Ayana Gray Has ‘A Way With Words’ in March Short Takes Episode

U of A alumna Ayana Gray has written her own story in more ways than one.

Originally from Atlanta, Gray relocated to Little Rock when she was 13 and has made a name for herself as a bestselling author, inspired — in part — by experiences and classes pursued at the U of A.

“I credit Fayetteville,” Gray said. “I don’t think I could have written Beasts of Prey without being in Fayetteville, because there were two things that happened on campus that impacted the story.”

Gray shares these experiences in the Short Takes episode “A Way With Words” and reflects on her time as a student.

“I came to the university with a lot of uncertainty, and having professors who said, ‘No, I see that you have talent, and I see you have something to contribute’ very early on really created a foundation that allowed me to believe in myself,” she said. “It really meant a lot to me to feel seen, valued and appreciated. When I come back to campus, I always think there’s a piece of my heart that’s always here. It’s like a time capsule of my life, and I come here, and I have a lot of reflection and nostalgia and genuine joy. I found some of my dearest friends and mentors because I came to the University of Arkansas.”

Beasts of Prey is a fictional tale that takes place in a Pan-African-inspired world and follows two Black teens named Koffi and Ekon who are pursuing a murderous creature in the depths of a magical jungle. African folklore is prominent throughout — a clear nod to the cultures Gray experienced while studying abroad — and the story features three facets that Gray loves: monsters, mythos and magic. The first book debuted as No. 4 on the New York Times bestseller list for young adult hardcovers and picked up a bevy of “Best Book Picks” in 2021.

In 2022, Gray became the youngest alum ever to receive the Young Alumni Award from the Arkansas Alumni Association. In her visits back to campus, she regularly draws a crowd of students, faculty and staff — some who “knew her when” and some who didn’t — who want to celebrate her successes and hear her perspective on writing.

“When I get the chance to talk to students, what I emphasize is, ‘Don’t give up on your dreams,’” she said. “It took me five years to write my first book, and not a lot of people knew, but I’m so glad I didn’t give up on it, and I’m so glad I had good people around me to encourage me when I wanted to give up. It’s surreal when people are like, ‘I’ve read your book and I know who you are.’ I still feel like I’m just a kid from Little Rock at the end of the day.”

Gray’s experiences as a student and bestselling author are detailed in the university’s Determined story “A Way With Words.”

For additional Short Takes videos, visit shorttakes.uark.edu.

This story also appeared in the University of Arkansas News publication.