Soul Screaming #5 – a weekly newsletter by perhaps the world’s oldest emerging author

Posted on March 24, 2025 by chrisryanwrites

by Christopher Ryan

I keep thinking of a line from a cult classic movie as I watch updates on the long-delayed return of astronauts Butch and Suni (Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams) to our shores after nine months in space.

Just think for a second how much has changed during those nine months. What will they find when they land? A country where either or both could be looked at as DEI hires instead of heroes. A country where things cost more and their investment portfolios are worth less, where education is weaker, the prospect of not having Social Security, Medicaid, or Medicare so billionaires can get a bigger tax break. Where the country they call home is called an enemy by our allies, and openly mocked around the globe. Where a Gulf has been renamed, and our country is mumbling about wanting to take over entire countries.

So much of our culture has been upended, that movie line might be the most logical thing for Butch and Suni to cry out:

“You maniacs! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!”

* * *

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 writing, and podcasting. I’ve experienced a modicum of success in all of these, but I’m pushing to be more, to become one of the oldest breakout authors in the business. Together, let’s see whether I can get there.

* * *

NEWS:

An essay I’ve written on a famous character created by an absolute legend has been accepted and complimented. For an ancient emerging writer that feels great. Expect it out around June. I can’t say more right now — and love that I am starting to climb up to that level in the industry. LOL, what silly things we use to keep us going as creatives!

OTHER NEWS:

After re-airing a couple of classic episodes following our 350th episode, Alex Simmons and I are back with new discussions on our podcast/YouTube show Tell The Damn Story. Episode #354, featuring long time friend for the show, great Ohioan, writer, and publisher Jim Beard joining us going deep on all things procrastination.

Here’s the link:

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/gcDpFUbgdFg?rel=0&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&enablejsapi=0

OTHER OTHER NEWS:

Promotion continues for my crime novelette Mallory and Gunner RIVALS from my own publishing imprint, Seamus and Nunzio Productions.

This time around, the NYPD detectives are just trying to enjoy a night out with friends at the game, but crime finds them in a most painful way. Now they have the last few innings to sort through over 50,000 fans and find the culprit before the games end and their would-be killer goes free amid the exiting crowd. Twists, turns, some humor and lots of drama, all in a one-sit read.

Here’s the link: https://a.co/d/3bc7V4T

UPDATED NEWS:

My debut as a published poet happens on March 31st from Alien Buddha Press. It’s Been a Privilege is a horror story told in verse. Here’s advanced praise from award-winning author Teel James Glenn:

NEW NEWS:

This week I’ve been editing Sherlock Holmes and the Hands of Othello by award-winning author, longtime friend, and podcast partner Alex Simmons. The play has been published once before, as part of the anthology Black Thunder where it was featured alongside August Wilson and others. However, I always thought it deserved a chance to stand on its own so Seamus and Nunzio Productions will be putting that out in May.

In signature Alex Simmons fashion, the play starts off with intrigue and builds throughout. Simmons not only captures Holmes in all his cerebral grandeur, but he takes the sleuth into new territory as the case deals with racism. An intriguing read that deserves renewed attention and a new production.

CURRENT OBSESSIONS:

MUSIC:

I was listening to some political podcast (yes, I need a twelve-step program) and the guest was asked what he was listening to lately and he recommended a performance by The Last Dinner Party on the Brit Awards of their hit “Nothing Matters”. I was pretty obsessed with that song last year and immediately viewed the clip. They perform it even better now.

Here’s the clip:

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/wL6tB1gDi3o?rel=0&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&enablejsapi=0

And, like so many others, I am still obsessed with two German bands joining up for a genuinely cool version of “Tom’s Diner” to the point of even watching reaction videos of others watching this video.

Here’s the original clip:

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/5r3B7yz6J68?rel=0&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&enablejsapi=0

TV:

My wife Glorious and I finally watched Paradise on Hulu. Twists and turns and great performances. Recommended.

BOOKS:

I’m going through one of those periods when I’m reading a whole bunch of things because nothing is really grabbing me. Hopefully, a book will emerge from the pack by next week.

FREAK OUT

I will admit that these days I am constantly battling to stay away from the news because 1) the things our government are doing are outlandish and seem designed to ruin the country I love, and 2) it is too easy to go down a rabbit hole of politics on TV, social media, or news outlets. I have a means to express what I am experiencing and that will be announced soon.

