Podcast appearances and mentions of ayana gray

Today I am chatting with NY Times Best Selling author Ayana Gray! Ayana and I will be chatting about her Beasts of Prey trilogy. We discuss all three books in the trilogy; Beasts of Prey, Beasts of Ruin, and the final book in the series (which publishes on January 16, 2024), Beasts of War. Take a listen as Ayana and I chat about the storyline of each book, her writing style, challenges she's faced in writing the series, the inclusion of African culture and history in each book, the characters, Ayana's world building, and more! The entire episode is spoiler-free!A little about Beasts of War:Once a prisoner to Fedu, the vengeful god of death, Koffi has regained her freedom, but she is far from safe. Fedu will stop at nothing to hunt her down and use her power to decimate the mortal world. Koffi knows when Fedu will strike: during the next Bonding, a once-in-a-lifetime celestial event. To survive, Koffi will have to find powerful new allies quickly, and convince them to help her in the terrible battle to come.Once a warrior-turned-runaway, Ekon has carved out a new life for himself outside Lkossa, but the shadows of his past still haunt him. Now, alongside unexpected friends, Ekon tries to focus on getting Koffi to the Kusonga Plains before the next Bonding. If he fails, Koffi will be consumed, either by her own dangerous power, or the terrible fate Ekon is doing everything he can to prevent. Ekon devotes himself to protecting Koffi, but the lingering threats from his own past are more urgent than he knows.As Koffi and Ekon race to the Kusonga Plains—and try to garner the help of Eshōza's ancient gods along the way—they must face a slew of dangerous beasts old and new. In the end, destiny may unite Koffi and Ekon for the last time—or tear them apart for good.I'd like to say a special thank you to Ayana Gray for coming on the podcast and chatting with me today. And a special thank you to Sierra Pregosin at Penguin Young Readers for setting up the interview. Check out Ayana's websiteFollow Ayana on InstagramPurchase Beasts of WarSupport the showHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.comDon't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!

Today my friend Morgan and I are chatting about Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray. Take a listen as Morgan and I rehash this fantastic YA fantasy filled with magic, secrets and lies, enemies to lovers, a dangerous forest filled with mythical creatures, the poor tragic life of one of our main characters, the celebration of Black excellence, and more! First 15 minutes are spoiler free!A little about Beasts of Prey:There's no such thing as magic in the broken city of Lkossa, especially for sixteen-year-old Koffi, who indentured to the notorious Night Zoo, knows the fearsome creatures in her care and paying off her family's debts to secure their eventual freedom can be her only focus. But the night those she loves are gravely threatened by the Zoo's cruel master, Koffi unleashes a power she doesn't fully understand, upending her life completely.As the second son of a decorated hero, Ekon is all but destined to become a Son of the Six—an elite warrior—and uphold a family legacy. But on the night of his final rite of passage, Ekon encounters not only the Shetani—a vicious monster that has plagued the city for nearly a century and stalks his nightmares—but Koffi who seems to have the power to ward off the beast. Koffi's power ultimately saves Ekon, but his choice to let her flee dooms his hopes of becoming a warrior.Desperate to redeem himself, Ekon vows to hunt the Shetani and end its reign of terror, but he can't do it alone. Koffi and Ekon form a tentative alliance and together enter the Greater Jungle, a world steeped in wild, frightening magic and untold dangers. The hunt begins. But it quickly becomes unclear whether they are the hunters or the hunted.Support the showHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.comDon't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!

Episode description: Ayana Gray doesn't just write books, she creates worlds. At 29 years old, she is already one of the best selling YA authors on the market (yes, it's ok to be jealous). Her series, which became Beasts of Prey and the more recently released Beasts of Ruin, presents a lush Pan-African fantasy world that will suck you in and won't let go. As page turners with mature themes, these books are the perfect way for The Book Case to start talking about fantasy. Books Mentioned in the podcast: Beasts of Ruin by Ayana Gray Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien The Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling The Maze Runner Series by James Dashner The Divergent Series by Veronica Roth Little Thieves by Margaret Owen How to Tell if Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You by The Oatmeal The Belgariad by David Eddings Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver Karabian Red by Ashley N. Silver

