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Adriana Ryan Interview 1/12/2013 7:34:20 PM
Adriana Ryan discusses her novel of a dystopian world and the writing life! LTS: If you like gripping novels about a dark, futuristic world, then I’d like to introduce you to fiction author Adriana Ryan. I’d like to begin by having you share a little information about yourself with our readers, Adriana. What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing?
AR: When I’m not writing, I like to look at home décor blogs and drool at all the cool stuff DIY people are able to do. I’ve tried my hand at it, and while I can manage small projects, the bigger ones are too intimidating! I also have two small children and a husband, so I spend a lot of time doing family things (Legos, dollhouses, making s’mores at our fire pit—the usual).
LTS: Has writing stories always been a part of your life and becoming a published author a lifelong dream?
AR: Absolutely! I’ve been writing since I was really little.
LTS: I love how you draw the readers into your novel, World of Shell and Bone, from the very first page. What was the inspiration behind this story and can you tell us a little bit about your protagonist, Vika Cannon?
AR: Thank you, Lorna! That’s really kind.
The first thing that started the idea for World of Shell and Bone bubbling away in my brain was an excellent movie called TiMER. It’s an indie movie that deals with a futuristic world where people get implanted with a timer that counts down the days till they meet their soul mate. It’s supposed to make life easier, knowing when you’ll meet The One, and who exactly it is. There’s no divorce and supposedly no broken hearts.
The second thing that got me on the road to writing World of Shell and Bone was the book The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (who just happens to be one of my favorite writers of all time). Atwood raised some important questions in her story: What happens if all power is taken away from females? What if reproduction is the only “point” of society? I decided to spin my own tale about those concepts.
Now, about Vika. Vika Cannon is a woman who’s been raised in a society with extremely rigid concepts of femininity and the difference between the genders. Things get a little complicated when she’s assigned a Husband with whom she has to procreate if she wants a ticket to freedom.
Without giving away too much, can you reveal what’s in store for the readers when they crack open World of Shell and Bone?
AR: World of Shell and Bone is a dystopian tale without fantasy elements. It’s set in the year 2078, after a major nuclear war that decimated the North and South American continents. A feminist regime has taken charge of what is now called New Amana. Vika Cannon has been training since she was a young girl to serve her government. Her main goal as a female in her society is to produce a healthy child using an assigned Husband. But her Husband turns out to have a pretty big secret, and soon, Vika is forced to make some decisions she has no idea how to make.
LTS: The road to publication is difficult at the best of times. What made you decide to take the indie route and self-publish your novel?
AR: I’ve been watching the world of publishing change with interest these past couple of years. With major publishing houses going out of business and agents closing their doors, I knew that getting my book out in front of readers would be a task best undertaken on my own. I didn’t want the hassle of having my rights tied up while things change; I just wanted to get my story out and in readers’ hands. With former Big Six editors now freelancing their expertise, it’s possible to make your book just as good as what a big publisher might’ve put out. So that’s what I chose to do.
LTS: What is the most important lesson you’ve learned on the road to publication?
AR: That success comes in many different forms. It’s important that, as writers, we stay open to pursuing the path that makes the most sense to us. This is the time for experimentation and open minds. That’s what I’m trying to keep in mind.
LTS: I admit I do judge a book by its cover. The cover art on World of Shell and Bone is absolutely beautiful! Do you mind sharing who designed your cover?
AR: Thank you! I was extremely lucky that I found my cover artist—James of Humblenations—when I did. I had absolutely no idea what I wanted for a cover, and my budget was pretty small.
LTS: Now, on the subject of writing styles, are you a plotter or pantser? The readers would like to know if you tend to plot out your story line in great detail or if your writing is more organic with the characters and events unfolding as you write.
AR: I’m definitely a plotter. That being said, I don’t like rigid outlines. I plot out the major scenes in a novel. The little scenes to get from plot point A to plot point B are made up as I go along, depending on what feels truest to the story at the time.
LTS: Some authors meditate, others need to fuel up on coffee or listen to music. Do you have any rituals, ones that can be shared with the readers, that you must do before you hunker down for a writing session?
AR: I absolutely have a psychological addiction to my coffee. I have to have it when I sit down at my desk. I also have to have a quiet room (no TV or music while I write), so I close the door to my office. We recently adopted a Golden Retriever mix, and he likes to sit under my feet as I write, so that’s sort of become part of my routine, too.
LTS: At one time or another, most writers hit the wall and their work stalls because of the dreaded writer’s block. What do you do to get around or over this mental wall to resume writing?
AR: When I simply can’t work through a plot point, I like to go for a walk or to the store. I don’t know what it is about those two activities that jars my mental wheels and gets them turning again.
LTS: Who is your favourite author and how has he/she inspired you to write or influenced your writing style or choice of genre?
AR: I have so many authors I admire! My top one, though, would have to be Margaret Atwood. She’s inspired me to be picky about what words I employ to bring images to my readers’ minds, and to remember that writing is an art form. Sometimes that can be lost in all the talk of craft techniques, story structure, and deadlines.
LTS: What do you foresee in your future over the next five years and do you hope to branch out into other genres? Can your fans expect a sequel to World of Shell and Bone in the near future?
AR: I hope to continue to write many more novels over the course of the next five years. I probably will branch out into other genres. In fact, I have a contemporary fiction novel slated for April 2013. But there’s definitely a sequel to World of Shell and Bone coming in 2013 as well!
LTS: And one final question: I’m curious to know why can you be found lurking around historical graveyards from time to time?
AR: Haha, that’s part of my bio. I like to visit historic graveyards because they can be found in abundance where I live (Charleston, South Carolina). There’s something serenely spooky about them that I simply love.
LTS: Thank you so much for sharing in your novel and in the writing life, Adriana! Catch you on Twitter.
For more information about Adrian and her novels, check out:
Website: http://www.adrianaryan.com Follow Adriana on Twitter: .adrianaryansc
Where to buy the book: http://amzn.to/Umj5sC
