Out of darkness comes hope, and out of hope comes an unexpected passion and renewed sense of life ... if he can keep himself alive long enough to enjoy it. Rocket scientist/Star Trek writer/safari warrior/author Chester L. Richards asks: Is nature out to kill us? Maybe not. But someone is.
-Ed., The Mensa Bulletin, March 2023

I’m like a pinball in a pinball machine. I get knocked about a lot. I have been highly entertained and challenged by this, engaging in near-impossible tasks as an engineer on the aerospace frontier. Even better, bouncing around my somewhat eccentric career, I have met some of the most extraordinary people.

But sometimes being a pinball hurts — a lot!

Read more in the March 2023 Mensa Bulletin. A huge thanks from Chester for the delightful graphics they created to illustrate perfectly how his life has ricocheted through adventures personal, professional, and both mind- and soul-expanding.

Welcome to Adventures with Chester L. Richards. Join us as we go on a pioneering adventure. Get inspired by the tale of how my pioneering great-grandfather built part of the I 5 freeway -- while he had a double hernia! You can find the full story, “Great-Grandfather’s Hernia,” the story of the Battle of The Band video -- “In the Mood” -- and many more adventures in my book, From The Potato to Star Trek and Beyond: Memoirs of a Rocket Scientist. Available in print and eBook on Amazon, Barnes and Noble. Print available everywhere online. Or ask at your favorite bookstore. We're also pleased to announce the eBook will be available at your favorite online store soon. Check our books page to find out when.

Come fly with Chester L. Richards as he reveals behind the scenes adventures of how fan fave Star Trek episode 'The Tholian Web" came about. Learn how he and his friend Judy A. Burns conceived the original story, and wrote the script for what became the on air version of "The Tholian Web," including fascinating twists and turns as the script evolved. Ah, Hollywood!

I was so pleased to receive these prestigious literary awards. Thank you to The BookFest  judges who selected my first book for these honors!

When I was invited to be a speaker at The BookFest® Fall 2022 event I had no idea I would also win these awards. 

My topic, The Adventure of a Lifetime Chat with Chester L. Richards,
was shown on Day 1.

The weekend was packed with authors who are experts in a variety of fields. Talks and panels on Day 1 was aimed at readers. Day 2 was aimed at topics of interest to writers. The weekend also focused on critical issues of our time, including climate change and book banning, with honest discussions of what is happening in the USA and around the world, and what we can all do about these challenges.

There was a plethora of authors and books of all genres to discover. Being among this distinguished group of presenters was indeed an honor for me, and I am grateful to The BookFest for inviting me to participate again. (I first appeared in Spring 2022, in a panel on memoirs, Decoding His Story -- Men Who Write Memoirs.)

If you missed it, no problem. The entire weekend will be streaming 24/7 soon. Check here for the link once it goes live. Or check the link below:

https://www.thebookfest.com/

Meet New Friends at The BookFest® Fall 2022 October 22nd and 23rd.

Join the fun and hang out with the bookish community of readers, writers, and industry experts. The BookFest® Fall 2022 has a spooky, autumnal theme. It is presented by the Horror Writers Association (HWA) and Bookstagrammers. Winners of The BookFest Awards will be announced during the two-day bookish adventure.

Highlights to look forward to on Day One of The BookFest, Oct. 22, which is geared toward readers, include the opening keynote by Beatrice Adenodi, author of Mindless Behaviors: Breaking Through Unseen Barriers. Philip Fracassi, who The New York Times calls, “terrifically scary,” will be in Conversation.

Chester L. Richards will be featured in a conversation about the importance of adventures in your life, as well as highlights from his book, From The Potato to Star Trek and Beyond: Memoirs of a Rocket Scientist. He's in marvelous company with authors from around the world throughout the day.

Also on Day 1, there are panels about climate change-themed books; science fiction, fantasy and dark fiction; a Conversation with author and speaker Neil Bockoven, PhD.; and what promises to be an insightful and poignant panel with experts discussing book bannings and challenges in the US.

Oct. 23 is Day Two of The BookFest, which as always leans to writers. The day kicks off with an opening keynote from Karla Olson of Patagonia Books. In Conversation is Angela Bole from the Independent Book Publishers Association (and soon-to-be with Firebrand Group). New York Times best-selling author David L. Robbins and Katharine Sands from the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency return for a BookFest favorite: The Critiki Bar, which has the duo delivering page one manuscript critiques.

The BookFest streams online and is an always free-to-attend two-day event.