Maiysha sits down with New York Times bestselling Young Adult author Ayana Gray about her two fantasy novels Beasts of Prey and Beasts of Ruin. Two books that center around an all Black fantasy world. Ayana speaks about how it is being a young Black author in a genre that doesn't see a lot of Black women writers, making sure Black people are represented in her novels, her time in Ghana, her books being picked up by Netflix and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author Ayana Gray's debut novel, Beasts of Prey, became an instant New York Times bestseller when it was published in September 2021. With her second book of the popular fantasy series out now, Beasts of Ruin, author Ayana Gray tells Alex about how she copes with feeling imposter syndrome and an overwhelming fear of failure. Full transcripts for all Imposters episodes available at https://imposters.morningbrew.com

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is the author of four historical fiction novels, and her debut novel, The Virgin's Knot,was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her books have been published in eleven countries and translated into nine languages. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome and her love of Shel Silverstein's poetry. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.If you have a first page you'd like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I'm opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they're currently writing. If your page is chosen, you'll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One's master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes.To get updates and writing tips from master storytellers, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and InstagramUntil then, be well and keep reading!

Join us as we continue pushing forward DEI conversations no matter how difficult they are to have. This podcast is about growth, inclusion, and appreciating the humans around you. Engagement and discussion are critical to self-growth, and we won't shy away from the tough stuff. Ayana Gray is the New York Times-bestselling author of the Beasts of Prey trilogy, and a lover of all things monsters, mythos, and magic. Originally from Atlanta, she has called many places home but now lives in Little Rock, Arkansas. Her works have been translated in ten languages across five continents and are being adapted for feature film. Join us as we learn about Ayana's journey on becoming a published author of YA (young adult) books and how that experienced shaped her and her mission.

In this much anticipated follow up to New York Times bestselling Beasts of Prey, Koffi's powers grow stronger and Ekon's secrets turn darker as they face the god of death. Koffi has saved her city and the boy she loves, but at a terrible price. Now a servant to the cunning god of death, she must use her newfound power to further his continental conquest, or risk the safety of her home and loved ones. As she reluctantly learns to survive amidst unexpected friends and foes, she will also have to choose between the life—and love—she once had, or the one she could have, if she truly embraces her dangerous gifts. ABOUT AYANA GRAY: Ayana Gray is a New York Times bestselling young adult fantasy author and a lover of all things monsters, mythos, and magic. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, she now lives in Little Rock, Arkansas, where she reads avidly, follows Formula One racing, and worries over the varying moods of her adopted baby black rhino, Apollo, and her mini goldendoodle, Dolly. Her debut novel, Beasts of Prey, is being adapted for feature film.  

Have you read Beasts of Prey and are extremely excited for Beasts of Ruin? Well you should be excited then because I got to sit down with Ayana Gray and discuss the rich history and mythology that inspired this story, how it felt to get a Netflix deal before even publishing the Beasts of Prey, and how we are all fighting imposture syndrome at all times. Ayana is an incredible human and I cannot recommend her series enough! Order Beasts of Ruin here This episode is sponsored by Audible! Follow this link to get a free 30-day trial for Audible. Become a Patreon Member! https://www.patreon.com/abookshelfbinge Join the discord server! Shop the books mentioned on the podcast here! We have merch! Click here to shop the podcast's merch! Credits: Host: @bookshelfbinge Guest: Ayana Gray (@AyanaGray_) Cover art: SaraSomethingCo (@sarasomething.co) --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

If you know Cate, you know she loves to read, and for this episode she has the pleasure of sitting down with YA Fantasy author Ayana Gray to talk about her trilogy Beasts of Prey, of which she has just released the second installment Beasts of Ruin. Cate and Ayana talk about the worldbuilding in her novels, character development, and how this upward spike in her career has changed her life. For lovers of Roshani Chokshi, Leigh Bardugo, and Sabaa Tahir, tune in to this episode and then check out Ayana's novels. For more from Cate, follow @catescornerpodcast and @catejcannon on Instagram, and to keep up with Ayana, find her on socials @ayanagray_.

