The carpeted room with blue and white patterned Baruch symbols resonated with laughter and applause. The large crowd—students, faculty, professors and fans took interest in the reading and quirky remarks of author Richard Price as he stood at the podium sharing his novel work Lush Life.
Price’s words were calm with a slight tension as he read Lush Life and another work to listeners in the Baruch conference center of the Library building. Brushed back gray and brown hair, yellow buttoned down shirt with a blue t-shirt, and jeans, glasses rested loosely on his nose, Price gave off a warm, down to earth demeanor.
As he began to read introductions to his pieces, the listeners sat quietly hanging off of each word. Though slightly rapid in his recitation, giving off certain nervousness, there was no doubt that he was still able to remain calm. Once finishing, the room echoed with applause as Price gazed into the audience.
Questions opened on the floor of the room as hands shot high attempting to get his attention. Immediately, Price began to speak of his experiences as a writer, how he began writing, what influenced him, where he was from and how he researches his stories.
Price grew up in the Bronx in the Parkside Projects on White Plains Road. He attended Public schools 41 and 113. Price mentioned influences in saying, “Every neighborhood, person and building has a story to be told, a history.” Price’s words were powerful as he also said, “You have to be a fly on the wall,” an expression well known. Standing with arms rested on the pulpit, Price discussed how there is no story without information; know shaky people, converse with waiters, police, and anyone else who would talk to him.
As a crime fiction writer, Price touched upon New York poverty, drugs and violence. Price used various sources to obtain the notes needed to begin his work. “Precinct 7 was one of the worst and most dangerous precincts in Harlem, known for Heroine use,” Price said continuing to speak on how lines would run out of the precinct for drugs sold in buildings.
Through a journalistic contact, Price was able to speak to a number of officers and even ride along with them on their beats. Doing so, Price was able to get a feel of their dialect, how they operated throughout the day and why they did things in a certain order. Price said, “When people get really polite is usually when they’re holding,” as told to him by officers. Price continued, “To get information you have to shake the streets for criminal mischief.”
Price also spoke of his various techniques in taking in what he gathered. Price said, “Notes would be minimal, would converse with people rather than ask questions, soak anything heard like a sponge and put words in to their mouths. Price also spoke of how writers seeking to be screenwriters should strive to be something higher such as a film maker that way they can take accountability for their own work.