Meanwhile, I keep quietly freaking out that history is once again way too much like my allegedly far-fetched near apocalypse thriller A Simple Rebellion.

Here’s a link to that:

https://a.co/d/in9oMbb

* * *

Thanks for coming by. Talk atcha soon.

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SOUL SCREAMING #4 – a weekly newsletter by perhaps the world’s oldest emerging author

Posted on March 24, 2025 by chrisryanwrites

by Christopher Ryan

THIS JUST IN: Internet rabbit holes are multiplying and turning darker by the day!

We turn now to recent social media victim, emerging author Christopher Ryan.

“I was just innocently scrolling through YouTube and Instagram,” he confessed, “and came across a Navy Seal’s survival book. Ordering this seemed to be a good resource for writing horror or mystery stories. I never even thought of the impact it would have on my feed’s algorithm.”

“Before I knew it, absolutely authentic-seeming experts in their bedrooms and dens and basements were earnestly warning me about the coming third world war/complete collapse of the American power grid/imminent invasion from, apparently, every other country in the world. And as soon as I was appropriately shaken, they each helpfully provided links to solar powered batteries, lamps, police radios, water purifiers, and much more. Now I am prepared to survive any apocalypse but am so constantly concerned about the end of the world that all my writing is about survivors at the end of the world.”

CREATORS! DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU! CURB YOUR DOOM SCROLLING! INSTEAD, WATCH MORE JOSH JOHNSON VIDEOS. HE SEEMS TO HAVE A CALM HANDLE ON THINGS!

* * *

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 writing, and podcasting. I’ve experienced a modicum of success in all of these, but I’m pushing to be more, to become one of the oldest breakout authors in the business. Together, let’s see whether I can get there.

* * *

NEWS:

Last weekend, I actually left the house and participated in the first-ever Long Island Convention of Horror which was a fun success. Featuring a wide array of crafts, merch, pop culture, and authors selling books, there was something for everyone. Live bands rocked the place. And the panels were engaging, informative, and entertaining.

Promo that each panelist and guest was provided.

Me, Nick Mamatas, Paul, DeStefano, and Joe Barriero chopped it up about Worldbuilding in Horror and Gaming.

Marc Abbott, Steven Van Patten, Lara Flara, Randee Dawn, Teel James Glenn, and James Chambers (all contributors to Soul Scream Antholozine, seen between Randee and Teel) had one of the best panels of the weekend, discussing the Top Ten Moments in Horror.

Congratulations to Charles Barouch and the organizers of this event. Here’s to several more years of LICH!

* * *

OTHER NEWS:

Coming on March 31 is the publication by AlienBuddha Press of my first-ever collection of poetry, It’s Been a Privilege. Written as a horror story in verse, each poem in the collection moves the overall tale forward and is written as if in the poetry journal of a pure sociopath having a breakdown. Here’s the cover by Rebecca Cuthbert:

And if you haven’t seen it yet, here’s a clip of me reading from the book:

* * *

UPCOMING EVENTS: Unless we’re talking about the apocalypses mentioned above, I’ll be in my den writing and editing new projects. (“Thank God something keeps him off the streets.” )- Glorious, wife and editor of this newsletter)

* * *

CURRENT OBSESSIONS:

MUSIC:

Steely Dan’s Katy Lied is 50 years old this month. That astounds me.

For those who love the band, we’re talking about “Black Friday”, “Bad Sneakers”, “Rose Darling”, “Daddy Don’t Live in That New York City No More”, “Doctor Wu”, “Everyone’s Gone to the Movies”, “Your Gold Teeth II”, “Chain Lightning”, “Any World (That I’m Welcome To)”, and “Throw Back Th e little Ones”. If that doesn’t get you reaching for your copy, maybe you need to renew your love of The Dan. (Yeah, I said what I said. I hope the Burroughs fans are grinning.)

TV: The aforementioned comedian Josh Johnson’s YouTube output continues to impress and calmly lead me back from the edge of the abyss that is quickly replacing our country. He’s worth your time.

Books: Got back to Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar and it continues to impress. Well written and engaging, I find myself looking forward to reading more.

* * *

FREAK OUT: I think we handled that up top. On the other hand, I am heartened by all the protests all over the country, and by the many countries pushing back against DT’s nonsense. Best we can do is participate in stepping up for our country when she’s needs us most, which is right now.