Writing is a special kind of solitary torture. The only thing about it anyone ever sees is the end result, the finished, published work resting on shelves. In today's booktok culture, books are consumed at lightning speed and reviewers rush to deliver the most controversial hot take they can think of for engagement. Years of a person's life are spent writing the stories that become our blockbuster movies or our summer beach reads. Years spent alone in a room somewhere with a pen and paper or a keyboard tapping out scenes and dialogue only to scrap it all later and rewrite. Creating work, toiling over its perfection, and then navigating social media to spread the word is all part of the job of a writer these days, on top of all the other actual work the author must do to create something special. It's agony. It's glorious. And, for some, it's incredibly rewarding.  Ayana Gray's debut novel, Beasts of Prey, did something few debut authors achieve: it hit the New York Times bestseller list. Her follow up, Beasts of Ruin, is poised to do the same. (It's out today.) We sat down for a discussion on the work of writing, how that job has expanded, navigating how much of ourselves we give away, and how much we get to keep.  If you like this show and want to support it, there are a number of ways to help. Share it with your friends on social media. You can also like, rate the show 5-stars on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and leave a review. Reviews help recommend the show to other listeners like you.   Help keep the show free and producing regularly by joining my Patreon on a monthly basis. Patrons receive additional audio and video content as well as archived episodes, a private Discord server, and a monthly book club! Sign up at Patreon.com/headonfirepod. Or if a one-time donation is more your speed, you can buy me a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/headonfirepod. Social links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/headonfirepod/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/headonfirepod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@headonfirepod   Support my work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/headonfirepod   Subscribe to the Head On Fire podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/head-on-fire/id337689333 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4qTYYhCLMdFc4PhQmSL1Yh?si=5387b774ed6e4524

Ayana Gray's debut fantasy novel, Beasts of Prey, captured the attention of young-adult readers around the world when it was published last year. It's since been translated into 10 languages, and it's even being adapted for a feature film with Netflix. The story follows two Black teenagers as they venture into a magical jungle to hunt down a vicious monster. It's the first in a trilogy, and her second book, Beasts of Ruin, is out this week. Before becoming a professional writer, Gray worked in higher education, fundraising for the University of Florida and the University of Arkansas. On this episode, Gray shares how her first life as a researcher helped her build the magical world of her series and how she learned to let go and trust her collaborators when the time came to put her pencil down. Plus, she tells the unbelievable story of how she found a whopping 43 agents for her very first book. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

While Phil's on vacation, Sara and Jen talk about books, new releases, and the Delia Owens controversy gripping some bookish folks. Today we discussed: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, Brood by Jackie Polzin, and Beasts of Ruin by Ayana Gray.

This week, The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan revisits a Books & Books virtual event with multidisciplinary artist Blitz Bazawule in conversation with Beasts of Prey author Ayana Gray. Bazawule's debut novel, The Scent of Burnt Flowers, set in the mid-1960s, tells the story of a Black couple, Melvin and Bernadette, who have fled the United States for Ghana after Melvin kills a racist assailant in self-defense. “The literary world has given me so much in terms of freedom and the ability to zig-zag though the world of time and space, in a way I probably could never do in another medium,” said Bazawule. The filmmaker, musician and now author is currently directing the musical adaptation of The Color Purple movie.  The Scent of Burnt Flowers is available at Books & Books.  BLITZ BAZAWULE is a multidisciplinary artist born in Ghana. His feature directorial debut, The Burial of Kojo, premiered on Netflix via ARRAY Releasing. He co-directed Beyoncé's Black Is King, which earned him a Grammy nomination. Bazawule is set to direct the musical version of The Color Purple for Warner Bros. His artwork has been featured at the Whitney Biennial. He is also a TED senior fellow and a Guggenheim fellow. The Scent of Burnt Flower is his debut novel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kat & Claribel say goodbye to Write or Die by listening to snippets from past episodes and discussing the advice they've received along the way from amazing past guests including Daniel Jose Older, Leigh Bardugo, Holly Black, Ayana Gray, Mark Oshiro, and More! Topics discussed include: Messy first draft. How to get into drafting mode. Being wary of generalized advice. Finding community. Being a BIPOC author. Parasocial relationships in publishing. • FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok • www.claribelortega.com • Check out all of Claribel's books • ORDER Witchlings Buy Claribel a coffee on Claribel's Ko-fi • FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok • www.katchowrites.com • ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom • Check out Kat's Books Buy Kat a coffee on Kat's Ko-fi • FOLLOW WRITE OR DIE: Twitter | Instagram • Write or Die Episodes • Join our WorDie community! • Learn more about Write or Die --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writeordiepodcast/support

