What would you do for your family?
For Father’s Day, I knew I wanted to interview an author who is a dad. I’ve been following bestselling and award-winning author, Ryan Steck since his first Christian thriller, Fields of Fire released in 2023–MATTHEW REDD THRILLERS. Everything fell into place to interview him this month for his release of book four, Gone Dark. After getting to know Ryan, this was totally a God-thing.
Ryan is an editor, an author, and the founder and editor in chief of The Real Book Spy. Ryan has been named an “Online Influencer” by Amazon and is a regular columnist at CrimeReads. TheRealBookSpy.com has been endorsed by #1 New York Times bestselling authors Mark Greaney, C. J. Box, Kyle Mills, Daniel Silva, Brad Thor, and many others. A resident of Michigan, along with his wife and their six kids, Steck cheers on his beloved Detroit Tigers and Lions during the rare moments when he’s not reading or talking about books on social media.
When I say Ryan writes thrillers, he is immersed in that world. Be sure to watch our A2A interview on YouTube for more about his foray into both CBA and ABA books, including learning what TheRealBookSpy.com is all about.
But most of all, Ryan is a husband and dad to six–that’s right–six kids! He is as much of a hero as his character Matthew Redd.
Gone Dark is my favorite book in the Matthew Redd Thriller series–so far. Here’s why:
Matthew Redd doesn’t go looking for trouble. But this time, it’s found him anyway . . . and he’s not the only one in the crosshairs.
Late-summer wildfires are a fact of life in Montana. But as an inferno nears Wellington, Matthew Redd gets the unusual call that a team of smoke jumpers has suddenly gone dark. As head of the county’s fledgling search and rescue team, Redd drops into the fire zone and finds way more than he bargained for: a killer has taken out the smoke jumper team along with two civilians, and only a terrified young boy is left as witness. Redd and little Jack narrowly escape the raging fire, and Redd calls in Gavin Kline, now acting director of the FBI–and his birth father–to investigate the bigger forces at play.
Matty will do anything to protect his family–anything.
So how does this busy father pen these incredible stories? Let’s find out! (Writers: take note of some great insights.)
Do you have any strange writing habits/quirks?
I’m not sure if it’s strange, because I don’t know how everyone else does it, but I absolutely just can not sit down and create while staring at my keyboard and computer monitor! For me, I really need to see the scene or chapter I’m about to write in my head, and then I can go capture it and put it into words. So, honestly, I spend a lot more time sitting, walking, driving to Starbucks—you name it—and just thinking about each chapter until it plays like a movie in my head, and then I go write it.
What is something God taught you while you wrote your featured book?
What a great question. I’d have to say that, along the way, God has taught me that it’s not about me. We’re all the main character in our own story. Or so we think, right? But I’ve learned over the years, and especially since I became an author, just how important it is to put Jesus first and to live every day for Him. I didn’t always do that when I was younger, but now, that’s the mindset I carry into each new day. And that’s brought infinitely more peace, happiness, and joy into my life.
What is one of your favorite quotes from Gone Dark and why do you love it?
At one point, and I don’t want to spoil the scene so I’ll be just a touch vague here, Redd tells someone, “I’d go to hell for my kids, don’t think I won’t sin a little to get there.” I love that line. Not because I wrote it, but because I think it shows who Redd is as a protector and a father… and in some ways, its sums up what a lot of us dads (and probably some moms!) think when it comes to making sure our children are safe.
What are you working on now?
I’m finishing up the next Redd adventure, number five in the series. It’s called Target Down, and I’m really, really excited about this book. Gone Dark has a lot of stuff in it that’s personal to me, and it’s a story I’ve wanted to tell for years … but the next one is far more action-packed and bigger in scope. I can’t wait for my readers to see what Redd’s up against next summer.
Once I finish Target Down, I’ll be teaming back up with my buddy Simon Gervais for our second collaboration, which will follow our book 
The Second Son, that comes out later this year.
From there, I’ll jump into the next Alex Hawke novel, set after the events of Ted Bell’s Monarch. So, the work never stops, but I am so thankful to get to do what I love for a living.
What is the least helpful writing tip you ever received? Why wasn’t it helpful?
People often say, “write what you know,” but if that was the case, all I could write about is being a dad, a husband, and books. My life isn’t all that exciting. I certainly have a lot less action going on that Matty Redd. Instead, I believe the best advice is to: Write what you want to read. That is what helped me create Redd and the characters he interacts with. Sure, you might have to do more research to write about stuff that you’ve got little to no experience with, but the research is half the fun! So, forget that old saying and just go write what you like.
What do you hope readers know about you and your books?
I hope readers understand that while I love Jesus and profess Him to be the Lord of my life, my books are not Christian thrillers. I write for a secular audience because I came up reading Vince Flynn, Brad Thor, and C.J. Box. My faith is deeply personal to me, but I never try to “bible thump” in my books. Sure, there’s a moment here or there where I’m able to slip a few things into the story—especially because Redd himself is on a journey with his own faith—but it’s limited. I do try to write clean fiction, but my hope is that everyone can pick my books up and enjoy them.
And that’s a hero. That’s a dad.
Be sure to check out the YouTube interview with Ryan. We get into even more tasty nuggets and insider info.
How about a FANTASTIC giveaway from Ryan?
June’s A2A Giveaway!
Yes! Thanks to Ryan and Tyndale Publishing, this month’s giveaway will have THREE WINNERS! GIVEAWAY: Are you ready for this? ONE WINNER will receive the first four softcover books of the Matthew Redd series:
1. Fields of Fire 2. Lethal Range 3. Out for Blood 4. Gone Dark
Then TWO WINNERS will receive a softcover copy of Gone Dark!
There’s one winner and it could be you! How? Well, by entering! Not just once, but up to SIX times– (see the YouTube interview)!* Leave a comment below and share this blog and if you haven’t already, please subscribe to my newsletter at the bottom of this blog and receive a free gift from me — and an extra entry.
NOTE: WANT TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING THIS INCREDIBLE GIVEAWAY?*
Check out my YouTubeA2A interview with Ryan. Because, in the video interview Ryan answer different fun questions–and we have some great discussions!
By Liking and Commenting on the video episode, you will have one more entry.* Sharing the video, another entry.* Subscribe, and you have TWO entries for a chance to win.*
The Deadline is June 12th!
Watch our interview–
That means, my friends, if you comment and subscribe -– or are already a subscriber -– to my blog, then watch the video and LIKE, SHARE, and COMMENT on the VIDEO, then Subscribe to my YouTube Channel, your name will be entered SIX TIMES–SEVEN!*
Next month: Award-winning and bestselling author, Roseanna M. White.
Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed getting to know Ryan! Until May, God bless and KEEP READING! And Happy Father’s Day!
*So sorry, entries from the contiguous US only.
