Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a science fiction & fantasy author. My series include The Last Dragon Lord (new), Android X and Eaten. To date I have written over 20 books, primarily SFF.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Old Dark. It’s about a fallen dragon lord seeking revenge against the conspiracy that overthrew him. It’s inspired by House of Cards and all the fantasy novels I read growing up. The (anti)hero Old Dark himself is inspired by Francis Underwood, Smaug from LOTR and Richard III, with a little bit of Hannibal Lecter thrown in! I always wanted to write a book about dragons, but thought it would be a fun twist if the main character were a dragon—and a dragon lord, at that.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wake up at 4:30AM every morning to write and write several hours before going to bed, so I spend several hours a day writing. I also write on my phone a lot because my life is hectic with a day job and a family, so I get the words in whenever and however I can.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Ray Bradbury made me fall in love with science fiction. Tolkien made me fall in love with fantasy. But my biggest influences were Robert Louis Stevenson, Eudora Welty, John Steinbeck, Neil Gaiman, and Michael Crichton. My favorite novel of all time is Treasure Island—I reread it almost every year.
What are you working on now?
I am working on Book 3 in The Last Dragon Lord series. It’s a wild ride, and I’m loving it!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
It depends on the book and the genre, but mailing lists tend to work the best. I’ve found that if I can develop an interesting character and sell him/her on the front cover with a few enticing sentences that encourage people to buy, people in mailing lists tend to click on it and buy.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep at it, but learn the business side and marketing. There are many layers of learning to being an author. Just when you think you know it all, something or someone comes along that challenges everything you’ve ever known. If you stay committed to self-education and if you stay humble, you’ll do fine.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Sometimes advice is not meant for you, even when it’s given to you. There are thousands of writing blogs and resources out there, and honestly most of them won’t teach you what you need to know. It’s all surface level stuff. You have to learn how to filter advice and pick out the parts that make sense for you and your situation. At the time of this writing, if you want to go deeper, the real learning happens behind closed doors in masterminds and private Facebook groups.
What are you reading now?
I am rereading American Gods by Neil Gaiman in anticipation of the new TV series. It’s even better than I remembered it.
What’s next for you as a writer?
More books, as always! I’ll be wrapping up The Last Dragon Lord series early next year. After that I haven’t decided what I’ll do next—I’ll either start a new series or continue my Android X series.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Treasure Island, Jurassic Park, The Short Stories of Elizabeth Bowen, and The Arabian Nights. A good mix of novels and short stories.
Author Websites and Profiles
Michae La Ronn Website
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