Welcome to the very first episode of the Thirsty Bitches Podcast! This week co-hosts Victoria, Kiara, and Katalyn will be discussing and recommending different types of media and products that are by, about, or owned by people of color or members of the LGBTQ+ community in light of February being Black History Month (in the US) and LGBTQ+ History Month (in the UK). These include books, tv shows, movies, different products, and even social media accounts. They also discuss how increasing representation in various forms of media is beneficial on multiple levels. Books mentioned in this episode are: Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron, A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown, Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender, Legendborn by Tracy Deonn, Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray, and Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune. Handles to the Instagram accounts Kiara mentioned during the episode: @Zipporahthevegan @The.vegan.amateur @Iyeloveslife @Vegan_abolitioniste @veganzinga Join us every Thirsty Thursday for a new episode and be sure to follow us on our socials: On Tiktok: thethirstycollective, on Instagram: the.thirstycollective, on Twitter: TheThirstyCollective (thirsty_co), or join the conversation in our discord!

Brandi and Sel talk with Ayana Gray, a New York Times bestseller and Indie bestselling author in speculative fiction. She tells us about her journey with writing and the trip abroad that gave her the inspiration to write "Beasts of Prey", her book that is being adapted into a Netflix film. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/themodernmodelpodcast/support

Ayana Gray is a New York Times and Indie bestselling author of speculative fiction and a lover of all things monsters, mythos, and #MelaninMagic. Originally from Atlanta, she now lives in Little Rock, Arkansas where she reads avidly, follows Formula One racing, and worries over the varying moods of her adopted baby black rhino, Apollo, and her mini goldendoodle, Dolly. Her debut novel, BEASTS OF PREY, is being adapted for film by Netflix. Penguin Young Readers is excited to present the most anticipated young adult novel of the year from breakout debut author Ayana Gray. BEASTS OF PREY (G.P. Putnam's Sons BFYR; On Sale September 28, 2021) is the thrilling series opener that begins in the way all the best YA novels do: by striking a deal. Two teens agree to work together to track down a dangerous, ancient creature who plagues their city before they themselves become the hunted. Inspired by African mythology, Gray has woven a fast-paced fantasy filled with monsters, mythos, and a slow-burn romance that will leave readers clamoring for more.

Ayana Gray's debut novel

We sit down with 2011 Pulaski Academy Graduate and New York Times Best Selling Author Ayana Gray to chat more about her new book Beasts of Prey and her time at Pulaski Academy and the University of Arkansas.

Ayana Gray graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2015 with degrees in African and African American studies and political science. She says both degrees had influence on her debut novel Beasts of Prey. She'll be back on campus to talk about the bestselling book Wednesday October 27th at 5:30 pm in Gearhart Hall Auditorium.

Marissa chats with Ayana Gray about her debut young adult fantasy - BEASTS OF PREY - as well as using online resources to learn from other writers about the publishing journey, and as a way to know that you're not alone; choosing your descriptive words carefully in order to evoke a particular feeling, whether you're describing a minor character or a great mythical beast inspired by real-world lore; striking that balance between fast-paced action and deep emotional moments, even when they both need to happen in a single scene (hint: sometimes your story - and characters - just need to pause and take a breath); using backstory and motivation to get your readers invested in your protagonist's emotional journey; and giving yourself permission to pursue a career in writing, despite the naysayers.Books discussed in this episode can be purchased from your local independent bookstore or buy them online from the Happy Writer bookshop.org store (that benefits indie bookstores) at  https://bookshop.org/shop/marissameyer 

