Welcome to the world of
Rich Trout
About The Author
Rich Trout
Rich Trout is an experienced journalist, editor, and former English professor with a lifelong passion for writing. A native of LaGrange, Illinois, he holds degrees in English writing, professional writing, and journalism from Knox College, Illinois State University, and Roosevelt University. Rich began his career at Business Insurance in Chicago and later moved to Hobbs, New Mexico, where he has served as business reporter and editor at the Hobbs News-Sun, earning multiple awards for his work. He has also taught English at the University of the Southwest, encouraging students to write thoughtfully and think critically. Outside of writing, Rich enjoys life with his son Evan, a young entrepreneur in Texas, and his dog, Amore. A believer in purpose over politics and stories over noise, Rich has dreamed of publishing books since childhood and continues to find meaning in words, work, and new experiences.
From Misunderstood to Self-Made
Up All Night follows Rich Trout’s unforgettable path through adolescence and early adulthood, growing up with undiagnosed Asperger’s syndrome. With sharp wit and emotional depth, Trout captures the confusion of not fitting in, the ache of first love, and the search for meaning in a world that often felt just out of reach.
This is a story of resilience, humor, and self-discovery—told by someone who finally found clarity through the written word.
About The Book
Up All Night
Up All Night: An Aspie’s Memoir of Chasing Girls in Quicksand is a raw, witty, and heartfelt coming-of-age memoir that chronicles Rich Trout’s journey growing up with undiagnosed Asperger’s syndrome before the term became widely recognized. Blending laugh-out-loud humor with poignant reflections, this Amazon Kindle bestseller explores adolescence, love, family dynamics, and personal transformation through the eyes of a neurodiverse narrator. With vivid storytelling, sharp long-term memory, and emotional honesty, Trout brings to life the challenges and triumphs of navigating relationships, self-discovery, and identity from childhood through fatherhood. Perfect for readers interested in autism memoirs, neurodivergent experiences, mental health, or humorous life stories, Up All Night offers both entertainment and insight in equal measure.
Inside the Mind of an Aspie
Before Anyone Knew What It Meant
Before Asperger’s had a name, Rich Trout was already navigating the world through its lens—feeling deeply, missing social cues, and questioning why he never quite fit in. Up All Night offers a sharp, humorous, and moving glimpse into the mind of someone wired differently, as he stumbles through school, first love, and the silent challenges of being misunderstood.
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What Readers Are Saying
I have just completed Up All NIGHT: An Aspie’s Memoir of Chasing Girls in Quicksand, and I heartily recommend it. Sadly, I fear the title does not do the book justice, and yet it does an extraordinary job nonetheless. Rich brings candor, vulnerability, and grace who’s life story – even though wis clear that his life journey has miles to go before he sleeps.
This isn’t a love story in the traditional sense, but I felt every ache of Rich’s loneliness—especially his innocent obsession with the girl at school who barely saw him. The way he notices the way her hair bounces as she walks or how he overthinks saying “hi” felt so real it gave me flashbacks. I wanted to protect him, hug him, tell him he’d be okay. It’s raw, romantic, and unforgettable.
I cried three times. Not because something dramatic happened, but because of how well this book articulates the pain of not being understood. The lunchroom silence. The pastor’s harsh voice. The father who didn’t know what was wrong. I didn’t feel like I was reading a memoir—I felt like I was witnessing someone try to be heard for the first time. It’s not just powerful—it’s necessary.