Today at 2 pm, WhatsUpNewp kicks off its authors’ series, videocasts with writers from Rhode Island, or who have a Rhode Island connection. We’ll talk with novelists, short story, and non-fiction writers, sharing in their adventures.

Our first author is Dr. Michael Fine, the former Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, who had always seen writing as a calling. He authored three non-fiction books, also writing short stories, before writing his first novel, “Abundance.” In time for the holidays, he’s now released a book of 10 short stories, “The Bull and Other Stories.”

We’ll learn from each of our authors what motivates them, why writing is so important. For Helen Keller, the pioneering advocate for the deaf and blind, she said that “when I hold a beloved book in my hand my limitations fall from me, my spirit is free.”

Ryan Belmore is the Owner and Publisher of What'sUpNewp. Although not the founder or original owner, Belmore has been with What'sUpNewp since its early beginnings in 2012.

Belmore was born in Providence, Rhode Island; grew up and graduated high school in Coventry, Rhode Island; and lived in Newport, Rhode Island for more than ten years. He currently serves as Vice President of the Board Of Directors for Fort Adams Trust and on the Board of Directors for Potter League For Animals.

He and his wife, Jen, as well as their two dogs (Aero and June), recently moved to Alexandria, Virginia. Belmore travels back and forth to Newport every couple of weeks to cover events, work on story ideas, to meet with What'sUpNewp's on-the-ground contributors, to visit friends, and to eat as much seafood as possible.

Belmore is a member of Local Independent Online News Publishers, Society of Professional Journalists, and the North American Snowsports Journalists Association.