In this episode, Ekemini and Christina are sitting at the table with Jarvis R. Givens to learn about his book, Fugitive Pedagogy:Carter G. Woodson and the Art of Black Teaching. What is fugitive pedagogy? Why does it matter? How is it still in operation today? Dr. Givens takes us to school, y'all! So pull up a chair and have a seat at the table with us. Jarvis R. Givens, a native of Compton, California, is an assistant professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, a faculty affiliate in the department of African & African American Studies, and the Suzanne Young Murray assistant professor at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University. Givens earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of California, Berkeley. He is a Mellon Mays, Ford Foundation, and Gates Fellow. Jarvis Givens is a co-director of a major new research project called The Black Teacher Archive with Imani Perry, PhD, of Princeton University. Givens is also the co-editor of We Dare Say Love: Supporting Achievement in the Education Life of Black Boys. He lives in Roxbury, Massachusetts. About the Fugitive Pedagogy: A fundamental part of black education during slavery and in the post-Emancipation period—centered on African Americans concealing important elements of their learning and masking their true intentions for education. In Fugitive Pedagogy, Jarvis R. Givens chronicles the efforts of Carter G. Woodson—a veteran schoolteacher during the Jim Crow era—as an iconic example of how African Americans strategically subverted an anti-black school system even as they were coerced to comply with white authority. Woodson, who went on to found Black History Month, spent his career fighting the “mis-education of the Negro" by helping teachers and students to see themselves and their mission as set apart from an anti-black world. Follow: Jarvis R. Givens Twitter: JarvisRGivens Facebook: Jarvis Givens Purchase Fugitive Pedagogy here: https://bookshop.org/books/fugitive-pedagogy-carter-g-woodson-and-the-art-of-black-teaching/9780674983687 Truth's Table Listeners can purchase Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/673322/beasts-of-prey-by-ayana-gray/ Black Women, join Truth's Table Black Women's Discipleship Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/truthstablediscipleship Support Truth's Table: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TruthsTable PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/TruthsTable Merchandise: https://www.teespring.com/truthstable

This week we have Beasts of Prey author Ayana Gray on the show. Ayana's debut novel has already generated a ton of buzz, including from the esteemed O Magazine, Kirkus Reviews, and Netflix—which is already working on the film adaptation. Listen to hear Ayana talk about what inspired the sweeping Pan-African-inspired fantasy, how she feels the YA genre has evolved over the past 15 years, and how she finds the discipline to finish these epic novels. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's October, and we are literally drowning in so many events. In fact, MORE events got scheduled for this week after I had already recorded this episode, so check out the description for full details!    Events this week: Tuesday, October 5th: Zack Smedley, in conversation with Bill Konigsberg  Wednesday, October 6th: Lisa Unger, in conversation with Caroline Kepnes  Wednesday, October 6th: Margaret Rogerson, in conversation with Ayana Gray and Chloe Gong  Wednesday, October 6th: Marlene Perez and Molly E. Lee  Thursday, October 7th: Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Lisa Sterle, in conversation with Sarah Gailey and Mallory O'Meara  Sunday, October 10th: Romance book club  Sunday, October 10th: Catriona Ward, in conversation with Paul Tremblay  Monday, October 11th: Emma Mieko Candon, in conversation with Tom Hoeler and Matt Martin  Monday, October 11th: Josh Malerman, in conversation with Sadie Hartmann   New this week: Last Girl Ghosted by Lisa Unger  Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson  I'm with the Banned by Marlene Perez  Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall, illustrated by Lisa Sterle  Payback's a Witch by Lana Harper  A Holly Jolly Diwali by Sonya Lalli  An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed by Helene Tursten  The Every by Dave Eggers  The Fox's Tower and Other Tales by Yoon Ha Lee  To End in Fire by David Weber and Eric Flint  The Bear House by Meaghan McIsaac   You can now find us on Patreon! Unlock exclusive content by subscribing today! Special thanks to Austin Farmer for letting us use the track "Kill the Farm Boy", from his album Bookshelf Symphony Orchestra!  Send us your questions to mystgalaxypod@gmail.com Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook,  YouTube, and TikTok!  And support the store by ordering books at mystgalaxy.com!

