In this episode of Ready to Be Published, Volossal Publishing founder Vinnie Corbo sits down with author Kyle S. Colgan to explore the making of his debut novel, Death by Culture Shock. Blending autobiographical fiction, grief, love, and cultural identity, Colgan shares how his background in filmmaking led him to prose—and why this deeply personal novel took five years to write.

The conversation dives into writing through grief, navigating interracial marriage and cultural blending, and the emotional complexity of showing up for someone you love during loss. Colgan discusses how his wife’s Pakistani and Muslim background influenced both his life and his storytelling, and how shared trauma, family dynamics, and cultural differences shape relationships in powerful, universal ways.

Kyle ...