This month’s feature presents M. C. Ryder. She is an award-winning author with various novels published across different genres including dark young adult (YA) and supernatural fiction, among many others.
The Writer
Paige: Where are you from?
Ryder: I’m from the Keystone State, aka PA.
Paige: How long have you bee writing?
Ryder: As a young girl, I started out as a bookworm. When I started losing interest in the same plots and predictability, I started writing what I wanted to read.
Paige: What does writing mean to you personally?
Ryder: At first, I started writing stories I wanted to read. Sometimes fanfiction to change the narrative. The more I continued to write, I discovered it’s free therapy. Writing gives me a voice and allows me to inspire others through the written word.
Paige: Were there any authors or books that shaped you early on?
Ryder: There were so many books that captured my interest during my youth. Some that stand out more than others include my favorite Dr. Suess book, Green Eggs and Ham. I recall reading Bears in the Night of The Berenstain Bears series. As I matured Island of the Blue Dolphins captivated me. However, I had a fascination with wolves and collected every book, mostly by L. David Mech, I could get my hands on just get vibrant images and learn more about such a misunderstood creature. I connected with wolves as I often was misunderstood.
Paige: What does the perfect writing day look like for you?
Ryder: A perfect writing day would be just me sitting down with no background distractions or responsibilities. I have to tune out the world around me, including my needy cats who don’t understand why I’m ignoring them. In order to get into the writing zone, I’ll have to put on some background instrumental sounds that often coincide with the scene I’m writing, whether it be dramatic or calming.
The Work
Paige: Tell us about your latest/upcoming release.
Ryder: All I See Are Dark Clouds is the third installment in The Dark series. If you would ask what’s one word that sums up the fantasy novel, it’s grief. The storyline follows Camille Epler, who is a featured character in The Darkest Side of the Moon and A Dance Between Light and Darkness. After certain events that happened, this is her story and how she overcomes the five stages of grief.
Paige: What inspired this particular story?
Ryder: A dream planted the seed for the first novel, The Darkest Side of the Moon, in The Dark series. As time continued on, the seed matured to expand the idea to three different stories. By the time I got to writing All I See Are Dark Clouds, I channeled a heavy weight to get into the mindset in order to write the story. I had to take breaks, walking in the sunshine, often, so I wouldn’t drown in despair. Thinking about writing a scene and actually writing it are two very different perspectives. I may have known there was a rainbow on the horizon, but the character didn’t. Plus, I also knew there would be a bittersweet ending.
Paige: What do you hope readers take away from this book?
Ryder: What I hope readers are able to take away from All I See Are Dark Clouds is, even through the darkest of dark times, things that happen to us, out of our control, do not define us. We make mistakes. We learn and grow. At the end of the day, we all deserve a happy ending. Sometimes there are sacrifices one has to make before they can see the rainbow.
Paige: What sentence from your writing are you most proud of?
Ryder: There are many, but the one that echoes the most to me is, “Even on the darkest of nights, the sun still rises.” That sentence is featured in The Darkest Side of the Moon and is often referenced in the other books in The Dark series. Even when I face dark, uncertain times in my personal life, I remember it won’t last forever. For there will eventually be a rising light.
Paige: What part of the writing/publishing process has been most rewarding?
Ryder: The most rewarding part of writing/publishing is the interactions I get to have face to face with readers and other writers. It’s humbling to know I inspire others by just being myself. I had a dream and determination to one day go from being a writer to becoming a published author. I accomplished my mission and in the processed inspired others to try harder to achieve their own dreams.
Final Words
Paige: What genres or themes draw you in most?
Ryder: It depends. I recently learned there is what’s called a mood reader. I’m definitely a mood reader. Some days I will want to read a good Thriller or Mystery. Other days I’ll be interested in some YA or Fantasy. Right now I’m into nonfiction/poetry.
Paige: Is there a dream project you hope to write someday?
Ryder: I don’t really have a dream project I’m hoping to write someday. That was already accomplished with The Dark series. I do have a few different projects in mind that I’m debating which to tackle first.
Paige: What literary world would you love to visit?
Ryder: Good question. This one stumps me. Nothing is really jumping out to me. I’ll be honest though. Sometimes I would love to visit my own literary world in The Dark series. Why? Although it’s categorized as Fantasy, I blended the world with reality. Getting inside the characters’ frame of mind, I know they are caring individuals I would like to surround myself with.
Paige: What advice would you give aspiring writers?
Ryder: Keep writing! Even when you think your writing isn’t good enough, just keep writing. The more you write, the more you learn your writing style. Tune out the noise and just sit down and write. Stop procrastinating. Once I stopped overthinking each book in The Dark series, it got easier to write and they took less time to write.
Paige: What can readers look forward to from you next?
Ryder: Right now I’m in the middle of re-releasing The Dark series with my publisher, Warrington Publishing. The third book, All I See Are Dark Clouds, is expected Fall 2026.
Paige: Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself or your experience as a writer?
Ryder: When one goes from writer to author, they will find that writing is actually the easy part. There will be highs and lows in the author journey. It’s a full-time job and doesn’t always pay well. Like I mentioned earlier, just keep writing. Write for yourself and nobody else. When you try pleasing others, you’ll burn out. In the beginning of my author career, I received a lot of positive feedback that boosted my spirit until the feedback stopped and then I experienced impostor syndrome. I attended a writing conference that asked me why I write. A great question and one I go back to all the time when I find myself struggling.
The Darkest Side of the Moon is currently ranked no. 6 in Amazon’s best-seller list for Teen & Young Adult Coming of Age Fantasy eBooks.
You can view and purchase M. C. Ryder’s catalog of published works (available in hardback, paperback, Kindle, and Kindle Unlimited) on Amazon.
View her website and keep up with her future releases on Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X.
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