Patrick Ryan is an acclaimed American author celebrated for his vivid storytelling and keen insight into the complexities of family, identity, and growing up. Raised on Florida’s sunbaked Gulf Coast, Ryan draws on his Southern roots to craft fiction that is both darkly humorous and deeply humane. His celebrated novel-in-stories, *Send Me*, won widespread critical praise for its nuanced portrayal of a dysfunctional family, while his works for younger readers—such as *Saints of Augustine* and *Gemini Bites*—explore friendship, secrets, and self-discovery with honesty and warmth. Ryan’s engaging, character-driven narratives have appeared in *The Best American Short Stories* and *Tin House*, earning him a devoted following and numerous accolades. Beyond his own writing, he is a champion of new literary voices, serving as the editor-in-chief of *One Story* magazine. Whether chronicling fraught adolescent journeys or illuminating the bonds that connect and divide us, Patrick Ryan’s fiction resonates for its wit, empathy, and razor-sharp observation. He currently lives in New York City.