Happy Halloween!
Today's I have a treat for you - or maybe it's a trick. You decide.
Meet Ron Lahr.
Ron L. Lahr writes epic fantasy, humorous science fiction, and parody self-help books. At least so far. He has some crazy plans for the future. He also hosts two shows on the Go Indie Now channel. One is a game show featuring indie authors as the contestants, Indie Mayhem, and the other is Mean Reviews - No Stars Given, where Ron is joined by a different co-host every week and provides a humorous look at two indie books or movies.
Links: Website: www.Kathaldi.com
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1133157187482223 Author Facebook: www.Facebook.com/ron.lahr.526 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LahrRon Email: RonLodellLahr@gmail.com
Amazon for Children of Kathaldi (book 1): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B089FNJHB7 Audible for book 1: https://www.audible.com/pd/Children-of-Kathaldi-Audiobook/B08KHSZXRG YGWYS link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09V3H6ZFG https://www.amazon.com/Youre-Stupid-You-are-Fat-ebook/dp/B09JFPJHTT Indie Mayhem Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6VztCh3ynGYwU568oC32NKbE17dwZFPJ First episode of Mean Reviews: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fopT0CFvN1U&t=14s
Firefly – gone too soon or overrated? I am firmly in the gone too soon camp. A very different show which I like very much. I even loved the movie, Serenity.
A book that pleasantly surprised you? With all the authors I meet on the Go Indie Now network shows, including my two, the gameshow Indie Mayhem and Men Reviews – No Stars Given I have been reading a lot of books that aren’t in my normal reading genres (fantasy, science fiction and humor) and when I had to read Madilynn Dale’s Black Flames I assumed that I wouldn’t enjoy it very much because it is paranormal romance, which I had never been interested in. It was a very pleasant surprise to be sure, because it was very good. I should have known because my wife read it first and recommended it, and now I know better than to doubt her taste.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? I was in high school when I decided I wanted to be a writer not just for fun, but to make a living. I wrote humorous pieces for the school newspaper and shared things I wrote with my friends and enjoyed the attention and positive feedback. Sadly, having to pay to raise a family meant that dream was delayed by a couple of decades.
When did you write your first book and how old were you? I wrote my first novel when I was eighteen, with a friend. We took turns typing pages which meant a lot of rewriting! We actually kept working on it over the next twenty plus years and published it last year, the humorous science fiction novel, You Get What You Steal. I still think it has the best title ever.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing? So many things! My mom has very advanced Alzheimer’s so I help my dad take care of her, which includes cooking and cleaning plus taking care of the property we all live on. Aside from that I have a very large garden, which grows every year, as well as chickens and goats. We also have a cat and dog, and each of the animals require a lot of time and attention. I build outbuildings, work on old cars, and process a lot of vegetables, fruits, and herbs from the garden. My wife and I are pretty much obsessed with food so we try new recipes all the time and love it when we can use the things we have grown for the ingredients.
How many books have you written? Which is your favorite? So far, I have a series of three fantasy books (the Kathaldi Chronicles), the humorous science fiction novel (You Get What You Steal), and a parody self-help book (You’re as Stupid as You are Fat: How to Talk to Women). My favorite is Children of Kathaldi, the first book in the Kathaldi Chronicles, but I love them all.
Do you like to create books for adults? Yes, exclusively. Even the children’s books I am working on are really for adults and probably shouldn’t be read by children.
What is the first book that made you cry? Sadly, I don’t remember, but I can share that I have cried from reading lots of books, and the best story was when I was reading one of the Harry Potter books during a flight and was crying heavily. I can only imagine what the passengers around me thought!
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want? I definitely strive for originality. I only write what interests me and figure I’ll eventually find readers who like it.
What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer? I am friends with dozens of authors and the best ways that they help me become a better writer is by providing feedback and encouragement.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you building a body of work with connections between each book? I like reading series so I also write them. I don’t think I’ll ever write a stand-alone book. However, I don’t try to connect the various series I have, and have planned for the coming years.
What do you owe the real people upon whom you base your characters, if anything? I feel that I owe them a debt of gratitude and they are welcome to free eggs and produce from our mini-farm/ranch.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have? I wouldn’t say half-finished but I am working on approximately twelve books right now. Most of them are either part of the Kathaldi Chronicles or the You Get What You Steal series, which I am currently calling the CLODiverse. Aside from those I’m working on a couple of cookbooks, a gardening/memoir, a couple of faux children’s books and even a coloring book.
What does literary success look like to you? Earning more income from writing than I did as a consultant. I’m a long ways from that right now.
What do you have coming next? Next year should see the omnibus edition of the first three Kathaldi Chronicles books as well as an anthology in that series that will feature stories by myself as well as a bunch of other authors and they all take place in the world of the Kathaldi Chronicles. The sequel to You Get What You Steal, tentatively titled You Get What You Buy, should also come out. Other than that I hope to have two more books finished but I’m not sure which they will be yet. I plan to continue with more seasons of Indie Mayhem and Mean Reviews – No Stars Given, as well. I’m going to be increasing the size of my garden by around five times and adding some cool chicken habitat stuff around the patio area so I may film all of that and start a new YouTube channel about it. It should be a very busy year!
