Author & Speaker

Richard Plinke

Richard Plinke brings stories to life with humor, wit, and an eye for the unexpected.

“If people listened to Richard Plinke, the world will be a much better place.”

Latest Release

The Capricious Nature of Being

The Capricious Nature of Being

“The Capricious Nature of Being by Richard Plinke is a masterfully written collection of 11 stories that capture the unpredictable, often chaotic, and always fascinating essence of being human. Blending drama, humor, intrigue, and sharp satire, Plinke crafts a rich literary experience that’s as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.”

Meghan Soderholm

The Capricious Nature of Being

The Capricious Nature of Being

“The Capricious Nature of Being by Richard Plinke is a masterfully written collection of 11 stories that capture the unpredictable, often chaotic, and always fascinating essence of being human. Blending drama, humor, intrigue, and sharp satire, Plinke crafts a rich literary experience that’s as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.”

Meghan Soderholm

About Richard

A Storyteller’s Storyteller!

Richard Plinke is the author of five books. He has also written countless articles for various publications, most notably columns in several business journals. He graduated with high honors from Rutgers University, Camden College of Arts and Science with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, which explains how he ended up in advertising sales for over 40 years. Along the way, he worked for three fortune 100 conglomerates throughout the United  States and Canada, founded and operated three media companies, trained countless salespeople and has been a much heralded motivational speaker. Mr. Plinke published three critically acclaimed books on sales in the Dragon series, and a hilarious collection of Facebook posts during the pandemic’s lockdown, titled COVID 19: House Arrest.

The Capricious Nature of Being is his first venture into fiction.

Mr. Plinke lives in the real Allentown, Pennsylvania (not the fictitious one in the song) with his wife, Terry, and dog, Luna.

"This is a fun book that takes the reader on a fascinating tour of human thoughts, emotions, and conditions. Richard Plinke is not afraid to crawl through the mud or dig into the deepest corners of the darkest closet to get where he is going with these stories. And where he's going can be anywhere from the speculative to the horrific to the unexplained. Though the stories are (mostly) unrelated, the capricious nature of being threads them all together and binds them into a cohesive whole. Still, each story shines with its own uniqueness, sometimes exploring regret, other times examining rage, lust, deviousness, betrayal, and more. Best of all, Richard pulls all of this off without sacrificing humor, often wry, and sometimes flirting with absurdity."
Jac Filer

Creative Library

Covid-19 House Arrest

Compilation of 48 Essays

5
(5)

More Droppings from the Dragon

A Hitchhiker's Guide To Sales

5
(12)

The Capricious Nature of Being

A Collection of Various Stories

4.8
(8)

Dancing in the Cave of the Dragon

Adventures in the Wonderland of Sales

5
(8)

From the Jaws of the Dragon

Sales Tales and Other Marginally Related Stuff

4.9
(14)

The Capricious Nature of Being

“Richard Plinke’s writing is humorous, entertaining and insightful. He’s a gifted storyteller and an accomplished wordsmith. Reading him is extremely enjoyable, and you just might  learn a little about the world and yourself along the way. From his Dragon Tails to the story Uber in his new book, life’s lesson fill his pages with wisdom and perspective. Do yourself a favor and give Mr. Plinke a look—you won’t be disappointed. Definitely one of my favorite authors.”

- Petra Marlowe

Latest News, Events, and Writing

Next Event

Richard Plinke at a lectern addressing an audience—Speaking page header.

Live Reading: How to Sell the Plague

Richard Plinke takes the stage for an unfiltered reading from his book How to Sell the Plague. Expect equal parts satire, straight talk, and storytelling — the kind of commentary that makes you laugh while wondering if you should be offended.

Commentary and Other Musings

Autumn candles and stadium lights: Rich Plinke reflects on turning 78, Rutgers–Oregon 56–10, and gratitude.

So Many Candles, So Little Cake

Rich Plinke marks his 78th with humor, a Rutgers–Oregon 56–10 reality check, and a heartfelt thanks for the birthday wishes.
Carnival midway with a spinning ride (“Satan’s Wheel of Death”) as red-haired Hope approaches—humorous story of lost love, amnesia, and a twist ending.

Helplessly Hoping Her Harlequin Hovers Nearby

A cheeky jab at pay-to-play writing contests, followed by a 1,000-word midway caper: Hope, Hopo, amnesia, and a carnival twist. Yes—Hope springs eternal.
Popcorn against an emerald glow—laughing at the show’s spectacle while side-eyeing its missing context.

Wicked

Plinke riffs on Wicked, prequels, and pop culture: dazzled by spectacle, skeptical of the premise, and wickedly amused from start to “To Be Continued.”