In this episode, SFF and horror writer Anthony Ryan discusses the inspiration behind his novel Red River Seven, touching on the influence of the pandemic and the complexities of crafting villains. He explores the blurred lines between heroes and villains, the impact of cultural and historical contexts on writing, and the pursuit of happiness in modern society. Anthony shares insights into his writing journey, the transition from self-publishing to traditional publishing, and the importance of establishing a writing routine. The discussion also delves into the allure of post-apocalyptic fiction and the endless idea generation process that fuels his creativity. Anthony's website 👉🏼 https://anthonyryan.net/ Kickstarter here 🚀 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/garycolton/how-it-falls-apart-an-immersive-dystopian-thriller Dark Finds Podcast IG 👀 https://www.instagram.com/darkfindspodcast/ Patreon 💯 https://www.patreon.com/darkfindspodcast/membership Dark Finds IG 💀 https://www.instagram.com/dark.finds/ Dark Finds YouTube Channel 🎬  https://www.youtube.com/@DarkFindsChannel Dark Finds book 📖 https://amzn.eu/d/3VHPOTj Dark Finds website 👉🏼 www.darkfindsmedia.com Takeaways The pandemic influenced the themes in Red River Seven. Villains should be complex and multi-dimensional. The line between hero and villain is often defined by perspective. Cultural and historical contexts shape writing. Happiness is relative and influenced by societal conditions. Post-apocalyptic fiction explores survival and human nature. Writing is a process that requires rewriting and refinement. Tracking progress can enhance writing productivity. The idea generation process is unpredictable and varied. Exploring different genres can enrich a writer's portfolio. Red River Seven, Anthony Ryan, writing process, villains, heroes, post-apocalyptic fiction, happiness, cultural reflections, traditional publishing, idea generation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.