And maybe stockpile beans and rice and pasta and water and toilet paper and vegetable seeds…

* * *

Thanks for coming by. Talk atcha soon. I hope.

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SOUL SCREAMING #3 – a weekly newsletter by perhaps the world’s oldest emerging author

Posted on March 24, 2025 by chrisryanwrites

by Christopher Ryan

We’re living in historical times. Depending on where you are politically, this is the best of times or the worst of times. But no matter where on the spectrum of opinions you stand, for most of us, it seems like the most confusing of times.

Honestly, it is difficult to cut through all the noise and rhetoric, to know who is speaking truth and who is spinning, exaggerating, or outright lying. It’s getting harder to tell every day. But one gift we have is still fairly reliable – our eyes. What we see is harder to be fooled by, and this week we saw the Bad Old Days in America trying to come back.

To the left in the picture above is Dr. Teresa Borrenpohl being confronted by Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris, who wanted her to leave an alleged town hall meeting for asking the legislative panel, “Is this a town hall, or a lecture?” Now, it is generally understood that town hall meetings are designed for citizens to ask elected officials questions. Secondly, videos of this meeting document others calling out comments, but only Borrenpohl, a Democratic candidate who has run unsuccessfully in that Republican region, was targeted for removal.

Above, we see when the sheriff called in unidentified “private security” to grab her and take her out. Borrenpohl utilized civil disobedience techniques we all learned about from studying the Civil Rights movement, back before that was banned from our history classes.

And here we see private security, later reported to be from LEAR Asset Management of Hayden, Idaho, beginning to drag her out. The video shows Borrenpohl repeatedly asking them to identify themselves to no response, which reportedly violates local city ordinances. These unidentified strangers dragged her all the way up the aisle and out of the auditorium. And as disturbing as all this is, the ridiculous assault charge against Borrenpohl has reportedly been dropped and people have raised substantial funds to cover her medical bills and legal fees.

But it is the rest of the picture that haunts me. We see an entire auditorium filled with Idahoans and one person tried to help her. Some yelled for them to stop, but only one stood up, and no one blocked the unidentified strangers who were physically assaulting and dragging one of the audiences’ neighbors right in front of them. Worse, some laughed or cheered the strangers actions, but as far as I could see in all the videos I watched, none of these good Christian Americans helped their fellow human being.

This on top of careless firings, shoddy ICE raids, declarations that even churches aren’t safe haven any more, Nazis strolling around Ohio, politicians and TV talking heads claiming Federal workers were ripping off the country by doing the relatively low-paying jobs the government hired them to do, and so much more.

America, what are we doing? Even if you disagreed with Borrenpohl’s politics or her behavior in that moment, is this really where we want to go as a country? As an alleged civilization? Is this what our God taught us to do? Who made us think this was the way to conduct ourselves as decent people? Definitely not our Creator. There isn’t a passage in the Bible that says, “Thou Shalt Dehumanize Those Who Disagree With You.” But if behaving this way doesn’t come from the God who guides us, where did it come from?

We all have to ask ourselves how we got here, how some in our country openly feel good about the abuse of others. Was it the podcasts and news entertainment consumed? Did they make this is seem right and good? If so, are those the voices our God wants us to listen to? Or is there a hint of brimstone in the air?

Is this how citizens want to make America great again? By tearing this country apart? In our heart of hearts, can we really say this is the country we want?

Doesn’t matter which side we’re on, all of us, every single one of us, are going to have to answer for allowing our country to sink to these depths when we’re asked to account for what we did when our country needed our help.

* * *

Hi, I’m Christopher Ryan, a hybrid author with forty years of previous experience in journalism, education, sketch comedy, indie film, unions, community service, parenting, public speaking, acting, fiction writing, and podcasting. I’ve experienced moderate success in all of these, but I’m pushing to be more, to become one of the oldest breakout authors in the business. Together, let’s see together whether I can get there.

* * *

NEWS:

Mallory and Gunner: Rivals is out. A short novelette, crime story with two twists – one being the setting (in and around Yankee Stadium, mostly), the other being what constitutes rivals. The book is priced to help out during these challenging economic times, at $2.99 for the ebook and $5.00 for the print version.

