The Legend of Uh! Interview with Author Aaron N. Hall

I learned that I loved storytelling when I was only nine years old. I had always loved fantasy movies as a kid (Dragonheart, The Sword and the Stone, Never Ending Story), but playing games like The Legend of Zelda and Skies of Arcadia inspired me to make fantasy stories of my own. I started writing stories for my friends and began work on my first novel, Foreordained, when I was a sophomore in high school. I’ve had a lot of creative passions come and go through the years, but writing has remained constant.

 

Who is your favorite character to write, and why is that person your favorite?

For The Legend of Uh, I had a lot of fun writing Friar Steve. He’s loud and can be really dense, so it was fun to find areas where I could insert a line from him and crack a joke. His desire to serve the Goddess also comes at the expense of “killing the vibe” so that leads to a lot of funny moments.

 

Describe your writing process. Do you outline, plot, and plan, or is your writing more organic?
I like to plot and prepare as much as I can. However, once I’m in the thick of writing a first draft, I give myself the grace to deviate a little depending on what feels best. Because maybe a better idea will come to me that will require me to veer away from the original idea as long as it makes for a better book.

 

What are some books or authors that you would recommend to our readers?
I think Clay Harmon is an underrated fantasy writer. His debut title, The Flames of Mira, is dark, powerful, and chilling. I also think Rod Serling isn’t talked about near enough. He was the creator of the Twilight Zone and his short stories are absolutely brilliant.

 

Tell us what you enjoy most about writing fantasy and comedy combined.

Fantasy has SO MUCH content to riff off of. So as I was writing The Legend of Uh, it was fun to tell a compelling (and funny) fantasy story of my own while looking for areas where I could parody Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Brandon Sanderson, etc. I also believe comedy is a vehicle in which we can teach about big ideas in a way that’s digestible.

 

What have you found to be most challenging about writing comedy?

Writing comedy is challenging because it’s almost impossible to quantify what’s funny and what’s not. You kind of have to FEEL it out. Then you hand it to your readers and you breathe a huge sigh of relief when you find out the jokes land.

 

Have you been able to incorporate your previous experience in your jobs/education in your writing?
It’s the opposite, actually. I’ve gained jobs in the past because they found out I was a dedicated self-published author in my free time. It shows that you’re willing to commit to a major project and see it through. Not only that, but self pub authors essentially have to function as their own publicist, creative director, social media manager, etc. It makes us very versatile hires.

 

Describe the book in 10 words or less for people just learning about it.

A loving parody of the fantasy genre.

 

Is there anything you would like people to take away from your book?

I want them to laugh and I want them to feel like this book wrapped them in a warm hug. Times are hard enough as it is, so I hope The Legend of Uh gives them a glimmer of joy.

 

What has been the toughest criticism you have received as an author?
One of my good friends beta read The Legend of Uh and he had a lotttt of notes for me. It really caught me off guard and bruised my ego because I loved the book so much even from the first draft. But as I thought about his feedback more, I knew he was right. Thanks to his feedback, I turned a three-star book into a five-star book, and now it gets terrific reviews everywhere it goes.

 

What is your favorite line from your book?

I couldn’t tell you without spoiling it. 😉

I’m the Director of Public Relations for the 501c3 nonprofit, Operation Literacy! We’re on a mission to lift people and communities up through a love of reading. I’m absolutely thrilled to work with my team of amazing book lovers and do-gooders. You can find more about us at operationliteracy.org.