Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
After managing restaurants most my life, I resigned to the serene life of working in a gas station. I probably should dedicate most of my works to Ojai Chevron, for they have given much more time to my imagination, than I have given them my labor. I have had short stories published in magazines, and just recently have tried out the Kindle world.
I also have recently tried out the golf world. I have to say that golf is like writing. Some days you are in ecstasy, and other days you are morose at best. I have a dog who laughs at me and two fish who look at me funny. The interesting things about me are the things I tend not to talk about. I follow Everton Football Club, and I desire to be an outspoken conservative in the entertainment world. It is also my fervent desire that you have a bitchin’ day.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
When I cannot sleep, I keep my eyes closed until I see a black dot in the murky darkness. If I concentrate on that dot, it grows until it becomes a dream that I fall into. I began to imagine a little boy using that method while awake, to escape to his own personal dreamland. I created a boy, Will, but unfortunately had to give him a father, Harry.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know what you mean by “unusual.” I listen to my dog pant until his panting becomes the voice in my mind that tells me what to write and how much to tip waitresses. If by unusual, you mean something like that, then yes, I suppose.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Woody Allen’s books influenced me beyond belief. Then I read Aristophanes and it became obvious that Allen must have been influenced by this ancient Greek screwball comedy writer.
Dostoevsky was major. I’ve read everything by him. He’s both hilarious and tragic.
Louis L’Amour. He was more influential, not for his westerns, but because his books introduced me to Plutarch.
Steven King. He is a master at putting little things inside his characters that make a reader instantly identify with them.
Richard Russo. He is the writer that makes me jealous. He is the writer that makes me keep writing. Richard Russo is a master at combining high moments of comedy with extreme moments of drama.
Kurt Vonnegut. Breakfast of Champions was probably the most mind-blowing thing I ever read.
Plato. Okay, Breakfast of Champions was probably the second most mind-blowing thing I ever read.
What are you working on now?
The Big Monster Monkey. This is my first novel, and will appear on Amazon by early next year. It is, I suppose, I madcap adventure of escaped mental patients going on a quest to a perceived jungle. The dedication page will deal with those who think I am making fun of mental illness. Reality is, after all, a sliding door. I didn’t say that, Huxley, I think, did.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
HiMomTellYourFriendsAboutMyBook.com
Do you have any advice for new authors?
You can’t tell new authors anything, because they already know it all. You can only wait until they give up, and then tell them to keep going.
I do like what Hemingway said, however, when asked that question, and I think this is almost word-for-word: “I would tell the new author to go and hang himself when he finds out how hard writing is, and that way, he’ll at least have the hanging for a beginning point.”
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Probably what Hemingway said.
What are you reading now?
Stowaways in Paradise by Don Blanding. He was an author/illustrator from the ’20s. It is a great tale of Hawaii. The best story of Hawaii was written by Michener, of course, but if you’d like a great adventure for a young adult that’s 300 instead of 1,200 pages, this is it.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I don’t know. Probably some writing.
What is your favorite book of all time?
That changes moment to moment like a kaleidoscope. However, “Crime and Punishment” would be hard to topple.
Author Websites and Profiles
Kenyon Ledford Website