Kennedy Ryan

Kennedy Ryan is an American romance novelist recognized for her contemporary romance novels highlighting social issues and diverse characters. She is the first Black winner of a RITA Award for romantic fiction and is an activist and founder of a nonprofit for autism awareness.

Early life and education
Ryan studied journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She worked on writing for non-profit organizations and non-fiction ghost writing before focusing on fiction.

Career
Ryan's writing career focuses on contemporary romance novels noted for their emotional depth and portrayal of social issues.

Ryan's "Hoops" series explores the lives of professional basketball players with its rights, and for her "All the King's Men" series, being acquired by The Traveling Picture Show Company (TPSC).

In 2019, Ryan was the first Black author to receive the RITA Award by the Romance Writers of America for Best Contemporary Romance for her novel "Long Shot," a recognition considered one of the highest honors in the romance writing community. The novel was inspired by the domestic violence incidents around football player Ray Rice.

In 2023, her bestselling novel Before I Let Go was in development at Peacock from UCP and Universal Television.

Personal life
Ryan is also known for her advocacy work, particularly in raising awareness about autism, inspired by her personal experiences with her son.

She has said Shonda Rhimes was an inspiration for her writing work. Some other authors that Ryan has said inspire her include Tiffanie DeBartolo, Alyssa Cole, L.J. Shen, Nana Malone, Dylan Allen, Emma Scott, Kate Stewart, Amy Harmon, Helen Hoang, Andie Christopher and Talia Hibbert.