Draft:Rick Treon

Rick Treon (born 1986) is an American journalist, author, scriptwriter, social media influencer, publishing executive, editorial director, and actor.

Early life and education
Rick Treon. Also known as Richard Derias Treon IV came into the world in Mesa, Arizona, in 1986 to Richard and Julie Treon (nee Edwards). As a result of his father's occupation in the construction industry, the family had to undergo several relocations throughout the United States before ultimately establishing themselves in the Texas Panhandle. Rick, an alumnus of West Texas High School in Stinnett, Texas, undertook his higher education at UT-Austin from 2004 to 2008.

Journalism
His award-winning journalism career took off from the University of Texas at Austin. There, he successfully completed his Bachelor of Journalism degree and developed his expertise as the sports editor of The Daily Texan. In his capacity as a sports correspondent for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Rick provided coverage on a wide range of sports including the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, professional rodeo and cutting horse competitions, minor-league baseball games, and college and high school athletic events. Subsequent to his relocation to the Texas Panhandle, the region where he completed his high school studies, he commenced his coverage of high school sports for the Amarillo Globe-News. This is where he, as a staff member, received a Texas Associated Press Sports Editors award for the annual high school football preseason magazine.

Rick's unwavering commitment and exceptional skills were instrumental in his advancement to the position of online editor, where he reported on diverse beats including crime and public safety. Additionally, he played a crucial part in the management and design of the newspaper's website. In that capacity, he was the mastermind behind a webpage that received the esteemed 2013 Texas Associated Press Media Editors STAR Online Package Award.

Upon concluding his temporary departure from journalism, during which he held the esteemed position of Chief Operations Officer at a multimillion-dollar industrial sales company, Rick reemerged as the city editor of the Globe-News in 2017. Following that, he received a promotion to the role of managing editor.

Rick demonstrated exceptional leadership skills when he joined The Kerrville Daily Times in Central Texas, successfully guiding a highly skilled team that received the prestigious title of Texas AMPE Newspaper of the Year in 2018. Furthermore, he has authored articles for the journalism nonprofit Big If True, illustrating his unwavering commitment to journalistic excellence. Subsequently, in 2018, he made the decision to depart from The Times, signifying the conclusion of his career in full-time journalism.

The syndication of his essays across Gannett Media and their feature on acclaimed literary platforms like The Thrill Begins and BestThrillers.com has resulted in a notable impact.

Presently, Rick's impressive repertoire encompasses being an award-winning author, scriptwriter, social media influencer, publishing executive, editorial director of Blue Handle Publishing, actor, and producer.

Author
Black Rose Writing acquired Deep Background, marking the author's first novel, which was released on December 6, 2018. It was internationally acclaimed for its success as a bestseller on Amazon and received the prestigious 2019 PenCraft Award for Literary Excellence in Suspense.

Let the Guilty Pay was acquired in August 2019 by Fawkes Press as part of a two-book deal. July 2020 marked the publication of the debut novel in the Bartholomew Beck thriller series, which was made available in both paperback and e-book formats. Let the Guilty Pay received recognition as a nominee for the 2021 Silver Falchion Award for Best Suspense Novel and the PenCraft Award for Literary Excellence in Suspense. In order to conduct research on Let the Guilty Pay, Rick returned to his investigative reporting origins and fully immersed himself in the realm of oil pipeline welding. He worked as a welder's assistant in Oklahoma and Texas during the autumn of 2018. Rick's aptitude for writing was acknowledged through his inclusion in the distinguished 2018/2019 International Thriller Writers Debut Author Class. In anticipation of Thriller Fest XIV in New York, his debut novel Let the Guilty Pay made it as a finalist in the Writers' League of Texas 2019 Manuscript Contest, originally titled HELPERS. On April 1, 2020, he surprised fans by releasing a prequel novella titled Live with the Truth. Rick's return to working on an oil pipeline in the Permian Basin during the winter of 2019 was driven by his determination to complete his research for The Price of Silence, the sequel to Let the Guilty Pay, which was published in August 2021.

Divided States, published by Black Rose, was released in June 2021, just prior to the debut of Silence, and it succeeded in captivating readers. Rick deviated from his typical Texas Noir style with this speculative action thriller that takes place in a post-secession America and follows the lives of military and intelligence officers. Divided States achieved not only the prestigious 2022 PenCraft Award for Literary Excellence in Thrillers, but it also received nominations for the highly sought-after Silver Falchion Award and Best Thriller Book Award.

In the year 2021, Rick was honored as the Writer of the Year and assumed the esteemed position of President for the Texas High Plains Writers. Presently, he is carrying out the responsibilities of THPW treasurer. Not only is Rick an accomplished writer, but he is also a respected member of the International Thriller Writers, and the Crime Writers Association, further solidifying his expertise in the field.

Editorial Director, publishing executive and screenplay writer
Rick's transition into the role of editorial director at Blue Handle Publishing came after the publication of multiple critically acclaimed crime fiction novels. Concurrently, amidst and following the coronavirus pandemic, he embarked on the pursuit of screenplay writing.

Actor
Rick directed his attention towards the film/television industry and definitively resolved to chase his aspirations commencing in January 2023. As of spring 2023, Rick's diligent endeavors came to fruition when he successfully obtained his first acting role in a television series that was currently being produced, They Call Me Marshal. Since then he has also added the title of producer.