Eric Mulvin (00:00)
Hey everyone, Eric Mulvin here, host of the Unfinished Business with Eric Mulvin podcast. Welcome to episode two, happy December to everybody, hope you guys are having a great month. And I’m really excited about today’s episode. I wanted to take a little bit of time to set this one up because we actually did the interview a couple months back, back in September. So a little bit has changed since then, not much. With this story though, because it’s about family and legacy.

And ⁓ I got a chance to interview Ric Yancey who is a part-time children’s book author. And he’s also a full-time events manager for a local utility company here in Phoenix. But he took this passion project of writing and illustrating a children’s book. And he wrote it about his grandmother and turned it into something that touched people all over the world. And I also want to give him a shout out because after our interview in September,

He went on to Los Angeles, walked the red carpet, and at the 2025 International Impact Book Awards, he won author of the year. Huge, incredible accomplishment for his book there. And if you’re a business owner, you’re wondering, what have I got to do to listen to a children’s book author? Well, there is a ton you could take away from this. Whether you’re trying to grow your business, whether you’re trying to get better at sales, or just figuring out how to put yourself out there, Ric’s story is a great reminder.

what’s possible when you start sharing what you care about, just like what we’re doing here on Unfinished Business. And to make sure that you stick around to the end, you want to hear his answer to my question, what’s your unfinished business? It’s really one of the most moving parts of the whole episode. You won’t want to miss it. So without further ado, let’s get into my interview with Ric Yancey. And here we go.

Eric Mulvin (02:04)
I wanted to highlight my friend Ric here. And he’s been doing some really amazing things. Started out writing children’s books and.

He’s taken that to heights I never even ⁓ imagined that you could take writing a children’s book. And so I wanted to bring Ric on. So Ric, why you introduce yourself and then, yeah, tell people what you’re working on.

Ric (02:24)
Yeah, yeah, I appreciate it Eric. Thank you for having me. First of all, I really appreciate this. really means a lot and you know, I’m happy with your success as well and happy that I can be a guest on your show. My name is Ricardo Yancey Jr. I am the author and illustrator of the children’s picture books, My Best Friend Granny and Everything. And yeah.

I started off with ⁓ writing and illustrating children’s books and that happened. I got published three years, maybe two years ago in September 10th on Grandparents Day of 2023, which was ⁓ the best day for launching your book about your grandparent. So which was My Best Friend, Granny. And yeah, now since then we’ve

transitioned over to turning that book that was well received by people not only here in Arizona, but worldwide. My first copy actually went to someone in the UK and that was, I couldn’t even wrap my head around that really, because I expected it to be, you know, maybe my mom would get a couple of copies and take it to work and share with coworkers, a couple of family members.

but I didn’t expect people to gravitate towards the story and relate to it as well as they did. So I knew I had something special there and wanted to take it even further and make an animated short film.

Eric Mulvin (03:45)
yeah, now we’re going to talk about that in a moment. But the really awesome thing here is what I love, what’s your background, right? Like you’re not a children’s book author. You’re not an illustrator, right? What are you? What was, what’s your career?

Ric (03:59)
So I’m an events manager at Arizona Public Service, utility company here in Arizona, and travel all over the state. Any events that have APS attached to it, whether it’s corporate or community, I’m involved with it and in charge of making sure the event flows smoothly and has everything that it needs for that event to be successful for both the community and APS.

but I’ve been doing that for almost 20 years and yeah, I didn’t start off as a You know thinking that I would be a children’s book author, but I Ever since I was a kid. I’ve always been into art I’ve always been into storytelling and I think the storytelling part I get from my grandmother, but the art part I get from my mother I can remember like it was yesterday just sitting on the couch and I probably was

maybe six, seven years old and my mom got an envelope and she had a pen and she drew a bicycle. And I remember seeing her draw that bicycle and I just was so amazed that she had brought just a little scribble to life and it looked exactly like a bike. And I sat there and I drew that over and over till I got it right. Till I got it exactly like hers and I think that’s.

