Sara Ryan

Had I not finished Minders of Make-Believe: idealists, entrepreneurs, and the shaping of American children’s literature mere days before attending KidLit 08: Bridging the Worlds of Books and Blogs, I would’ve experienced the conference differently. I’m sure I would’ve enjoyed the sessions and the people I met just as much, but I wouldn’t have seen [...]

It’s one of the first questions in my FAQ because it really is asked frequently: some variation on “Did the story in Empress of the World happen to you?” My answer: No. If it had, it would be an autobiography, not a novel. But it was certainly inspired by people and events from my life.
It’s [...]

At the writers’ retreat I recently attended, one of our conversations was about career planning. It made me think about the risks I take as a writer, and the risks I’ve so far avoided.
Every risk comes with benefits. Every risk avoided means that the benefits of taking it are absent, too.
For instance:
Because I’m slow to [...]

Once a year, all of Barry’s clients who can make it gather for a weekend retreat.

Lovely setting. A bit surreal, about which perhaps more later, but lovely.

Obey all signs!

Lauren disobeys the sign.

Special writing coach works with Jo.

(…I like the way this photo came out. Considerably less lame than most of my camera-phone shots.)

This particular set of questions has inspired me to add a category to this blog called, cleverly enough, Information for School Assignments.
 
What genre of books do you like to read?
All kinds. Really.
Who is your favorite author?
I can’t pick just one.
If you could work with any author who would it be?
Someone who’s really [...]

The room is pretty much packed. They’ve just asked anyone who’s next to an empty seat to raise our hands, so I do, and smile invitingly at a guy who’s still standing, wearing a white oxford with a blood-spatter pattern over a Wire t-shirt. Then I realize, duh, that’s Richard Price.
He’s pleased by the size [...]

I’ve been thinking a lot  about the sense, as you’re experiencing something, that you’re simultaneously outside of the experience, observing details, judging your own reactions and those of the people around you.
I’d always thought of it as being particular to writers, that quality of being an observer, and I’ve often found myself grateful for the [...]

…over at Holly Black’s journal, responding to the io9 article “A Guide to Fan Husbandry.” There’s a lot of good points there! I’ll add a few things that annoy me as a fan and invite y’all to add more:
1. When a character comes through unbelievable peril unscathed because that character is “too popular” to be [...]

These questions came to me from Carissa who needed the answers for her Careers class. I’ve included my answers, but I may well have left out some important stuff, or gotten something wrong. And you may have different ideas than I do about some of the questions. So please feel free to chime in via [...]