Join Chester and the The BookFest community! The website streams the online event, and it can be found on the Books That Make You YouTube Channel, too. You can also follow The BookFest on Instagram, Facebook Page and Facebook Group.

If you like winning books, you’re in luck: The Big Bundle of Books Giveaway is back. It is open to entries until Saturday evening of every BookFest. Winners are announced at the conclusion of the Live Author Chats. 

Become a BookFester by signing up for email alerts. You'll also get the Virtual Gift Bag, which is sent at the end of each BookFest. Packed with free downloads and special offers, it is something all booklovers gotta have.

Books That Make You is a proud presenting sponsor of The BookFest. The BookFest is produced by Black Château Enterprises.

The BookFest Fall 2022 is presented by The Horror Writers Association and by Bookstagrammers, a platform dedicated to book influencers, plus many other supporters. Visit the Virtual Booths and support the companies and organizations that support The BookFest. 

For signup and info for Chester's conversation as well as the entire weekend, check the buttons below.

Welcome back to Adventures with Chester L. Richards on our new YouTube Channel @ChesterLRichards.

Do come with us this time as we go on a racing adventure: “Ford vs Ferrari.”  Learn fascinating facts about the genius behind the legendary Ford GT engine that defeated Ferrari in the 1966 Le Mans, as depicted in the widely acclaimed film starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale, "Ford v Ferrari." Nominated for Best Picture, the film lost to Parasite, but did capture two Oscars: Best Film Editing and Best Sound Editing.

#YouTube #FordVFerrari #LeMans #Adventures #BobPons #ChesterLRichards #RocketScience #Memoirs #Oscars

Richards explains why the most critical step in your success lies in your willingness to go on adventures

Immediate Release
 
Los Angeles, California--From The Potato to Star Trek and Beyond: Memoirs of a Rocket Scientist is releasing June 21, 2022. Author and Star Trek contributor Chester L. Richards tells his life’s adventures as a rocket scientist, screenwriter, musician and world traveler in this action-packed memoir. Drawing inspiration from his late wife Sarah, Chester is baring all in his debut book release.

A man of grand adventures, Chester relates why taking the plunge into voluntary adventures is so enriching — they’ll change you forever, and sculpt your life’s story.

From The Potato To Star Trek and Beyond reveals his passion, his most exciting journeys and brushes with death. Chester believes one must view all that comes your way – the good, the terrifying, and the ugly – as a series of adventures. He shares an almost fatal encounter with a potato (yes, a potato), his experience as co-writer of one of the most iconic episodes of the original Star Trek, several wild African adventures, and more.
 
Says Steve Pastis (author, and writer/editor of The Good Life publication for seniors):
“I would highly recommend From the Potato to Star Trek and Beyond. The book is informative, even educational, but author Chester Richards maintains a friendly, conversational tone throughout. The stories were a definite surprise. Who knew that this mild-mannered, soft-spoken gentleman I’ve known for years had so many harrowing adventures, and was so accomplished in the scientific community? If there is a lesson to be learned from these pages, it’s that everyone should get to know the people in their lives on a deep level, especially the mild-mannered, soft-spoken ones.” 
 
From The Potato to Star Trek and Beyond: Memoirs of a Rocket Scientist by Chester L. Richards is available for pre-order on Amazon
 
Publisher: Pawpress
ISBN: 978-1880882306
Pages: 334
Available in Paperback, Hardcopy and Ebook
 
About the Author 
 
Chester L. Richards, a retired aerospace engineer and inventor with 19 patents, recently turned 80. With a number of odd close encounters with the grim reaper under his belt, he has always boldly gone where few have dared.
 
Chester’s mantra — view all that comes your way, the good, the terrifying and the ugly, as a series of adventures —took shape early. After narrowly escaping mortal injury from The Great Potato as a lad, a few years later, in college, Chester and friend Judy Burns co-authored a spec script for Star Trek on a lark. The story they were brought in to write, “The Tholian Web,” became one of the original series’ most popular episodes.
 
A veteran writer advised the young man, “You should write. Write your passions.” But I have nothing to say, Chester thought. That was the moment he decided the real message was to fill his life with adventures. And he did — adventures in surfing, learning and performing music, traveling to exotic places for river rafting, and his work as a rocket scientist. But it was the loss of Sarah, the love of his life, that caused Chester to write his first book of stories. At the house in Thousand Oaks they once shared, the hair-raising adventures Sarah loved continue to occur, though, as the author says, he no longer has much hair.

To book Mr. Richards for interviews or to speak, please contact Desiree Duffy at Black Chateau Enterprises.