Pump Up Chats With Ron Fritsch

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Ron Fritsch

Ron Fritsch grew up in rural northern Illinois, the son of poor but hard-working tenant farmers who loved to read. He obtained a bachelor’s degree with honors from the University of Illinois and a law degree cum laude from Harvard Law School. He became a public-service attorney representing indigent and disabled adults and abused and neglected children. For many years now, he’s lived in Chicago with his partner. He’s writing and publishing a four-book Promised Valley series of novels asking whether history and civilization, with their countless heaven-sanctioned wars and genocides, might’ve begun and proceeded differently than they did. Promised Valley Rebellion is the first novel in the series. The titles of the three following novels will be Promised Valley War, Promised Valley Conspiracy, and Promised Valley Peace. His website for the series is at http://www.promisedvalley.com.

Thank you for this interview, Ron. Do you remember writing stories as a child or did the writing bug come later? Do you remember your first published piece?

I began writing novels soon after I graduated from law school. I chose not to publish any of them except the last four, my Promised Valley series. Promised Valley Rebellion is my first published piece.

What do you consider as the most frustrating side of becoming a published author and what has been the most rewarding?

Marketing—bringing one’s writing to the attention of the reading public—is the most arduous and sometimes frustrating task. On the other hand, the writing itself is, for me, like taking a visit to heaven.

Are you married or single and how do you combine the writing life with home life? Do you have support?

I have lived with my partner for many years. He and other family members and friends fully support my writing. At this point, I need to spend some time each day caring for him, but not so much that it impedes my work as a writer.

Can you tell us about your latest book and why you wrote it?

I can’t remember a time when I didn’t imagine the basic story: A people live in a river valley surrounded by their enemies. The mountains enclosing the valley simultaneously protect and imprison the people living in it. I always knew the story would fit within the historical fiction genre. After considering numerous historical peoples, times, and places, though, I realized the story would work best in prehistory. Unconstrained by a specific historical record, it would share the freedom of science fiction and fantasy but without the magic and paranormal phenomena those genres depend upon. Finally, I decided that the overriding conflict should be that between early farmers, representing the new and innovative, and hunters, representing the old and traditional.

Can you share an excerpt?

When he turned to go, his father caught the sleeve of his coat and held him back.

“I know this seems wrong to you,” Green Field said. “I know why it does.”

He held Blue Sky close to himself, as if his son were a lover he was attempting to talk out of an abrupt leave-taking in the middle of a quarrel.

“It would seem wrong to me, too,” Green Field continued, throwing the words in Blue Sky’s face. “But Tall Oak is the king. I promised him my loyalty long ago. That means I go along with his decisions. Even if his decisions might not always be the same as mine. He says we can’t tell you why Morning Sun and Rose Leaf can never have children together. There is a reason for it. But I can’t tell you, Rose Leaf, Morning Sun, or the people what it is and remain loyal to Tall Oak.”

Blue Sky shook his head. “There’s no possible reason why the people shouldn’t be told.”

“You don’t understand,” Green Field countered. “The world isn’t as straightforward as you think it is. There are some things the people shouldn’t know. For their own good.”

“And this is one of those things?” Blue Sky asked. “And the people are just supposed to take your and Tall Oak’s word for it that it is?”

Green Field let go of Blue Sky’s sleeve.

“You and Tall Oak will find out,” Blue Sky said, “the people aren’t as stupid and unconcerned as you think they are.”

“And you’ll lead the people into treason against their king?”

“If that’s what you and the present king wish to call it, yes.”

“You won’t like where this is taking you. Believe me, you won’t.”

Although what Green Field said could’ve been interpreted as a threat, the look on his face turned it into one last plea—which did him no good.

“When you were a youth,” Blue Sky said, “rebelling against a misguided and fearful king was called bravery. Those who did it are still, to this day, considered heroes. And rightly so, in my opinion. When they were young, they were fearless. But sadly, as they grew older, they let fear rule their lives and the kingdom. I’ll have nothing further to do with you. I’ll say good-bye to my mother now and be gone. You, though, can forget you ever had me for a son.”

Blue Sky walked alone in the forest all through the night. In the morning, snow began to fall. He walked all that day and through another night without sleeping. When he reached sunrise pass the next morning, the snow was as deep in the mountains and the valley as it got that winter.

Where’s your favorite place to write at home?

In my den at my PC. If I have a plant in bloom, especially an orchid, I set it on a table near the south-facing window. I suppose you could say I look at it occasionally for inspiration. I invariably listen to music, sometimes classical, sometimes new age, but always instrumental. Lyrics would interfere with the writing.

What is one thing about your book that makes it different from other books on the market?

I’ll let Kirkus Discoveries answer this question: “Fritsch’s debut novel is [an] adventure in the manner of Jean Auel. . . . [T]he story encourages the reader to ponder the universal elements of the tale. . . . Fritsch . . . grant[s] his characters an easy, unforced humanity that is instantly inviting. His people . . . sound like individuals, and . . . make the story memorable. A strange, primitive world that feels winningly real.”

Tables are turned…what is one thing you’d like to say to your audience who might buy your book one day?

I would encourage my readers to make good use of my character list. I have a lot of characters—this story concerns the fate of a kingdom—and they all have naturalistic two-word names such as Morning Sun and Rose Leaf. (Some readers think, with good reason, they seem Native American.) I know that at first it can be difficult to keep track of them. I would be pleased to hear from readers who have suggestions on how the list might be improved. I can always change the list without changing the story itself.

Thank you for this interview, Ron. Good luck on your virtual book tour!

Thank you for the opportunity to speak with readers who might enjoy reading Promised Valley Rebellion.

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Question of the Day

How do you make sales happen for you?

A lot of hard work! I sponsor a lot of on line parties, festivals and contests. Book sales don’t magically happen, believe me. An author has to work hard to earn her readers. And then she has to work hard to keep them by giving them something they’ll enjoy reading. I try hard to make my books worth a reader’s time.

-- Sheila Roberts, Author of Winter at the Beach