I remember that far back and I think that’s where the passion for art came from. So I’ve always been illustrating, always been a storyteller. I did comic books in school. You know, I’d get the notebooks and I’d come up with my own comic books and sell them to my friends at school and get like 25. yeah, man. was. That was like my hustle. It was like a quarter or 50 cent.

Eric Mulvin (05:29)
you actually sold them? How much would you sell them for?

Ric (05:37)
just so I could get an ice cream sandwich at lunchtime. And I would just make the comic book front and back, just like an actual comic book, and people would buy them. And sometimes they would bring in like Haynes white tees, and I would draw like, I was a big comic book head, so I would draw like the X-Men or whatever they wanted on there, Batman, Superman, whatever. And I would just like draw on the back of the shirt.

And then they would pay me for it. So, you know, I would have ⁓ some extra ice cream money at lunchtime. So it’s always something that I’ve been involved with ever since I was a kid.

Eric Mulvin (06:14)
That’s awesome. And that’s awesome. You know the moment where you had that spark for your inspiration to get into that with your grandma there and the drawing the bike. What about the spark to actually go and make this children’s book? Because that’s a big leap. You go from drawing at home and the pictures just end up right there. Or maybe you post them on social media. to make the leap to

Ric (06:31)
yeah.

Yeah.

Eric Mulvin (06:38)
I’m like all the actual like serious steps involved. How did you make that jump?

Ric (06:42)
Yeah.

So that kind of happened. So I know that when I was younger, I always said that I was going to write a book about my grandmother, but I didn’t know what that would entail, what that would look like. But I would always tell her, even when we were going on our fishing trips and we’re out there on the pier and it’s nobody around and we’re just talking. And she had like the best stories. And I would just be like, you know, one day, granny, I’m going to write a book about.

you and she’s like whatever and I was like no no and I would always say that even as I got older but I knew at that time that I wanted to go through with that and keep that promise to her so you know I started writing the story and then illustrating from time to time and then next thing I know

Eric Mulvin (07:11)
You

Ric (07:27)
had a couple of different pages, couple of different illustrations, and a lot of illustrations that didn’t even make it into the book. So I knew that I was onto something. And then ⁓ unfortunately, my grandmother, she passed away in 2017 from cancer. And I really didn’t have a title for the book at the time. So I was at her funeral.

giving her eulogy in front of the entire audience of family members, loved ones and friends that knew her and just describing all of those times that I had with her, those special moments, that bonding that we had together. And I just said, it was kind of like she was my first best friend actually. And then it was just like, bam.

this big light bulb not only went off, it just exploded, you know? It was just like, that’s the title. Yes, like I knew it, like right then, because I was trying to come up with like different names, Adventures with Granny and you know, other titles that I was like, not completely sold on, but then My Best Friend Granny came to me right then. It was kind of like organically and it was like.

Eric Mulvin (08:15)
While you were up there talking? Wow.

Ric (08:36)
It was like my grandmother was talking to me and she was like, that’s the one you need to use. was kind of like that. And that’s what I went with. And I’m glad I went with that title because it was the truth. She was my best friend. She was my first best friend. We did everything together. She taught, just like it said in the clip, she taught me how to shoot my first basketball. She was an athlete. So she played basketball. She played softball. She was in a bowling league. She always stayed active. She did everything.

like outdoors, she was an outdoorsman with fishing and gardening and planting trees and I always wanted to be next to her when she was like doing all those things and she taught me a lot about those specific things. So, then I had the title and waited a while because after she had passed, I didn’t want to get back into really drawing or writing anymore. was just, it kind of left me a little bit.

And then ⁓ it was one day that I was at Barnes and Noble with my kids and I always take them to get a book after they finish the one book that they had last time. And while they’re out in the bookstore trying to get their next book, I’m in the children’s book section and I’m just looking at the shelves and just admiring, as an artist you admire other people’s artwork and looking at different colors, covers. And so I was just like, man.

