What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1482864
"What I love most about YA literature as a writer is that it gives me the chance to write stories about people finding their place in the world, which is a unique feature within YA, but also a theme that feels universal and evergreen. I can't say for certain what the future holds (my stories tend to surprise me), but I'll always have love for YA as a reader and writer," says young adult author Ayana Gray. She will give a talk at 7 p.m. Nov. 1 at the Fayetteville Public Library as part of the True Lit Festival. "Beasts of Prey," the first in a trilogy of YA, fantasy-adventure novels by Little Rock author is being developed into a feature film for Netflix. (Arkansas Democrat- Gazette File Photo/Cary Jenkins) Ayana Gray Young adult fantasy author Ayana Gray will be a keynote speaker during the True Lit Festival. She's the author of "Beasts of Prey" — which is being developed into a Netflix movie — and "Beasts of Ruin." She just wrapped up the final book in the trilogy. The 29-year-old Little Rock-based author says she's looking forward to returning to Northwest Arkansas. "I always love the chance to return to Fayetteville, particularly in autumn when it's so picturesque. I graduated from the University of Arkansas, so the town has a special place in my heart," she says. "I'm especially excited to attend the 2022 True Lit Festival too, as this is my very first one!" In a Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Profile from December 2021, Gray explained that she originally set her sights on a career in law, but she became disillusioned with the justice system. She started working on the story for "Beasts of Prey" while still in college. After graduation and with no clear career path in mind, she took a chance and pitched the book in a Twitter pitch contest. Hours later, agents expressed interest. Her manuscript was snapped up by Penguin Random House. The book almost immediately made the New York Times Best Seller list, proving that sometimes you really should follow your heart over your head. "I think, personally, I'm always grappling with this idea of 'heart versus mind,' which is why it's such a prevalent theme in my books! Becoming a published author was certainly a pursuit of my heart, but in the end I used my mind too," Gray adds. "I think what I've discovered is that it doesn't have to be a matter of one over the other, and I'm trying to live a life that allows me to follow my heart and my mind in tandem." Now that the final story in her "Beasts" trilogy has come to an end, she posted on Instagram that she's looking forward to a "deep tissue massage." "The bit about the deep tissue massage was me being a bit cheeky, but it's true that after I turn in a book, I like to take time to recharge and rejuvenate. What I do in that time varies depending on my mood, but I love to read, draw, go on walks, watch movies, or visit new places that inspire me," she says. "This series has been with me since May 2015, so of course, reaching its conclusion is a bit sad, but alongside that sadness is a sense of peace, if I'm honest. I'm very happy with where Koffi and Ekon's story ends." Koffi and Ekon's Netflix debut is in the works as well. "I'm so, so excited about 'Beasts of Prey's' adaptation in partnership with Netflix! Of course, adapting a big, epic fantasy book well takes time, but we have a fantastic screenplay written by the talented Melody Cooper, and it is with the team at Netflix now. Hopefully, I'll be able to share more developments soon!" 4 WHAT'S UP! OCTOBER 30-NOVEMBER 5, 2022 COVER STORY True Lit Continued From Page 3 FYI True Lit Festival Schedule • Teen Owl Pellet Dissection (Grades 5–12) 4:30 p.m. Nov. 1, Starr Foundation Children's Craft Room. • An Evening with Ayana Gray, 6 p.m. Nov. 1, The Willard and Pat Walker Community Room. • Preschool Story Time with Ashley Clontz, 9:30 a.m. Nov. 2 in Walmart Story Time Room. • DIY Mask Decorating (grades 5-12), 5 p.m., Nov. 2, Schmieding Foundation Teen Project Room. All supplies provided by library. Registration required. • Distinguished Reader: K-Ming Chang, 7 p.m., Nov. 2, The Willard and Pat Walker Community Room. • Writing Children's Nonfiction with Susan Campbell Bartoletti, 6 p.m. Nov. 3, Ziegler Reception Room. • Story Time with Ashley Franklin, 10 a.m. Nov. 4, Walmart Story Time Room. • Writing Emotionally Impactful Fiction with Dani Abernathy, 1-4 p.m. Nov. 4, Willard and Pat Walker Community Room. • Teen Masquerade Party (grades 5-12), 6 p.m. Nov. 4. Event Center. • Super Saturday: Fishin' Magi- cians, 10 a.m. Nov. 5, Event Center. • Cooking Demonstration with Suzanne Billings, 10 a.m. Walker Family Teaching Kitchen. (This event is full.) • All About Literary Agents with Kate Hart, 11:30 a.m. Nov. 5 in Ziegler Reception Room. • Publisher & Agent Pitch Sessions, 1-3 p.m., Nov. 5, The Willard and Pat Walker Community Room. (Registration required at faylib. org/event/7180084) • Comics Workshop with Zeke Peña (grades 5-12), 2 p.m. Nov. 5 at Schmieding Foundation Teen Project Room. • Songwriting with Dino O'Dell (grades 4-8), 2:30 p.m. Walmart Story Time Room. • Peter & the Wolf, 3 p.m. Nov. 6, event center. Performed by SoNA musicians and narration by Al Lopez and SoNA Board Member Jack Cleghorn. No registration required. All events are free; registration required for some events. Learn more at faylib.org/truelit. See True Lit Page 38