WPS Author Interview Day 29: Ryan Hamshaw

 WPS Author Interview Day 29: Ryan Hamshaw

Welcome to day 29 of the Wonderland Pride Spotlight author interviews! Today I am interviewing Ryan Hamshaw. To see all of the spotlight posts created by my lovely community, head over to the hashtag #wonderlandpridespotlight over on Instagram! 

Ryan's Books

• Keepers of the Crossing: The Dark Friars
• The Handsel Witches (coming September 16th)

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"Yes - I’m happily gay!"

2. What books of yours have LGBTQ+ representation, and what rep do they have?

"My debut novel, The Dark Friars, is an urban fantasy and the first book in the Keepers of the Crossing series. It features queer representation, including gay and pansexual characters. I want this series to centre queer characters, exploring identity, relationships, and loyalty through a supernatural lens."

3. Why do you think LGBTQ+ rep in books is important?

"Growing up, I rarely saw LGBTQ+ characters in the books I read. I didn’t even realise something was missing at the time, but there was always this quiet feeling of: Where are the people like me? Everyone deserves to feel seen in stories. Representation affirms that our identities, our experiences, and our love are real and valid, and worth writing about."

4. What got you into writing?

"Writing has always been part of my life. From scribbling stories in school and writing fan fiction in my spare time, to contributing to my college magazine. I even studied scriptwriting at university, though I eventually dropped out because uni just wasn’t the right fit for me. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I had more time to explore something creative, and I reconnected with writing again. That’s when The Dark Friars really began to take shape."

5. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"Sir Ian McKellen. He’s always inspired me - not just through his incredible acting, but through how openly and positively he lives. His pride and honesty have had a real impact on me, especially in how I approach my work. He’s shown that using your voice matters, and that stories, whether on stage, screen, or page, can be a powerful force for change."