You know, maybe I could do this one day. And then like my daughter comes up and she’s like, dad, you can, you can do this. Your book could be up here. And my oldest son, Christopher, he comes up, he’s like, yeah, dad, your stuff could be up here, you know? And it kind of, kind of lit a fire under me and they motivated me to go through with it. But I didn’t know how all of that was gonna like start. I didn’t know where to start actually.

My oldest child, my daughter Chloe, she was just like, dad, you need to put your stuff on social media. You know, all the different platforms, there’s so many different eyeballs that see this stuff all over the world. And I was like, yeah, you know, I think I’ll put a couple of things, but I felt so old, you know, like, you mean the old Facebook, you know? And she was right, she was right, because I put a couple of different…

Eric Mulvin (10:35)
Hahaha

Ric (10:40)
pieces of art from the book, not showing the entire thing, but just like little things here and there that showcased, they were little snapshots of my memories with my grandmother. And next thing you know, I had a publisher reach out that said they want to, they related to the story because not only did they like the artwork, they were also raised by their grandmother. So,

they were able to relate to the story. And next thing I know, they wanted to talk to me the following Thursday on a Zoom call and I was published within like the next couple of weeks. it was just, it was so crazy.

Eric Mulvin (11:14)
Wow.

Have you talked to other authors? Is that not a common path? Because it seems like people got to struggle a bit more to get to that level.

Ric (11:20)
Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, it doesn’t happen like that. It doesn’t. It’s and I had no idea. I never really did my research and looked into like how that all went about and step by step how to pursue it. But there’s like so many different publishing houses and sometimes, you know, you send in your book and your stories and they don’t even get back to you. And then more times than not, they get back to you and say, actually, thank you for sending this in.

but not at this time. And so it was just like, was unconventional. was like nothing that’s happened, especially I wasn’t expecting it. I was just like putting my art out there just to see like what happens and if people actually enjoy it. If, you know, like who knows? Maybe somebody might see it and want me to draw for their children’s book or something, who knows? But.

Yeah, ⁓

Eric Mulvin (12:13)
Well, it definitely grew well beyond, you know, just a couple posts on social media. I want to play this clip to show you guys watching here at home. Just that, yeah, it got pretty big. Let’s check it out.

Awesome. So what’s really cool about this is this book has continued to grow, right? Like you’ve actually gone on to work on some more stuff, but this book isn’t going away. So tell me what what’s been happening lately with the story.

Ric (12:39)
So, like I said, was two years ago when I came out with this book. now we’re about to, we’re in September, right? So it’s like we’re about to hit Grandparents Day again. But so many people have had an emotional response to it and a connection to it. From like the reviews to…

like the reviews in Amazon to comments on social media, people saying, my God, this is what I used to do with my grandmother, or this is what I used to call my grandmother. I called her meemaw instead of granny. And just little things like that, that little special moments that not only are something that they can connect with with their child or grandchild, but

It’s for both of them, not only the adults, but the children as well. You can be six years old or 60, and it has a message for everybody, I think. Whether it’s creating those new memories with your grandchild or your kid, or just bringing back that nostalgia for the parent when they grew up and eating their favorite meals and doing their…

favorite things, their favorite activities with their grandparents. So I knew that I was gonna wanna turn that into an animated short film. And yeah, so I immediately did my research on that and did a couple of workshops. And one of the workshops was with Erica Alexander. She had like a live that she was doing on Instagram, just talking about her.

her company Color Farm and her partnership with another company and what they do for actors and just different tips to follow and if you wanted to get into this business. And so I was just like, I’m gonna fly on the wall. I’m just listening. And I just typed in, I saw people typing in like where they were from and what their question was. And I said, I was from Arizona. And she said, my God.

Arizona, I see you, I’m from Arizona. And Erika Alexander, I grew up watching her on sitcoms, on TV, like the Cosby Show when she was cousin Pam, ⁓ Living Single when she was a Maxine Shaw attorney-at-law. So I grew up watching these shows and now I’m connecting with her on her chat during this live. And I didn’t even know she was from Arizona.

