Meet the Author: Abby Ryan

Today let's give a welcome to my fellow Tate author Abby Ryan! Abby has written many stories over the years, including her debut fantasy novel Orphan of the Shadows. Abby's second novel in the series, The Black Trinity, will be published by Tate within the next year.

First of all, tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from? When did you first start writing?

 

First, let me tell you all that I am quite young. I'll be 20 January 11, 2012. However, I am a very focused and ambitious girl. I wrote my first novel when I was a sophomore in high school, and it got published! I don't say that to rub it in, but to encourage you all. If I can do it, so can you! You just have to work your butt off!

That said, I'm from small town Iowa. Bremer County, really. I've moved 9 times in the past 19 years, but never left Bremer... My family and I, we are pro-movies, I must say.

I started writing when I was 8. Funny too, cuz before then I hated books. However, my elder sister and I shared a room and she started reading to me. That made me realize books were cool. Even if I had dyslexia. (Yes, I did say books are cool. I am a nerd and proud of it!) 

Have any specific authors or books been an inspiration to you? If so, which ones? 

A lot of books have inspired me. But they all come from a small group of authors. I only read fiction-fantasy books. If there's no magic or swords, I probably will stop reading... Not always, but usually.

My favorite author right now is Cassandra Clare, who wrote, and is still writing, the Mortal Instrument books. She's also writing the Infernal Devices. I absolutely love, love, LOVE her!

J.P. Taylor was also great. I read his book Shadowmancer between my 5th and 6th grade year. Before 7th grade I read it 4x. I credit that book will really launching my writing career.

I also like Becca Fitzpatrick (the Hush, Hush, sage) and Kiersten White (the Paranormalcy Trilogy)

Describe for us your writing process. Do you use an outline or do you go by "the seat of your pants"?

Well, I prefer the term "Following the fire of passion" to "the seat of my pants"... well, not really. I just made that up. But it sounds cool.

Generally, I have an idea for how the book will end, and a huge surge of passion when I start my book. The scenes just fly at me. I can write about 7-10 chapters in a week when I start my books. After that, the fire dies a little and it's an upward climb.

Sometimes I have to force myself to write, but I've learned that if I just sit down and write, something will come. If I don't exactly love something I wrote, I try to tell myself to not worry about it and just keep it. I go on and finish the book, then come back and fix the story. However, the book is not completely done until I've read over it about 10x and absolutely love the entire thing (meaning I've tweaked the parts I don't like until they make me squeal with glee. The sound is like a little girl getting her first puppy…-- that's when I know a part is perfect :) )

Was anything in your novel Orphan of the Shadows inspired by real people or events? 

Yes, everything was actually. The book itself is an allegory. Elon is me. Even though I'm not an orphan, I'm a middle child, so I often felt like one. Sheva (scary to say) is even a reincarnation of me. I get all my anger out through her... I'm really a rather cheery girl, I promise!

Albree was inspired by my brother. Glynnii was inspired by my best friend. Cäel was inspired by a guy I knew from my youth group. Jorik is Jesus, and I think that's enough for now...

What are three things that people would be surprised to know about you?

Hmm, That’s a toughie... I have a fish named Aqua Mello, but I call him Mr. Mello. He's a beta and scares me every day cuz he always looks like he's dead... If that's not really surprising, then maybe the fact that I also sing and draw. People always get big eyed when I say that. I'm also an obsessive writer cuz I'm working on 24 novels. All will be published one day, too. 

What do you do when you aren't writing?

Well, that's hardly ever a reality... but on the chance I’m not, I watch movies (only ones that make me think of my characters) I draw (but only my characters) I sing (but only my characters songs)... Did I say I was obsessive? I also work at Pizza Hut, where I think of my books. Lol. Lately I am also learning A LOT about marketing a novel.

If you could meet one author, living or dead, who would it be?

CASSANDRA CLARE! Anyone want to hook me up? Seriously, if I met her, I'd faint! 

What emotionally 'moves' you? Do you incorporate your emotions into your writing? 

My books are only there because I am emotional. My best friends call me Emo because of it... 

What kind of music do you listen to?

Ha, lots! I love Demi Lovato (reminds me of Sheva and Lyv's singing. They are both divas, but Lyv doesn't come in til book 2.) I also love Within Temptation (Sounds like Sheva) , Flyleaf, Tokio Hotel, The Call, Paramore, Paolo Nutini, Linkin Park, Evanescence, 30 Seconds to Mars, There for Tomorrow, Breaking Benjamin, and Kill Hannah... In short, punk/rock and alternative rock. (it's another slight obsession of mine...)

If you could visit one place in the world, where would you go?

ONE PLACE! Are you kidding me? I can't just pick one! I have too big a passion for the world to do that. So I'll give you my top places: Japan, France, England. Why? Cuz Japan is like my kingdom, Sarden. France is like Hûloden, and England is like Mádárèn. ^.^ 

And last of all, where can readers purchase your book, and where can you be found on the Web?

Readers can get my book all over the net. Amazon,Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million,IndieBound, Tate Publishing. I can be found at my blog, http://secretsector.wordpress.com/. Other places to find me are shown on the Secret Sector.

 

I didn't exactly dream of you, but I was told in my dream that during a time of great pain I would meet a young lady with grand power. I was told that power would save me from death and bring peace to my world... Somehow I know it is you...

In the faraway kingdom of Mádárèn, Elon Amæloriey, a young orphan girl, lived a life of pain and struggle from the day her parents passed away. But the lonely life she knew changed forever the day she stumbled upon a gang unlike any other. Elon learns to fight alongside the Dragon gang while they strive to keep their territory free of their rivals and of the Niesin–Bratched's demons. No longer an Orphan of the Shadows, Elon's life seems to be brightening until she learns of the Darkness looming over her.

The Dark side believes the King has chosen Elon for a place of authority in the realm, and they will do anything to capture her. The Dark princes of Jasikx, Tarrek and Albree Vaydmehn, are desperately trying to find her. The Light prince, Zedikajah (Kaj), is also frantically searching for her too, in order to keep her safe from Darkness. But his efforts are failing. When the safety of a realm relies on the safety of one girl, will one boy succeed?