Here’s the link:

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/sash//cxfxW9mXeoKT4Ys.svg

IN OTHER NEWS:

It’s Been a Privilege, my “horror story in verse” narrative poetry collection, comes out on March 31 from Alien Buddha Press. There is no link for purchase available yet but here’s a video of me reading one of the poems:

Recently, I read from It’s Been a Privilege during and HWA-NY reading event at Shade Bar in the Village, NYC. Here’s the event promo:

And here’s me at the event:

And here’s a link to Shade Bar if you are curious about this really cool place: https://g.co/kgs/zf7j5gy

UPCOMING EVENTS:

This weekend I’m participating in three panels at the Long Island Convention of Horror. Here’s the promo for that:

I’ll try and bring tales from that experience to the newsletter next week.

* * *Subscribed

CURRENT OBSESSIONS:

MUSIC and TV:

Rush has been in my ears lately, because I saw their fun documentary Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage. If you haven’t seen the film, you can fix that right here:

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/z28WVV-6pQ0?rel=0&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&enablejsapi=0

After watching The Rolling Stones Documentary – the Mick Taylor Years, I’ve been listening to Sticky Fingers, Exile on Main Street, Goats Head, and It’s Only Rock’n’ Roll, which might be the best era for the Stones.

Here’s the link to that video:

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/sAIYDJ7b10Q?rel=0&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&enablejsapi=0

BOOKS:

Mostly research for a pop culture essays I just sent in but can’t talk about yet, and, because I saw Captain America: Brave New World and found myself thinking a lot about the great Isiah Bradley character, I red Truth, AKA Red, White, and Black. Not thrilled with the art but the story is worth your time, and if you check out the collected trade, don’t sleep on the resources listing at the end. It will make an impression.

* * *

FREAK OUT: I think we handled that at the start. But don’t freak out, do something. Participate in your country’s Fate when she’s needs you most, which is right now.

* * *

Thanks for coming by. Talk atcha soon.

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SOUL SCREAMING – a weekly newsletter by perhaps the world’s oldest emerging author

Posted on March 24, 2025 by chrisryanwrites

by Christopher Ryan

Humans make interesting connections. When our father passed, my sister started seeing cardinals (way before Kacey Musgraves released her lovely tribute to John Prine). When my wife Glorious’ father passed, we started seeing blue jays. Before anyone starts shaking their head, none of us believe the fathers are now birds, it just serves as a lingering connection, a comforting reminder, a moment that helps healing.

We can all use some healing in our lives.

Then again, my friend Ross tends to see crows, often taken as signs of death and/or doom, so, something for everyone.

Similarly, some people believe iPhone’s shuffle tends to play the songs we need to hear. This is not much more magical thinking than birds from our fathers so sure, whatever works.

As long as such things do not start influencing life decisions or financial mayhem, no harm, no foul. Whatever gets you to a better place.

But if my iPhone starts playing my favorite songs as covered by blue jays…

* * *

Hi, I’m Christopher Ryan, a hybrid author with forty years of previous experience in journalism, education, sketch comedy, indie film, unions, community service, parenting, public speaking, acting, fiction writing, and podcasting. I’ve experienced moderate success in all of these, but I’m pushing to be more, to become one of the oldest breakout authors in the business. Together, let’s see together whether I can get there.

* * *

NEWS: Deep into writing and rewriting an essay for an upcoming book on a comics legend. Rather than history or chronology, this one will celebrate the person in all his creative genius. That’s all I can say at the moment, besides nothing that it has been an honor to participate and a thrill to write.

Over in the podcast/YouTubeisphere, the show I co-host with Alex Simmons, Tell the Damn Story, just posted its 350th episode. That’s weekly episodes, folks, all talking with creatives, mostly writers, about overcoming challenges either in the writing, publishing, or promoting process to make it easier for emerging writers to, um, emerge.

Above is a still from that show, with (clockwise from top left) me, Alex, Jeannine Acheson, Tom Sniegoski, and Rebecca Cuthbert. If you don’t know, Alex writes a lot of things, most recently a story in Captain America: The Shield of Sam Wilson edited by Jesse J. Holland. Jeannine and Tom work together on Vampirella, as well as a few of their own characters. Tom is also writing a new comic featuring The Herculoids which has to be seen to be believed. Rebecca Cuthbert wrote Creep This Way: How to Become a Horror Writer with 24 Tips to Get You Ghouling for my Seamus and Nunzio Productions imprint, as well as books of poetry and short stories. For more information on all of them, and to enjoy a really great discussion about writing and creativity, check out the show. Here’s the link:

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/OcjT-0SpEtk?rel=0&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&enablejsapi=0

* * *

IN OTHER NEWS: Soul Scream Antholozine lives on!

