Ask the Author: Christopher Ryan
Answered Questions (6)
Christopher Ryan
I don't believe in writer's block. I do believe there is prep time, and gathering of ideas, and that thinking about a story is writing too. Yes, we should get pages done every day, but sometimes an idea is germinating and the writing goes on index cards or that notes app on my smartphone. As long as the stories are progressing, it is all writing.
Best cures for writer's block: reading, watching, enjoying stories, consuming news sources, preparing via notes, and asking yourself "What if?"
Best cures for writer's block: reading, watching, enjoying stories, consuming news sources, preparing via notes, and asking yourself "What if?"
Christopher Ryan
It feels right for me to tell stories. I think about story all the time and love story more than anything besides my wife and children. To be able to share these stories with people who enjoy them is the biggest honor I have ever experienced. I hope to get continuously better, hopefully to improve your reading experiences.
Now, that would be so cool.
Now, that would be so cool.
Christopher Ryan
I'll bow down to the wisdom of Stephen King, who said, "Read a lot and write a lot." Both teach you in ways nothing else can.
Additionally, remember that, yes, you learn from great books, but you learn from less great ones as well.
The experts say read widely and I agree, but definitely read everything you can in the genre or area of specialty you write in.
Writing periodicals, blogs, and websites are useful and should be embraces.
Most importantly, write your first draft to get the whole story out, and then go back and rewrite to make it better. That is the process.
I hope these answers help.
Additionally, remember that, yes, you learn from great books, but you learn from less great ones as well.
The experts say read widely and I agree, but definitely read everything you can in the genre or area of specialty you write in.
Writing periodicals, blogs, and websites are useful and should be embraces.
Most importantly, write your first draft to get the whole story out, and then go back and rewrite to make it better. That is the process.
I hope these answers help.
Christopher Ryan
I am preparing for the publication of A Simple Rebellion, sending out promotions and trying to get better at using Goodreads so I can do some contests and get my author page up to speed (sorry if it is not smooth yet; I am learning!)
Next up is "Trial by Fire" for Alex Simmons' Blackjack character, and then Perfect, the sequel of sorts to Genius High. After that, I want to write City of Love to complete the Mallory and Gunner trilogy.
Next up is "Trial by Fire" for Alex Simmons' Blackjack character, and then Perfect, the sequel of sorts to Genius High. After that, I want to write City of Love to complete the Mallory and Gunner trilogy.
Christopher Ryan
I get inspired by what I see in my life. Here's a breakdown:
A Simple Rebellion came from reading and watching the news and the horrors of Twitter political bile.
Genius High came from watching my high school students deal with the stress of high stakes testing.
City of Woe, City of Pain, and (soon to come) City of Love came from teaching Dante's Inferno and discussing Dante's Divine Comedy with my students and combining it with my love of New York city and cop thrillers.
City of Sin (a prequel anthology) came from a reviewer who said he wished he could read about how Mallory and Gunner became such good partners.
The books I've written for Alex Simmons' Blackjack character (stories in the anthology Shooters, as well as the Rapid Read short novels Driven, Ransom for a Dead King, and Dark End of the Rainbow) are tributes to my friend Alex and homages to my love of pulp fiction, especially Doc Savage and The Shadow.
The Ferguson Files come from wanting to write children's books for my nieces (when they were little) and wanting to offer something that didn't exist in children's lit - detective stories. Thus, Margaret Agnes Ferguson was created. (Trivia treat: the character is named after my grandmother and is visually based on my niece Vanessa).
I hope this helps.
A Simple Rebellion came from reading and watching the news and the horrors of Twitter political bile.
Genius High came from watching my high school students deal with the stress of high stakes testing.
City of Woe, City of Pain, and (soon to come) City of Love came from teaching Dante's Inferno and discussing Dante's Divine Comedy with my students and combining it with my love of New York city and cop thrillers.
City of Sin (a prequel anthology) came from a reviewer who said he wished he could read about how Mallory and Gunner became such good partners.
The books I've written for Alex Simmons' Blackjack character (stories in the anthology Shooters, as well as the Rapid Read short novels Driven, Ransom for a Dead King, and Dark End of the Rainbow) are tributes to my friend Alex and homages to my love of pulp fiction, especially Doc Savage and The Shadow.
The Ferguson Files come from wanting to write children's books for my nieces (when they were little) and wanting to offer something that didn't exist in children's lit - detective stories. Thus, Margaret Agnes Ferguson was created. (Trivia treat: the character is named after my grandmother and is visually based on my niece Vanessa).
I hope this helps.
Christopher Ryan
The idea for A Simple Rebellion (out on January 20, 2018) came from the upsetting divisiveness in the United States that has continually grown worse over the years. I asked myself, "What if this continues? Where are we heading?" The answers haunted me, and demanded to come out. So here they are.
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