We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Riley Cross. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Riley below.
Alright, Riley thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
My second novel is a middle-grades adventure in a radioactive swamp filled with slimy yet lovable characters. The main character (Blip, a girl with a permanent case of bad luck) originated from a writing exercise in my writing group. Ever since, Blip’s character has maintained a foothold in my imagination!
Fast forward a few years later, I had just finished my debut novel, but Blip’s story stayed on my radar, waiting for the right time. Disconnected was my first novel, a YA SciFi story dealing with bleak issues (black market organ trading, banned books, choices and consequences, and the dark side of the internet). Subsequently, once that novel was released, I found myself in the mood for a lighter variation of the dystopian genre. Once again, the radioactive swamp world of Blip’s story beckoned me back to the keyboard.
As a mom of two littles, it became a nightly practice to tell my kids stories and they begged me to add in a mermaid and an “Alligark” (half shark, half alligator). It was at that moment that the elements fell together… a pessimistic princess, a radioactive swamp, and of course, the characters that my kids asked for. The stories came together, chapter by chapter, and The Swamp of Doom was written one bedtime story after the other.
I wanted to remind my kids that we are more than the sum of our bad days and moments. Even at the moments when everything is going wrong, we can still choose to do what’s right.
That’s the power of a story that has meaning. The message goes beyond the page and, hopefully, right into the heart.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
As an ELA educator for the past 13 years, I’ve always loved teaching my students about the wonder of stories. In fact, it’s those stories that provide us strength for coping with reality. Books remind us to ask the questions that matter.
However, there was a time I just stopped writing. It’s a tough business to break into and it can zap a lot of time and creative energy. It was having my own children and constantly facing my students who would ask, “Did you finish your book?” that made me realize that I couldn’t stop. I had to keep chasing my dream to be an author. Ignoring my passion would only lead to a passive life, and that’s not something I would ever advocate for either my children or my students.
If my brand is labeled as anything… I hope it would be “lit moments.” I crave these intense sparks of realization, especially when it comes from the printed page. From writing and publishing my two books, I’ve learned that we must do everything with joy even in the face of discouragement. I hope my readers will use a story lens to find that thematic truth for themselves.
Chase what matters. Do what matters. Then write what matters.
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
Monarch Publishing had an open call for submissions and it was at this point, that I was back to focusing on writing and had found that new resilience to just dig in.
Their dedication to education and even providing ELA resources for the books they published completely won my heart so when I submitted my manuscript (as I had done hundreds of times before with other companies), I knew that this time, my hopes were up.
And it paid off. Disconnected was published in 2023, and The Swamp of Doom came out October of 2024. The irony was that when the publisher put out a wish list for middle grade fiction, I had been feeling the urge to write a middle grades book, particularly about this gloomy princess with bad luck powers.
What’s amazing about working for a company with a vision for education and a dedication for children’s literature that doesn’t shy away from tough issues, is that I’ve been able to write up lesson plans to go with my novels.
My passion is education and when goals align, amazing things can happen. I’d encourage anyone who is writing or creating, to always look for partners who share your passion and message.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
Early on, writing was more of a hobby and less of a craft. I’d advise anyone starting out to join writing groups…. both online and in person. Surround yourself with other artists who will challenge your skills.
I’d also say to embrace the chaos. Art is rarely developed in the right place or the right time. You’re not perfect, your writing won’t be either. You won’t win every contest or every reader’s heart, but finding resilience refines your writing voice.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.writingbyriley.com
- Instagram: @writingbyriley
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riley.cross.102/
- Twitter: @writingbyriley
- Other: x and Instagram: @writingbyriley
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