And she was like, yeah, okay, Arizona, I see you. And I was just like, I have to ask her my question and while the strike while the iron’s hot, right? So I just typed in, hey, I’m thinking about doing an animated short film about my children’s book. How do I go about pursuing something like that and finding like an animator? And she got, she answered it right there.

and told me what I needed to do, just like, find an animator that’s just as passionate about the project as you are, and there’s plenty of animators out there. Just make sure that you’re comfortable with the right one. And I said, thank you so much. And that was like last part of 2024, I think. And I was just like…

couldn’t believe it. was just like, man, she answered my question live. She didn’t have to do that. There were plenty of other people that were in that live on Instagram. So I felt very, very blessed that she saw that. And then I went on to find an animator who actually worked for Disney. He worked on the Marvel show Moon Girl. He worked at Nickelodeon for Bubble Guppies. So everybody with a kid knows that show.

Eric Mulvin (16:05)
you

Ric (16:05)
⁓ cause

that, that bubble Guppies was a fan favorite here in my house, especially with my kids a little. and so I, he had the background and he was raised by his, grandmother as well. While his mom was, a teacher at like a university. So, while she was away at, at, at school teaching students, grandma watched him and his brother. So he related to that. Yeah.

Eric Mulvin (16:10)
You

Everyone had a tie into this story.

Ric (16:31)
It’s like, it’s amazing the people that I’ve met so far that have that same connection, that same background as I did growing up with just, you know, your mother worked and your grandmother was there to provide childcare. So I found the animator and we instantly connected, bonded, and I was like, okay, well, we got to start building this thing.

while we were building it from the ground up, I wanted to reach out to Erica and let her know that I really appreciated the advice. And so I sent her an email and I was just like, if she doesn’t read it, I’m sure her inbox is overpopulated with all types of stuff ⁓ because she’s an actress, right? She was just in American Fiction, the Oscar award winning American Fiction movie last year with Jeffrey Wright.

Um, and now she’s on invasion on Apple TV. She’s a character on there and she has the reliving single podcast talking about all those episodes from the sitcom back in the day. So I know she’s a busy person. And when I sent her a thank you, she immediately got back to me and I was like, Oh my gosh. And I was like, I knew if I ever were to do a movie about this book.

I would love for her, like I said, I’m a big fan of hers and she has a very distinct voice. I knew I would love to have her play as my mother, voice my mother in the movie. would be so special to me. And so I asked her and she got back to me and she was like.

Okay, send me a script and I’ll read it over. I’m not making any promises. was like, just you reading it is just as good as gold to me. So, and so I said, And that night I had already had everything that my mom was gonna say in the short film in my head, a little bit on paper.

Eric Mulvin (18:12)
Yeah.

Ric (18:24)
but I finished her part that night and I sent it. And I didn’t hear from her in like maybe a week and half, two weeks. So I was just like, wow. She said, she’s not gonna make any promises. I was just appreciative of the advice. And then she got back to me and she was like, I love this. I love your writing and I want us to set up a meeting for Monday. And it was a Friday and I was like,

Absolutely. Set the meeting up, a Google meeting. And that next following Monday, I’m on the meeting. I get there early, obviously. And I was just like very, very nervous. And because I had not talked to her face to face, like I’ve only communicated with her through email and through the chat on Instagram. Like I’ve never spoke to her or seen her in person. Yeah, so.

Eric Mulvin (19:01)
Yeah.

So the nerves

going on before the zoom like, man, here we go.

Ric (19:13)
Right, exactly.

So it was just like, didn’t know how this was all gonna play out. And so the meeting starts and it’s at 10 and then it’s at 10.05 and then it’s like 10.07, 10.15 and I was just like, oh. And that’s when it kinda hit me, like I started thinking, I was like, you know, I never really spoke to her and maybe I,

I’m being catfished here. Like maybe it’s, instead of typing like Erica Alexander, I typed Eric Alexander and this guy is like, know, everything.

