Jeffrey Ricker (he/him)

@jeffreyricker

#Queer writer of #YA and spec fic. Expect lots of Star Trek. Failing to meet the demands of capitalism since 1969. Trans rights or I’ll vaporize you w/a lvl16 phaser. Can I pet your dog? and

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Jeffrey Ricker (he/him)@jeffreyricker· 28d

Just finished this. Fucking awesome. If you like your romances very 🏳️‍🌈 with lots of 🌶️, this is for you. #BookSky

Cover of the book DEARLY DEPARTED by Chip Pons.

Jeffrey Ricker (he/him)@jeffreyricker· 29d

During commencement back in 2014, the tassel on my mortarboard seemed to have a mind of its own, which I didn't realize until @rheatregebov.bsky.social said, "Jeffrey, your tassel's in my face." #tbt

Me and Professor Rhea Tregebov in academic regalia. The tassel from my mortarboard, unbeknownst to me, is waving in Rhea's face.

Me and Proessor Tregebov again, still in academic regalia, but both of us laughing after she's just told me about the tassel.

Jeffrey Ricker (he/him)@jeffreyricker· Jul 15

That was the last we ever saw of poor ol’ Cletus. Ain’t never did find no body, just a sock on the trail and his baseball cap dangling from a tree branch, like he’d hung it there and expected to come back ‘n’ git it.

A lone black sock lying on a hiking trail.

Jeffrey Ricker (he/him)@jeffreyricker· Jul 13

Next read on deck. @chippons.bsky.social #QueerBookSky

Jeffrey Ricker (he/him)@jeffreyricker· Jul 11

Vacation mode: activated.

My husband at a cafe table with a glass of water in front of him.

Jeffrey Ricker (he/him)@jeffreyricker· Jul 1

Bill Templeton’s soon-to-be mother-in-law, Mrs. Wolff, knows more than anyone else, including the bad guys, and is twice as ruthless. Luckily, she’s on Bill’s side. #1LineWed #BookSky #QueerWriters (Want more? Go meet Mrs. Wolff in THE FINAL DECREE. ko-fi.com/s/b6e348f1b1 )

"Your father told me you've been having a bit of trouble. I thought I might be able to help."

I swallowed hard. In Mrs. Wolff's world, "helping" meant she was there to save you from your own incompetence.

Cover of the novella The Final Decree by Jeffrey Ricker shows a man in an orange spacesuit holding a ray gun standing against an abstract background.

LEAVE IT TO Travis to find the one planet it was impossible to get a direct flight to from anywhere. To reach Kohmar Prime, I had to string together four different flights in progressively smaller liners, followed by two local charters just to get there and make him give me the divorce I wanted after leaving him five years ago.
Or did he leave me? Five years wasn't that long, but it was enough to make the details go foggy and, honestly, I tried not to think about that period of my life very often.
Tracking him down took weeks and the help of a discreet private investigator. All of my old contacts from that life-the ones who were still alive, at least either didn't want to talk to me, or they didn't know where he was. When I finally got him on the link, he looked momentarily surprised but recovered quickly.
"Hello, husband," he said, once the static finally subsided. Leave it to him to still know exactly what to say to get my goat, too.
"Don't call me that."
"If you wish, Lockhart.”
I cringed. My given name was almost worse than husband. "It's Bill and you know it, so why don't you knock it off and tell me what the hell you're doing out there in the middle of nowhere."
He shrugged and gestured behind him. "It's a nice place to get away from it all." He was standing out-side, and the landscape was uniformly tan and sandy, dotted with a few stubborn, scrubby-looking plants.
"Lovely," I said. It was my idea of hell.
"How are you, Bill?" he asked, his voice momentarily softening. "What's it been, four years?"
"Five."
A smirk. "Not that you were counting." And the sarcasm was back like a reflex.
"Listen, I need a favor."
"Of course you do."
I paused at that, raised an eyebrow. He continued.
"I figure you're not contacting me because you wanted to catch up or reminisce about all the good times we had. I'm not sure what I could possibly

Jeffrey Ricker (he/him)@jeffreyricker· Jun 30

Hands down one of the strangest novels I've read lately. Three kids brought back from the dead, with no recollection of how they died, resurrected by... their high school music teacher? In case it's not obvious, I'm giving it a thumbs up. #BookSky

Cover of the novel THE BOOK OF LOVE by Kelly Link.

Jeffrey Ricker (he/him)@jeffreyricker· Jun 25

When I was in grad school at UBC, I used to walk by this arch often and think it looked like something out of Battlestar Galactica. Sometimes I'd sit there and imagine Number Six coming by to tell me “this is all part of God's plan, Gaius—I mean, Jeffrey.” #tbt

An angular white stone arch over a reflecting pool. Conifer trees and a low building are in the background, with a blue sky streaked with hazy clouds.

Jeffrey Ricker (he/him)@jeffreyricker· Jun 24

The crowdfunding campaign for the film version of "At the End of the Leash" is still running for a few more days. It could use your support! #1LineWed seedandspark.com/fund/attheen...

“You can’t hide things from dogs, you know? They follow their hunch when it comes to people because it’s all they’ve got. So if someone has a dog or if my dog likes someone, I figure they’re good people.”

Your dog liked me, and you still fired me anyway. Did you bother to check with him on that first?

