Author and screenwriter Ryan Souter continues to thrive in the creative arts community with the release of his fourth novel, Hope Unites, published in November 2024.
Souter, who grew up in Selkirk, has long had a passion for creative writing.
“When I am storytelling, I am in my bloom,” he said.
Hope Unites is the second installment of the Hope Trilogy and follows the events of Hope Rises. Souter said he wanted to create a series centred on a strong female lead. The trilogy, recommended for mature readers, is a dystopian thriller that follows Hope’s charismatic journey as she battles obstacles in a shifting world.
He originally intended to write a standalone novel about Hope but soon realized one book wasn’t enough to fully explore the character.
“It was feeling sluggish. I needed to find a way to develop Hope’s persona and keep the story moving,” he said.
The trilogy now captures the beginning, middle and end of Hope’s life.
Before turning to novels, Souter began his writing career with screenplays. He said his early scripts were heavily influenced by the cities he lived in, which restricted his creative freedom. Writing novels, he said, has allowed him to expand his settings and imagination.
“I can create entire worlds on a page—there is no limit to the imagination. You can go with the flow and turn a story into something so much more,” he said.
Souter credits a high school production of Frankenstein for igniting his love of storytelling. Playing the Monster inspired him to begin creating compelling characters of his own.
“I loved the depth the character had,” he said. “It opened a new world for me.”
Though he isn’t entirely sure what inspired him to become a novelist, Souter said the hobby quickly became a passion. He began writing novels alongside his film work and said the two forms have similar structure, though novels require more effort.
“It is a juggling act between the film and book work… but if you like to write, you are always going to make time for it,” he said. “When writing is in your blood, you have to put yourself out there and make it work.”
Souter said it took nearly three years to complete his first novel, but he enjoyed the process. He embraces all stages of writing—from planning to editing—and aims to connect deeply with his audience.
“You don’t just write for yourself,” he said. “You hope to entertain your readers and create a story they resonate with. It is about the emotions faced by my characters and readers that carry my writing. When you have story depth, it makes the stories much more interesting.”
Now struck by what he calls a “writing bug,” Souter is taking a break from the Hope series to work on a new novel. He believes stepping away between books helps bring fresh ideas to a project. He encourages aspiring writers to be patient and persistent.
“If you quit, you will never know what you could have created,” he said. “Find your passion, and don’t let self-doubt take control. We all have to start somewhere, and that start begins with you.”
Souter’s books, including Hope Unites, are available at the Gaynor Family Regional Library, the Cozy Fox, and on Amazon.