Eric Mulvin (19:48)
all the thoughts going through your head, which I’m sure the

business people listening here are like, yeah, the mistyped email, which happens. I’ve done that, you know, the wrong email, like, where is this person at? And then you go like, my gosh, I put the wrong email in.

Ric (19:56)
It happens 100%.

Yep, you go back and you see that typo and you’re just like, God. So that’s what I felt like I did. And as I’m just I just stay on the meeting and as I’m doodling there, like I always do, just drawing the screen pops up and it’s her. And I’m just like, my God, you know, in my head, I’m like that. But like, I’m like, ⁓ Miss Alexander. She’s like, Ricardo, I’m so sorry.

I double booked you today. Please forgive me. Look, I just wanted to let you know, I looked at the script, I read it. I’m trying to find like the flow and the vibe of like how I’m supposed, and even the cadence of like how I’m supposed to like read these lines. And I want you to tell me a little bit about your mom and this is what I have so far. And she started to read it. She started to read the script. Something that I…

typed the words she brought them to life by speaking them in the meeting and it sounded yeah plays in my head but hearing it in person like even on a call like like something like this where she’s bringing those words to life and I just got goosebumps man it was just like I couldn’t believe it I couldn’t believe it so

she said that she was gonna do the movie. And I just was very appreciative. But that’s where it all started. ⁓ not only with her, yeah, not only with her, you know, we have ⁓ Gary Darden, you know, who was on A Different World back in the day, CSI, he was in movies, Jumping the Broom, and

Eric Mulvin (21:26)
That’s an amazing story.

Ric (21:41)
He’s a musician as well, like traveling all over doing his music and he still acts and he’s reading the part of me in the film, like the father part, you know? these little pieces from like the animator to the voice talent from these amazing actors and actresses, it’s just a little surreal. So, but.

Yeah, that’s how it all started and that’s where we’re at right now. So we’re just, we’re in the first phase of production and trying to get it done so that the world can see it.

Eric Mulvin (22:13)
Cool. again, because I know a lot of business people are watching since it’s on my business channels here, ⁓ interesting parallels that I’m hearing here because I know you’re not in sales. I know that for your job ⁓ where, you know, like the some of the stuff that you’re doing, a lot of the steps, they’re so like great sales practices. It’s so awesome. Like the stuff that I hear people give advice for like

Ric (22:20)
Yeah.

No.

I appreciate

Eric Mulvin (22:40)
You know, how do you connect with that, that one company you want to bring on as a client? You know, it’s the stuff that you’re doing. You hop on, you know, their live videos and comment, you know, and connect with them and you be real and you, and you follow up. And then when they say, Hey, you know, let’s set up a meeting. didn’t just sit around for a couple of weeks. I got to make this thing perfect. You’re like, boom, instantly got to get it to them. So, so many good lessons in there that, you’ve done, which, you know,

Ric (22:50)
Yeah.

Yeah. Absolutely.

Eric Mulvin (23:09)
That’s and that’s what separates also, you know, like why are you here today telling a story? It’s because of that, you know, you you push forward you You know when the opportunity opportunity came you jumped on it and you moved ahead and tried to make it happen So I just want to tie that to the people watching like how do I maybe they got some story in their head or the business they want to start, know, and it’s taking actionable steps Actually doing something about it instead of just talking about

Ric (23:16)
Yeah.

100%. Yep. Yeah, man.

Eric Mulvin (23:36)
which is what you did here, so that’s cool.

Ric (23:37)
Yeah,

absolutely. And just know that just being yourself, it’s nothing wrong with it. But doing things right at the moment, doing them now, because we don’t know what tomorrow brings. It’s a very short life, if you think about it. And you don’t want to look back on like, gosh, I wish I would have spent…

I pressed send on that email that I was gonna send to say thank you. I wish I would have got to that and did that. No, you did it right then. As soon as you thought about it, like, you know what? I’m gonna send an email to Erica and thank her for that. And that led to all of this. You know, it’s just taking that step, taking that action, not just like putting it on the back burner, just like, just trying to make things happen.

the best way you can and be yourself. Don’t try to be somebody else that you think they might want to hear. Just be who you are and let it happen organically. And you know, it’s worked out so far. So I think I’ll keep being myself and doing those things and following my own advice, you know, because yeah, it’s a

Eric Mulvin (24:39)
I agree.

