Ryan Van Loan
@ryanvanloan.bsky.social
Former infantry NCO turned fantasy/scifi author repped by DongWon Song. Proud Girl Dad.
THE SIN IN THE STEEL, THE JUSTICE IN REVENGE, & THE MEMORY IN THE BLOOD out now from Tor Books!
Eat. Lift. Travel. WRITE.
(he/him)
https://bio.site/RyanVanLoan
THE SIN IN THE STEEL, THE JUSTICE IN REVENGE, & THE MEMORY IN THE BLOOD out now from Tor Books!
Eat. Lift. Travel. WRITE.
(he/him)
https://bio.site/RyanVanLoan
My daughter has transformed my playlist. Dispatch made a strong push, late, but was never going to displace Abba or Billy Joel 🤣
December 4, 2025 at 7:04 PM
My daughter has transformed my playlist. Dispatch made a strong push, late, but was never going to displace Abba or Billy Joel 🤣
I love snowy days...until January 2nd 🤣
But for now, let it snow.
But for now, let it snow.
December 3, 2025 at 2:54 PM
I love snowy days...until January 2nd 🤣
But for now, let it snow.
But for now, let it snow.
Hope everyone had a restorative holiday. Got to spend some time out in nature and cannot recommend it enough. If you can, get outside.
December 2, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Hope everyone had a restorative holiday. Got to spend some time out in nature and cannot recommend it enough. If you can, get outside.
Remember, remember the second of December, the martyr who was hung and the traitors who were not. I can think of no reason the second of December should ever be forgot.
Happy John Brown's Day.
Happy John Brown's Day.
December 2, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Remember, remember the second of December, the martyr who was hung and the traitors who were not. I can think of no reason the second of December should ever be forgot.
Happy John Brown's Day.
Happy John Brown's Day.
A lot to be thankful for, even (especially?) in 2025 - have a newsletter dropping with some free short fiction as a small thank you. You can grab that here:
bit.ly/48zL3hB
bit.ly/48zL3hB
November 25, 2025 at 5:39 PM
A lot to be thankful for, even (especially?) in 2025 - have a newsletter dropping with some free short fiction as a small thank you. You can grab that here:
bit.ly/48zL3hB
bit.ly/48zL3hB
In an effort to not just be politics all the time, have some pictures of a buckwheat field in late fall. If I can swing it, will have a newsletter dropping this week, too.
November 24, 2025 at 1:52 PM
In an effort to not just be politics all the time, have some pictures of a buckwheat field in late fall. If I can swing it, will have a newsletter dropping this week, too.
In which Daniel Barkhuff lays out some harsh truths about why we're here. He's right, it will be harder as memories disappear. It's also an opportunity for us to collectively step up as a society - let's do that.
substack.com/inbox/post/1...
substack.com/inbox/post/1...
November 19, 2025 at 6:10 PM
In which Daniel Barkhuff lays out some harsh truths about why we're here. He's right, it will be harder as memories disappear. It's also an opportunity for us to collectively step up as a society - let's do that.
substack.com/inbox/post/1...
substack.com/inbox/post/1...
Winter has come.
November 19, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Winter has come.
Convincing you to read my novel by the first sentence. Share yours if you want.
(The opening of THE SIN IN THE STEEL)
(The opening of THE SIN IN THE STEEL)
November 13, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Convincing you to read my novel by the first sentence. Share yours if you want.
(The opening of THE SIN IN THE STEEL)
(The opening of THE SIN IN THE STEEL)
November 13, 2025 at 5:43 PM
There it is. If you're going to read one Veterans Day essay today, skip mine and make it this one.
"A republic only survives when its citizens choose responsibility over indifference."
"A republic only survives when its citizens choose responsibility over indifference."
November 11, 2025 at 8:08 PM
There it is. If you're going to read one Veterans Day essay today, skip mine and make it this one.
"A republic only survives when its citizens choose responsibility over indifference."
"A republic only survives when its citizens choose responsibility over indifference."
Pitty would say Happy birthday, but she's too busy snoring 😂
November 11, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Pitty would say Happy birthday, but she's too busy snoring 😂
Some thoughts* on Veterans Day to my local community...if you want to thank a Vet for their service, tell them how you have served your community and others. Happy Veterans Day to those who have served and those who have paid the ultimate price for their country.
November 11, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Some thoughts* on Veterans Day to my local community...if you want to thank a Vet for their service, tell them how you have served your community and others. Happy Veterans Day to those who have served and those who have paid the ultimate price for their country.
