WPS 2026 Day 20: Ryley Banks

 

Wonderland Pride Spotlight Day 20: Ryley Banks

Welcome to day 20 of the 2026 Wonderland Pride Spotlight! This is my way to help champion LGBTQ+ books and authors this Pride month! Today I am interviewing Ryley Banks. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

Ryley Banks's LGBTQ+ Releases

• Heat Waves
• Sacked by the Quarterback
• Eggplant Night
• Teacher Pet
• Dirty Dishes
• Third Time's the Charm
• The Big Bad Book of Bedtime Stories Volume 1: A Spicy Short Story Collection

The Interview

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

"Bisexual"

2. What rep do your books have?

"Heat Waves: MM

Sacked by the Quarterback: MM

Eggplant Night: Bisexual

Teacher Pet: FF

Dirty Dishes: Bisexual

Third Time's the Charm: Transfemme and FF"

3. If you were to write in a different genre, what would it be?

"I absolutely love writing spicy LGBTQ+ romance, so this is a tough one. I'd have to say fantasy. I think I'd have a blast making up new fictional worlds, discovering the logistics behind the societies, that kind of thing. I've dabbled in this somewhat under the romance umbrella, but I may have to do more! It's one of my favorite genres to read, too, ever since I was a little kid and my grandfather read me The Hobbit for the first time. Then I discovered Tamora Pierce's Song of the Lioness series, and it was full speed ahead on the fantasy train!"

4. What is your biggest writing inspiration?

"I can't list any one thing, but maybe it's good that I can find inspiration from everywhere. It could be a social media post or meme, or something someone says or does that sparks an idea. A few days ago a plot bunny hit while I was reading another book. I wrote the inspo down to save for later--it's a very long list at this point. As for who is my biggest writing inspiration, it would be MM romance author Keira Andrews. Her books always hit, and she's successfully been able to write books in various subgenres under the same name, which is what I hope to do as well. She's also super nice."

5. Anything exciting for you on the horizon?

"Yes! I've been working on an expansion and rewrite of one of my favorite short stories, which was featured in a charity anthology a few years ago. It's a high-heat MM contemporary romance set in autumn in New Hampshire, and it has all the fall vibes you could ever want--Hallmark, but make it SPICY. The characters had so much more to tell me, and I'm finally letting them have their say. Even better, it's going to be part of a 4 book series. They should all be novellas, but I'll let the stories tell me for sure.

Also, I'm doing more in-person events in New Mexico. One of my favorite parts about being an author is getting the chance to meet readers so I'm thrilled to have more of this on my schedule this year, and hopefully next. I've got one coming up in Albuquerque in mid-July, so it's just around the corner."

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

"I wouldn't necessarily say 'look up to', but queer celebrities like Anna Paquin, Stephanie Beatriz, Billie Joe Armstrong, Lady Gaga, Cardi B, François Arnaud, and many more discussing their bisexuality publicly is so helpful for bi visibility. That's one reason why I write a lot of bi characters too--so readers can see themselves on the page, regardless of what gender their love interest identifies as, or if they've ever dated or been with someone of the opposite or same sex. I want them to know they are valid, just the way they are."

Outro

I adore this excuse to conduct little author interviews! Happy Pride everyone! Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their LGBTQ+ releases!