Ric (24:47)
If you don’t do it, if you don’t do it, you’re just gonna be thinking about it later and just like regretting everything.

Eric Mulvin (24:53)
Well, that’s why I wanted to share this, you know, the story with everyone too, because you know, how many people are out there again, just living their life. Like you didn’t have to change careers. You’re still working at APS. You’re still doing that. Like, and in fact, yeah, this isn’t like you can go quit your job now. you’re a children’s like you still have like, there’s still full-time work. So for the people out there, like there’s nothing holding anybody back from going and doing any of this. Like you could go out and you know, like

Ric (25:04)
No.

Right, no.

Eric Mulvin (25:19)
You want to try to get Tom Cruise to be the voice of your character? Sure. Why not? Like that’s shooting for the moon, but why not make it happen? Go like, cause you never know. And so that’s, that’s the story here. want people to see from Ric here is where you could take things. And it’s not amazing people that have super like crazy talents that nobody else has. It’s like everyday people that are doing this, that are, everyone’s got skills and talents that, that could be put out there that people are holding back.

Ric (25:23)
Yeah? Yeah!

You never know. Yeah.

Right.

Yeah.

Eric Mulvin (25:47)
Which means they’re not fully being theirself too. Because if you’re super talented and you love showing your art with everybody or you love doing whatever and you’re not doing it, you you’re holding yourself back.

Ric (25:48)
Yeah. Right!

You’re holding yourself back and if you’re truly passionate about something that you’ve been passionate about for a long time, it’s just you feel like you never have the Find the time. Find it. Like, there’s…

Eric Mulvin (26:10)
Yeah, look at here’s

some advice. Go look at your screen time on your phone and take one hour a day out of that and put it towards this or 30 minutes a day or even 10 minutes a day and how much further.

Ric (26:15)
There you go. Yes. Yep.

Even 10, 20 minutes,

exactly. Cause that’s how it starts. Just that little bit of time it builds. And then next thing you know, you’re doing something that you love and yet you can talk about with anybody. I have a problem with public speaking sometimes, but ⁓ being an events person, you’re more like in the background of the event. You’re behind the scenes, you know? And what I’ve noticed with this

Eric Mulvin (26:38)
Mm-hmm.

Ric (26:46)
It’s brought me out of my shell a little bit with the whole public speaking thing because it’s something that I’m passionate about and I love talking about it. I love talking about my grandmother and all the great times that we have. And I think I feel like I keep her memory alive too. And it allows me to talk about those moments because like after there was a moment after she passed away where

all those memories started to fade a little bit. And it just, I wasn’t prepared for that. You know, I would talk to my mom, was like, where did we go for that fishing trip that one year? And because she’s not here anymore and you’re not able to call her up and say, hey, and just talk about those things. After she passed, it kind of just, it started to just fade. And now since I have completed the book,

If I need to go back to that memory, if I need to go back to that snapshot of those good times, all I have to do is just open a page in that book and I’m right there again. You know, so it’s really the book finding, and completing this passion just like brought so much out of me that I didn’t know that I could do. And I really appreciate it. How it just like.

helped me with like those phobias that I had, especially with public speaking. And now I catch myself talking in an interview or a podcast like this. I can just be myself and be comfortable. And I think my passion project, which was this children’s book, helped me through that. So it might be a little hidden message or a lesson in there, whatever you do.

Eric Mulvin (28:10)
Yeah.

Ric (28:25)
and you just don’t know it, you just have to try and then you’ll see. So, yeah, it’s crazy how that materialized.

Eric Mulvin (28:29)
yeah, one million percent.

I agree. it’s awesome. You’ve you created this legacy for your grandmother. You know, they say people die what two deaths, you know, when you actually physically die and when people stop talking about you or they never mentioned you or think about you again. And you’ve now put your granny in the hearts and minds of people all over the world who are not going to forget about her. So that’s a pretty crazy thought to think about.