Jeffrey Ricker (he/him)@jeffreyricker· Jun 24

I've never been a fast writer, and I've always wanted to be... maybe not fast, but not quite so slow. Will this book help? Not sure yet. I've always been aware of the ticking clock, but lately it's gotten louder, and I still have stories I want to get out of me. #WriterSky

Jeffrey Ricker (he/him)@jeffreyricker· Jun 21

When I wrote THE UNWANTED, it was important to me for Jamie to have a good relationship with his dad. He raised Jamie solo, and they only had each other to rely on. Not everyone gets a good dad. Jamie got lucky. His dad’s not perfect, but he makes sure Jamie knows he’s loved.

An excerpt from my novel THE UNWANTED: Jamie has a conservation with his father about his estranged mother, who is an Amazon:

“How does an accountant end up having a kid with an Amazon, anyway?”

He lowered his hands and looked at me funny. “The old-fashioned way, son.”

Ugh. Twice in one day about two different people? Thanks again, Dad. “God, that’s not what I meant. What I meant was how did you even manage to meet her?”

He leaned back and stared at the ceiling. “Vegas. I went there for a conference and she was staying in the same hotel. We ended up spending the whole weekend together, then about a year later she showed up here with you. Said she couldn’t keep you because males aren’t allowed in the Amazons’ society, and off she went. Suddenly, I was a single parent.”

There was a note of regret in his voice. I looked away and said, “So much for what happens in Vegas staying in Vegas.” I tried to sound lighthearted about it, but failed miserably. He put his arm across my shoulders, and I leaned into him.

“Yeah, but I still feel like I hit the jackpot.”

Every once in a while, he knew exactly was to say.

Please see alt text in first image for full caption.

Please see alt text in first image for complete caption.

Jeffrey Ricker (he/him)@jeffreyricker· Jun 20

Wow, maybe that explains why I had the urge to put on this T-shirt today.

Selfie wearing a KPop Demon Hunters T-shirt.

Jeffrey Ricker (he/him)@jeffreyricker· Jun 19

I probably need to take more of those, given how often I want to go Janeway-with-a-bat’leth. #WeeknightWriters

Jeffrey Ricker (he/him)@jeffreyricker· Jun 18

I did a writerly thing this week! My friend Lisa and I went to a book event at the St. Louis County Library for Andrew Sean Greer and got him to sign his new book, VILLA COCO. It was a fantastic time! #WeeknightWriters

Me (right), my friend Lisa (left) stand next to Andrew Sean Greer (seated, Center). Smiles all around.

Jeffrey Ricker (he/him)@jeffreyricker· Jun 18

Wow, 2009 was a long time ago. This wasn't my first trip to New Orleans for @sasfest.bsky.social but it was so darn fun. #tbt

A group of people at Margaritaville in New Orleans, all seated (or standing) on one side of a long table, positioned in such a way to imitate Leonardo's painting The Last Supper. On the wall behind them is a mural with the word "Margaritaville" behind a propellered amphibious plane.

Jeffrey Ricker (he/him)@jeffreyricker· Jun 18

Defied a tornado watch to go see Andrew Sean Greer at the St. Louis County Library tonight. (You can’t see them in this picture, but his shoes were unhinged.)

My friend Lisa (left) and me (right) with author Andrew Sean Greer (seated, center). Smiles all around.

Jeffrey Ricker (he/him)@jeffreyricker· Jun 17

Is it a meet cute if you’re thinking “lawsuit” when you meet? This is from my story “At the End of the Leash,” which could become a film if enough folks help crowdfund it. Check it out: seedandspark.com/fund/attheen... #1LineWed #QueerWriterSky

"My name's Carl."

Carl. Carl Jacobs. That was a nice, sturdy name.

"I'm Brian." The guy who's going to sue you for wrongful termination, he thought, then squelched that line of thinking.

Jeffrey Ricker (he/him)@jeffreyricker· Jun 16

What am I reading? I'm glad you asked. I would swear that this is a reread, but I'm more than halfway through The Left Hand of Darkness and would swear it's all completely new to me. #BookSky

Cover of the paperback edition of The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin.

Jeffrey Ricker (he/him)@jeffreyricker· Jun 12

Also, my new hat makes me very happy. #WeeknightWriters

Selfie in a hat that says “Stupid Canadian Wolf Bird.” If you know you know.

Jeffrey Ricker (he/him)@jeffreyricker· Jun 11

Me before my run: Yay, let’s go! Me after my run: OMG THIS WEATHER IS BULLSHIT I FEEL SO GROSS GETTING OLD FUCKING SUCKS.

Mirror selfie in a hat and tank top giving a thumbs-up. Note complete lack of sweat.

Mirror selfie after my run, no hat, red-faced and completely drenched.

Jeffrey Ricker (he/him)@jeffreyricker· Jun 6

I wouldn’t be averse to gray or silver, but I decided to test if blonds have more fun. (Spoiler: I’ve been blond before and I had SO much fun.)

Jeffrey Ricker (he/him)@jeffreyricker· Jun 6

“Siri, play ‘Tired of Being Blonde’ by Carly Simon, but ironically.” #GPOY

Selfie in the mirror at the hair salon in the middle of getting my hair dyed very blond.

Jeffrey Ricker (he/him)@jeffreyricker· Jun 5

The postal gods really came through for me today! If you haven’t checked out @drslayton.bsky.social’s books, he’s well worth your time. #BookSky #QueerBooks