by Lorie Lewis Ham
This week we are interviewing local author Ryan David Ginsberg from Visalia about his writing, and his new short story anthology The Crumbling of a Nation and Other Stories. Details on how to enter to win a copy of the book, and a link to purchase it are below.
KRL: Did you grow up in this area? If so, where, if not how did you end up here?
Ryan: Yes. While I was born in San Luis Obispo, I moved to Visalia when I was only nine months old. I lived in Visalia until college and moved back at 22. I have remained here ever since.
KRL: How long have you been writing?
Ryan: I would say I started writing on a regular basis, nearly every day basis, at sixteen or seventeen. At the time, I only ever wrote poetry. When in college, I continued to write poetry, but started to expand into really dumb YouTube videos. This led to me studying screenwriting at college. I moved to LA for a few months and even wrote a screenplay. When I learned how many people were involved in a script, and that my original words were more than likely going to be ripped to shreds, I decided to try writing short stories and novels, instead.
Ryan David Ginsberg
KRL: Is this your first published book?
Ryan: This is technically my fifth book, all self-published.
KRL: Tell us about the book.
Ryan: The Crumbling of a Nation and Other Stories is a collection of short stories. Many of the stories are dystopian. Many are satirical. But all are written to focus on a specific issue–whether it be access to abortion, the potential threats of late-stage capitalism, the fragility of life, the special bond between loved ones, the pursuit of happiness, etc. I also included a three chapter sneak peek into the novel I have been working on for several years, called In the Algorithm We Trust.
KRL: How did it come to be? Why did you want to write these particular stories?
Ryan: I wrote the first story in the collection, ‘It Was Just Another Day in America’, the day after the horrible school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. At the time, I was a high school English teacher, and the incident broke me. It consumed me, so I did what I always did–I wrote my feelings away. The story details a single day in the life of a young kid. His mother watches him go to the bus, wondering if she will get to see him again. Every student is required to wear bulletproof vests. All teachers have guns. There are bunkers in the back of class for students to hide in if a shooter comes on to campus. Etc. It sparked a variety of other ideas, which eventually led to an entire collection.
KRL: What other writing have you done?
Ryan: This is my first book that is purely fictional writing. Every other self-published book was centered around poetry, with the occasional splattering of stories or essays.
KRL: Do you write to entertain or is there another purpose behind your writing?
Ryan: Ever since I started writing, it had a purpose. My earliest poetry was heavily religious but as my mental health issues worsened, my poetry became my only way out of those episodes. I wrote away the pain. I expressed my inner turmoil. I warned others of this dark reality. It wasn’t really until I got my mental health under control that I was able to start writing about other subjects. But, I supposed, my purpose remains the same–writing away the world’s pain, expressing the turmoil around us, warning of a dark reality coming if we don’t change.
KRL: What do you enjoy most about writing?
Ryan: Growing up, I had a horrible speech impediment. While it is mostly fixed, it comes back when I get nervous or excited. I am often told I am too loud, or I mumble too much, or my anxiety gets so bad that I can’t think straight. Writing gives me control of my words. I can slow down. I can think. I can erase. I can revise.
KRL: What has been the hardest?
Ryan: I am just as addicted to my phone as the next person. My mind has been programmed to take a quick hit of dopamine. Writing is hard. It is a slow process. I think the hardest part is staying attentive, staying persistent, staying dedicated.
KRL: Did you find it hard to find a publisher, or did you self-publish from the first book?
Ryan: I have always self-published, but I hope to find a traditional publisher for my novel. Self-publishing was the best route for my short stories and poems because they are less traditional than what a publisher would be willing to publish. But it is a lot of work. It is incredibly tedious. I would love to never have to do it again.
KRL: What is your day job?
Ryan: I have worked in education ever since leaving college. I was a high school English teacher for a couple of years. I now work for the county, doing various things–but the main goal of my job is to teach kids how to handle adversity healthily. Developing coping mechanisms, learning how to deal with their mental health issues, building resiliency. As a teacher, I realized our youth is going through a lot. I knew they could never learn the curriculum until they learned how to take care of themselves. That is what inspired my change.
KRL: That’s great! What do you like to do in your spare time?
Ryan: Hang out with my wife. Play with my dogs. Watch reality TV. Drink coffee.
KRL: What are your future goals with your writing?
Ryan: My goal is to inspire future generations of leaders. I hope to build empathy through my work. I hope to encourage thought.
KRL: Where can people find your book?
Ryan: My book is available online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. If they are on TikTok, it is on the TikTok Shop. And I left a few signed copies at A Book Barn in Clovis.
KRL: Where can people find you online?
Ryan: I am most active on TikTok, though I do also technically have an Instagram. Both usernames are @RyanDavidGinsberg.
KRL: Anything you would like to add?
Ryan: Remember, just because it’s online, doesn’t mean it is always true, make sure to check the source. If a person’s actions or beliefs do not hurt anybody, then let them be. Be kind. And go Dodgers!
You can click here to purchase this book from Amazon.
To enter to win a copy of The Crumbling of a Nation and Other Stories, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “crumbling” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen August 31, 2024. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.
Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.
0 Comments