Ric (28:42)
Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, she would have the… If she was still here, she would be having like the best time right now. She would say, one of her favorite things to say was, boy, ain’t that something, you know? And I think she would say that with everything that’s happened with the book and now the animated short film that we’re trying to put together, so.

Eric Mulvin (29:04)
You

which I got a link up on the screen and we’ll get link wherever we post this so you could find it easily. But you’ve got a GoFundMe going on to help and I’ll keep putting it up here. So tell us about the GoFundMe.

Ric (29:20)
Okay.

So everything that goes into a movie from the pre-production, the production, post-production, all that behind the scenes stuff, from getting color artists to obviously the animator to sound design, all these pieces that come together to make this puzzle complete. we just have

so many people that are involved and we want to make sure that this film is at the best quality that it should be. So we made a GoFundMe and as of right now we’re actually over 2Ks with the donations from everybody that has put towards the supported the project. But yeah, and we also have teamed up with

Eric Mulvin (30:00)
Woo.

Ric (30:07)
Glowframe Initiative, which is a local nonprofit here in Arizona. So the money that goes towards the film not only supports the film, but it goes towards a local 501c3 here in Phoenix and goes back into the community where Glowframe actually helps youth with video production stuff, all the stuff that goes into movies.

from art direction to handling different types of cameras and being the behind the scenes stuff and making films that helps youth around Phoenix and Arizona just be a part of that where they might not be able to do that financially. know, and I love that part about Glowframe and really appreciate them coming on and partnering with us as a fiscal sponsor. So.

But yes, all the money that is donated, a portion of that goes back into the community. So we’re just trying to make this the next animated short film that you could possibly see in front of your next Pixar movie or you’re playing in the front of your next Disney film. So I really think that we have something that’s special here.

Eric Mulvin (31:13)
man, that’d be awesome.

Ric (31:17)
because, you know, blacks and African Americans especially have the highest percentage of grandparents staying in the home and providing childcare for the grandchildren. So, and I was a product of that, especially in the South and the 80s and 90s. So I don’t think there’s very many films or animated short films rather that.

talk about that subject. And I think this would be a first and I would love to share it with the world and just have people just continue to, you know, think about being there for their grandparents because they’re not here for a long time. As you get older, especially teenagers, you don’t hang out with grandparents as much. You know, it’s like you got these new friend circles.

You know, you’re growing up, you’re coming of age, and I think this will help people, especially young people, just notice that, hey, I gotta give Granny a call today. It might make her day if I do that, which I talk about in the book. But yeah, that’s basically what the GoFundMe is about, just trying to ⁓ get support on the film.

and make it to its highest quality that we can make it.

Eric Mulvin (32:31)
Awesome. And how much longer do people have to donate to the GoFundMe?

Ric (32:35)
So no time limit as of right now. ⁓ We are trying to set at least by November of this year just so that we have everything together step by step with production. Like I said, we’re in the first phase of production right now at the moment, which is basically getting the animatic together, getting all the illustrations. We have all the voiceovers that we need and my son is actually gonna be voicing.

my younger self, which is pretty cool, you know, to get him involved in that certain way and read as my younger version of me from the 80s and 90s. But yeah, we have all of those pieces that we’re trying to get together. Whatever you can provide or support, it would be truly, truly appreciated. And this doesn’t happen.

Eric Mulvin (33:02)
⁓ that’s so cool.

Ric (33:25)
without the help of your community. And so that’s why I wanted to reach out to everybody and possibly get their support.

Eric Mulvin (33:32)
Yeah, so hopefully if you’re watching here, you guys can donate to this amazing cause and also keep an eye on when this thing gets released. Maybe you’ll see it before a big Pixar movie, you know, as the show that happens before sometimes, you never know. ⁓ Or like I keep talking, I know, without tying it back to this K-pop demon hunter thing. I don’t know if your kids are all into that, but you never know what’s gonna take off. Like those people had no idea.

