As many long-time listeners of the podcast know, Randy is a passionate fantasy writer. During his 13 years in solitary confinement, writing became his lifeline. Creating intricate worlds and vivid stories in his mind was what kept him grounded, offering an escape from the isolation and harsh realities of prison life. Through his storytelling, Randy found a way to endure—proving that even in the most confined spaces, the imagination knows no bounds.
Randy’s Books
You Gonna Eat Dat?
Prison Stories and Recipes from Virginia’s Hardest Prisons
YOU GONNA EAT DAT? is not your average cookbook—this is 30 years of prison survival, served with flavor, grit, and humor. Written by Randall Via—better known as Red Onion Randy—this collection of recipes comes straight from the Virginia Department of Corrections, where Randy learned to turn commissary scraps into feasts. From “Prison Swole” bowls to peanut butter cupcakes, every recipe tells a story.
But this book isn’t just about food—it’s about transformation. Randy spent 17 years in solitary confinement and is currently incarcerated at Keen Mountain Correctional Center. He’s been charge-free for nearly two decades and was featured in HBO’s Solitary: A Look Inside Red Onion Prison. Through creativity, humor, and relentless willpower, Randy found a way to connect, survive, and thrive.
He recently married the love of his life, Nicole, and credits her, along with his close friends Mike, Paulie, Michael, and Jooyeon, for helping him every day to push forward with purpose.
YOU GONNA EAT DAT? blends struggle with laughter, survival with flavor, and desperation with creativity. This book is for anyone who’s ever wondered what it’s like to live—and cook—behind bars. It’s not just about food. It’s about resilience. And maybe, just maybe, it’ll help you see your kitchen—and your life—in a whole new way.
Elise and the Magic Well is a fantasy novel that takes readers on an extraordinary journey through a world of myth and wonder. Young Elise’s life changes forever when she stumbles upon a magical realm filled with wizards, unicorns, and mythical creatures like hippogriffs. As dark forces threaten both worlds, Elise must embark on a quest to find the legendary Magic Well, a source of immense power capable of saving everything she holds dear. But to succeed, she must face unimaginable dangers and convince the adults around her—no easy task for a little girl burdened with such a monumental responsibility.
What makes this story even more remarkable is that it was written by Randall Via, a man serving a 1,214-year sentence, who spent 13 years in solitary confinement. Despite his circumstances, Randy used his time to craft this imaginative tale, drawing on his own struggles and triumphs. Elise and the Magic Well is not just a fantasy—it’s a testament to the power of resilience and the boundless potential of the human spirit, even from behind prison walls.
Introducing: The Adventures of Patches and Hissy: The Quest for El’din!
Join Patches, a colorful rabbit with a heart of gold (and fur of many colors), on a quest to free the rightful King El’din from the clutches of the evil Emperor Splitfang. Along the way, she teams up with Hissy, a one-eyed weasel with a mysterious past—and together, they face buffalo stampedes, dark forests, and a castle made of pure gold.
So hop to it! bring home The Adventures of Patches and Hissy: The Quest for El’din—a magical journey where believing in yourself is the key to unlocking the greatest treasure of all.
Perfect for readers young and old—don’t miss out on the adventure of a lifetime!