After publishing six volumes of my anthology/magazine mash-up, I thought it might have run its course, but then Fate sent an email. In this case, Fate was played by Victoria Weisfeld, and the short story she sent me hurled me into a bout of self-reflection I realized might be really cool for readers to experience. The whole “What would you do” in certain situations just haunted me until it became clear that with our country going through as much turmoil as it currently is (if you haven’t noticed, widen your news sources), a volume of stories that entertain and allow us to work through some of our current national anxieties might help everybody. As a result Soul Scream Antholozine Fear and Loathing is in production again.

* * *

UPCOMING EVENTS: I’ve been confirmed as a reader for the upcoming Broken Hearts Horror on Sunday, 2/23 from 6-9 pm at the Shade Bar, 241 Sullivan St., West Village/NYC.

I’m also on a few panels at the Long Island Convention of Horror (see below). More on that as we get closer.

Coming in March, Alien Buddha Press will be publishing It’s Been a Privilege, a horror story in verse. Here’s me reading a selection from the book:

Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/hMOwiEFMRSc?si=tpB2RWuWdSxLuAy_

CURRENT OBSESSIONS:

MUSIC: When I write, I often listen to 107.1 The Peak-FM. Cool mix of classic rock and new releases. Currently, I’m intrigued by Lola Young’s “Messy” – cool groove, great lyrics, pained subtext in the vocals. Great song.

Additionally, I’ve heard “Rodeo Clown” by Flipturn. The sound draws you in. Great lead singer who has the cool to lay back into the song letting her slightly whiskey tenor/Stevie Nicks type voice to sit on top of a solid production that allows all the instruments to contribute to the overall effect without pulling attention from the whole. Really cool.

TV: Last week saw a hundred thousand different specials celebrating the 50th season of Saturday Night Live. At least it feels like that many. And as is tradition with SNL, the results are ea mixed bag. The music concert had some moments but I thought it was going to be a clip show of great musical performances from throughout the half century of shows (NBC, there’s still time to do that!). The three-hour live extravaganza was also hit-and-miss, which is part of the appeal of SNL’s trapeze act. The hidden gems are on Peacock, where four intriguing specials offer different looks at aspects of the SNL experience. My favorite was the improbable and compelling documentary on one sketch: “Recording Session” known to us as “More Cowbell.” Fascinating.

BOOKS: After luxuriating in Jack Kirby’s Fourth World for awhile, I’m working my way back to Kaveh Akbar’s Martyr! Still intriguing.

* * *

FREAK OUT: Like so many different factions of our country, I’m finding it necessary to work overtime to defend against the tsunami of bullshit coming out of D.C. Good people are getting hurt by a bunch of those who cannot not see beyond numbers and agendas to the humanity being impacted. One of the things I did was to search out the writings of great Americans, thinking they might inspire a renewal of faith in the Idea of America.

A lot of it did.

Ben Franklin, however, scared the hell out of me. In his September 17, 1787 speech at the conclusion of The Constitutional Conventions deliberations, he asked his fellow participants to work past the parts of the document they might not love and unify for the sake of establishing “what may be a blessing for the people, if well administered (so far so good, I thought); and I believe, farther, that it is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government, being incapable of any other.”

You’re killing me, Ben.

* * *

Thanks for coming by. Talk atcha soon.

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SOUL SCREAMING: A Weekly Newsletter by Perhaps the World’s Oldest Emerging Author

Posted on March 24, 2025 by chrisryanwrites

By Christopher Ryan

It has taken a ridiculously long time to decide how to go about writing this newsletter. I used every excuse and considered a kaleidoscope of possible formats and content that ate up years. Yeah, years.

Procrastination, anyone?

I believe I’ve got it now, and not a moment too soon. I have new work coming out, one independently published by me, another traditionally published by Alien Buddha Press, and a third project I’m publishing by another author. I can’t hide anymore, it is time. I’m jumping in. I hope you’ll jump in with me.

