Ryan Southwick

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About Ryan Southwick
Ryan Southwick decided to dabble at writing late in life, and quickly became obsessed with the craft. He currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and two children.
His technical skills as a software developer, healthcare experience, and lifelong fascination for science fiction became the ingredients for his first series, The Z-Tech Chronicles, which combines these elements into a fantastic contemporary tale of super-science, fantasy, and adventure, based in his Bay Area stomping grounds.
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Blog postAuthors are repeatedly told that success means writing each and every day. Some have gone so far as to say 3,000 words is the absolute minimum, otherwise kiss your career goodbye. (For the record, my average doesn’t come close to that mark.)
NaNoWriMo awards anyone who can scribble out 50,000 words in a single month with a grand, shiny, virtual ribbon, and provides a platform where others can cheer the aspiring word generator toward the finish line. The experience is similar to runnin6 days ago Read more -
Blog postHunter resumes Donovan's exploration of “New Seeking” with the addition of court intrigue and an old flame. The book also shifts to the perspective of Ruben, the aspiring and highly coveted magus boy wielding incredible power in a series of nostalgic training sequences worthy of Feist or any of the fantasy boy-to-hero greats.
As with Seeker, book 2 continues to explore Chalut’s unique magic system, adding history and depth that truly bring it to life. We also learn more about the comp1 month ago Read more -
Blog postYAY!
Holtondome (Timeless Keeper Saga Book 1) is finally loose upon the masses. Beta readers went bananas over this science fiction / dystopian novel, and I hope you will, too. To give you an idea, one or two may have threatened me with bodily harm if I even considered delaying launch, and my PAs hound me weekly on the status of Book 2 (which is halfway finished). I can imagine no higher compliments!
The Literary Vixen summed it up nicely:
"From the artistically c2 months ago Read more -
Blog postAt long last, I'm very excited to share the official cover for Holtondome (Timeless Keeper Saga Book 1). If the art style looks familiar, that's because José del Nido is rocking it again. The cover is a depiction of a scene from the first chapter. José marvelously captured the essence of the ravaged, future Earth, and the danger to the protagonist, Seg, who is stuck outside while a deadly storm approaches. Holtondome should be available for pre-order today, if everything goes ac2 months ago Read more
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Blog postSinera is one of my favorite characters from the Glass Bottles Series, so as you can imagine, I was thrilled when I discovered she had an entire book dedicated to her. It’s a short book (novelette), but gives great insight into a very complex elf with a quiet but deadly chip on her shoulder.
Sinera tells the story of how she first met one of my other favorite characters, Fern Fatelli of Fatelli Investigations, and first came into her employ, giving wonderful clues into her complex pas2 months ago Read more -
Blog post“Gentle” is the best way I can describe The Stargazer Gift Shop. The story is told from the perspective of Rhoda, a high-functioning, artificially intelligent robot with a heart of electrum who runs a gift shop on The Truck Stop at the Center of the Galaxy. What starts as a normal day quickly turns strange when a series of desperate patrons each come seeking her help. Rhoda soon finds herself making complex moral choices that she was never programmed to handle.
The writing style is wa2 months ago Read more -
Blog postCoke Machine is a delightful little adventure in the Truck Stop at the Center of the Galaxy universe. Marichka is starship engineer working on an ancient machine that doles out a caustic brown, sticky liquid. Things go from bad to warp-core-breach faster than Scotty can say “She cannot take any more!” and… Well, I’ll let you read the story, but suffice it to say the situation gets interesting.
If you’re looking for a bit of short, punchy science fiction and an introduction to a fun an2 months ago Read more -
Blog postI'm excited to share that Angels Found (The Z-Tech Chronicles Book 4) is now available from all your favorite retailers!
This book marks a significant change in the series. New locations, darker villains, bigger stakes, wild surprises, deeper relationships, and a new cover design to boot.
