My Books
HIPPIE BOY New York Times Bestseller
A hustler dad. An abusive stepfather. A suffocating religious home life. And a girl determined to break free.
What would you do if your stepfather pinned you down and tried to cast Satan out of you? For thirteen-year-old Ingrid, the answer is simple: RUN.
In her gripping NYT-bestselling memoir, Ingrid Ricks takes readers into a tumultuous home life riddled with poverty, oppression and the suffocating brand of Mormon religion she is desperate to escape. Her chance finally comes when she begins hitting the road with her freewheeling dad, traveling throughout the Midwest, selling tools and hanging around with the men on his shady revolving sales crew. It feels like freedom from her controlling mother and cruel, authoritarian stepfather. But it comes with its own disappointments and dysfunctions, and she soon learns the lesson that will change her life: she can’t look to others to save her, she has to save herself.
“Ricks’ absorbing true story of an adolescence spent traveling the country with her hard-luck salesman father should be a movie—but it’s also utterly compelling on the page.” –Reader’s Digest
“The author’s clear-eyed prose keeps the pages turning…well-written and heartbreaking.” – Publishers Weekly
“In clear, graceful prose and in a voice that is refreshingly authentic, Ricks tells an uplifting story of heartbreak, hope and self-salvation.” – Kirkus Reviews
“Soft-spoken yet resounding…Ricks’ voice is true.” – Booklist
“Fans of Haven Kimmel and Mary Karr should welcome Ricks warmly as a new, distinct voice in memoirs.” – BookPage
“Ricks’ writing is easy and engaging, and her details are sharp.” – Bust Magazine
“As a young girl, Ricks was always looking for someone to save her from her hard life. Now as a writer, she’s helping youths use the power of storytelling to save themselves.” – The Salt Lake Tribune
“This story reads almost as a novel even though it is an autobiographical account. Ricks’ strength to overcome despite desperate odds will likely inspire readers with a desire to do the same.” Deseret News
“Instead of sensationalizing her Mormon-raised youth in Utah, Ricks tells her story plainly, in the very matter-of-fact way a child sees the world.” – Seattle Weekly
FOCUS
What would it take for you to focus on what counts?
In her gripping memoir, Ingrid takes readers into her world as she grapples with the devastating news that an incurable blinding eye disease is eating away at her vision. Terrified that she will miss out on her daughters’ lives, become a burden to her husband and lose the career and independence that defines her, Ingrid, a thirty-seven-year-old journalist and mother of two, embarks on a quest to save her sight. Through her journey, she learns to embrace the Now, go after her dreams and see what matters — something no amount of vision loss can take from her.
“A strong addition to any contemporary memoir collection.” – Susan Bethany, Midwest Book Review
“Some stories are too important to ignore. This is one of them”– Cally Phillips, IndieeBookReview
“A Moving and Uplifting Memoir”– Indie Reader
“An honest and inspiring reminder to live your dreams everyday, and cherish your family every precious moment you breathe. Inspired me, and helped me remember to focus on what’s important.” – Libby Hyland, reader
“FOCUS could have been a bleak account of one woman’s descent into darkness. Instead, it radiates light and hope”. – Alysa Salzberg, Editor – Beguile
