A weekly newsletter about creating even as the world burns
I’m watching video clips of ICE agents tasing and beating people they are kidnapping, and even running over a protester with their van and I’m wondering how bad it has to be before America insists that its government, or military, or silent heroes fight back against this clear violation of everything this country stands for…
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Hi, I’m Christopher Ryan, a hybrid author with forty years of experience in journalism, education, sketch comedy, indie film, unions, community service, parenting, public speaking, acting, fiction and pop culture writing, as well as podcasting. Now I’m pushing to be more, to become one of the oldest emerging authors in the business. Together, let’s see whether I can get there.
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NEWS:
FEAR AND LOATHING RELEASED, SPARKS AMAZING TALK
During a week when fascism expanded its cruelty further into the streets and Americans began to turn their anger against ICE thugs, some friends joined Alex and I to record what turned out to be the most moving, honest, and revelatory episode of Tell The Damn Story in its long history.
What began as a panel celebrating the release of Soul Scream Antholozine Fear and Loathing became the kind of soul-baring experience that can inspire and help heal writers.
You are not alone.
Here’s the link:
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Soul Scream Antholozine Fear and Loathing has garnered some really cool reviews.
Here’s one from Amazon:
Top reviews from the United States
5.0 out of 5 stars What Lies Ahead…
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2025Verified Purchase
I enjoyed reading this collection, as it contains such a wide variety of stories. With this many authors contributing, there are quite different takes on the main theme of what may possibly be waiting down the road for all of us during these turbulent times. Some of the stories are more supernatural than others, and some are scary from the standpoint of what humans are capable of, but they are all highly entertaining. I enjoyed reading the short interviews with the authors and gaining insight into the origin point of their stories. I also loved that there were submissions from high school students- how cool that they already have published material!
Give this collection a shot- you won’t be sorry.
And here’s another, from Facebook:
Milt Theodossiou
Happy Release Day to…
Soul Scream Antholozine Fear and Loathing: Horror Tales for a Changed World
Edited by Christopher Ryan
“Soul Scream Antholozine” volumes are part anthologies, part magazines, combining very effectively the two formats in one by presenting stories in magazine form. After each story or poem, a mini-interview follows with the respective author, by the magazine’s (fictional) ‘interns’ or ‘assistant editor’. The result is truly phenomenal, since no matter how serious and heavy a story may be (and in this volume, they often are), there’s always some fun to be had by the interviews, which also throw light on the author’s writing process and origin of their ideas. Occasionally even, I liked the interview more than the story itself – which goes to show how well-crafted these moments of levity and reflection on authorship are: whether you’re a reader, a reviewer or an author, there’s something for everyone! And the quality is kept high throughout!
“Fear and Loathing: Horror Tales for a Changed World” is the seventh entry in this superb antholozine series, and it’s a real blast: it asks one question and one question only – if the policies of the current US presidency continue, what might we see America become in the next few years? – and it provides one answer and one answer only – oppression, hardship, inequality, and throw some insanity in there for good measure!
The stories are simply amazing, sharp, disturbing, always to the point, sticking to the mind long after the end. The authors do not mince words, though they never turn preachy or patronizing. The stories, to be honest, speak loudly for themselves. The writing is top-notch, the concepts original, and the approaches range from anger to bitterness, with an undertone of hope.
My favorites were:
Rebecca Cuthbert ‘s story, “Anguish Art Showcase,” a stunning morality tale about reality shows, told with such an incredible attention to detail that it may turn out prophetic; I certainly hope not! The supernatural twist was genius, and the whole thing reads like a nail to the heart.
Wendy Maxon’s “School’s Out For Summer” was totally disquieting, focusing on the establishment of AI in schools, AI replacing teachers, AI doing the assignments, AI doing everything for students except think: when the time for true thinking arises, mayhem ensues. Once again, the details are thought through with incredible accuracy, from people panicking and asking AI online for help, to the AI giving them different answers depending on who’s asking! A very unsettling story, probably prophetic as well.
“The Last Waltz” by Daemon Max, an outstanding tale I’d read before in Manx’s “Manx-iety” collection, is a heart-breaking tale about wrong life choices, domestic abuse, and the meaning of family.
I also eagerly recommend Charles Baruch’s “Final Advice,” Steven Van Patten’s “Jim Crow, 2028,” Lara Frater’s “Dealbreaker,” Karen Renner’s “The History of New Bomer (pop. 2,402)” and “The Eldritch Heart” by Oliver Baer. Wish I could convey directly how strong these stories are!
In sum, this is a must-read, whatever you may think about US politics; “Fear and Loathing” sheds new light on a horrific future most of us already see coming, and pulls no punches when it comes to immigration, racism, education and healthcare. Can’t recommend it enough!
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UPCOMING APPEARANCE:
I’ll be reading from Soul Scream Antholozine Fear and Loathing and maybe from It’s Been a Privilege, and I will bring books to donate as prizes for the horror trivia contest.
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OTHER WRITING:
I’ve put out four books and been published in a pop culture anthology about Jack Kirby as well as an upcoming Alien Buddha Press Summer Sampler, so it has been a creative year. And while it seems I am exhausted, work has already begun on yet another poetry collection, a short story rewrite, and a YA novel. Pretty cool.
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CURRENT OBSESSIONS
MUSIC:
This week’s increasingly unAmerican news has reminded me of an old song by The Kinks. Wish someone would answer it:
I continue listening to James McMurtry’s great new album The Black Dog and Wandering Boy. Highly recommended.
Also, Springsteen’s Tracks II: The Lost Albums offers a mother lode of “new” Bruce in the form of unreleased albums primarily from the 90’s and early 00’s. Different than his initial run. Exploring tone and emotion and writing and singing. Fascinating, with lots of gems to be discovered and savored. Highly recommended for die hard Bruce fans, recommended for the less hardcore.
TV:
Glorious and I have been fascinated by Mariska Hartigay’s HBO doc My Mom Jayne. What started as mild curiosity about what she had to say turned into fully engaged appreciation for taking us through in incredible twists and turns to be found there. Recommended.
We followed that up with a trip back in time as we finally dived into Broadchurch on Peacock. David Tennant, Olivia Colman, and Jodie Whittacker head up an incredible cast in this well-written, gorgeously filmed, tremendously well acted show. Season 1 is brilliant, season 2 might be better. We are intrigued to discover what season 3 offers. Highly recommended.
BOOKS:
I’m finally getting around to the really enjoyable Dead Detectives Society (Thrilling Mysteries of the Macabre!) from Monstrous Books. Mystery. Horror. Pulpy. Noirish. Big fun for everyone. Highly recommended.
Really enjoying Pedor Iniguez’s Stoker Award-winning collection of speculative poetry Mexicans on the Moon. Iniguez packs so much into each poem that it is fun to savior one or two a day. Highly recommended.
Every once in a while I need a Charles Bukowski fix. His simple, sometimes blunt, in the moment poetry influences the clarity I aspire to when I write poetry. Not his subject matter so much but his absolute mastery of capturing moments and giving them a pulse of vivid life. This time around its Essential Bukowski Poetry selected and edited by Abel Debritto. Excellent. Most highly recommended.
Lastly, I find myself having to stop reading and write a new poem every few entries into Edward Hirsch’s The Essential Poet’s Glossary. This new version of Hirsch’s legendary work has inspired four poems so far, for which I am deeply grateful. Most highly recommended.
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All right, talk atcha next week.
Chris Ryan 