By Megan Sullivan
Features Editor
Mira Costa alumnus Daniel Riley could not have written a better career path, as he works as an editor for GQ magazine and works on writing his first book based on the South Bay called “Fly Me.”
Riley graduated from Costa in 2004 and began working as a writer at GQ magazine in August of 2008. He now holds the position of senior editor where he writes and edits stories for the publication. Riley writes both short stories and articles that discuss current events.
“Writing has always been something I have enjoyed doing,” Riley said. “It was a long process to write this book and make the shift over from journalism to fiction writing.”
“Fly Me” takes place in the 1970s in a town that is modeled after those in the South Bay, Riley said. It follows the life of a young flight attendant who finds herself caught up in drug trafficking and other scandals that once existed in the airline industry, he said. Many of the characters and ideas were influenced by stories that Riley heard from his grandparents’ friends while growing up.
“A lot of my grandparents’ friends were stewardesses back then, and I would hear a lot of details that really gave me the idea for the book,” Riley said. “There are a lot of movies, television shows and pop culture that takes place in the Beach Cities, but not a lot of great books or people looking at [the South Bay] critically, so to have people read it and respond to that is awesome.”
Riley served as a writer and Opinion editor on La Vista during his time at Mira Costa, which he says greatly influenced his desire to pursue journalism. He was also a member of Model United Nations where he learned vital public speaking skills and was inspired by his teachers Bill Fauver and Robert Timberlake, he said.
“I had a couple of great teachers that really just opened up these opportunities for me,” Riley said. “Costa opened up a lot of intellectual doors that I continued to pursue in college, and I got to read contemporary books for the first time where the authors were still alive, which really gave me an appreciation for writing.”
After graduating from Costa, Riley attended Duke University where he majored in English. While there, his professors introduced him to the world of fiction and creative writing.
“I feel very lucky to have grown up in the South Bay because it is one of the strangest and most interesting places I have ever encountered,” Riley said. “People here are inherently curious, and I love that it is part of Los Angeles, but not exactly, so it is just the most intriguing and inspiring place.”
“Fly Me” will be released on June 6 and is currently on pre-order on Amazon Books and also for sale on Riley’s personal website, danielriley.com. Brown House Publishing offered him a two-book deal, so Riley plans to start and finish a new book in the next few years.
“My hope is that one person is reading the book for the thriller part or the movie aspect of it and that someone else enjoys it for the characters and the family aspect of the story or the reminder of a place they grew up,” Riley says. “I am excited for the people who have never heard of the South Bay and for those who grew up here and get to read about a place they love.”
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