You that never done nothin’
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it’s your little toy

-Bob Dylan, “Masters of War”

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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, podcasting, but mostly writing fiction, poetry, and pop culture essays. Now I’m working to discover what more I can achieve and share with the world, and whether an older author can find a place in the storytelling business. Together, let’s see if I can get there.

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NEWSish Stuff

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PHOTO NEWS

Artemis shares great moon shot!

Bro, I know Yankees Opening Day was on Good Friday, but c’mon…

Upcoming live events

• StokerCon, Pittsburgh, PA, June 4-7

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The pacing continues

My most recently completed WIP is in the hands of wise industry veterans who generously agreed to give it a read. The sensation is kind of like continuously hearing the soft ticking of either a beautiful watch or a devastating bomb… lol

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New WIP is getting invigorating nods from my writers’ group

We never really know how a new story/poem/novel is going because writers live with a metaphoric split personality, one side is the passionate, hopeful writer, the other is the infernal editor voice that hates whispers “impostor” at every turn. When that is happening, a writers group can prove invaluable.

Writers groups members aren’t in your head. They aren’t getting paid. They are all there for the same reason—to get honest feedback they can use to improve the work.

And in this case, while they are pointing out opportunities to expand, deepen, or insert additional punchlines, overall the majority seem to be enjoying this WIP.

That is energizing.

I’ll show my gratitude by working diligently to keep the quality up for the rest of the tale.

The lesson here is that when writers groups are working, they are fabulous.

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Tell The Damn Story features an intriguing guest in a fascinating interview

Brandon Easton is experienced, honestly outspoken, and has the receipts. He dynamically engages is a wide variety of topics from breaking through to racism in the creative industry, to the value of being seen and engaged with as a creative of value. Plus, he discusses his incredibly fun and fantastic projects. Really worth your time.

Here’s the link:

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Handsome fella seen around local baseball games, thrilling fans

Our own Sonny Mehlman has been attending local baseball games to support some of his favorite coaches (my son Sean, as well as Tyler’s wonderful girlfriend), earning oohs and ahhs and compliments about his undeniable good lucks. He did, however, receive one image-shaming comment despite months of diligent dieting. Sonny is seen here rising above such coldhearted insensitivity. Behold dignity, brothers and sisters!

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POP CULTURE FUEL!

Books

My addiction to great storytelling continues. Here are my latest obsessions:

The Stranger by Jim Donohue is a weird western horror treatment of the “stranger comes to town” plot and the author handles it well, offering a fun, fresh, quick reading experience that starts with a great horror tension and keeps it going throughout (well, I haven’t finished yet, but so far, so good!)

Recommended.

I stumbled across The Name of This Band is R.E.M. in my favorite way -by wandering the aisles of a book store letting books call to me. It is well-written, doesn’t demean itself with gossip, and allows readers to experience the evolution of this fascinating band from arms distance. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Recommended.

Yes, I started reading Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir following two totally thrilling viewings of the film, and I am so glad I did. Weir has a knack for creating engaging characters we find ourselves routing for, and for weaving very human humor through the science fiction. I am grateful that he smoothly explains the science in short, simplified bursts that do not slow the addicting pace of the narrative and that he never backs away from reminding us what the best aspects of humanity can be.

Most highly recommended.

MUSIC

Peter Gabriel In The Big Room came out this year, capturing a recording made in 2003 at the performance space in his recording complex. Great sound, thrilling performances, and well worth your time.

Recommended.

U2 released the EPs Days of Ashes on Ash Wednesday and Easter Lily during Holy Week, making a combined statement on top of each EP’s individual messages. Days of Ash is dynamic, thrilling, and political, exploring many of the horrors going on in the world these days. Easter Lily is spiritual, hopeful, and gorgeous, exploring our better angels, and offering a potential path to peace for all of us.

Both are most highly recommended.

THEATRE

Glorious gifted me tickets to see Jon Bernthal as Sonny Amato and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Sal DeSilva in an adaption of the 1975 film Dog Day Afternoon. Mostly faithful to the film and the Life Magazine article of the true story of perhaps the wildest failed bank robbery in New York history, the show captures the time (Brooklyn, 1972) through music, costumes, and an inventive set, combining to lay a foundation for solid performances and great timing from the cast. Bernthal demonstrates range far beyond the tough guy parts he is known for and Moss-Bachrach displays the courage to pull back and deliver a restrained, dissonant, haunting performance.

Recommend.

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The power of the people is so much stronger than the people in power

In the streets with children playing

-U2

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All right, thanks for stopping by. Talk atcha next week.