* * *

Hi, I’m Christopher Ryan, a hybrid author with forty years of previous experience in journalism, education, sketch comedy, indie film, unions, community service, parenting, public speaking, acting, fiction writing, and podcasting. I’ve experienced moderate success in all of these, but I’m pushing to be more, to become one of the oldest breakout authors in the business. (“LOL,” he said, throwing his back out with the laugh).

My goal here is to offer three newsletter-length posts per week – Music on Mondays (that feature is called Gems), this newsletter on Wednesdays, and Friday Freakouts.

In Gems, so far I’ve covered Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks which you can read here:

Bob Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks at 50

Christopher Ryan

·

Jan 22

Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks at 50

Brothers and sisters, we share much. Sometimes it’s elation, sometimes our soul screams.

Read full story

I also wrote about the biological improbability of Aerosmith’s career, which you can read here:

Aerosmith: Staggering Rock Consistency That Defied the Limits of Humanity

Christopher Ryan

Jan 27

Aerosmith: Staggering Rock Consistency That Defied the Limits of Humanity

I spent a week reading Walk This Way: the Autobiography of Aerosmith, by Aerosmith with Stephen Davis, as a way to distract from, well, current affairs. I followed it up with a few close listens to their 2023 release Aerosmith Greatest Hits (Deluxe).

Read full story

I aim to have a new music column every Monday, focusing mostly but not exclusively on music that is fifty years old this year, hoping to inspire some of you to give these gems another listen.

On Wednesdays, I’ll update my progress as an emerging fiction writer (apparently, I’ve been emerging for almost half a century), and all that entails.

Friday Freakouts could be anything; new obsessions, current events, new releases, whatever. That’s my big risk. Let’s see what happens.

* * *

A TRUTH NOT MANY TALK ABOUT – Done right, independent publishing helps you become a better author. My publishing company, Seamus and Nunzio Productions, LLC, is almost exclusively a one-person shop. Yes, I do have, um, staff, but, well, allow me to show you…

Bottom left is Sonny Mehlman, our security chief. Top center is Isabella, who supposedly does marketing but mostly just offers superior glances. Finally, to the right is Silvio “Steve” Licitra, our never satisfied editorial manager. Even now he is giving me his withering “write faster” look.

You can imagine the challenges. However, the good news is, as an independent publisher, if you want to sell any books at all but cannot afford to hire three to a dozen pros to help produce your books, you need to learn to: 1) edit with a blistering lack of mercy, 2) proofread professionally and tirelessly, 3) develop an eye for what constitutes good covers, and 4) learn how to do all of it better with each publication.

Fun right? I think so.

Then you need to learn marketing. I’ll admit I am still getting my ass kicked here on a regular basis, but that’s part of the journey, right?

The upside is that the work you send out to other publishers will have gone through edits with this more discerning eye so it has a better chance of getting recognized as professional from other editors and publishers.

I hope that is as encouraging to other writers as it is meant to be.

* * *

HAPPENINGS – Coming up on Feb. 12 (the start of MLB spring training) Detectives Mallory and Gunner are back. While their novels City of Woe and City of Pain included a bit of supernatural in its police procedural crime thriller, this time around the guys are trying to enjoy a ballgame with friends when crime turns over 50,000 fans into potential suspects. With more twists than a killer knuckle ball, Mallory and Gunner RIVALS is a novelette you can enjoy in one fun-filled sitting. Available for pre-order on Amazon. Here’s a look at the cover reveal ad:

On March 31, Alien Buddha Press will publish It’s Been a Privilege, a horror story told in verse. This collection of narrative poetry is presented as the journal of an impulsive serial killer who reflects the darker side of our times. Plain spoken and accessible, early feedback has described it as compelling reading. I hope you agree.

Here’s a look at the cover:

On May 22, Seamus and Nunzio Productions will publish Alex Simmons’ gripping play Sherlock Holmes and the Hands of Othello. More on that as we get nearer the pub date.

* * *

CURRENT OBSESSIONS:

Walk This Way: the Aerosmith Autobiography – I read this as prep for the Gems column I published on Monday, but was in no way ready for the sheer amount of debauchery that is their history. Read the column for more.

Kolchak the Night Stalker – this finally whole and complete edition of Jeff Rice’s classic novel is given love and respect by James Aquilone’s Monstrous Books. I can’t gush enough about how great it looks, feels, and reads. Bravo!

