Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Effgen.
Hi Ryan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a debut author whose novel, Make Nice, is set in a fictional island in the great lakes…the island in question is undeniably inspired by Mackinac Island. I was inspired to write this story as I got to thinking about the whole idea of family…what is it, exactly? What obligations do we have to each other? How do those obligations shift as we grow older and perhaps start our own family or maybe even lose a parent? Also, at what point–if ever–do we cut a problematic family member out of our lives? And what does it even mean to do that? Make Nice gets at all of this, while telling a story about a series of misadventures, conman schemes, romances, and more…all upon the backdrop of an island that evokes “simpler times.”
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Writing–like any creative endeavor–involves plenty of highs and lows. I can’t say that this novel was a smooth road, but I am grateful to have traveled it. Strunggles along the way included having previous stories and novels rejected. My debut novel, while wonderfully fun to write, alternates from four different points of view–and juggling those perspectives and storylines was a challenge.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My debut novel is a family comedy-drama that focuses on three adult siblings who have returned to an island that played a special role in their youth. I am deeply proud of this novel, and proud to have worked with the good folks at Knopf. While there are so many wonderfully talented writers at work today, I dare say that my novel is funny…and while I enjoy all types of books, I know that I always appreciate humor…and I suspect most readers do as well.
What matters most to you? Why?
I will limit myself to fiction writing in this response and say that it matters to me that writing feels authentic, that it comes from a real place, and that it does not simply check a lot of boxes to make it feel like something that the reader has already seen. I can appreciate the comfort in the familiar, and yet I think the works of art that really move us are ones that cut a bit deeper or that shine a new light on things we thought we knew.
Pricing:
- $30
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ryaneffgen.com/
- Instagram: @ryan_effgen
