Interview With A Dreamchaser - J. Ryan Stradal

Welcome to Interview with a Dreamchaser, a series where accomplished dreamers share five tips for living with big dreams.

J. Ryan Stradal’s latest novel, Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club, published by Viking / Pamela Dorman Books was an instant national bestseller. It debuted at #11 on the national ABA Indiebound list, #7 on the Los Angeles Times list, and was the #1 selling hardcover fiction book among independent bookstores in the Midwest its first week of release. Roxane Gay has called it “a perfect book,” and it received glowing reviews from NPR, People, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Minnesota Public Radio, TASTE Magazine, AARP Magazine, and Kirkus, where it earned a starred review. If you choose it for your book club, please let J. Ryan know via kitchens.midwest@gmail.com or via a social media DM, and he will do his best to join you via Zoom or Skype. Website: jryanstradal.com

Tell me about a time you had to start over, or a dream you accomplished.

Publishing my first novel, Kitchens of the Great Midwest, was a lifelong dream. It wasn’t the first novel manuscript I’d ever written (I wrote one in my 20s that will never see the light of day) but I’d put in a lot of time since that first attempt taking writing classes, writing short stories, reading contemporary literature, volunteering for indie publications, and co-running a literary event series. All of these experiences made me a much more thoughtful and effective writer than I’d been. Of course, someone can put in that amount of work and not write a novel that becomes a bestseller, but I was incredibly fortunate both in the editor I chose and the freedom I had to hit the road and promote my work. I said yes to almost everything, and it laid the foundation for my career. It was a dream realized, but it certainly wasn’t overnight.

What big hurdle did you overcome to reach your goal?

I’d say impatience. I perceived tremendous pressure to publish my first novel by the time I was 30. That was a huge misconception on my part. The best debuts I’ve read the last few years were from writers over 40.

What’s the main lesson you learned?

Be grateful. There’s no reason in the world that someone should read your novel. If they take the time — away from their family, friends, and other beloved pastimes — it’s a tremendous privilege. Write the best you can for your readers, because they deserve it.

Do you have another goal or dream?

To raise a happy child who becomes a secure, kind, and confident adult.

A career artist must hustle to sell themselves and their work. What’s your #1 Hustle Tip?

For writers promoting their work on the road, consider newer, less-established bookstores — and if they’re too small to hold events, ask if they can do off-site events at a library or a local brewery. Libraries are always excellent venues and should be a part of any book tour — and they exist in locations where bookstores don’t, and reach readers who wouldn’t drive to big city bookstores.

What’s your advice for someone who’s starting over, or wants to achieve a dream?

Find other people who are at your stage — whether volunteer organizations, publications, or web sites relevant to your desired field — and form a community with them, preferably in real life. Help each other with the early stages of breaking into an artistic field. If you can afford to hire a mentor or take classes, absolutely do so. The lit world has some excellent mentorship programs, some of which are free and some of which cost money (but are worth it) and many local colleges and universities offer extension classes or night classes where you can meet people at a similar level. I’ve done pretty much all of the above, and I wouldn’t do it any other way.

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