Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Ryan Meyer

Ryan Meyer has emerged as one of the most exciting poets of his generation. His latest release, Tempest: Poems, explores themes of fear, hope, and self-identity, and has caught the attention of several publications including Cosmopolitan. Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking with Ryan about the collection and the inspiration behind it.

PC: How did you discover your passion for storytelling?
Ryan: I’ve been writing stories since I was a kid, forcing my grandparents to listen to me read what I’d come up with. They’ve always encouraged me, as did my teachers growing up. And of course, I was a pretty avid reader. So many different stories ignited my passions, but it wasn’t until college that I really dove headfirst into poetry, when a creative writing professor introduced me to who would become my favorite poets.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Ryan: It was really my experience at school that pushed me to get my first book going—shout-out to Southern Connecticut State University. I took several courses that helped me hone my work, followed by an independent study where I was able to craft a collection of poems following a certain theme. That certainly planted the seed for Haunt. As for my craft, I wouldn’t be anywhere if it weren’t for the works of Andrea Gibson, John Ashbery, Frank O’Hara, and others.

PC: Tell us about Tempest: Poems and the inspiration behind the collection.
Ryan: Tempest draws from so many aspects of my life, which is why I describe it more as an exploration of self-identity. It’s broad, but it’s hard to categorize something that is so many things, at least to me. The title draws from the song of the same name by Deftones, one of my biggest inspirations when it comes to the dichotomies of darkness and light. And they have an album cover that is also very pink, so I can’t say I wasn’t thinking about that when I came across this cover idea. They’re quoted inside the book, as well. Themes of nature occur throughout these poems, kind of a means of keeping us grounded and focused on what is most valuable, especially balanced with the themes of our own innate fears of the future. Tempest is also the result of my own relationship with myself, coming out, meeting someone very special to me, and the resulting situations that became very formative in my life—that includes my familial relationships, my experiences as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and my growth as a writer.

PC: This is your sophomore release. What did you learn from the experience working on Haunt that you’ve been able to apply to Tempest: Poems?
Ryan: Haunt was definitely genre-driven, but there are aspects of horror I was able to incorporate into Tempest: Poems that allowed me to branch out with my writing and the stories I wanted to tell, while also being able to keep the two books connected in some shape or form. Now that I work in the publishing industry as well, I’ve been able to apply a lot more to Tempest in terms of layout, marketing, and publishing options. Haunt does have some poems that draw a lot from myself, which is something I didn’t think I would really want to do, but I’ve learned that not only is it inevitable, but it is sincerely valuable to me, and I hope, to the readers. So, they’ll find a lot more of me in Tempest, for sure. I have Haunt to thank, in some regard, for that.

PC: You started writing some of the poems back in 2012. Which has made the greatest transformation since its initial conception?
Ryan: There’s a poem in Tempest called “Long, Long After” that was originally a post-apocalypse scenario about life finding a way to flourish in a desolate wasteland, but it turned into something a lot more grounded. I did manage to keep the theme of flourishing in a tough situation, or at least trying to.

PC: You’ve stated that this is a deeply personal book. Has it ever been a scary proposition being so vulnerable in your craft?
Ryan: Of course. I always try to write so I can avoid questions about who specific poems are about; I think that takes away from the way a reader can relate to art, to some degree. But I discovered some of my own favorites are some of my most personal pieces, and some that my early readers have responded to the most, so I leaned into that with this go-round.

For example, I have a poem in the book about my mom, who suffers with epilepsy, but she’s one of the strongest people I know! That poem was a dream I had years back and was actually the first piece I’d ever had published. And when I read it at an open mic back in college, someone came up to me after, thanking me for reading it, since they had someone close to them suffering with epilepsy as well. It was a surreal moment, and one that I’ll never forget.

PC: Tempest: Poems has been included in some of the most anticipated books of the year. What has that response meant to you?
Ryan: It’s still hard to believe, for sure! Not only has it meant that there is a space for writers like me out there in the world, but also that self-published writers have more opportunities than some might think. I hope to do my part to get a few more readers hooked on poetry!

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Ryan: I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t binging iCarly now that it’s on Netflix.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Ryan: Not guilty about it at all–The Lizzie McGuire Movie. It’s what dreams are made of.

PC: Favorite book?
Ryan: Novel: Salem’s Lot, by Stephen King. Poetry collection: Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror, by John Ashbery.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Ryan: The Rocky Horror Picture Show!

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Ryan: My most recent add is Teenage Wrist’s new album, Earth is a Black Hole. Maybe not a surprise? But such a good record.

To keep up with Ryan, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Pick up your copy of Tempest: Poems today.