Bi-Monthly By Ryan #1

Dear Friends,

Thank you for signing up to receive Bi-Monthly By Ryan! I aim to send my newsletter twice a month for at least the next six months. This strategy was recommended to me by Patrice Gopo in her virtual workshop, “Starting and Sustaining an Author Newsletter,” hosted by Boston Writers of Color, which I attended last fall.

Starting a newsletter is not easy. I have been trying to do so for almost a year now, since last May, with more unsuccessful attempts than I care to remember. So many wonderful things have been happening in my world as a writer which I am beyond delighted to share with you!

1. I am excited to promote “Letters to Our Homes,” my upcoming 8-week class for Black and Brown adoptees only. Starting on June 2, at 6pm EST, I will offer guidance and prompts with the aim of encouraging participants to explore our understandings of the meanings of home. During our time together, I aim to model safe and consensual self-exploration by way of writing to real and imaginary people, places, and things.

2. I was honored to participate in Praising the Mouth That Speaks on April 12, the opening event for the 21st annual CityLit Festival in Baltimore, MD. The theme of this year’s event was “Dismantling a Culture of Silence,” during which I shared my deeply philosophical work centering my lived experience with adoption. I felt meaningfully affirmed through the act of sharing with such an understanding audience while on stage with poets who inspire me to continue writing, especially when writing feels impossible.

3. I am humbled to announce I was selected as the grand prize winner for upEND Movement’s Dream Create Liberate Poetry Prize! In addition to compensation, my work will be featured in a forthcoming publication, and I will participate in a recorded interview to officially accept my prize and receive my award. I will share all of these links with you in a future newsletter once they are available to me!

Thank you for reading my first author newsletter! I sincerely appreciate your attention. I truly believe our attention is one of our most valuable resources, and I cherish the time, space, and energy you gave to reading my email.

Love, Ryan <3