Jonathan Ryan's Blog, page 67

Bigfoot and Chupacabra: Perfect Together

(Jonathan Ryan posting for Jen Schlameuss-Perry.)   Very often, people think that working for a Church must be so nice and calm and easy. It’s not. It’s great—I love it—but on a daily basis we deal with the very serious realities of people’s lives: death, illness, poverty and disaster, mental and emotional issues, addiction; anything [Read More...]

Teen Author Boot Camp 2015 Interview: David Powers King

    (So, tomorrow, I leave for Utah right after work. David Powers King will be our last interview for TABC and its a great one! Stay tuned to this channel for more TABC coverage. David talks about his new novel, Woven, and how important worldview is to any writer)   What started you on [Read More...]

Teen Author Boot Camp 2015 Interview: Matthew Kirby

(Back In September at Salt Lake City Comic Con, I had dinner with a bunch of awesome authors, including Matthew Kirby. We talked about a lot of things from C.S. Lewis to the struggles of being a writer. Really appreciated him and his take on things. So, it’s a pleasure to present this interview for [Read More...]

Teen Author Boot Camp Interview 2015: J.R. Johansson

  (Next up on the TABC 2015 front, author J.R. Johansson. She’s got some amazing things to say about her struggles as a mom and a writer. Her new book, Cut me Free, is in book outlets everywhere )   What was the one event in your life that got you writing? I don’t know if it [Read More...]

Teen Author Boot Camp Interview 2015: Co-Founder and Author Lois Brown

(The countdown to Teen Author Boot Camp is now at ten days. Rumor has it, over 625 teens have signed up for this conference. Lois Brown, one of the co-founders, has written an amazing book, Robbed of Soul,  that she is really launching at the camp. Below, she gives us her thoughts on writing, never giving up and working [Read More...]

The Battle Of What Seemed Like Five Hours

  (Jonathan Ryan posting for Jen Schlameuss-Perry.)   I am the parent of a teenager. This puts me in the weird new reality of my humongous child now venturing away from the house without me; going out with his friends instead. He gets to go to movies—in the theater. I used to do that… He [Read More...]

Teen Author Boot Camp 2015 Interview: Co-Founder and Author Jo Schaffer

  (What better way to start our Teen Author Boot Camp 2015 Coverage than with two of its founders? First up is Jo Schaffer, whose book,  Against Her Will, releases today! So, go buy it.  She has some pretty fantastic thoughts on writing, her worldview, and how young writers can have fun. Plus, she will be [Read More...]

On The Road with the Dark Bride….(on second thought, that might be a BAD idea) and a cool contest!

  Well, it’s been a long and strange road to get here. But, finally, the second book of the 3 Gates series, Dark Bride is here. To that end, my excellent publisher, Open Road Media, my agent Amy Jameson, and myself are planning sort of an epic book road trip/launch/craziness. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give [Read More...]

Does Top Gear Stop Here?

(Jonathan Ryan posting on behalf of Jen Schlameuss-Perry)   Mondays are…well, Mondays. Garfield hates them; most people in the workforce hate them. But, for me Mondays were a good thing. Sunday is the first day of my work week, so there’s that, and I have karate Monday night. I love that. Then, I had the [Read More...]

Against Better Judgment, the First Entry of My Daughter’s Diary

The other day, I found a small notebook in my daughter’s room. Her diary. I probably shouldn’t do this, but here’s the first entry. If it can provide hope and inspiration to other toddlers out there, it’s worth sharing. My name is Kaylin. My life is so hard. Everything is provided for me. I have [Read More...]