Ryan Casey's Blog, page 8

How To Make A Living Writing Fiction

Making a living writing fiction is probably up there with desert island caretaker and secretary to a zillionaire as one of the most appealing jobs in the world. People daydream about… well, daydreaming and putting it on paper for a living.

What they don’t realise is it’s entirely within their own hands.

A short bit of context before I go into this guide: I published my first short story in August 2012. My first novel followed in November 2012. Neither of them sold much, not at first.

But right n...

Release Schedule 2014

Hi all,

I’ve had a lot of people asking me when such-and-such-a-book is coming out, or whether this-book-or-that-book is getting a sequel some time soon. I thought the best way to answer all these questions–and keep myself on track–would be to publish a release schedule right here as a blog post.

I’ve also created a page that you’ll be able to access at the top of the website under that shiny new “Coming Soon!” icon. That one right up there ^^^ On that page, I’ll copy and paste over this list,...

New Release: The Hunger — New Sci-Fi/Horror Now Available!

Hi all,

A good bit of news for you. The Hunger, my latest full length novel, is now available to purchase forKindle,Nook,Kobo,iBooksandGoogle Play!

As I’ve mentioned in the past, The Hunger is a sci-fi/horror book, and my longest full-length novel to date at 100,000 words. It’s the first in a planned series, which will gradually release over 2014 and 2015. Fans of Dead Days, as well as my other stuff, are going to love it.

Here’s the blurb in case you missed it:

Jonny Ainsthwaite is dying.

At twen...

The Hunger — New Sci-Fi/Horror Cover Reveal

Hi all,

Just a quick update this week because it’s been a busy one and, quite frankly, I’m not sure how many words I have in me before I start spouting gibberish! I know, I know — I do that enough anyway.

Right, so I thought I’d share with you the cover to my new science fiction/horror book, The Hunger. I spoke about The Hunger the other week, but in case you missed it or for some reason you don’t want to look back, here’s what the book is about.

Jonny Ainsthwaite is dying.

At twenty-three years...

4 Crazy As Shit Things That Almost Happened In My Books

Being a writer is a lot of fun. That goes without saying, right? Creating new worlds, complex characters, awesome plot twists. Yeah, it’s all fantastic fun and something I love doing.

However, despite being considered somewhat “prolific,” there are always ideas that get left behind. Whether it’s down to a change in direction, the critical voice reigning supreme over the creative voice, or a simple coming to senses, ideas within existing projects aren’t always carried out as intended.

I’m a half...

Ryan Casey Fiction Update: Zombies, Sort-Of-Zombies and Other Shenanigans

Hi all,

First off, apologies for the slight delay in getting this blog post to you. I realise it’s been a couple of weeks since I last posted, which is crazy in Ryan Casey terms! But anyway, please rest assured that the sole reason this post is a little delayed is because of how hard I’ve been working on my writing.

So what better way to make up for last week’s blogging no-show than an insight into what I’ve been up to?

At the end of last week, I wrapped up the rewrites of a project I’ve been wo...

KDP Select: Is Exclusivity Still Worth It In 2014?

To KDP Select or not to KDP Select? That is still, even right here in 2014, one of the biggest publishing questions new writers have when launching their books. Is three months of exclusivity in exchange for a few free days and countdown promotions worth it? Or should I distribute to the other stores and try my luck, sacrificing visibility — the buzzword of the moment — in the process?

In 2012 and 2013, I was clear on my stance on KDP Select. I believed it to be a great tool for beginner write...

Buried Slaughter — The Dying Eyes Sequel, Now Available!

Hi all,

Delighted to finally be able to report thatBuried Slaughter, the sequel to 2013′s popular crime thriller/detective mysteryDying Eyes,is finally available on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, iBooks and Google Play (paperback coming soon).

And for one week only, you can save $4 and grab the book for just 99c.

I say “finally” fully aware that yes,Dying Eyesonly launched back in November. But both books have been finished a while. Like all twisting, turning mysteries, they took a while to write, so it’s...

Breaking Bad, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Celebrating The Tragic Antihero

I’ve finally been binging away on AMC’s Breaking Bad these last few weeks.

Yep, I realise I’m like, years behind. I’ve just been so busy these last couple of years that I’ve been completely out of touch with any television beyond The Walking Dead, so it’s been nice to finally sit down and watch (read: lie in bed and binge) on a load of episodes recently. And y’know, the show has really got me thinking about the role of the tragic antihero in contemporary fiction, and in more wider terms, in so...

Escapism vs. Reality Check: On Creating Honest Fiction

I’ll let you in on a little open secret: my fiction is grim.

Not grim in the quality sense of the word. I happen to think it’s pretty good on that front. But grim in mood. Tone. Grim in character, in setting, and in the twists and turns of plot.

Writing grim fiction is something I’ve always done, really. I’m a fan of dark comedy, gruesome mysteries, as well as complex character studies. That’s what I’m interested in, as a reader, and that is reflected in my fiction.

However, I know there is a di...