Young Author, Big Imagination; Nine-Year-Old Ryan Solomon and The Search for Drake Colton | Episode 384
Creativity looks different when it arrives early, loud, and unfiltered. This conversation follows Ryan Solomon, a nine-year-old author of The Search for Drake Colton, as he explains how scattered ideas became a published Christian fantasy for kids. With his parents, David and Amanda, he shaped characters like Amy, Drake, and Levi, revised cover art, and refined plots that began as sketches and late-night brainstorms. The value runs beyond novelty; it shows kids that discipline and support can turn a spark into a book on Amazon, with rankings that prove readers are paying attention. This story also centers on faith, not as a label, but as a narrative engine that gives purpose to the action.
The creative arc started with loose notions of demon hunting, folklore, and islands guarded by monster dogs. Those fragments matured through iterations: color choices for characters, shifts in who leads the story, and a long list of “maybe” creatures that got pruned away. Ryan’s imagination fed from many sources—K-pop aesthetics, coastal towns like Sunset Beach, and travel memories from Washington to Tijuana—yet the thread stayed consistent: an adventure that teaches courage, loyalty, and belief. The family’s approach treated ideation as play, but drafting as craft. They debated names, merged concepts, and decided how book two would deepen the stakes while keeping the heart of the series.
Faith-driven storytelling gives the series its shape. Ryan wants readers his age to find God through fiction that still thrills: stealthy battles, mysterious lore, and friendships tested under pressure. The hosts underscore how morals live inside set pieces, not as lectures but as consequences of choices. A short Ocean Shores tale becomes a lesson in obeying parents; a mythic goose caper plays with teamwork and trust. The result is kid-friendly action with clear values, a rare blend in crowded children’s markets. That blend boosts search visibility too: parents seek “Christian fantasy for kids,” “clean adventure books,” and “inspirational middle-grade stories,” and Ryan’s title fits those terms naturally.
Beyond books, the team maps new formats. Ryan and friends are sketching an RPG that stretches across states, countries, and even planets, riffing on tabletop dice mechanics and Roblox role-play. The plan includes a superhero roster born from past experiments—a dinosaur cowboy, a tear-to-glass heroine, an elf strategist—characters that invite gameplay loops and fan art. Cross-media worldbuilding builds loyalty: kids who read the novel may try the Roblox map; players might circle back to the paperback or Kindle. Each touchpoint repeats the same promise: imaginative fun anchored by meaning, a safe place for young readers to grow.
The practical lesson for families and teachers is straightforward. Treat kid ideas as drafts, not detours. Capture them, test them, and keep the ones that serve the story’s core. Encourage autonomy—Ryan chose to write and stuck with it—but pair it with editorial guidance that respects age and ambition. Celebrate milestones like a first ranking, a first review, or a finalized cover. Most of all, highlight the joy. When Ryan says he jumped for joy opening his author copy, it reminds us why stories matter: they make impossible futures feel near. That spark, supported by patient adults and honest faith, can turn a living room brainstorm into a book that travels the world.
Chapter Markers
0:02 Welcome, Reach, And Subscribes
2:29 Website, Donations, And Merch
6:06 Introducing Ryan Solomon And Family
8:16 How The Book Idea Began
10:55 Characters, Drafts, And Art Choices
13:38 Faith Themes And Story Purpose
16:45 Worldbuilding Amy, Drake, And Levi
20:30 Early Stories And Creative Process
24:12 The Boy And The Sword Vision
28:18 Crossovers And Series Plans
32:50 Mythical Projects And Short Stories
38:05 Why Write And What Readers Gain
41:44 RPGs, Roblox, And Superhero Team
46:16 Amazon Rankings And Momentum
50:55 Family Support And Confidence
#YoungAuthor #KidLi #ImaginativeWriting #RyanSolomon #DrakeColton #ChildrensBooks #CreativeKids #BookRecommendations #MiddleGradeFiction #KidsWhoWrite #InspiringStories #LiteraryAdventure #BooksForKids #StorytellingMagic #justiceforsurvivors #VoicesforVoices #VoicesforVoicesPodcast #JustinAlanHayes #JustinHayes #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #Jesusaire #VoiceForChange #HealingTogether #VoicesForVoices384
Young Author, Big Imagination; 9-Year-Old Ryan Solomon and The Search for Drake Colton | Episode 384
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#YoungAuthor #KidLit #ImaginativeWriting #RyanSolomon #DrakeColton #ChildrensBooks #CreativeKids #BookRecommendations #MiddleGradeFiction #KidsWhoWrite #InspiringStories #LiteraryAdventure #BooksForKids #StorytellingMagic #justiceforsurvivors #VoicesforVoices #VoicesforVoicesPodcast #JustinAlanHayes #JustinHayes #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #Jesusaire #VoiceForChange #HealingTogether #VoicesForVoices384