John Ryland: From Ghost Stories to Gothic Novels

In this episode, I sit down with John Ryland , author of ten books in the Southern Gothic and dark psychological suspense genres. John grew up surrounded by the folklore and ghost stories of the South, which shaped his passion for storytelling from an early age. We talk about his journey from writing at 14 to self-publishing, and eventually moving into traditional publishing. John opens up about the hustle it takes to share your work with the world, the influence of Southern culture on his stories, and how he now mentors young writers to help them find their own voices. If you’ve ever thought about writing a book, wondered what it takes to get published, or simply love a good story—you’ll enjoy this conversation. 📌 Show Notes In this episode, you’ll hear about: John’s early love of storytelling and the folklore that shaped his imagination How he wrote his first book at just 14 years old The realities of self-publishing versus traditional publishing The persistence and resilience required to build a career as an author Why community and mentorship are so important for creative growth John’s advice for aspiring writers who want to share their own stories About John Ryland: John is the author of ten books spanning Southern Gothic and dark psychological suspense. His work draws deeply from the rich storytelling traditions of the South, blending atmosphere, folklore, and unforgettable characters. Beyond writing, John mentors young writers and helps them discover their creative voices. Resources & Links: Connect with John via his website where you will find information about the author and how to find his books: gspressbooks.com

You can listen to John Ryland: From Ghost Stories to Gothic Novels online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

John Ryland: From Ghost Stories to Gothic Novels is an episode from The Author's Way Podcast by Jennifer Wright.

This episode is 52:30 long.

This episode was published on Aug 26, 2025.

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