Plotting success, one mystery at a time
While plot twists come naturally to mystery and thriller author Tom Ryan (Screen Arts '01), it was the real-life twist of moving across Canada that inspired him to pursue his lifelong dream of writing a novel.
“I’ve wanted to be a writer for literally my entire life. After earning my B.A. in English literature and drama, I was looking to gain practical skills and a creative career,” explains Tom.
“When I heard about NSCC’s brand-new Screen Arts program, designed to prepare people for Halifax’s booming film industry, it felt like the perfect opportunity.”
After graduating from NSCC, Tom spent seven years in contract roles across the film industry. Seeking more stability, Tom returned to NSCC where he worked in recruitment for several years until his now-husband was posted to Victoria with the Navy.
From first draft to best seller
“I had always wanted to try writing a novel, and so I spent my first few months on the West Coast figuring out how to go about that,” says Tom, who’s from Inverness, Nova Scotia.
“I learned a great deal from the Screen Arts program about making sure all the pieces are in place before telling a story, and I’ve absorbed many of those lessons into my writing.”
Tom’s first break came when an editor encouraged him to write a young adult novel. “I’d never considered writing YA, but it was a way to get my foot in the door – and it turned out I liked writing for young people. I wrote several novels for a younger audience before turning my attentions to mysteries and thrillers for adults, my favourite genres to read,” says Tom.
With published books ranging from picture books to YA fiction, Tom took the leap to writing mysteries and thrillers for adults. His debut adult novel, “The Treasure Hunters Club,” quickly became his most successful book, achieving bestseller status in Canada and the US.
His engaging, suspenseful mysteries with lots of twists and turns, have earned him the Lambda “Lammy” award, an International Thriller Writers award and a recent nomination for an Edgar Allan Poe award.
Mystery Born on the Shores of Nova Scotia
Tom divides his time between Dartmouth and Inverness, and draws inspiration for his writing from both locations. Elements of Nova Scotia appear in “The Treasure Hunters Club”, which was selected as the first book featured in NSCC’s Alumni Book Club. The sequel to “The Treasure Hunters Club” is set to come out in fall 2026.
“As a writer, you learn to pay attention to pretty much everything—from snippets of conversation at a coffee shop to a vivid scene glimpsed out the car window,” says Tom. “Nova Scotia is endlessly inspiring to me.”
His latest novel, “We Had a Hunch,” just hit shelves in Canada. The story follows three former teen detectives who reunite in middle age when a case from their past draws them back to their hometown and back into solving mysteries.
“The greatest milestone is always wrapping up a project that I know readers will like,” says Tom.