Bio from his website: Garry Ryan was born, raised and lives in Calgary, Alberta. He received a B.Ed and a Diploma in Educational Psychology from the University of Calgary and taught for more than thirty years in Calgary public schools.
Since 2004 Garry Ryan has published ten novels. The second, The Lucky Elephant Restaurant, won a 2007 Lambda Literary Award (the novels have been short-listed three times since). In 2009, Ryan was awarded Calgary’s Freedom of Expression Award.
His upcoming novels still have Detective Lane based in Calgary while travelling to colourful locales like Cuba, Cancun, and San José Cabos San Lucas.
Keep writing. It sounds simplistic. The thing is, it’s one of the most difficult/significant things I’ve learned. Keep writing.
Use of compressed imagery to paint quirky characters, settings and scenes so as not to detract from the story.
It takes a team of people to create a book. The publisher, editor, book designer, publicist and writer are all critical elements of the process.
7. How did you or would you suggest acquire an agent?
Any tips for new writers on getting one? I don’t have an agent.
Keep writing. There are many ups and downs as a writer. It’s very important to keep writing though all of it, to grow as a writer, to develop your technique and to keep improving. Find an editor who understands what you are doing and who will make the book better than you imagined.
It’s very cool when the characters take over and the story goes in unexpected directions. And it’s a blast when the fictional world you’ve created replaces the real one.
Walk the setting whenever you can. Use as many senses as possible and take pictures to remind you of significant details.
Look for ordinary people who have accomplished extraordinary things. They provide ideas for twists, which help make the novel feel authentic.
I hire a publicist who is very good at her job.
I would keep writing no matter what is happening. Many times I would allow events to interrupt the writing. I came to realize there is only one person who can stop me from writing.
Bulls*** (*changed due to Google Sites terms) baffles brains.