Wyandotte author Joseph M. Lenard
‘Things could always be better, but they could often be worse!’
By SUE SUCHYTA
Times-Herald Newspapers
WYANDOTTE – Joseph M. Lenard, 62, of Wyandotte, a retired information technology guy, has found his passion penning books and creating podcasts, inspired by his Christian and political beliefs.
His books include the fictional “Terror Strikes: Coming Soon to a City Near You,” which was published in 2022; “ChristiTutionalist Politics (original)” in 2023, “ChristiTutionalist Politics 2” which was published in June, and the 2022 self-help book “How to Write a Book & Get It Published: Hints, Tips & Techniques.”
Lenard said he’s always enjoyed writing, and comes from a musical family, so he’s even written music.
“I wrote and recorded music, but I never got a record deal like my dad did, Ted Lenard Jr. and the Polka Kings,” he said. “So, I grew up with all kinds of music I wrote and recorded, but never got a record deal. So, I kept writing stories and novels.”
After his IT career ended and he went on disability in 2004, Lenard began looking for the best way to spend his time when he was feeling well, so he started writing books.
Although “Terror Strikes” was published in 2022, Lenard wrote it in 2006.
“I’ve written dramas, I’ve written horror, I’ve written sci-fi, but ‘Terror Strikes’ is about terrorism, but it’s not about death, it’s about life and living,” he said. “It’s been my life philosophy for decades, so I have my character say it in the book, ‘Things could always be better, but they could often be worse.’”
Lenard said it is important to approach life with a sense of humor.
He said decided to incorporate what he learned about getting published in his next book, “How to Write a Book & Get It Published: Hints, Tips & Techniques.”
Lenard said it’s a behind-the-scenes narrative of what an author goes through.
He said “ChristiTutionalist Politics (original)” written in 2023, which was a spin-off from his podcasts, followed by a “Podcasting Quick-Start Guide,” and, most recently, “ChristiTutionalist Politics 2.”
“So, I write all kinds of different things,” Lenard said.
He said his “ChristiTutionalist Politics” books are not meant to “beat people over the head with the Bible.
“But I want to speak to fellow Christians that frankly, have lost their way and have become ‘of the world,’ rather than just ‘in the world,’” Lenard said. “I want to remind them they need to get back in their Bible and read it in full context.”
The T-shirt he wore to the interview, a gift from a relative, is emblazoned with “Lenard – the man, the myth, the legend,” which he said he wears to get a reaction out of people.
“I wear it for the haters because it tweaks them,” Lenard said. “I don’t think I’m all that and a bag of chips. It’s a joke. It’s a jest. But the haters have no sense of humor.”
He said he also likes to invent words and put them in his books.
Lenard recommends that if people are going to read one of his books, to start with the fictional, “Terror Strikes,” which he said is a “mind opener.”
“This is a problem that I know all authors have: When someone’s reading a fictional book, they think it is a direct window or insight into the author’s mind, and that’s not always the case,” he said. “Fictional characters take artificial stances that may or may not agree with the author who is writing the book.
“They are doing it to create the dramatic story. Otherwise, it’s boring and no one will read it.”
Lenard said the working title of one of his book works-in-progress is “Living Hell,” which is about hard times in general. He said he’s also ruminating about a book based on the war in Ukraine.
For more information about Lenard and his work, go to JosephMLenard.us and terrorstrikes.info.