Interview with @SourceRyan on his debut!
Through Blissful’s many incarnations we’ve welcomed a bevy of talented writers to join the series. Today is no different however we have someone who has over twenty years of soap journalism experience and has interviewed the likes of Debbie Morgan, Diedra Hall, Drake Hogstyn, Alison Sweeny, Michelle Stafford, Maurice Benard, Kirsten Storms, Kelly Monaco, Michelle Morgan, Erika Slezak, Billy Flynn, Kate Mansi and more. In Ryan’s prolific career he has also interviewed some of the greatest soap writers such as Thom Racina, Michelle Patrick, Tom Casellio and more. With his vast knowledge of soap operas Ryan has joined the team as a storyline consultant and writer for Blissful. Now here to help push Blissful to a new level and new heights. In his first interview as a member of the Blissful staff Ryan will shed some insight on what new flavor he’s bringing to Blissful.
Chris: Hi, Ryan how are you today? Please tell me a little about yourself.
Ryan: I’m doing well, thank you for asking—I’m excited to be here. I’m based on the East Coast, and writing has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. I’m a communications graduate with a background in journalism, and I’ve had the opportunity to write for outlets such as Soap Opera Network, Soap Opera Source, TV Source Magazine, ATRL, and others. Those experiences allowed me to cover entertainment topics, conduct interviews, and develop a strong, engaging writing style. I’m always looking to grow as a writer and connect with others who share that same passion for storytelling.
Chris: Thank you for letting us get to know you a little more. So let’s get to the meat of the interview. As a new creator joining this already going machine, what did you see could be changed and how have you helped make that happen?
Ryan: Coming in with fresh eyes, one of my goals has been to help increase the episode output without sacrificing the quality that defines the work of this team. There’s so much rich history and so many exciting elements to catch up on, but the sheer volume can sometimes be daunting. One approach I pitched is breaking the longer episodes into tighter, more emotionally focused segments, giving the drama more space to resonate. Between releases, we can keep viewers engaged with “Between the Bliss,” offering quick recaps and deeper insight into character motivations.
Chris: To be honest the volume of Blissful can be a reason some people might not jump into the series. Which gave me reason to pause and discuss a change. Even though some fans love the longer episodes, I believe this will help Blissful continue to grow. Our team is very aware that we are in the smart phone era. Where a video can snatch your attention and I agree it’s time to give them more digestible content without losing the integrity of what we see Blissful as.
Fans have been clamoring to find out what you’ve been doing and have been cooking up with our team. I’m excited to announce that Ryan will be debuting very soon as the writer of a new character, Ariana “Ana” Castellano. What can you tell me about Ana and what is to come with her without giving spoilers? Also what made Ana the character you wanted to debut with and are there any chances for you to maybe take on a legacy character of Blissful lore?
Ryan: Ariana “Ana” Castellano is exactly the kind of character I’ve been dying to write. She’s this captivating enigma who seems to have it all figured out. On paper, she’s perfect: Cambridge-educated, successful CEO of a real estate empire, philanthropic, impeccably connected. But there’s something beneath that polished surface that makes you wonder what she’s really capable of.
What drew me to debut with Ana is her complexity, but also her potential as a storytelling vehicle. When I came up with the idea for this character, I wanted someone who could naturally weave into the existing Atlas Falls tapestry. Just as she is my intro to Blissful, I am hers in a way. She’s fiercely intelligent, knows how to work people to get what she wants, and she’s coming to town to help a college friend. But viewers will quickly realize there’s much more to her story.
Ana represents the kind of storytelling that hooks audiences today. Everyone has secrets, everyone’s managing their image, and she has mastered that game. Viewers will think they know her type – the successful heiress with everything handed to her. But as her past unfolds, they’ll discover she’s earned her power in ways they never expected. Her family history is definitely complicated, and she won’t be making this move alone.
As for legacy characters, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t eyeing some possibilities. But right now, I’m focused on Ariana “Ana” Castellano’s entrance and the waves it’ll create. Atlas Falls is about to get very interesting.
Chris: With a career spanning over twenty years in journalism. What are you hoping to explore and find in the webserial world that you’ve not encountered in your vast career? Also what has you most excited about working with team Blissful?
Ryan: You know, coming from journalism, I’m used to telling complete stories in 800 words or less. Everything has to be immediate, digestible, wrapped up neatly. But webserials are a completely different beast. I get to build characters like Ariana “Ana” Castellano layer by layer, week after week. I can plant seeds in an episode that don’t bloom until another two or three seasons. That kind of long-form storytelling is incredibly exciting.
What’s also amazing is how engaged the audience is. In journalism, you publish and move on to the next story. Here, viewers are dissecting every scene, theorizing about character motivations, getting genuinely invested in these people’s lives. That real-time feedback creates this energy I never experienced in traditional media.
The collaborative process with team Blissful has been equally rewarding. In journalism, you’re often working solo, but here everyone’s building this world together. Someone will throw out an idea that completely shifts how I’m thinking about a character arc, or point out a connection I hadn’t considered.
But what excites me most is the freedom to explore complex, morally ambiguous characters. Ana exists in gray areas that traditional media might not touch, but that’s where the most interesting stories live. We can dig into uncomfortable questions about family, loyalty, and power. That’s storytelling that stays with people.
Chris: Before I let you go, and I again thank you for taking the time to interview. You mentioned something about “Beyond the Bliss” exactly, what is that and why is that important to new readers of the series who are jumping on?
Ryan: “Beyond the Bliss” was really born out of recognizing that Blissful has this incredibly rich history that can feel overwhelming to newcomers. We wanted to create something that would serve multiple purposes. For new readers, it’s their entry point. Instead of feeling like they need to go back and read years of content, they can jump in with these focused pieces that give them the essential context they need. But it’s equally valuable for longtime fans who might have missed episodes or want to revisit key moments.
What makes “Beyond the Bliss” special is that we’re not just doing plot recaps. We’re diving into the psychology behind character decisions, exploring the motivations that drive these pivotal moments. We’re also introducing character promos that delve even deeper into their psyche in what we’re calling “My Blissful is…” These pieces will give viewers intimate access to how characters see their own world, their own story. It’s a way to humanize even the most complex characters and help readers understand their internal logic.
Sometimes we’ll reveal why we made certain creative choices, or highlight details that viewers might have missed the first time around. It’s also a way to keep the community engaged between main episodes. The discussions that happen around these pieces are incredible – fans connecting dots, sharing their own interpretations, debating character motivations.
For someone like Ana, whose arrival is going to shake up existing dynamics, “Beyond the Bliss” will be crucial for helping both new and returning viewers understand exactly why her presence matters so much to the families already established in Atlas Falls.