An ancient evil in Anne's head aims to ruin her tranquil life and end humanity. A house of her
own with a white picket fence, complete with a loving partner, Anne Perrin finally has2 months ago Read more -
Blog postTada! Look different? I hope so! Designer April Klein took the cover design back to the drawing board to better capture the science fiction heart of the series. Frankly, I think she knocked it out of the galaxy. The title font is hand-crafted and, in my opinion, one of the most striking features. It reminds me a little of Tron, which I have fond memories of watching as a kid.
Artist José del Nido is still at the illustration helm, as you can probably tell from the amazing chara3 months ago Read more -
Blog postLeviathan Wakes is some of the best science fiction I’ve read in a long time. So, when I picked up Caliban’s War, I was prepared to be let down because nothing could compare to the wonderful book I’d just finished. Fortunately, I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Book 2 takes everything I loved about Book 1 and ramps it up a notch. Or three. Engaging science fiction, complex politics, rollercoaster relationships, a diverse crew with inner conflict, deep personalities, and their own not-s5 months ago Read more -
Blog postI recently read a very informative book, Fight Like a Girl: Writing Fight Scenes for Female Characters. Being a male author who favors writing realistic female protagonists, the title immediately drew me in. I devoured the book in a single day, which I never do. It’s an amazing collection of facts and examples about the differences in psychology, sociology, and physiology between men and women—specifically how they perceive and respond to aggression and violence.
In my humble opinion,6 months ago Read more -
Blog postMorgan Chalut lives in Dallas, Texas with her delightfully handsome and silly, charming, supportive and lovely husband, Philip. They have two dogs together: Caramel, who absolutely wants to be your friend, and Sammie, who very definitely does not. Morgan has been writing since she learned that just anyone was allowed to do that; it wasn’t illegal or anything! While it didn’t slow down her talking, it at least gave her parents and six older siblings a break once in a while. She hopes to contin8 months ago Read more
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Blog postI'm thrilled to announce that Angels Fall (The Z-Tech Chronicles Book 3) is now available from all your favorite retailers!
Anne must decide if a new faction of vampires in San Francisco—created from her own genetically modified blood—are worth sparing, or if they’re simply adding to the growing vampire scourge.
Angels Fall follows Anne and the rest of the crew on their continuing struggle against the rising vampire menace, with a focus on Cappa and the challenges her, ah... u8 months ago Read more -
Blog postSeeker has all my favorites aspects of epic fantasy: an engaging and varied cast of characters, a wonderfully developed world, and a unique magic system that is balanced, well defined, and bursting with possibility.
This first book of The Unwoven Tapestry series introduces Donovan, a grizzled veteran mage who doesn’t like to fight, and couldn’t if he wanted to because he’s more apt to cut himself than the enemy with his blade. His life experience more than makes up for it, however. Th8 months ago Read more -
Blog postIt's finally here, and I'm so excited to finally be able to share this with you! Artist Jose Del Nido and designer Niki Lenhart really outdid themselves this time.
Angels Fall is Book 3 of The Z-Tech Chronicles, and is slated for release October 19 of this year.
9 months ago Read more -
Blog postMarketing Director wanted. Vampires need not apply.
Awesome voice actor Dayna Ganiko has done it again. I'm very pleased to announce that Once Upon a Nightwalker is now available on audiobook from Audible, Amazon, and Apple Books!
This novelette is 1:22 in length, making it a perfect listen for short trips or a walk around the grocery store.
And at ~$6, it's an absolute steal. Head to one of the retailers above and check out a sample, or visit my new Audiobook page.10 months ago Read more -
Blog postI'm so excited to share with everyone the new cover for Dragon Assassin, a paranormal urban romance that will be released May 3rd, 2022 as part of the Born of Shadows and Magic box set.
Humans fear her. Dragons consider her an abomination.
Now Charon’s half-breed body is changing in ways she doesn't understand, torturing her with strange desires. Her only hope may lie with a handsome young assassin who, in courting her, might be getting more than he signed up for.
10 months ago Read more -
Blog postI'm very excited to announce that a new urban fantasy / paranormal romance book set that I'm contributing to, Born of Shadows and Magic, is now available for pre-order for only $0.99!
https://books2read.com/u/4NxXKW
As myths, legends, and ancient tales rise from the shadows, these heroes and heroines are left to face the darkest challenges of them all.
