Author uses Wyoming as central character in books
by Adam Demey
Uinta County Herald Staff Writer
WYOMING — Ken Rand is an author and former Wyoming resident. He considers
Wyoming home even though he lives in Utah with his wife. Rand recently toured
Wyoming to promote his recent novel, Fairy Brew Haha at the Lucky Nickel
Saloon. The story is based on a fictional saloon on Second Avenue in Laramie where
fairies invade amidst hard times for the owner and patrons. Wild antics
ensue as the barkeep, Mick, tries to remember the formula for Fairy BrewHaha,
available only at the Lucky Nickel. Mick hasn't made the secret brew in a long
time and struggles to remember how, as the fairies begin to bust up the place.
Their goal: get drunk on Fairy Brewhaha and rob the gold from the circus
payroll.
Rand's book tour began in Kemmerer on May 30 and continued through the
Wyoming Writers Inc. annual conference at the Plains Hotel in Cheyenne June 3-5.
Rand stopped in Evanston, Farson, Green River, Lander, Thermopolis, Cody,
Sweetwater Station, Torrington and Laramie. Rand said they left him alone in
Lander; it was busy in Cody and nothing happened in Sweetwater Station or Farson.
He also said he found terrible to wonderful weather on his trek, not
surprisingly.
"My hoards of adoring fans respected my privacy by staying away in Lander,
Torrington and Laramie," quipped Rand.
Fairy Brew Haha at the Lucky Nickel Saloon is Rand's 10th book. He
previously published a collection of short stories on the same idea entitled Tales of
the Lucky Nickel Saloon. Rand considers himself a "semi-fulltime" writer and
he works part-time at a library. He has written more than a hundred short
stories and two hundred humor columns. Rand does interviews, publishes an
e-mail newsletter, writes nonfiction articles and books, and teaches at
conferences and workshops around the country. When asked if there will be more to the
Lucky Nickel series, Rand assures that there will be.
Rand says that the most difficult obstacle to encounter in writing has been
the time factors that are thrust upon all of us.
"The biggest obstacle has been coping with time and the impact of the real
world on our lives," said Rand.
Rand has lived in many places in Wyoming, locally, Kemmerer and Rock
Springs. He said he liked this area because people say hello and they are casual and
neighborly. What struck him the most was how self-reliant people are and
that they were always there if you needed them.
Rand noted that he believes the novel to be the most important form of
writing because it provides a canvas as wide open as Wyoming itself. He said short
stories are good for honing an idea.
"Wyoming shows up in everything I write," said Rand, "and word of mouth is
the most important thing in writing. I have not met everyone I am going to
meet yet. No one can have too many friends and I want as many as I can get."
Rand's background does not include college but a lot of experience. He has
worked as a disc jockey, in radio news, newspapers, fiction, and makes a habit
of learning something new every day.
While working in news at KMER radio, Rand had a chance to interview then
Congressman Dick Cheney. He asked Cheney a question and received a completely
unrelated, sound bite answer. Rand asked the congressman if he should repeat the
question. In a letter, Cheney later stated that since Rand was moving to
Utah that "Utah's gain is Wyoming's loss."
When asked about his future plans, Rand said, "More novels and publishing
with the possibility of an agent and a new publisher. I will be writing every
day, doing something that I enjoy and hoping somebody gives me money for it."
Rand's current publisher is Five Star Publishers and his books can be found
at retailers like Barnes and Noble, and online stores such as Amazon.com. He
is a self-described "accessible writer" and may be reached through his
website.
Reprinted with the kind permission of Uinta County Herald
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