A Conversation with J.B. Ryder, Author of ‘The Forgotten Colony’
By Rilewa Ayoade
J.B. Ryder is an 18 year old published author, writer, and most recently, entrepreneur. Ryder has two published books, The Forgotten Colony, and Us Before Them, which is the second book in The Forgotten Colony trilogy. Following the release of Us Before Them earlier this summer, now the third book, and conclusion to the trilogy is under development. We discussed this, and other topics, ranging from writing advice, literary influences, and what’s in store next for him.
The last time The Beatrice Martin Foundation interviewed you was in 2024.What would you say the most notable changes in your career have been since then?
I think the biggest change in my career has been the introduction of entrepreneurship through my social app, PalAbout: Your Social Life. That has, of course, taken up a large amount of my time in the last several months, and it has become something very important to me. After all, the inspiration for it came from my experience with some of the negative aspects of traditional social media. As for changes to my writing career, it’s largely stayed consistent; I write my Zach Croft books and make videos about writing as a teenager. I celebrate the fact that it’s a point of stability in my life. No matter what happens, Zach Croft will be there.
How has the TFC community changed in the past year?
Well, the last year has seen the release of the second Zach Croft book, Us Before Them. That means fans of The Forgotten Colony now have another 700 pages of content to pore over, with a new planet, new characters, new species, and new dangers to explore. I think a notable shift that has taken place is people now feel a lot closer to the characters. This is likely because I took a lot more care in Us Before Them to make sure all the character arcs were not only fully developed but also deeply intertwined. The Forgotten Colony may have laid the foundation for the characters, but Us Before Them builds a skyscraper on top of it. Also, people like Carver a lot more now because he’s… you know… not a terrible person anymore.
What do you think will excite readers most about your new book?
It’ll be really interesting to see how it’s resolved. I have a full “book end” conclusion to the series planned out that ties the end of book 3 back to the beginning of The Forgotten Colony in a very satisfying way. Aside from that, I think an anchor for book 3 will really be its message. Even in its earliest stages of development, the most fleshed-out aspect of the story right now is its treasure trove of metaphors, analogies, and connections to real world issues.
What do you think will shock readers most?
Someone really important is going to die in a way that perfectly fits into their three-book arc. It’ll be very sad but very necessary for the story.
How do you stay motivated writing?
I don’t rely on motivation whatsoever—I rely predominantly on habit. I outline a ton early on so I have a complete roadmap of what I need to write each day. Then, I just say, “I’m going to write this many words at this time of day.” Therefore, when that time of day comes along, my brain naturally switches into the right mode. Even if I’m struggling to get the words out, I have the outline to rely on and can just write a super barebones scene that matches the general story beats I planned. That way, I’m always getting something done.
Do you have any advice for young writers?
Do a ton of worldbuilding early on. Like before the pen even touches paper, figure out the entire universe. It’s not really possible to have writer’s block when fleshing out lore that will probably never make it into the series, and it makes you fall in love with the world of the story. Then, when you encounter actual writer’s block later, you’ll be more averse to quitting because you don’t want to leave that universe behind.
How many of the characters make it out of the conclusion to the trilogy alive?
I can’t give an exact number because that might inadvertently spoil something, but I’m currently planning on leaving most of the important characters alive. Unless they annoy me. Then, they might have problems.
For people unfamiliar with your work, can you summarize it so far for them?
The elevator pitch is that the Zach Croft series is about morally gray people somehow screwing up three separate planets.
What themes are most commonly found in your work?
The most consistent theme is that there are no good guys. Everybody is morally gray. Everything is a matter of perspective. However, I do include a lot of themes relating to problems we’re currently facing in the real world. For instance, The Forgotten Colony is heavily concerned with the dangers of ignoring scientists when they say environmental problems are stacking up. Us Before Them is concerned with the consequences of tribalism, political polarization, and the dehumanization of enemies.
Would you ever write in other genres, or do you plan to stick with Sci-Fi?
I can see myself writing an alternate history book or perhaps something in fantasy. Actually, two of the potential projects I may write after Zach Croft are alternate history stories.
What is your favorite thing about writing?
It teaches people how to take criticism in a healthy way, iterate over and over without external validation, and think outside the box. Those are skills that apply to a lot of different fields, even those not inherently creative.
This November, according to your social media, you are participating in something called “National Writer Lock In Month”. How is that going so far?
It’s been a very cool experience. Within the PalAbout event, there are about 100 writers who have been consistently sharing their progress, discussing struggles, and exchanging tips. There have also been a handful of related events that have branched off from the main one (about fan casts, books that have inspired us, etc).
What advice do you wish you had gotten when you started writing?
Motivation breeds progress, and progress breeds motivation. If you’re not feeling motivated, you just have to start writing, and the motivation will follow. That’s something I didn’t really understand when I was a kid. You just need to make a habit of writing.
How does being an author and writer shape your identity?
I am a storyteller. That’s true across everything I do. I mean, I’ve been journaling every single day for the last 4 years because I know that by writing down everything I do, I’ll be motivated to do awesome things because I get to tell a good story.
What authors and books have most influenced your writing?
Well, the obvious answer is that The 100 book series and TV show had the greatest impact because they directly inspired the Zach Croft books. The earliest idea for the Zach Croft series was nearly a carbon copy of it (it’s not anymore, don’t worry). But in terms of which author influenced the actual writing the most, I’d have to say Suzanne Collins. You’ll find serious similarities between my prose and the prose in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
What are your plans after this book?
It’s kind of up in the air. I know I’m going to continue writing, but I don’t know exactly what I’ll be writing about. I probably won’t immediately get started on another book in the Zach Croft universe, and I honestly don’t know if I’ll write another full series in the near future—I’m sort of leaning towards writing standalones. I have an interesting idea for a sci-fi book heavily related to what I actually intend to do later in my career as an entrepreneur, but we’ll see what happens. Maybe I’ll release a phrase book of the Paladonian language that never made it into the Zach Croft books.
In your previous interview, you had mentioned that besides The Forgotten Colony series ending with a third book, there might potentially be a spin-off book. Is that still in the cards, or would this upcoming book be the end for TFC?
Like I said, I’ll probably step back from the Zach Croft series for a little while, but I can’t promise I’ll stay away forever. It’s an integral part of who I am. The main deciding factor would be if I can find an interesting story to tell that doesn’t compromise the integrity of the existing books.
How should interested readers stay updated?
Follow my Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube at jbryderauthor.
Do you have anything else you want to share with readers?
Thank you all for following me on this journey. I’ve been working on this series since I was 12, and it’s a little surreal to be so close to the finish line. I cannot put into words how happy I am that my books have found their readers.