Star Trek: Discovery – After my wife Glorious and I binged the entire run of Homicide: Life on the Streets (which stands up impressively after all these years), we needed something more escapist, and knowing almost nothing about Discovery we gave it a shot. Each episode packs a movie’s worth of storytelling. The writing, production quality, and performances are impressive and addictive.

107.1-The Peak FM – Looking to expand beyond the classic rock retreading of the same 100 songs for the last thirty years, I spun the dial and found this fresh mix of new and old music that keeps me writing. Worth a listen.

A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn – This was all over social media in January for some reason (insert wiseass emoji here). I’ve had it on my shelves since, like, birth, so I thought I’d give it a shot. Eye opening and engaging.

* * *

Wow, I finally did a newsletter that seems newsletterish. Thanks for giving this a chance. I hope you continue on this fascinating journey with me.

Talk atcha soon.

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America at the Crossroads, Again

Posted on July 14, 2024 by chrisryanwrites

We at the abyss, again. Yesterday a 20-year-old kid tried to assassinate a presidential candidate. Ripped his ear. Killed an innocent person and critically injured two others.

That young American also traumatized his fellow Americans. All of us. Republicans. Democrats. Independents Centrists. Far Left Liberals. Far Right Conservatives. Religious people of all kinds. All genders. All races. All economic groups. We are all worse off due to his actions.

And we all must ask ourselves where we go from here.

Today, each of us are faced with a choice. Do we embrace sketchy conspiracy theories? Make political accusations? Retaliate? Jump further into Civil War?

All of that is possible.

The kid muddies the waters here by being a registered Republican who donated to a Democratic group. Harder to use him to accuse the party you oppose because of his confused political ties, as of now.

That actually might be a blessing for us all.

We have an opportunity to see this kid as a metaphor for Mixed Message America, where all of us are inundated with a constant flow of spin, accusation, indoctrination, and hate. Will we take this moment to finally rise above our baser instincts and find ways to move forward together? Or will we use it to further polarize our country? Will we be foolish enough to allow ourselves to sink into civil war?

I hope not.

But that hope needs help.

The next few days offer us a chance to reset our rhetoric, to lower the heat, to find our way back to the Idea of America.

I believe in the Idea of America. It is one of the many things I embrace and love about our country. I even wrote a novel, A Simple Rebellion, about how horrifying it will be if we forget how special America can be. I considered it a dark horror thriller, until Jan. 6 rendered my outlandish fiction too close to truth. That day forced me to rewrite it even darker so the Idea of America could shine through.

Yesterday made that book come true again.

Yesterday rendered my novel quaint. Outdated.

It will not be rewritten.

I need to look elsewhere for hope now.

We used to have “e pluribus unum” as our national motto. It means “From Many, One” and was on many official documents including our money. We need to find our way back to embracing that again, no matter what else we believe.

We need to embrace America again, both the stars and the stripes. The Founding Fathers meant for our differences to strengthen us, not tear us apart.

I will be watching intently over the next several days for a rekindling of the Idea of America. I hope and pray our better instincts take hold.

Sadly, what we are already seeing is the jackals showing their teeth.

I choose to hang onto the belief that there are more good Americans than those who choose hate.

But it is getting harder…

Posted in #Trump, #voting, #WeThePeople, America, politics, Sunday reset, writing | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

January 3, 2023 – Fussing Comes to an End and a Project is Complete

Posted on January 3, 2023 by chrisryanwrites

by Christopher Ryan

I should have been editing Soul Scream. Or completing the uploading of Genius High. But opportunity called and I dove back in to … poetry. Dark horror crime poetry about the most modern of monsters.

And I tested the limits of my marriage, too.

The latter is not something writers encourage. Leave the spouse out of it, they all say. Why torture the ones you love?

(Enough of that wiseass.)

I am not a flowery poet, nor a technically proficient one. My poetry heroes run more to Bukowski and Jim Carroll. But please do not blame them.

So what kind of poems did I attempt? Lots of free verse in this work, a touch of concrete, a highway pileup of rhyming verses with exterior and interior rhymes slamming together to tell a bit of the tale, a distant cousin of Fibonacci (really distant, like through a broken marriage but the cousins on both sides still talk distant), and yes, some haiku. All used to build one narrative crime horror tale. From the monster’s POV.

And I don’t know what I have, honestly.

But I know it feels right (and so does Glorious, wiseass).

