Amy Kathleen Ryan's Blog, page 4
January 1, 2015
On griping.
First New Years with my husband.Anyone who follows this blog knows that I'm kind of big into New Year's Resolutions. Last year I resolved not to buy anything for myself for a year. That was kind of extreme, so I only made it about six months, but it was a good exercise that made me realize how materialistic I really am even though I'd never thought of myself that way. This year I'm thinking about something less tangible, but kind of important, and it can be summed up thusly: I do entirely too...
November 7, 2014
On Headbangers.
No, I'm not talking about Ozzy Osborn fans. I'm talking about toddlers, the little people with huge emotions, and a specific subset of these little people: Headbangers.
Baby Girl is a head banger. Her anger and frustration escalate so quickly and to such proportions that she can't express her feelings any other way than thudding her head on something hard. Wood door. Wood floor. Sometimes she'll just hit herself with whatever she's holding in her hand: baby doll, magic marker, Play-Doh, her si...
Baby Girl is a head banger. Her anger and frustration escalate so quickly and to such proportions that she can't express her feelings any other way than thudding her head on something hard. Wood door. Wood floor. Sometimes she'll just hit herself with whatever she's holding in her hand: baby doll, magic marker, Play-Doh, her si...
October 17, 2014
On the Romantic Triangle
People love to disparage young adult fiction. YA is the new kickball for the literary establishment, and one of the most common remarks I see about YA novels is this: “The book is well written enough, but of course there’s the obligatory romantic triangle…” Cue the literary eye roll. Oh those young adult authors! So formulaic! So unimaginative!
And critically acclaimed, (very often) with more vigorous sales than any other genre, and by the way, more movie deals too.
Before we get into the nitt...
September 24, 2014
On the Stories We Tell Little Girls.
I have three little girls and they're all at an impressionable age, so I let them watch Frozen, written by the brilliant
That's a pretty big statement I just made, but I'm prepared to defend it.
Frozen explodes one of the predominant fairy tale conventions of the twentieth century, (and p...
That's a pretty big statement I just made, but I'm prepared to defend it.
Frozen explodes one of the predominant fairy tale conventions of the twentieth century, (and p...
September 8, 2014
Wednesday October 1 is BLOGFEST!!!
Look for me at the BLOGFEST! Lots of giveaways!!
Sometimes writers help each other out. Sometimes we all use our various platforms to help everyone get a little more exposure in this huge marketplace. Apryl Baker is the organizer for this event, and she's gotten some very impressive people to participate. (She's impressive herself, with a film deal for her Ghost Files series!) Click on the picture above to check out the guest list, and to read some really fun posts from a dizzying a...
July 22, 2014
Let's junk libraries and buy everyone a kindle.
Says Tim Worstall of Forbes: "More titles, easier access and quite possibly a saving of public funds. Why wouldn’t we simply junk the physical libraries and purchase an Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscription for the entire country?"What an idea! What a deep thinker! It's pure dollars and sense! Fire the librarians, tear down the libraries, and give all the money to AMAZON! After all, they know what to do with it, right? Let AMAZON be in charge of what the public reads from now on and into etern...
July 21, 2014
Cheer up: Here is a joke about writing.
A writer died and was given the option of going to heaven or hell.
She decided to check out each place first. As the writer descended into the fiery pits, she saw row upon row of writers chained to their desks in a steaming sweatshop. As they worked, they were repeatedly whipped with thorny lashes.
"Oh my," said the writer. "Let me see heaven now."
A few moments later, as she ascended into heaven, she saw rows of writers, chained to their desks in a steaming sweatshop. As they worked, they, too,...
She decided to check out each place first. As the writer descended into the fiery pits, she saw row upon row of writers chained to their desks in a steaming sweatshop. As they worked, they were repeatedly whipped with thorny lashes.
"Oh my," said the writer. "Let me see heaven now."
A few moments later, as she ascended into heaven, she saw rows of writers, chained to their desks in a steaming sweatshop. As they worked, they, too,...
July 12, 2014
Blog Tour: Writers share their process.
I have been asked by my good friend, Jil Picariello, (isn't she cute?) author of the beautiful memoir Jessica Lost, to participate in a blog tour. I'm to invite a third writer to a conversation about process, but first let me tell you a little something about Jil. She is a brilliant cook, so brilliant that she even makes her own cheese. She's a sweet and loving presence, and she has an infectious giggle. I was in a writing group with her for a few years after we both completed our MFAs in Cre...
June 5, 2014
SLATE, on the embarrassment of Young Adult Fiction.
What a fascinating turn of events! Another writer has ventured forth with an article condemning the genre of Young Adult literature. This time it's Ruth Graham writing for SLATE, and she wants you to know that if you are over 18 and you read young adult literature, you ought to be ASHAMED of yourself!
I'm not going to write a response to the actual article, because it is full of false logic and reductive thinking with a healthy dose of arrogance. This writer has obviously read precious little...
I'm not going to write a response to the actual article, because it is full of false logic and reductive thinking with a healthy dose of arrogance. This writer has obviously read precious little...
