Randy Ribay is a two-time National Book Award nominee whose work has appeared on the New York Times, Indie, and USA Today bestseller lists. He is the author of the vampire novel Nest of Tongues; Patron Saints of Nothing, a National Book Award finalist; and Everything We Never Had, a multigenerational novel recognized with major honors, including the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature. His books are widely praised for their exploration of identity, family, and belonging through the Filipino American experience.

Ribay writes in the globally bestselling Avatar: The Last Airbender universe, including The Reckoning of Roku and The Awakening of Roku, a duology set in the Chronicles of the Avatar series and centered on the rise of Avatar Roku. Born in the Philippines and raised in the American Midwest, Ribay lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his family.

I had the opportunity to interview Randy, which you can read below.

First of all, welcome to Geeks OUT! Could you tell us a little about yourself?

I’m Randy Ribay, a Filipino American author of several books for young adults, including Patron Saints of Nothing, Everything We Never Had, and more. 

What can you tell us about your work in The Chronicles of the Avatar series? What’s your favorite part about writing in the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender? 

I wrote books 5 & 6 in the Chronicles of the Avatar series, The Reckoning of Roku & The Awakening of Roku. In Reckoning, Roku’s just started his Avatar training when he receives a message from his good friend Prince Sozin. According to Sozin, the Earth Kingdom is trying to lay claim to a remote island that belongs to the Fire Nation. Roku—accompanied by Gyatso—ends up heading to the island and quickly discovers there’s more to the story. Awakening takes place a few years later, after Roku has mastered airbending. On his way to study waterbending, he takes a detour to investigate a mysterious illness that’s rapidly spreading throughout the North, threatening their way of life. I’m currently working on the next book in the series, The Tempest of Sonam, which comes out July 2027. The story centers on a teenage Avatar Sonam—introduced in the recent Avatar Aang film—and is set thousands of years before the events of the original series.

I didn’t get into ATLA until it dropped on Netflix in 2020, but I was hooked from the very first episode. I loved the way the show explored deep, complex themes while maintaining all the elements that make the best kids’ stories—strong worldbuilding, interesting characters, thrilling plot, cool action sequences, heart, and humor. Being able to write in this world and contribute to a few small corners of its lore is an honor.  

So far, you’ve written for Avatar Roku and soon for Avatar Sonam. If you could write about any other character in the ATLA universe, who would it be (avatar, bender, or otherwise)?

I’d love to dig into Lu Ten’s story. The depth of Uncle Iroh’s sorrow hit me so hard the first time I watched that episode and has always stayed with me. The TTRPG Avatar Legends tells us a bit more about his son, but I think it would be interesting to explore the specifics of their relationship and to witness that moment from their perspectives.  

As a creative, what drew you to the art of storytelling? 

I’ve always loved stories in all mediums, and when you love a certain form of art, I think it’s natural to try to create it. And after I started writing novels, it was also important to me to put more Filipino American characters on the page since our community’s been underrepresented in mainstream media despite being one of the largest immigrant groups in the US for the last several decades. 

How would you describe your creative process?

A struggle? Ha. For real, though. I like that proverb “a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” The struggle is essential to the process. 

What are some of your favorite elements of writing? What do you consider some of the most frustrating and/or difficult? 

I love how minimalist of an art it is. You don’t need fancy or expensive equipment. You just need a notebook and a pen or access to a computer; then you create entire worlds and characters that people (hopefully) care about using nothing but language and your imagination. 

Every stage of the process has its own challenges. When I’m prewriting or researching, it’s difficult to commit to ideas. When I’m drafting, it’s hard to transfer accurately what’s in my head to the page. When I’m revising, it’s a struggle to figure out what needs to be removed, added, or changed to turn bring the story further in line with my vision. I don’t view these frustrations as negative, though. They’re part of the process and working through them is what creates a story I feel proud of.  

As a creative, who or what would you say are some of your greatest creative influences and/or sources of inspiration in general?

I’m inspired by all the stories I love across all mediums. The writings of James Baldwin, Haruki Murakami, Toni Morrison, Sandra Cisneros, Fonda Lee. The poetry of Lucile Clifton, Pablo Neruda, Ada Limón. Comics like The Uncanny X-Men, Watchmen, and Saga. Video games like Final Fantasy 7 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. TV shows like Battlestar Galactica, The Wire, Andor, and The Good Place. To name a few. 

Aside from your work, what are some things you would want readers to know about you?

I’m just a dude. 

What’s a question you haven’t been asked yet but that you wish you were asked (as well as the answer to that question)?

What am I reading/watching/listening to right now? Reading: Questions 27 & 28 by Karen Tei Yamashita, The Disappearers by Marlon James, and The Golden Road by William Dalrymple. Watching: Physical 100 (Mexico), Love is Blind (Boston), Avatar: Seven Havens. Listening to: Olivia Rodrigo’s You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl so in Love and the Braving the Elements podcast.  

What advice might you have to give for aspiring storytellers out there?

Not anything too groundbreaking—read and watch a lot and write a lot. I believe storytelling is like any other skill. The more you study and practice it, the better you get at it. 

Are there any other projects you are working on and at liberty to speak about?

Besides the Sonam novel, the second book in my paranormal horror duology about sibling manananggals (Filipino vampire-ish creatures) will also be out next year. The first book is Nest of Tongues, and the title of the second…will be revealed soon! 

Finally, what books/authors would you recommend to the readers of GeeksOUT? 

Ah, so many. But this time around, I’ll say the Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee, That Which Feeds Us by Keala Kendall, and anything by Mike Chen. You should also watch Forgotten Island!

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Header Photo Credit Leopoldo Macaya