Life’s hard enough as a paranormal. Shifters, vampire, elementals, witches, fae… we all have our weakness, our curses,10 months ago Read more -
Blog postExciting news! The audiobook edition of Angels in the Mist (The Z-Tech Chronicles Book 1) has just become available on Amazon, Audible, and iTunes!
Much care went into crafting all 20 hours of this wonderful performance by Dayna Ganiko to ensure an enjoyable, immersive listening experience. She practically embodies the protagonist, Anne Perrin, breathing such life into the character that it brought me to tears, and her Zima performance is incredible; exactly how I imagined her.
<11 months ago Read more -
Blog postSilence Fallen is the first audiobook I’ve ever listened to with 2 different narrators voicing the characters and their respective chapters. I didn’t know that at the time, however, so when George Newbern started talking, I thought for a moment my device had switched to a different book. Both narrators did a marvelous job, and their different styles were a welcome variety to the telling of the story.
Alas, poor Mercy is once again caught in a crossfire of forces well beyond her contro1 year ago Read more
Titles By Ryan Southwick
Life’s hard enough as a paranormal. Shifters, vampire, elementals, witches, fae… we all have our weakness, our curses, our wars to wage and battles to fight.
But being a hybrid or a halfling, things just get worse. We don’t fit in anywhere, our powers are thwarted or out of control, and everyone wants us dead.
Can we overcome these trials…or are the odds stacked too high against us? We’ll risk it all—even our lives—to find out. And hope we don’t die trying.
This paranormal and urban fantasy romance anthology includes 19 brand new, never before published novels from today’s bestselling authors and exciting up-and-coming talent!
Including all new stories by….
Kira Nyte
Fiona McArthur
Renee Hewett & Mandy Rosko
Cassidy K. O'Connor & Sheri Lyn
Krista Ames
Stephanie Hansen
Mia Ellas
Ryan Southwick
C.A. King
Charlie Nottingham
Emma B. Layne
Mireille Chester
Ruby St. George
K. Rea
Cherron Riser
Marissa Nofer
Shana Vernon
Victoria C. Taylor
Here’s a peek of what’s inside!
Nora would do anything to protect her sister and avoid the Pit—even take a deal from the one archangel she despises.
- The Archangel’s Deal by K. Rea
All she wanted was to find the guy terrorizing Midtown; instead, she found a magical underground war going on right under our noses.
- A Fire Awakens by Mireille Chester
A college freshman turned rumored chosen one must save her university when an ancient demon returns and possesses one of their own.
- Faust University by Emma B. Layne
A vigilante hell-bent on revenge, a reincarnated angel in a fragile human body, and a mission to right the wrongs of the past. What could go wrong? Turn out, everything.
- The Angel’s Fury by Mandy Rosko and Renee Hewett
… and many more!
Scroll Up and One Click to preorder your copy today!
Seg Holton yearns to leave his isolated farming dome and travel the ravaged Earth, or even to Mars Colony. Only a few things stand in his way: an authoritarian government, deadly storms, and an enchanting outsider who may be the most dangerous of all.
Fast-forward 500 years. Civilization has nearly wiped itself out of existence, and is on the long, slow road to recovery, held together by an agreement called the Pact between cities, agricultural domes, and a new global government.
Seg is a farmer in Holtondome. Like his ancestors, he's chosen a life of ignorance about technology and the outside world in favor of a simple existence, free of the corruption that almost destroyed the human race.
His world turns upside down when Fi arrives. Tall, exotic, and far too wise for her age, she challenges everything he's been taught to believe, making him question for the first time if a simple life is right for him or, indeed, for the rest of humanity.
But Fi has secrets darker than her black-ringed eyes — bigger than the Pact — that have implications far beyond Seg and the residents of Holtondome.
If you enjoyed Doctor Who, Firefly, or Hunger Games, then Holtondome is sure to please!
Corporate Catharsis is the anthology we all need — one that can help us survive our corporate servitude with our hearts and souls intact.
