Welcome Ronald:
We’re joined on the Starline by lawyer, professor, international award winning best-selling author. His latest book is “An Affair of Spies”. We welcome Ronald H. Balson.
Ronald, let’s go Beyond the Mic. 2005 Citizen of the Year in your neighborhood. How has your wife Monica and kids supported your writing dreams?
You were a Giant at Highland Park High School then moved to New Orleans to be pre-med. How do you go from pre-med to a history degree to law to an author?
You spent years as a public school teacher before you got your law degree which brought you to a case that took you to Poland that changed your entire life…
How has your life changed from your first moments in Warsaw where it hit you emotionally, mentally and creatively to now?
Ronald, How did An Affair of Spies begin? Did it start with the time period or the desire to write about heroism and love in the face of evil?
The Rockin’ 8:
It’s time for the Rockin’ 8, 8 random questions; answer with the first thing that comes to your mind. There is no Pressure.
1. Favorite WWII Movie? Which war movie would watch again right now?
2. Place in Poland that has special meaning to you?
3. Neat or Messy?
4. Best thing to have at the Katz Deli?
5. If you could cast anyone to play Nathan and Allison if the book was ever made into a movie, who would you want?
6. Favorite memory on your open-bow boat on the lake?
7. I’m the oldest of 6, you have 8 kids, what was the one thing you kids for dinner? What’s her best dish?
8. What’s one thing you wanted to know about your grandparents?
The Back Half with:
You have said in the past “My characters are real to me, real people…” how has your characters grown and changed from your first book to today?
Lawyers are always researching, reading and writing. How has the law helped you become a better writer?
How did teaching business law for 25 years change the way you look at the world?
In “An Affair of Spies” you have woven the past with some historical fiction within. How hard or easy is it to weave such a fantastical tale. You have a German character on the hunt for your heroes and yet it feels real?
Which character in all of your books is your favorite?
Which writer made the greatest impact on you?
One Big Question:
You started by self-publishing, eleven years ago. How has those moments with your son Matt change the way you looked at publishing?
What do you want to tell all the publishers’ years ago who said no to you?
Have all your dreams come true?
The Wrap:
He can’t outdo his wife’s brisket, loves the movie The Great Escape and wants you to enjoy the heroism and love in the face of evil in “An Affair of Spies”. We thank author Ronald H Balson for taking the time to talk to us today.
And that my friends is Beyond the Mic.
Listen to other Beyond the Mic conversations with other authors here.
Visit Ronald H Balson’s website here.