First Draft Episode #335: Ayana Gray Ayana Gray, debut author of Beasts of Prey, which is being adapted into a Netflix film. Today's episode of First Draft is brought to you by Tonight We Rule the World by Zack Smedley, out from Page Street Publishing on October 5th. And by Revision Season, a seven-week virtual master class in novel revision led by award-winning author Elana K. Arnold. The Fall 2021 Session of Revision Season will run Oct 10 – Nov 28, and enrollment is now open! Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: As Told By Ginger (movie) Pete Knapp, literary agent with Park & Fine Literary and Media Stacey Barney, associate publisher of Nancy Paulsen Books Scrivener, writing software Beth Phelan, literary agent with Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency and founder of DiverseVoices Inc., (which is #DVpit / #DVart, DVcon, DVdebut and DVmentor) #MSWL is a twitter hashtag agents and editors use to let writers know what they are looking for. Pitch Wars Circe by Madeline Miller The Inklings interviews on Ayana's website

Ayana Gray joins the Lit Service Crew to chat about the nuts and bolts of building a scene, ways to ground your reader, how to balance different types of interaction on the page and how to know if your scene is interesting. Ayana is the author of (highly anticipated!) YA fantasy Beasts of Prey, and is a lover of all things monsters, mythos, and #MelaninMagic. To learn more about her and her book, check out her website. For the chapter we critiqued with our notes, go here. To learn how to support Lit Service (and get early access to episodes and some bonus content), check out our Patreon.

As we head into spooky season, let's talk about where to start reading horror. Stephanie from the Books in the Freezer Podcast joined me to talk about her favorite genre. For exclusive bonus content and early access to episodes, consider joining the Chapter 3 Podcast Patreon Looking for a book mentioned in the episode? Check here! *Note that all links are affiliate links from which we earn a commission to support the podcast   Books from On My Radar segment: Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray: https://amzn.to/3hEsMF2 The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer: https://amzn.to/3AlLWa8 Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki: https://amzn.to/2XCFGwz A Spindle Splintered by Alix E Harrow: https://amzn.to/3Esz4BC When Night Breaks by Janella Angeles: https://amzn.to/39dmBTM Slewfoot by Brom: https://amzn.to/39fOevr Horseman: A Tale of Sleepy Hollow by Christina Henry: https://amzn.to/3EwaJur When Things Get Dark: Stories Inspired by Shirley Jackson: https://amzn.to/3hL6Qbw Other Books/Authors Mentioned House by Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti: https://amzn.to/3zidITG The Oath by Frank Peretti: https://amzn.to/3tNvz3J My Best Friends Exorcism by Grady Hendrix: https://amzn.to/3AkJ3pT Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix: https://amzn.to/3lGgy02 The Southern Book Clubs Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix: https://amzn.to/3hIS7xP The Final Girls Support Group by Grady Hendrix: https://amzn.to/3zpl4o9 My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones: https://amzn.to/3nXDr1N Dracula by Bram Stoker: https://amzn.to/3lGgD3Q And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie: https://amzn.to/3nNkiiL Nightingale by Amy Lukavics: https://amzn.to/3lC0eNv The Ravenous by Amy Lukavics: https://amzn.to/2YYupXC Rolling in the Deep by Mira Grant: https://amzn.to/3CnazE2 Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant: https://amzn.to/3nJWkow The Tenth Girl by Sara Faring: https://amzn.to/2XtaBLR Final Girls by Mira Grant: https://amzn.to/3lyzEVM The Gone World by Tom Sweterlitsch: https://amzn.to/2Xv40Qk The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay: https://amzn.to/3hGYAZU The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling: https://amzn.to/3zkum4Q Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir: https://amzn.to/3hKL8o1 Lakewood by Megan Giddings: https://amzn.to/3nIaOFv Ring Shout by P. Djeli Clark: https://amzn.to/3kmlAzj Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer: https://amzn.to/3ClP4mN Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro: https://amzn.to/3zobJwW The Loop by Jeremy Robert Johnson: https://amzn.to/3zfL857 The River has Teeth by Erica Waters: https://amzn.to/2XD3IHN Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand: https://amzn.to/2XD3Oz9 Extasia by Claire Legrand: https://amzn.to/3EvbHHm Lost Boy by Christina Henry: https://amzn.to/3lyAodw Alice by Christina Henry: https://amzn.to/3kjOW1d The Ghost Tree by Christina Henry: https://amzn.to/3hJnmIW My Soul to Keep by Tananarive Due: https://amzn.to/3EnkvPH The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig: https://amzn.to/2XENXjr Miriam Black series by Chuck Wendig: https://amzn.to/2XFenBA Burn the Dark by S.A. Hunt: https://amzn.to/2Xtw4nW The Worm and His Kings By Hailey Piper: https://amzn.to/3nOFd5f Queen of Teeth by Hailey Piper: https://amzn.to/2Z9L4rp The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson: https://amzn.to/3lCHMV4 American Elsewhere by Robert Jackson Bennett: https://amzn.to/2ZcIt01 Mexican Gothic by Sylvia Moreno Garcia: https://amzn.to/3CsdU4J The Gates by John Connolly: https://amzn.to/3lyBki2 Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado: https://amzn.to/3EDHxlw The Thief of Always by Clive Barker: https://amzn.to/2VTJQzk   Follow us on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok @Chapter3Podcast and you can also find Bethany talking about books on YouTube @BeautifullyBookishBethany. You can now find episodes on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy6yRiktWbWRAFpByrVk-kg Interested in early access to episodes, private Discord channels and other perks? Consider joining the Chapter 3 Patreon! Or join our public Discord. A new episode will be available to download in two weeks!  This episode was recorded using a Blue Yeti USB condenser microphone kit: https://amzn.to/342dnqx

