In a world that has lost its ability to empathize, a fifteen-year-old boy has to earn his magic the hard way: by learning to feel what others feel. That is the premise of Ryan A. Daniele’s The Ring of Experience, a coming-of-age fantasy and the opening of a planned trilogy built around a simple, urgent idea: that a little more empathy would make the world a far better place.
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Q&A with Ryan A. Daniele
Q: At its heart, what is The Ring of Experience about, and what made you want to tell this story?
A: Against a fantasy backdrop, it’s about empathy, and specifically, learning how to put yourself in someone else’s shoes to better understand their perspective. The primary theme is that if we all had a little more empathy, the world would be a much better place.
Q: Where did the idea come from, and how did it grow into a trilogy?
A: I was struck by this idea back in 2020 after finishing a popular book series, and ran with it. Now it’s a trilogy. I know that this message is worth telling, and it’s a message a lot of us need to hear.
Q: Which character was the most fun, and which was the most challenging, to write?
A: Most fun? Lainie. She’s like my sister. Clever, smart, but extremely gullible. Wears her emotions on her sleeve. The most challenging character to write was Jace/Chester/Neal, a multi-personality character whose personalities aren’t aware of the others.
Q: What do you most hope readers take away from the book?
A: If you’re able to imagine what someone else is thinking or going through, you’ll have a softer heart. True beauty is on the inside, not out.
Q: Did any real places or people find their way into the story?
A: Most characters are based on people I know in real life. Several situations and settings in the story are based on real life experiences. The Arrendar Lake Basin is essentially Lake Tahoe but with the grandeur of Yosemite.
Q: Do you have a favorite moment from the book?
A: Not a specific quote or moment, but I love the interactions of Taydis, Lainie, and Revlan, the core three friends in the book. They don’t always do the right thing, but they always have each other’s back.
Q: What was the biggest challenge in writing or publishing it?
A: Writing the blurb. Seriously. That was the hardest part. Everything else was just time and steps along the way. Writing takes time, editing takes money and time, formatting takes time, the cover takes money and time, but marketing the book is by far the hardest part, and also my least favorite.
Q: What is next for you as a writer?
A: Chugging along every day working on book 2 and then book 3.
Top Reviews
Jasmine – 5.0 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Can’t wait to keep reading
I really liked The Ring of Experience. After a few chapters, I couldn’t put it down. There are hidden layers and stories within stories that make me want to read more and find out what’s going on. I loved the magic and the world-building. I’m excited for book 2!
Michael G. – 5.0 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The perfect book of adventure and mystery
“I haven’t had the time or energy to read for the last few years because of endless reading assignments in high school. However, I decided to finally read again. The story almost instantly sucked me in and always had me excited for the next time I would get to pick up the book. I spent hours on trains this summer and this book was the perfect way to pass the time. I finally have found the joy of reading again—through the ring of experience.”
Author Bio
Ryan Daniele started writing young adult fantasy in 2020. A piano teacher by trade, Ryan fills his house with music by day and stories by night. When he’s not hooking gutter balls at the lanes, you’ll find him cruising around on his inline skates, composing songs on his baby grand, or tweaking rules to classic board games, because why not? Ryan is a Barq’s root beer enthusiast who lives in California with his wife and son.
Buy the book here: Amazon | IngramSpark · Author website: ryandaniele.com
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