With stories by J Dark, Laureen Hudson, L. A. Jacob, Sophie Kearing, Andrea Monticue, Stephen Pimentel, Steven Radecki, Bob Schoonover, Vern Smith, Steve Soult, Ryan Southwick, and Kimberley Wall
An ancient evil in Anne’s head aims to ruin her tranquil life and end humanity.
It must be Tuesday.
A house of her own with a white picket fence, complete with a loving partner, Anne Perrin finally has the life of her dreams — including the job she always wanted and a caring family to share it all with.
But every Eden has its Pandora’s Box. Anne’s personal heaven is marred by a malevolent presence in her head who, if given a choice, would use her to usher in a dark age, ending humanity as she knows it. The only thing holding it at bay is an unpredictable computer implant in her chest that seems to have its own agenda.
Two unexpected visitors turn Anne’s delicate world upside down in completely different ways — one better than she could have ever hoped, one catastrophically terrible — pitting Anne in a nightmare battle against the very people she holds dearest: her family.
An ancient, powerful evil is loose in San Francisco. The heart of Silicon Valley must fight back the only way they know how — with compassion, unwavering determination, and, of course, super-technology.
Anne Perrin is resigned to a life driven by an adolescent trauma: a strict routine, no socializing (outside of the safety of her waitressing job), and no romantic relationships. When her cautious lifestyle lets the perfect partner slip through her fingers, Anne vows she won’t let it happen again and ventures into San Francisco to find happiness.
Her first night out in a decade becomes a nightmare when her date turns on her with sadistic intent. But his nefarious plans for Anne are unexpectedly interrupted by a mysterious savior. Valiant, smart, compassionate … Charlie is exactly the partner Anne has been looking for. And best of all, he likes her too.
Things go well between her and Charlie until an assailant with unexpected strength plunges Anne into a world she didn’t know existed — nor could have imagined — where super-science and an eclectic group of extraordinary individuals may be the solution to Anne’s lifelong loneliness … and humanity’s only hope against an ancient threat.
But the transition from a regime-ending killing machine to stand-up citizen is more difficult than Zima anticipated. Years of brainwashing have left her with a litany of unpredictable, lethal reactions, which force even her liberators from Z-Tech to cast her out for fear of their own safety.
Alone in San Francisco’s Mission District, Zima faces society for the first time — not as a computer inside a cyborg, whose human host managed her day-to-day interactions, but as herself. Emotions, sarcasm — even things as simple as lies — become imposing hurdles in her efforts to integrate.
But she’s nothing if not persistent. After days of searching, she meets a teenage boy and his little sister — each with needs Zima might be able to fill.
Rosa wants a big sister. Emilio is over his head as a mule for a local gang. A blonde, indestructible assassin in search of a home may be just what they need… if Zima’s homicidal tendencies don’t kill them first.
Robbing Anne of her pulse hasn't stopped her from living un-life to its fullest: she's balancing two relationships, has returned to her waitress job, and is trying her best to not eat her customers. But Calum sees through her disguise, and no amount of charm can dissuade him from eradicating Anne and everyone like her from the face of the Earth.
While Charlie is out of the country seeking help from the one person who might be able to save his life, Anne is abducted, leaving the rest of the Z-Tech crew with the desperate task of finding her before the vampire hunters finish her off — or a grief-stricken Zima destroys the city looking for her lost love.
But Anne's abduction could be just the first part of a larger, darker plan that may unwittingly unleash the very plague Calum seeks to prevent.
Charlie’s life force is fading. His only hope is an aged martial arts master in the remote reaches of China who, as far as Cappa can tell, doesn’t like him very much.
While Charlie and Cappa are away from Z-Tech, William has been raising an empire of his own — one determined to crush any who interfere with his plans for world domination. Worse, he’s sided with the only other organization who had almost succeeded in erasing Z-Tech from the global market, pitting Anne and her friends in a desperate struggle for survival.
The enemy has the advantage of numbers, but Z-Tech has Zima — a one-person army in her own right. Only time will tell if she’s enough to offset the overwhelming forces set against Z-Tech, and if San Francisco will survive their battle.