As a serial genre hopper, I’m always looking for a thread that brings my brand together. I’ve realized that no matter what I write, I strive for thought-provoking and haunting vibes. And I’m not alone in this endeavor! Indie author Tas Kronby, who just released The Plight Of The Suffering: Varicose Veins in June 2024, has a very similar atmosphere permeating their work.
I recently sat down with this awesome author to learn about their body of work, plans for the future, and the importance of writing what you know.
Nikki: Thank you for joining me, Tas, and congratulations on the recent release! I want to hear more about where you found the idea for The Plight Of The Suffering: Varicose Veins.
Tas: Thank you! On June 24th, The Plight Of The Suffering: Varicose Veins came out. They say to write what you know. Even though this is a fictional setting, I used my own experiences with SA to shape the tale. The next two stories in the series are also based on my life. Be on the lookout for Plastic Expectations and Just Gagging in July and August!
That is so exciting, and we’ll have to stay tuned for those next releases! I know you’ve been publishing since 2023. What else have you written?
Phil, The Killer was my debut novella! It is an extreme horror crime fiction tale of a bsexual and bi-killing serial killer. Serial killers have been one of my hyper fixations since I was a child. So when the idea for Phil popped into my head, it was perfect for my debut novella in 2023!
It’s darkly comedic, with tons of gore. I don’t write spicy romance, so I surprised myself with a few scenes in that book. I have a tough stomach for extreme horror, and with Phil, I even made myself gag. So it was a success!
Recently, I wrote The Ixodida Conjuring which is a supernatural horror short story that was published this year. I woke up one day and thought hmm… I want to write something with ticks in it! That is how a lot of my stories start. I wake up with an idea and must put it down.
I’m the same way! I have a bedside journal just in case I need to scribble down an idea. Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?
As soon as I could lift a pen, I started writing. My first chapter book was finished at age five, inspired by Nancy Drew novels. It was called The Homestead Mystery. It still makes me giggle that a little 10 page story was the catalyst for where I am in my journey 30 years later.
That is so cool! And you’re self-published now, right?
Yes, traditional publishing is not for me. I am autistic and ADHD, so social politics do not work for me. The traditional publishing world is less about creating what you love and more about money. Art is subjective and the trad-publishing world doesn’t always care about the creation. They just want an author that can make them money. I don’t want to be the cog in the wheel of capitalism. I don’t write for money. I write because I love to create art.
I am proud of being an independent, self-published author. I write what I want and share the messages through my work that I choose. Nothing beats having complete creative freedom. When I receive messages from people that read my stories and it impacted their life — that is why I write.
My queerness, being a person of color, autistic with CPTSD and being disabled influence what I write. No matter which fiction or nonfiction work you read of mine, it’ll be gay, traumatic, and filled with social commentary.
I totally understand wanting to share your own messages and control your brand. That’s why I self-publish, too! What genres do you usually write in? Are they the same ones you like to read?
I write queer extreme horror with multiple sub genres! Serial killers, monsters, aliens, ghosts, and all things occult. It is always a bloody good time!
Horror is the genre I read and write. The only exception to this is poetry and Shakespeare. Plath is my boo, as is the forever mysterious playwright.
I love Plath and Shakespeare! I have a nod to my love of Sylvia Plath in my next novel, and a ghost of King Hamlet tattoo to literally wear my love for The Bard on my sleeve. I need to know if we have a similar music taste, too. What do you listen to?
Give me K-pop and 90s, 2000s pop/rock for life! My introduction to K-pop was Big Bang. My obsession never ended, especially once I discovered BTS.
Yes, I’m Army. No, I’m not toxic. (laughs) You see, BTS holds a special place in my life. I was in a domestic violence situation. The first song that helped me through the pain was Save Me by BTS. Love Yourself: Tear, Love Yourself: Her and Love Yourself: Answer were the albums that gave me strength. I tattooed the album covers on my chest because they helped me change my life.
Also, my bias is Yoongi, naturally. (winks)
Now, for alt rock, 90s and 2000s jams — I challenge you to find a millennial that doesn’t love that!
As a fellow millennial, I can confirm that’s a challenge! That is so cool. How do you feel about the Oxford comma?
As a professional comma splicer, I can neither confirm nor deny that I use Oxford commas. (laughs)
Ha, totally fair. So, what’s one thing about your books that nobody has asked, but you wish they did?
I wish people would ask, “Why is your work filled with gore and graphic content?”
I incorporate a lot of social commentary into my work. Humanity spends too much time trying to avoid the bad things in life. I grew up in poverty with excessive abuse, isolated from anything good in the world. I saw the darkest part of what humanity is capable of, and I survived.
I can’t be idealistic. I can’t put a positive spin on everything because not everything in life is good.
People can only overcome the shadow of humanity if they stop trying to hide what’s really happening. You can’t avoid repeating the past if you cover your eyes.
I will write about how I lived. I write about what I survived. They say to write what you know — and I do.
That’s so powerful, and major props to you for bringing that nuance into your stories. I do think people are nervous about treading lightly at times. So instead of treading lightly toward my next question, I’ll just be blunt. (laughs) How many unfinished manuscripts do you have kickin’ around?
37 and counting! (both laugh) When it comes to art, I don’t rush; I complete what feels right at the time and save the rest for future use.
I love that, and it’s such an important reminder. So many authors self-impose deadlines that ultimately just rush art. But art shouldn’t be rushed! Before I let you get back to those 37 manuscripts, is there anything else you’d like to add?
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to share this or not, but I feel like it’s applicable to all of my stories. I have a cognitive delay which makes it impossible for me to learn all the grammatical rules. Trust me, my professors in college gave me plenty of lectures on it!
My stories will never be perfect. Even when I worked with editors, I learned quickly that credentials mean nothing. My book was in worse shape because I hired an editor(s) and I lost a lot of money on it. Being screwed over by multiple well-referenced, well-educated editors with over ten years’ experience put things into perspective.
Let’s face it, even traditionally published books have grammatical errors. No book is perfect and no book will please everyone. Spending millions on a book won’t prevent it from being disliked for formatting and grammar.
So this is the reality. If you want to read a horrific tale with a meaningful message — I am the author for you!
If you want to read a perfect grammatical masterpiece — skip me, no hard feelings.
Like I said before, I am a realist. Art is subjective, there is no wrong way to write. Write what you’re passionate about because if you do, you will find the audience that appreciates what you create.
Tas Kronby is a raw, passionate writer that belongs on your radar. They’ve already got a massive body of work on Goodreads, and there’s even more in the works. Explore their Linktree to discover where to find them, or head straight to Instagram to follow Tas. They also have a cover design business that goes live in August 2024!
Want to learn more about other indie authors you need to know? Keep an eye on my Indie Author Spotlight Series for spotlights that span various different genres.