Discover How Reese Ryan Crafts Complex Romantic Tales With Authentic Diversity And Emotional Depth
Reese Ryan discusses her approach to writing diverse, emotionally complex romance novels, balancing humor and depth, and the significance of authentic representation in her Southern-set stories.
Reese Ryan is a literary force in the world of romantic fiction, captivating readers with her unique blend of emotional depth, humor, and unexpected twists. Her stories, often set against the backdrop of small Southern towns, explore the complexities of love, career, and family dynamics. As a two-time recipient of the Donna Hill Breakout Author Award, Reese has established herself as a powerful advocate for diversity in fiction, ensuring her characters authentically reflect the rich variety of experiences within Southern communities. Her work has garnered attention from major platforms like Entertainment Weekly, BuzzFeed, and BookRiot, further cementing her status as a beloved author in the romance genre.
In this interview for Reader’s House Magazine, Reese Ryan shares insights into her creative process, discussing how she crafts her compelling narratives and the inspiration behind her beloved characters. From the intricate dynamics of Nikki and Cedrick’s relationship in “Never the Right Time” to the vibrant setting of Atlanta in her Love & Music Suite series, Reese offers a glimpse into the heart and soul of her storytelling. Join us as we delve into the mind of an author who continues to push boundaries and redefine what it means to write “grown folks” romantic fiction.
“Reese Ryan masterfully blends emotional depth and humour, creating diverse, authentic characters that redefine modern romantic fiction.”
– EDITOR, READER’S HOUSE
Your stories often feature complex characters dealing with both personal and professional challenges. How do you approach balancing emotional depth with humour and unexpected twists in your writing?
I’d love to tell you that I have some grand plan to balance the serious moments with the humorous ones; but I don’t. I begin the story with an idea of where I want it to go. I also put a lot of time and effort into getting to know my characters through personality profiles. But I allow the characters to take me to unexpected places. Thus far, they haven’t failed me. For instance, before I began writing Never the Right Time, I had no idea Nikki was struggling with anxiety or that Cedrick was dealing with unresolved grief over the loss of his mother. Those storylines—which became central to the story—revealed themselves as I started writing the opening chapter.
“I allow the characters to take me to unexpected places.
Thus far, they haven’t failed me.” – Reese Ryan
As an advocate for diversity in fiction, how do you ensure that your small-town settings and characters authentically reflect the rich variety of experiences within Southern communities?
This can be a challenge—especially in traditional publishing. The industry is volatile right now. So it isn’t always easy to pushback when the editorial direction doesn’t feel right, lest we get labeled as being difficult and see our contract opportunities dry up. But I’ve never regretted pushing back in an effort to portray authentic diversity in my Black characters, as opposed to writing the same homogeneous small town romance but with Black and brown people. I’ve only regretted the times when I didn’t speak up or convinced myself that maybe they did know what was best. I’ve regretted that choice every single time.
In my Love & Music Suite indie series, I dug in and created characters who are unapologetically Black without anyone asking me if “mainstream readers” will recognize a television show or slang phrase. Google is your friend, and readers are smart. So ninety-five percent of the time, the context of the scene or conversation is the only explanation necessary. Hearing readers remark that they are loving this series and enjoy seeing “Reese Ryan unleashed” has been extremely fulfilling. It’s reminded me to trust my gut when it comes to writing authentically diverse characters.
How did you develop the complex dynamic between Nikki’s personal struggles with her career and relationships, and what inspired you to explore the theme of timing in love?
I developed the idea for the Love & Music Suite more than five years ago. So I knew that Nikki and Ced had an on-and-off relationship since high school. I also knew I wanted each book in this series to have a song title. I was listening to one of those mixes Tidal creates based on your listening history. When I heard the song, “Never the Right Time” by Janine, it just clicked. I knew immediately that it was the perfect title for Ced and Nikki’s book and that the story would explore how timing, family, and career played a role in keeping these two apart, though they’ve clearly always had deep feelings for each other.
I’ve been married for thirty-five years. Long-term relationships require sacrifice. And I love exploring that push and pull and the tenuous balance between making necessary compromises and not losing who you are as an individual.
Most of your stories are set in small Southern towns. What influenced your decision to set your Love & Music Suite in City of Atlanta?
This series revolves around a core of successful music industry professionals: solo artists, an award-winning record producer, an international DJ, a jazz band leader, and folks who work behind the scenes in the music industry. So I needed to base it somewhere it was plausible for these music pros to live. New York or LA might’ve felt like the obvious choice, but I still wanted the story to be based in the Southern United States. Atlanta has a thriving music community, and it’s home to superstar rap and R&B artists. So I knew from the outset that Atlanta was the perfect setting for a series about the romantic and career adventures of the alumni of my fictional Peachtree School of the Arts.
“Friends-to-lovers can be a tricky trope to write… the risk of losing
that relationship weighs heavily on them.” – Reese Ryan
What inspired you to create the seven-step plan for finding a soulmate, and how does it play into the dynamic between Em and Nick throughout the story?
I didn’t know from the outset that Em would have a seven-step plan. But as I started writing my way into the story and getting to know Em’s character better, it became obvious that she was the kind of person who wouldn’t just take on a potentially life-changing endeavor without some sort of plan. Her seven-step Soulmate Project was born out of that realization. The announcement of this plan immediately creates tension between her and Nick. First: he’s a little insulted that after he turned her down the night before, she’s bounced back the very next day with a plan to move on and find someone else. Second: the announcement of the plan and Emerie enlisting Nick to help her execute it forces him to come to terms with his feelings for his best friend. More importantly, it forces him to address some of his own relationship fears.
The seven-step Soulmate Project is about Emerie becoming her best self, so she can attract the person who is truly her soulmate. It’s about her growth and journey as much as it’s about finding The One. But in many ways, it also propels Nick to explore the roots of his commitment issues and decide whether he is ready to grow as a person or risk losing his best friend to someone else.
Nick’s fear of ruining his friendship with Em is a major theme in the book. How did you balance the tension between friendship and romance in their relationship?
Friends-to-lovers can be a tricky trope to write. Many readers feel like it should be easy for two best friends to figure out that they’re into each other and become a couple. But I see it differently. When that friend is one of the most important people in someone’s life, the risk of losing that relationship weighs heavily on them. Especially when you don’t have the best record when it comes to long-term relationships. An added point of concern for Nick is that most of his friend circle is comprised of Em’s family. They are more than friends to him. Since he was a kid, they gave him the sense of close-knit family he didn’t get from his parents who were busy professors doing important work in their respective fields. So his growing realization of the depth of his feelings for Emerie forms a growing tension between him and his best friend who doesn’t understand the constant push and pull.
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