Author Archives: chrisryanwrites

About chrisryanwrites

My name is Christopher Ryan. I am a former award-winning journalist turned high school teacher, and I have written since reading S.E. Hinton's THE OUTSIDERS when I was in elementary school. I have independently published an award-winning debut novel, CITY OF WOE, plus the prequel short story collection CITY OF SIN, the sequel novel CITY OF PAIN, a high school thriller novel GENIUS HIGH, and several high adventure novelettes for the Rapid Reads series featuring Alex Simmons' African-American adventurer BLACKJACK All are available via amazon.com, as is my children's book, THE FERGUSON FILES - THE MYSTERY SPOT. Additionally, I was nominated for a supporting actor award for my work in the multiple award-winning independent film, CLANDESTINE, from Feenix Films. I blog about writing, life, pop culture, the journey of learning to promote my independently published work, my efforts to secure a traditional publishing contract, and my career as a teacher.

Missing Writing Cons? Here’s One For Free

Posted on July 26, 2020

Alex Simmons and I do a podcast for creatives, especially writers, called TELL THE DAMN STORY. Since COVID-19 took away summer writing conferences this year, we decided to create one for you. We invited pop culture author and journalist Caseen … Continue reading →

Posted in # thrillers, #adventure, #amwriting, #comedy, black lives matter, Book lovers, digital publishing, ebook publishing, education, fiction, horror fiction, independent publishing, pop culture, Pulp fiction, self-publishing, teaching, writing | Tagged #amediting, #AmRevising, #amwriting, #author, #authorlife, #blacknerdp, #books, #comics, #coronavirus, #crime, #ebook, #editing, #getcaughtreading, #IndieAuthor, #IndiePub, #publishing, #selfpublishing, #ShortStory, #Storytelling, #Suspense, #writersconference, #writerslife, #WriterWednesday, #writingtips, #WroteToday | Leave a comment

Horror Fiction: After The Party

Posted on July 8, 2020

By Christopher Ryan He ran a hand through thick gray hair as he peeked out the window at the holiday barbecue his sons were throwing. “They’re not kids anymore, ya know?” “Honey, they are in their mid-twenties,” his wife said … Continue reading →

Posted in #amwriting, #reading, fatherhood, fiction, horror fiction, parenting, partying, Pulp fiction, writing | Tagged #amediting, #amreading, #AmRevising, #amwriting, #author, #authorlife, #crime, #ebook, #editing, #eReaders, #getcaughtreading, #horror, #IndieAuthor, #IndiePub, #Mystery, #publishing, #selfpublishing, #ShortStory, #Storytelling, #Suspense, #writerslife, #WriterWednesday, #writestuff, #WroteToday, parenting, partying | Leave a comment

Believe in Blackout Day

Posted on July 7, 2020

By Christopher Ryan This author is not the story. No kudos deserved. No praise sought. No attention warranted beyond an effort to support a cause. Blackout Day. How much support is there on this blog for this concept? Last week … Continue reading →

Posted in #WeThePeople, America, black lives matter, Blackout Tuesday, politics, pop culture, racism, America, writing | Tagged #blackouttuesday #blackout #dontspendmoney #blacklivesmatter #BLM #economicprotest | Leave a comment

Mutually Assured Destruction Takes on a Pathetic New Meaning

Posted on July 6, 2020

By Christopher Ryan So some geniuses celebrated American freedom on Saturday by attacking a statue of Frederick Douglass. Nope, this was not in the Rebel South and it wasn’t a bunch of Confederate wannabes chanting, “The South will rise again!” … Continue reading →

Posted in #WeThePeople, America, black lives matter, politics, racism, America | Tagged #America, #books, #civilwarstatues, #crime, #diversifyyourselfs, #Dystopian, #frederickduglass, #getcaughtreading, #Historical, #mediainfluence, #Rochester, education | Leave a comment

How to Tell The Damn Story Summer Series, Part 1: Inspiration

Posted on July 5, 2020

‪Today I would like to share a podcast I do. @How to TELL THE DAMN STORY Summer Series” launches today with @BlackjackAD (Alex Simmons), @caseengaines, @herhymeswithme (Toney Jackson), and I discussing inspiration, focusing on how we get it and use … Continue reading →

Posted in # thrillers, #adventure, #comedy, #inspiration, comics, fiction, film, Independent film, independent publishing, pop culture, Pulp fiction, self-publishing, teaching, writing | Tagged #amediting, #AmRevising, #amwriting, #author, #authorlife, #children, #comedy, #comics, #crime, #editing, #IndieAuthor, #IndiePub, #inspiration, #Mystery, #NonFiction, #publishing, #selfpublishing, #ShortStory, #Storytelling, #Suspense, #WriteMotivation, #writerslife, #WriterWednesday, #writingtips, #WroteToday, writing | Leave a comment

Neil Young, Ironically

Posted on July 4, 2020

Neil Young has been contributing to pop culture with great songs full of catchy hooks and deep meaning for sixty years. Sixty years! Respect, right? To continually contribute positively to society for six decades is a truly memorable feat that … Continue reading →

Posted in #comedy, #election, #NeilYoung, #POTUS, #reading, #Trump, #voting, #WeThePeople, America, black lives matter, politics, pop culture, writing | Tagged #America, #amwriting, #comedy, #neilyoung #mountrushmore #happybirthdayamerica #july4th #readthelyrics | Leave a comment

A Gift to America When We Need It Most

Posted on July 3, 2020

Here we are on the cusp of an Independence Day celebration during a surge of Coronavirus cases, widespread unemployment and economic horrors, ongoing wars (remember them?), advancing climate change catastrophe, and the Black Lives Matter movement fighting for actual substantive … Continue reading →

Posted in writing | 2 Comments

The Cutest Infestation – A Horror Story

Posted on July 2, 2020

By Christopher Ryan We really didn’t notice until we were quarantined, and by then it was too late. They had won. In Before Times, we were busy going to work, getting kids to school, commuting to college, the gym, the … Continue reading →

Posted in # thrillers, #adventure, #comedy, #infestation, #chipmunks, fiction, film, writing | Tagged #amwriting, #authorlife, #comedy, #coronavirus, #domestichorror, #horror, #infestationhorror, #Storytelling, #suburbanhorror #chipmunks, #Suspense, #WroteToday | 1 Comment

How Rob Reiner Saved My Life

Posted on July 1, 2020

Carl Reiner has died, and I offer my condolences. Not because I know the family or even ever met any of their talented tribe. I offer my sympathies because, without ever meeting him, Carl’s son Rob Reiner (he of directing … Continue reading →

Posted in # thrillers, #adventure, #comedy, film, pop culture, teaching, writing | Tagged #screenwriting #amwriting #rewriting #editors #producers #robreiner #writingtips #authortips #adventuresinthescreentrade | Leave a comment

Alex Simmons’ Blackjack: A Quiet Coup

Posted on June 30, 2020

By Christopher Ryan and Alex Simmons There are only two cars on the street. One is running. A driver sits behind the wheel and another man is standing outside. They are talking. All around them the streets are deserted. All … Continue reading →

Posted in # thrillers, #adventure, #reading, #WeThePeople, America, black lives matter, Book lovers, digital publishing, Faith, fiction, independent publishing, love, politics, pop culture, Pulp fiction, writing | Tagged #America, #amwriting, #blacklivesmatter #blm #supportlocalbusinesses, #books, #crime, #getcaughtreading, #IndieAuthor, #publishing, #selfpublishing, #ShortStory, #Storytelling, #weneeddiversebooks, family | 2 Comments