Ryan Hill has been a film critic since attending college at NC State and is the author of several novels, most notably the award-winning Book of Bart series, but he's most proud of beating cancer. There were surgeries, complications from surgeries, chemo, complications from chemo, trips to the emergency room, extended stays in the hospital, and a pulmonary embolism. Ryan's hair also fell out, bringing about a newfound respect for people without hair.

Seriously. How do they do it? Without hair, your head feels every little breeze, necessitating a hat, then your head gets warm, so the hat comes off, and the cycle continues on and on without any sign of relief. Those are the true heroes.