The Evolution of Ryan Green

I’m soon approaching my third year as a self-published author. It’s something that I’m still very proud of. I don’t get tired of telling people I’m an author when they ask what I do for a living. The conversation usually shuts down when I go into detail about my chosen subject, especially with the passion that spews from my mouth. They did ask.

With my three-year anniversary approaching, I thought it might be interesting to share my evolution as a writer.

I wouldn’t change anything about the way I’ve developed but it’s fair to say, I’ve come a long way. If you’ve been following my work from the start, you’d have noticed a significant shift in writing style and quality over the years (I hope anyway).

When I started publishing, I didn’t know how to write. I knew what I wanted to write about, but not how. I tried to emulate the work I’d read from other true crime authors whilst inserting my own flavour. The approach worked but I felt I had more to offer.

Over time, I became less concerned about the work of others (for developmental purposes) and focussed more on how I could develop my own style. After releasing The Kurim Case in June 2016, I took some time off from publishing to work on my craft. I attended creative writing classes and actively pursued feedback.

After nearly 12 months away from publishing, I released a book that I felt was different from the rest. Told from the killers perspective. Finally, a style that excited me. I also dug into my pockets and invested in two editors to help improve the quality of my writing. They have helped develop my writing to a new level and I’m grateful for their input.

The result was Obeying Evil. (This is still one of my favourite books)

It was hard hitting and bold. I was extremely nervous about releasing it. I liked it, but would everyone else? How would people react?

The gritty narrative was not to everyone’s liking but the overall reaction was positive. It got readers off the fence. People loved it or loathed it. I was far happier with that reaction, so I continued.

I’ve now written six books in this format. The response from readers, book sales and reviews has never been better. I want to thank you for that!

If you’ve read one of the six books and tried reading my earlier work, you’re likely to find a distinct difference in approach and quality, which is why I’m writing this post. I want to highlight the differences in my work so that you can make more informed decisions about which book to read next. (Should you wish to continue reading my work of course!)

I’ve separated the books into distinct categories to help you identify them and included the publication date:

Traditional

Harold Shipman – 14th December 2015
Colombian Killers – 29th January 2016
Hannibal the Cannibal – Not published (written after Colombian Killers)
Fred & Rose West – 15th April 2016
The Kurim Case – 26th June 2016

Gritty Narrative

Obeying Evil – 26th June 2017
The Truro Murders – 2nd October 2017
Sinclair – 31st January 2018
You Think You Know Me – 10th April 2018
Torture Mom – 25th June 2018
Killer Cop – 26th September 2018

Collections

The Ryan Green True Crime Collection: Vol. 1 – 19th July 2018 (Includes: Harold Shipman, Colombian Killers, Fred & Rose West and The Kurim Case)
The Ryan Green True Crime Collection: Vol. 2 – NOV/DEC 2018 (Includes: Obeying Evil, The Truro Murders, Sinclair and You Think You Know Me)
 

If you’ve enjoyed reading one of the gritty narratives, you’re likely to appreciate the others in the category. The same logic can be applied for the traditional style. I confused matters by releasing my first four-book collection this year, which contained my earlier work. New readers have been disappointed and I’m responsible for that.

I hope that my second collection and the distinction drawn in this post will help you navigate the differences in my work. Feel free to share your views below.

Thank you for your continued support!