March 2019 Group Read with Guest Author, Ronald Kelly

[Kenneth]

This is the thread for March 2019 Group Read with Guest Author, Ronald Kelly. This month we'll be reading Ronald's classic, FEAR. As a special treat, Ronald has graciously lowered the price for FEAR to $0.99 on Amazon from now through the month of March. Please help me welcome, Ronald Kelly!

[Catherine]

Welcome, Ronald. This looks like a great book!

[Rachel]

Welcome! I’m in and can’t wait to start, looks like a great read!

[Kimberly]

Welcome Ronald! Loved this book! I'm in!

[Kenneth]

Welcome Ronald. I noticed that the ebook has a novella at the end called THE SEEDLING. Is this related to FEAR?

[Ronald]

Howdy everyone! Thanks for the warm welcome! Yes, Ken, the bonus novella at the end of the ebook is a modern-day Fear County tale introducing yet another dark and dangerous critter, the Seedling.

[Kim]

My copy has shipped, anxiously awaiting. Congratulations Ron.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Fear is an excellent dark fantasy, have read it twice.

[Char]

Oh cool, I didn't know that.

Welcome, Mr. Kelly! I'm so excited that you're here with us. :)

[Jon Recluse]

Welcome, Ron!

Folks, prepare to be blown away.

[Latasha]

welcome and thank you Ronald. i bet this nasty creature is from my county! i hope it can swim seeing as how everyone in TN now las lake front property :p i'll be joining in for this one.

[Tara]

Welcome, Ronald! I can't wait to read this!

[Ronald]

Thank you all for your enthusiasm! I'm as excited as you are... ready to answer any and all questions, once the reading begins.

[Ronald]

Latasha wrote: "welcome and thank you Ronald. i bet this nasty creature is from my county! i hope it can swim seeing as how everyone in TN now las lake front property :p i'll be joining in for this one."

We've certainly had a wet, soggy winter here in the Volunteer State, haven't we, Latasha?

[Kimberly]

This was one of the first novels I read by you, Ron--it was so good that I've read it twice already. Still have my copy handy for a third read..... :D

[Ronald]

Kimberly wrote: "This was one of the first novels I read by you, Ron--it was so good that I've read it twice already. Still have my copy handy for a third read..... :D"

Thank you, Kimberly. I'm glad you enjoyed it so much. Actually, I will be reading it, too... to refresh my memory on one point or another. After all, it has been 26 years since I wrote the thing.

[Jon Recluse]

Glad to have you back, brother.

[Elena]

Got my copy! Ready to go...excited about this one

[Elena]

@Ronald
Have any of your books been translated to other languages?
Just curious...

[Ronald]

Elena wrote: "@Ronald
Have any of your books been translated to other languages?
Just curious..."

Yes, Elena, HINDSIGHT, PITFALL, and THE POSSESSION (BURNT MAGNOLIA) were published in Norwegian. My story in Shock Rock was published in German, French, and Italian. Of course, that's when I had an agent (I represent myself now). I wouldn't know who to contact about foreign rights these days.

[Elena]

Oh, wow, now I have to go dig deeper. Maybe I have read one of your stories. It's been a while since I read anything in German...

Off to investigate

[Deb]

I have been out of commission for awhile, but I am back and ready to read! I just got the book Fear from Amazon and will begin reading! Nice to meet you Ronald!

[Ronald]

It’s nice meeting you, Deb! I hope you enjoy your trip to Fear County.

[Kim]

Ronald wrote: "Elena wrote: "@Ronald
Have any of your books been translated to other languages?
Just curious..."

Yes, Elena, HINDSIGHT, PITFALL, and THE POSSESSION (BURNT MAGNOLIA) were published in Norwegian. M..."

My gosh that is so impressive. I bet your thrilled.

[Alan]

The other day I was digging through a box of books and came across my copy of Fear that I bought way back around the time it first came out.

[Ronald]

Alan wrote: "The other day I was digging through a box of books and came across my copy of Fear that I bought way back around the time it first came out."

Was it the original Zebra book or the Pinnacle reissue? The Zebra edition is rarer and harder to come by, especially if it's in good condition.

[Elke]

Alan wrote: "The other day I was digging through a box of books and came across my copy of Fear that I bought way back around the time it first came out."

Actually, I do have a used copy (Zebra, according to my GR data) I bought several years ago and what better time to start reading than now!

My first book by Mr Kelly was Blood Kin (when I had to get my hands on everything fangs) and I really loved it.

Welcome Ronald!

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

I just bought it because I hope to read it with everyone even though I probably have a used copy in my basement somewhere (that I'll never find!) Thank you for the discount copy!

