I’m Ronit J, a fantasy nerd with big dreams and bigger anxieties, all struggling to make themselves be heard within the existential maelstrom that is my mind. Fantasy – and by extension – the whole speculative fiction genre is how I choose to escape reality.
My Debut Novel
I wrote Help! My Dog Is The Chosen One! in April 2023, and it was with this book that I kickstarted my fantasy writing career. It’s an urban fantasy novel based on an idea that sparked in my mind when I was walking my dog, Joy.
I wrote the book as part of Camp NaNoWriMo April 2023, and everything else that followed has been like a nonstop dream. 18 years ago, I dreamt of becoming a published author. Today… I am one.
My Fantasy Inspirations
Where do I begin? Like a lot of kids from my generation, I started reading fantasy because of Harry Potter. I had devoured those novels within two years, and while I was waiting for the next release, I began exploring other fantasy books and fantasy authors.
After many epic fantasy adventures, it was Eragon that sparked the interest to write. I even ended up attempting an epic fantasy novel at 11, but I was still far from my peak. After Eragon came Lord of the Rings, A Song of Ice And Fire, and finally my biggest inspiration, Malazan Book of the Fallen!
As time passed, I moved focus from simply reading fantasy stories, to studying the craft behind the books. Brandon Sanderson has been a huge inspiration behind my craft. In the past two years, I’ve begun exploring more indie fantasy authors, and found that I’m enjoying their work just as much as any trad-pub fantasy – more if I’m being honest. Seeing their unhinged creativity is what finally pushed me to take a dive into self-publishing, and here I am!
My Non-Fantasy Undertakings & Hobbies
I’m also an indie filmmaker; I’ve made films under my full name, Ronit Jadhav. I’ve made 2 indie features and several shorts. Cinema is a medium I use to explore reality – a balance to my fantasy author persona. My last film was a zero-budget indie feature that I shot by myself in the middle of the 2020 lockdown. If you’re interested, you can check out my IMDb profile!
I love food, beer, travelling, chess, and annoying my wife. No, seriously, time flies when I’m doing any of those things.
I decided to publish under Ronit J, and not my full name for two reasons – to separate my films from my books, and to be better recognised by my first name.
I exist (apparently), and the only thing that gives my existence some semblance of peace is the act of creation. So, here I am… writing books and making films that hopefully leave a mark on the world. Or your lives.