husband sat in his favorite chair and finished the book later that night. When he came to bed that night my husband looked me straight in the eye and told me that he loved me. I began to cry because my husband hadn’t told me that in ten years.


You see, I’m White and before I married my husband I’d dated a Black man. Some people knew about my past in our town but my husband only found out about it ten years ago. We only had one real conversation about it and it wasn’t good. Our daughter was only six at that time and I remember her waking up and overhearing most of it. Our family hasn’t been the same since that night. I love my husband very much and he’s a good man, but just like a lot of White men in our area he is still struggling to come to terms with the ways of his father’s and his grandfather’s generation.


That night, after my husband told me that he loved me he began to explain how a character in the book named Jack had opened his eyes. Mr. Camp, thank you for writing Wet Matches. Our home is a happy place now. What you did and what my daughter did probably saved my marriage.


Forever grateful,
Shannon

Please have a Happy and Safe Independence Day, Everyone! – Randolph Randy Camp

Servicetown, Lot Lizards and Other Writing Tips

If you’re an aspiring writer, one of my greatest advice to you is to always keep your eyes and ears open.


Ever since I could remember I wanted to be a successful writer. But, of course, I was naïve to the world during my younger years. During my teen years, I found jobs at highway restaurants along Interstate 95 and Highway 17 near Fredericksburg, Virginia. Servicetown was a huge truck stop in our area years ago. The underworld life surrounding a truck stop was a real wake up call for me. Working at restaurants near a truck stop was very educational to me, especially as a budding young writer. I was so naïve back then. Don’t you know that when I’d initially heard the term ‘lot lizard’, when I first started working at the highway restaurant, I actually thought that it was a real lizard crawling across the truck stop parking lot.


The shady, secretive world of truck stops allowed me to see the world differently. As a teenager, when I’d originally conceived the concept of my first novel ‘Wet Matches’, I shed light on this somewhat little-known world of a truck stop by using it as a backdrop within the story. Today, in 2017, unfortunately, this dark world of truck stops and lot lizards is among many factors which play a role in the harsh, unforgiving world of human trafficking.


So, to all emerging writers, keep your ears and eyes open to everything going on around you. Your next story could come from something totally unexpected. – Randolph Randy Camp


(Photo: WBFO Radio Reporter Eileen Buckley interviewing Writer Randy Camp)
Learn more at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp

Hazel Hill Morning

After I bought my first car, a ’72 Pinto, I loved the freedom of going to Fredericksburg whenever I could. Don’t get me wrong, growing up in rural Spotsylvania County in the 70’s had its benefits, but going into town was a big deal back then, especially for this young Virginia country boy. Two of my aunts, Edith Mae and Ruth Edna, had moved into the Hazel Hill Apartments in Fredericksburg, and it was such a treat for me to visit them when I wasn’t in school or was off work, usually on Saturday mornings.
Back then, as a somewhat nerdy schoolboy with big dreams, I was fascinated with getting away for awhile, going to Hazel Hill and then later going to the city park where I would sit alone by the Rappahannock River and write down some of my deepest thoughts. Today, in the middle of April 2017, I still find myself blushing whenever I see my book ‘Wet Matches’, knowing that it had its origin as a simple song lyric way back in 1978 and was conceived on that one particular Hazel Hill morning. – Randolph Randy Camp
More at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp

The Journey

While still in the early stages of development and pre-production, I’m learning from Executive Producer Rachel Rand that ‘The Journey’ will be the official title of the film adaption of ‘Wet Matches: A Novel’. Stay tuned for more updates as this story evolves and slowly comes to life on the silver screen. And I thank you all for supporting me and my work through the years. – Randolph Randy Camp

(Photo: Indie Film Producer Rachel Rand with Screenwriter Randy Camp, 2017)

More at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp

One by One: Helping Our Homeless Youth

I love getting feedback from my readers. The majority of the comments and questions I receive on a daily basis usually are about my writing technique or  my writing tips. Occasionally, I will get a response, as I did yesterday, asking me advice on ways to get involved with the  youth homelessness problem we currently have in America. After reading my book ‘Wet Matches’, Whitney from Nebraska, informed me that she didn’t realize that America had such a growing human trafficking and homeless problem, especially among our teen population.


Currently, there are approximately 1.4 million runaway and homeless youth in America. This information isn’t widely known and normally goes unreported. Unfortunately, these homeless kids are commonly taken advantage of and sexually exploited by pimps, street hustlers, and strangers. It’s shocking to find out what some of these homeless teens would do for a bag of fries when they’re truly desperate and starving. Surviving on the streets isn’t easy, and ‘survival sex’ is a subject I addressed in my 2011 debut novel ‘Wet Matches’. Life around cheap motels and truck stops seem to be perpetuating human trafficking and sexual exploitation of those stuck in vulnerable situations. Teen runaways and homeless youth, especially those young people within the LGBTQ community are the most vulnerable and are prime targets for hustlers and those looking for easy prey.


Whitney from Nebraska was so compelled to reach out and take action after reading ‘Wet Matches’ that she asked for my advice and guidance. As I suggested and replied back to Whitney, contacting and volunteering with your local homeless shelter or soup kitchen is a great start to reaching out and helping these vulnerable young people all across America. One by one, little by little, together, we can impact the lives of our runaway, homeless youth…one by one. – Randolph Randy Camp


Learn more at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp

Shine On Baby, Shine!

Ever since I can remember I was always attracted to stories that had a bit of truth in them and the ones that left me with a sense of hope that things will get better. And, to this day, when I write my own original stories, I try to embed bits of hope and a sense of truth in them as well. Without a doubt, the book ‘The Little Engine That Could’ changed my life as a kid, and certainly lit the first spark of inspiration for me becoming a successful writer one day.