What is it? An 81-page narrative horror poetry collection about the modern American equivalent of Dracula, metaphorically, at least.

And with it, I meet my first goal toward submitting at least one new work a week in 2023. At least I will tomorrow, when I submit it over morning tea.

I’m on a roll of one week in a row. Heh.

I just pray I don’t succumb to the Writer’s Disease, “Maybe I should just read it over one more time…”

Keep creating, brothers and sisters. Art matters.

That’s one!
Posted in #amwriting, #community, #inspiration, #productivity, America, Bukowski, crime poetry, fiction, horror fiction, horror poetry, Jim Carroll, narrative poetry, poetry, pop culture, wife, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Music Monday – Wandering YouTube Yields a Moving Tom Petty Documentary

Posted on January 2, 2023 by chrisryanwrites

by Christopher Ryan

It had been a long day working on final fussing over a narrative horror poetry collection, planning the final forms of a horror fiction series, wrestling with publishing schedules for those and two novel reboots, and discussing cover designs with a great artist in Argentina.

Refueling was necessary.

Our tanks empty, Glorious and I had no plan as we opened the streaming abyss. We just wanted to quietly watch something for a few minutes. Somehow we found a documentary made after Tom Petty’s passing about the release of Wildflowers and All the Rest, the expanded edition of his best selling album.

Watch the documentary, savor the music.

First of all, we didn’t know it had been that successful. Nor did we know the circumstances, both personally and professionally, surrounding its creation.

Most of all, we didn’t know we would be watching a restorative discussion of the power of doing what you are called to do the best way you know how to do it every day that you are given to do so.

I am completely refueled.

I hope you check it out and become refueled to do what you do, too.

Posted in #amwriting, #community, #inspiration, #productivity, #television, classic rock, healing, horror fiction, independent publishing, pop culture, TomPetty&TheHeartbreakers, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jan. 2, 2023 – Making Wee Hours Wandering More Productive

Posted on January 2, 2023 by chrisryanwrites

By Christopher Ryan

Occasionally, I awake in the wee hours, brain alive with thoughts that need immediate address (“Get Cheerios! Rewrite that chapter! Hey, let’s see what the bathroom looks like.”). Usually, this results in meandering around before discovering my sleepy zombie shuffle has lead me back to bed, nothing accomplished.

This early a.m. (2ish), I managed to get myself to the den, my writing table, laptop, and, finally, my WIP, a narrative horror poetry collection I am about to submit.

I am doing that last read aloud, when we fuss with the work, rewrite a line or stanza, and possibly add a new poem during this alleged final final phase, so I believed a half-asleep, creative zone read aloud would be okay.

Where did the Southern drawl come from? I didn’t know. I adjusted to the usual, casually detached tone that Glorious says is chilling. Read ten poems, changed four words and three line placements, and added a few stanzas, then went to back to bed satisfied that no remotes had been utilized, no time wasted.

The 2023 adventure is off to an interesting start, and better use of time.

Can’t wait to see what I wrote in that state.

Posted in #amwriting, #community, #productivity, fiction, horror fiction, pop culture, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jan. 1, 2023 – a Pause Before Leaping (and a Cover Reveal!)

Posted on January 1, 2023 by chrisryanwrites

Today isn’t a new beginning, nor is it the turning of a page. I have been planning all this for a long time.

What I am about attempt is to spend 2023 doing is neither guaranteed to work nor a “best practice” for publishing success.

But it is real.

And it does fill me with hope and enthusiastic anticipation.

This year will focus on hybrid publishing for me. On deck are self-publishing reboots, indy publishing of fiction collections, and submitting to traditional publishers. There is a lot of work to do.

Am I nervous? Yes. Am I sure I know exactly what I am doing? Hell no. But we have to try or wait to die, right?

I will offer short updates (besides the usual features here) to track my progress. Hopefully, some will find it helpful. Should questions come up along the way, ask them and I’ll do my best to answer.

Meanwhile, here’s the first project – a thoroughly rewritten, professionally edited reboot of my high school horror thriller, GENIUS HIGH, coming this month.

Here’s a first look at the cover:

Coming in January, 2023.

Stay tuned. It is going to be a wild ride.

Posted in # thrillers, #amwriting, #productivity, Book lovers, book recommendations, digital publishing, ebook publishing, fiction, High school, horror fiction, independent publishing, pop culture, self-publishing, teenagers, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment