Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have been a published poet since 1997, and recently have had four short stories published. Souls Harbor is the first novel that I published, but I have written three in the past. I just finished another novel that I an shopping around to agents.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My newest novel is The Man With No Eyes. It started out as a short story. I got the idea from a writing prompt on a website I follow. After much encouragement from a family friend, I expounded in the story and it ended up as a full length novel. I hope to have it on shelves in early 2021.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Only that I can write anywhere. I wrote Souls Harbor sitting at our dining room table. I often stop at work and write down poems on my notepad app on my phone. I believe most writing takes place in the author’s mind, so putting it on paper isn’t that hard for me.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I absolutely love Anthony Doerr. He is phenomenal. I also love many of the southern writers like Hemmingway and Harper Lee. I have also ready everything from Ken Follett. I really admire his style and the flow of his writing.
What are you working on now?
I am doing final edits for The Man With no Eyes, but in my mind I am kicking around the idea for a techno thriller about an artificial intelligence gone bad. Also, there may be a sequel to Souls Harbor if there is interest.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use my Facebook page heavily, and my Goodreads page.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write. You learn something every time you write. I mentioned my first novels, well they never saw the light of day, but I did learn a lot writing them.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never give up. It’s not easy creating something that thousands of people want to read. Keep at it.
What are you reading now?
Phillip Kerr’s Field Gray
What’s next for you as a writer?
I plan to continue to write and put novels out, hopefully my following will appreciate that.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Anthony Doerr’s The Shell Collecter
Edgar Allen Poe’s Unabridged collective works
Emerson’s Leaves of Grass
A collection of Hemmingway’s short stories
Author Websites and Profiles
John Ryland Amazon Profile
John Ryland’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account