[RM(Alwaysdaddygirl)]

Aloha Ronald,
Welcome and Mahalo for the discount price! I will read this. 🇺🇸🐾

[Ronald]

Thanks, Bark and RM! I hope y'all enjoy it.

[Latasha]

i'm only about 16% in. i love these characters! and there's a blues man?! oh my heart, be still! i loves blues from this era & earlier.

[Ronald]

Latasha wrote: "i'm only about 16% in. i love these characters! and there's a blues man?! oh my heart, be still! i loves blues from this era & earlier."
Roscoe Ledbetter has always been one of my favorite characters. Sort of a mixture of the old-time bluesmen of the 20s and 30s. Blind Lemon Jefferson, DeFord Bailey (from my home county in TN), Robert Johnson, Willie Dixon, and Muddy Waters all rolled up into one cocky individual.

[Latasha]

I love, love, love Muddy Waters & Robert Johnson. i don't know the others but i can fix that!

[Suzanne R.]

I just purchased my copy and looking forward to reading!

[Ronald]

Suzanne R. wrote: "I just purchased my copy and looking forward to reading!"

I hope you enjoy it, Suzanne!

[Alan]

Ronald wrote: "Alan wrote: "The other day I was digging through a box of books and came across my copy of Fear that I bought way back around the time it first came out."

Was it the original Zebra book or the Pinnacle reissue? The Zebra edition is rarer and harder to come by, especially if it's in good condition."

I'm not sure if I bought it in the 90s or 00s. And it's in one of about 15 boxes full of books I was moving around the house, so I don't feel like straining muscles to go through them all again right now. LOL Unless of course it has a really high resale value......

[Ronald]

Alan wrote: "Ronald wrote: "Alan wrote: "The other day I was digging through a box of books and came across my copy of Fear that I bought way back around the time it first came out."

Was it the original Zebra ..."

I'm not sure what sort of collector's value a mint to very good copy of FEAR would have. Someone on Amazon was selling a copy for $385 the other day, which was just plain silly.

[Alan]

\

Methinks I'm digging back into those boxes tomorrow.

[Char]

I love me some blues too.

I have to knock an ARC out of the way first and then I'll be joining. I'm really looking forward to it.

[Elena]

We're off to a good start!
Read the first 7 chapters last night. Love the setting and characters. (Nooo...Jeb, don't go there!)
Really enjoying your style of writing too. Just what I needed after fighting my way through Lasher for the past two weeks...

[Ronald]

Elena wrote: "We're off to a good start!
Read the first 7 chapters last night. Love the setting and characters. (Nooo...Jeb, don't go there!)
Really enjoying your style of writing too. Just what I needed after..."

I'm glad you're enjoying it, Elena.

[Sarah-Grace (Azrael865)]

I am in the middle of two other books and then my library borrowed two I had on hold for me last night. Those two will be quick reads then I will join in.

I took a vacation day from work for tomorrow. I take vacation to catch up on books. This will be my first book by Ron Kelly.

[Kenneth]

After many, many hours of holding Ronald Kelly against his will with a bright light shining in his face, cigarette burns peppering his skin, and jumper cables attached to various body parts, he delivered and excellent and insightful interview!

Thanks, Ron!

https://intothemacabre.com/2019/02/28...

[Ronald]

Ken wrote: "After many, many hours of holding Ronald Kelly against his will with a bright light shining in his face, cigarette burns peppering his skin, and jumper cables attached to various body parts, he del..."

It was brutal... but I survived.

Honestly, this one of the most extensive interviews I've ever done. If y'all want to learn what make's Ol' Ron tick, this pretty much covers it. Thanks, Ken!

[Jon Recluse]

Ken wrote: "After many, many hours of holding Ronald Kelly against his will with a bright light shining in his face, cigarette burns peppering his skin, and jumper cables attached to various body parts, he del..."

Awesome interview!

[Glenn]

Looking forward to starting this book today! Kindle version is locked and loaded.

[Kenneth]

I’ve got your six, Glenn!

[Kenneth]

Ron, FEAR is one of your classics from the Zebra days. Was this one of your first stories that you had published?

[Ronald]

Ken wrote: "Ron, FEAR is one of your classics from the Zebra days. Was this one of your first stories that you had published?"

No, FEAR was my seventh novel with Zebra. That's why it's probably such a decent read. I cut my writing teeth on the first six before I attempted this one. I'm glad I did.

[Annerlee]

Looking forward to reading this one. The description has me intrigued. Just bought a copy for my e-reader. I'll be starting it at the weekend.