What are your favorite books or movies? In the movie department, ‘Imitation of Life’, ‘To Kill A Mocking Bird’, ‘Butterfield 8’, ‘Billy Jack’, and ‘A Patch of Blue’ are my personal all-time favorite films. Each one of these movies had touched me in a special way when I first watched them so many moons ago, and each of them definitely had a hand in giving me the audacity to dream and possibly think that one of my very own stories would ever grace and come alive on the big silver screen some day.


As 2017 continue to roll out, I sincerely hope that all of you, especially my dear fans,  readers, friends, and followers from all around the globe, become one step closer to your own goals and dreams, and that your life will continue to shine with an abundance of  inspiration, hope and truth.  Yes, indeed, I hope you all shine brightly in 2017! Shine On!- Randolph Randy Camp


(PHOTO: Independent Film Producer Rachel Rand with Screenwriter Randy Camp, 2017)
Learn more at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp

Wet Matches: The Movie!!!

It’s a go, folks! ‘Wet Matches: The Movie’ is in pre-production with Independent Movie Producer Rachel Rand. Location scouting will begin soon with cast auditions and filming to begin sometime during this summer (2017). Winner of the Writers Network 14th Annual Screenplay & Fiction Quarter-Finals Prize, ‘Wet Matches’ tells the contemporary tale of five homeless teens (all HIV positive) getting a second chance at a better life when a young California couple takes them in. – Randolph Randy Camp
Learn more at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp

The Value of You

If you've ever been ridiculed, bullied, mocked, or if anyone has ever made you feel worthless ("good for nothing like wet matches") always remember that God loves everybody, regardless of your hair color, regardless of your skin color, ect.  Your  actual value is enormous! - Randolph Randy Camp
More at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp

‘America: No Purchase Necessary’ is a feel-good story about acceptance. One of the many perks of winning the national ‘America’s Family’ Sweepstakes is the chance to meet and make appearances with the President on his reelection campaign. When an eclectic African-American family becomes the unexpected winner of the prestigious ‘America’s Family’ contest, the President and his shiesty reelection campaign manager tries to get the family disqualified, thinking that this particular family isn’t ‘American-looking’ enough, and to appear with them on the campaign trail will hurt the President’s chance of getting reelected. Without being preachy, ‘America: No Purchase Necessary’ gives a lighthearted glimpse into American politics while simultaneously showing a realistic snapshot of life in contemporary America. Just like any other family in America, the Lanterns have autism, transgender issues, and even a grandmother who’ve come up with her own interesting alternative to plant-based burgers. ‘America: No Purchase Necessary’ is an entertaining political satire that looks at race relations in America, and it shows the sometimes-ugly side of America while simultaneously reflecting the goodness in certain people that highlights America’s beauty as well. If you or your family ever felt left out, pushed out or shut out then Randolph Randy Camp’s ‘America: No Purchase Necessary’ is a story for you.

Survival Sex and HIV



Every day the number of positive HIV cases and runaway youth are rising. We all should be concerned because there are homeless youth everywhere, and the potential for becoming HIV positive is everywhere. Whether you're straight or associated with the LGBT community, it pays to really know your sexual partner, and the not knowing is both dangerous and costly.

Nowadays, a large number of young people are feeling somewhat unwelcome and uncomfortable in their own homes after revealing their sexual orientation to other family members. Unfortunately, running away becomes an easy solution for these youth. Young runaways trying to survive on unfamiliar streets creates the potential for risky sexual behavior. These vulnerable kids and teens become easy prey for shady drug dealers, pimps, and every other street hustler trying to make a living off of someone else's back. Sadly, in desperation, a hungry, homeless teen will sometimes do almost anything for a burger and a bag of fries.

There's definitely a real connection between survival sex and the rise of positive HIV cases. Five years ago, in my first book, I addressed this issue without mentioning the term 'survival sex' within the text at all but it certainly was the hard subject matter which drove the under current of that particular novel.

We all can do our part in trying to curb these rising numbers simply by becoming more educated on this subject and making others more aware of the many issues surrounding young runaways and teen homelessness. - Randolph Randy Camp

More at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp

The Well

"Most often, those who’ve been in the well are those most likely to pull others out of the well…When Jack Canaday was twelve years old he was once in the well…Now, twenty-one years later, Jack has an opportunity to reach down and help others out of the well…"  -Quote from 'Wet Matches: A Novel'
More at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp

Randolph Randy Camp

A Video Presentation of Contemporary Author Randolph Randy Camp

Speaking of Metaphors: Randy's Writing Tips

One of my readers recently wrote and asked me why do I seem to use metaphors a lot in my novels. I replied with this simple statement, “Metaphors make the reader think from a different angle.” I further went on to explain how I’ve always loved imagery in songs, poems and stories when I was growing up. Listening to the songs on the radio was my first lesson in creative writing. I just loved the way a certain lyric describing a specific object or an event could instantly plant a picture in my mind. To me, that was a powerful thing and I fell in love with creative writing ever since.
The beauty of metaphors, for me at least, is that it allows you (the writer) to introduce a serious topic while simultaneously softening your story to make it easier to swallow for your readers. This is what I did in my first book ‘Wet Matches’, a story that covers HIV and teen homelessness.
If you are an inspiring author, see if symbolism and metaphors will enhance and make your story more interesting. And please continue writing and don’t ever give up! Believe in your story, and most importantly, believe in yourself! – Randolph Randy Camp
More at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp

A Brief Video Bio Presentation: Author Randolph Randy Camp

A brief BIO VIDEO presentation on Writer Randolph Randy Camp, author of the award-winning 'Wet Matches' and three other novels '29 Dimes', 'False Dandelions', and '...Then The Rain'.