Ric (33:46)
We hope, man. We hope.

No man, yeah. You never know.

Eric Mulvin (33:59)
before the summer

Ric (33:59)
Right.

Eric Mulvin (34:00)
started that they would be sitting on like one of the biggest soundtracks and movies of like of all time. So you don’t know what that’ll turn into.

Ric (34:05)
Yes.

Yeah, you never know. And I just have a good feeling about this and just the people that have related to the story and had an emotional response to it. just, I knew then that we were onto something and that it was a story that needed to be told. So, you know, we’ll see what happens.

Eric Mulvin (34:26)
Awesome. Well, we’re getting ready to launch a podcast here called Unfinished Business with Eric Mulvin. when I, yeah, and I want to end every interview with a question. And so I’m testing out the question and so I’m going to test it out on you. ⁓ Everyone out there has got some unfinished business and something that they want to achieve in their life that they still haven’t done. And even as crazy of the stuff that you’ve achieved here, you know,

Ric (34:31)
Let’s go!

perfect.

Eric Mulvin (34:52)
What is it that you still want to achieve? What’s some unfinished business that you can share with the audience here that you want to do sometime in your life still?

Ric (35:00)
man, you know, it’s always…

I always want to be the best dad I can be, Like better than, my philosophy is I just want to be better than yesterday. And I grew up in a single parent home where my mom worked two jobs to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. And I didn’t have a father figure around.

I was lucky and blessed enough to have my grandmother. And I just want to be a great dad for my children. And all this stuff that I’m doing, from the children’s book to the animated short film and whatever I’m blessed enough to have after that, I do it for them. So I just want to be, I just want to be the best dad I can be.

Eric Mulvin (35:43)
That’s an awesome goal.

Ric (35:43)
And that’s it.

Yeah. Thank you.

Eric Mulvin (35:47)
Thanks Ric. Well I appreciate you sharing your story here with our audience and let me test out some of this podcasting stuff as we getting ready to roll this out and I don’t know we were hitting the 41 minute mark so this might end up being a one of the episodes unless you got but maybe by the time we get you back on there’ll be a bunch more stories to tell and then we’ll have to do another one so we’ll see

Ric (35:48)
Thank

Hey, I appreciate the time.

Yeah, you know, you just reach out to me, man. I’m there for you, brother. So I just I can’t thank you enough for this opportunity. So I appreciate it because you’re doing big things, man. And I just I like to support friends and for you to support me back with this whole thing means a lot, bro. Means a lot.

Eric Mulvin (36:30)
Cool, I appreciate it. if people want to follow you, follow the story, like where can they find you?

Ric (36:36)
Just find me on Instagram, RiccardoYancyJr. at Instagram and ⁓ you see the journey of the book from the very beginning to now, to with everything going on with the film to just little clips and reels of stuff with Erica Alexander, with Gary Darden,

I have a comic strip that I have on there called the Awkward Life of the Rising Sun. And it’s something that I’ve always been wanting to do ever since I was a kid. So I hope people like that comic strip and it kind of takes you back to like the…

The Sunday funnies when you would get them within the newspaper. I don’t even know if they do that anymore because everything Yeah, so but It’s just a throwback to that. So yeah, but Instagram hit me up on there and just check out the journey and Keep supporting. I appreciate it

Eric Mulvin (37:14)
That’s a good question.

And if they want a

book, where do they find your books?

Ric (37:27)
So you can find a book wherever books are sold, Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com, Walmart.com. So yeah, wherever books are sold, the books I have out there right now are My Best Friend Granny, obviously, and my latest book that I came out with called Everything. but yeah, reach out and leave a comment and please continue to support.

Eric Mulvin (37:50)
Awesome. Thanks again, Ric, for sharing everything with everyone here. Appreciate it. yeah. And if you like stories like this and you want to hear more from me, @bizwitheric is where you can find me. And I’m going to be posting more on my podcast there very soon. So stay tuned. But thanks guys. We’ll see you all later.

Ric (38:07)
Thank you