Claribel & Kat discuss burnout and some of the coping mechanisms they've found helpful to get them through. Then they interview debut author, Ayana Gray about the path it took to find the courage to write, how her path “crossed” Claribel & Kat's along the way, and her highly anticipated debut novel, BEASTS OF PREY. CW: Discussions of death of a loved one and grief at 21:45 time point. Fast forward past that to 25:03 if this is triggering. Ayana BIO: Ayana Gray is an author of speculative works and lover of all things monsters, mythos, and #MelaninMagic. Originally from Atlanta, she now lives in Little Rock, Arkansas where she reads avidly, follows Formula 1 racing, and worries over her adopted baby black rhino, Apollo. Her highly anticipated young adult debut, BEASTS OF PREY, is coming out with Penguin Random House! • FOLLOW : website | Twitter | Instagram BUY Beasts of Prey MENTIONS: • Highlights Foundation • FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok • www.claribelortega.com • Check out all of Claribel's books • Add Witchlings (2022, Scholastic) on Goodreads • FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok • www.katchowrites.com • Add Once Upon a K-Prom (2022, Disney) on Goodreads • Check out Kat's Books • FOLLOW WRITE OR DIE: Twitter | Instagram • Write or Die Episodes • Join our WorDie community! • Learn more about Write or Die --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writeordiepodcast/support

Ayana was inspired to write this story after a trip to Ghana to explore her roots as an African-American woman, and she was mesmerized by the people, architecture, and culture there; combined with her love of fantasy novels and with a goal of adding more Black characters and stories to the genre, her debut BEASTS OF PREY was born.   BEASTS OF PREY is a Pan-African inspired fantasy that follows two teenagers who strike a dangerous deal to enter a magical jungle to hunt the mysterious creature that has been menacing their city for 100 years. Everyone knows that any good YA story starts with making a deal, and BEASTS OF PREY does not disappoint. It's full of monsters, mythos, and #BlackGirlMagic, and once you open it and join the hunt, you won't be able to put it down.   Website: Ayana Gray Subscribe to Black Entrepreneur Experience Podcast mailing list to receive weekly updates and enter to win in our Monthly Drawinghttps://bit.ly/34LALts.You will receive exclusive content delivered right to your inbox. Also Connect on Facebookhttp://bit.ly/2jn5TaO