American sycamores are my favorite trees. Quintessential fall. If you can, unplug for a few minutes, get outside, and sit beneath one. Idk that you'll gain wisdom, but you may gain a small measure of peace. That's not nothing.
November 10, 2025 at 4:56 PM
American sycamores are my favorite trees. Quintessential fall. If you can, unplug for a few minutes, get outside, and sit beneath one. Idk that you'll gain wisdom, but you may gain a small measure of peace. That's not nothing.
Hey folks! I dropped off the map for a minute. Spent 10 days in the back country and have a lot of new adventures to talk about. Also wrote a short (possibly micro) fiction in my head while hiking at 11k feet.
Back now, reenergized 🙂
Back now, reenergized 🙂
October 21, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Hey folks! I dropped off the map for a minute. Spent 10 days in the back country and have a lot of new adventures to talk about. Also wrote a short (possibly micro) fiction in my head while hiking at 11k feet.
Back now, reenergized 🙂
Back now, reenergized 🙂
How is it this dark a timeline on Monday? It is dark, but we have to live in America and love parts of it while not being in love with state of America today.
So here's a contribution, pizza weekend.
So here's a contribution, pizza weekend.
October 6, 2025 at 1:53 PM
How is it this dark a timeline on Monday? It is dark, but we have to live in America and love parts of it while not being in love with state of America today.
So here's a contribution, pizza weekend.
So here's a contribution, pizza weekend.
Any citizen that has folks coming in from other countries to poke fun, make jokes, have "humour", etc. of their fight against a despot is going to be met with derision.
Previously, yea that was likely a lot of Americans. Thank you rest of world for showing we weren't exceptional then, either.
Previously, yea that was likely a lot of Americans. Thank you rest of world for showing we weren't exceptional then, either.
October 6, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Any citizen that has folks coming in from other countries to poke fun, make jokes, have "humour", etc. of their fight against a despot is going to be met with derision.
Previously, yea that was likely a lot of Americans. Thank you rest of world for showing we weren't exceptional then, either.
Previously, yea that was likely a lot of Americans. Thank you rest of world for showing we weren't exceptional then, either.
The moon agrees, fall is here. Bring on the apple pumpkin cake 😄
October 5, 2025 at 1:44 PM
The moon agrees, fall is here. Bring on the apple pumpkin cake 😄
That time of year where we get beautiful sunsets. Around here, we call them Maddie skies.
September 30, 2025 at 12:58 PM
That time of year where we get beautiful sunsets. Around here, we call them Maddie skies.
This @ezrakleinbot.bsky.social characterization of the recent elections...is not accurate (2024 far closer than 2012). This might be Ezra's vibes but I'd argue the vibes in the Klein/Yglesias/Silver camps ≠ reality.
2012 D 51.1-47.2
2016 D 48.2-46.2 (wins EC)
2020 D 51.3-46.9
2024 R 48.3-49.8
2012 D 51.1-47.2
2016 D 48.2-46.2 (wins EC)
2020 D 51.3-46.9
2024 R 48.3-49.8
September 29, 2025 at 2:55 PM
This @ezrakleinbot.bsky.social characterization of the recent elections...is not accurate (2024 far closer than 2012). This might be Ezra's vibes but I'd argue the vibes in the Klein/Yglesias/Silver camps ≠ reality.
2012 D 51.1-47.2
2016 D 48.2-46.2 (wins EC)
2020 D 51.3-46.9
2024 R 48.3-49.8
2012 D 51.1-47.2
2016 D 48.2-46.2 (wins EC)
2020 D 51.3-46.9
2024 R 48.3-49.8
@npr.org your own article says this is a shit headline. Grow a spine or at least some journalistic integrity. You're failing to meet the moment.
September 24, 2025 at 12:29 PM
@npr.org your own article says this is a shit headline. Grow a spine or at least some journalistic integrity. You're failing to meet the moment.
Appreciate the email responses so far, good to know we're not alone. Also good to visit places like the one I describe here if it's not part of your family's lived xp - helps viscerally center the themes in art like SINNERS.
September 23, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Appreciate the email responses so far, good to know we're not alone. Also good to visit places like the one I describe here if it's not part of your family's lived xp - helps viscerally center the themes in art like SINNERS.
Hey folks - I have a newsletter out with a writing update and an essay about Charleston, Ryan Coogler's SINNERS, and loving America while not being in love with America. You can check it out here:
bit.ly/47YotPU
bit.ly/47YotPU
September 23, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Hey folks - I have a newsletter out with a writing update and an essay about Charleston, Ryan Coogler's SINNERS, and loving America while not being in love with America. You can check it out here:
bit.ly/47YotPU
bit.ly/47YotPU