The Vent with Ayana Gray and I, MEDUSA
In Which the Author Hops Aboard to Talk Adapting Myths and the Difference Between Being an Author and a Writer
Hey hey, Ventorship passengers! Despite them being one of the most feared animals, I’ve always had a thing for snakes. They’re just so cute (I said it!) and misunderstood, so naturally, I’ve always been pulled toward snake-adorned Medusa and feel so lucky that New York Times best-selling author, Ayana Gray, is letting us in on what it was like to bring her own contributions to the well-known myth in I, MEDUSA! The book comes out later this year, but Ayana is hopping aboard today to share her authorly insights. Let’s dive in!
Jason June (JJ): When you started your writing journey, what was the biggest frustration you encountered as you tried to find an agent and/or went on sub to editors for the first time that you wish you could have vented about?
Ayana Gray (AG): When I was beginning my writing journey, I was often frustrated because I would write a few chapters from inspiration, and then lose steam. I thought that meant I wasn't a good writer. What I eventually learned was that I was a Plotter, the kind of writer who needed to create an outline before I started drafting to keep myself from getting stuck. It was a true a-ha moment in my journey!
When I started querying, I remember a point of frustration being how much contradictory advice there was on the internet. It was hard to suss out what advice was valid, and it was hard to know if I was doing anything "right." What I've learned is that, really, there's no one right way to do any of this. You just have to figure out what works for you.
JJ: How about after you got your first book deal and continued on to publish multiple books? How did your frustrations (if you had any) change, and what would you have vented about or did vent about to author friends?
AG: Particularly after my debut (which, fortunately, had a lot of publisher support), I was very frustrated with myself because I was trying to do too many things at once. I wanted to write, but there was pressure to be on social media (this was during the rise of #BookTok). What I eventually learned was that my job as a writer and my job as an author are actually separate, and I've learned to give myself grace and strive for balance so that one doesn't overwhelm the other.
JJ: Tell us about your latest book! And (I bet you know where this is going) what’s the biggest vent you’ve got about the process of creating this novel?
AG:My latest book is called I, MEDUSA! It's an epic villain origin story that reimagines the iconic Medusa as a young Black woman caught between rivaling Olympian gods. I think the only frustration I had while writing it was balancing how much to honor the canon of Medusa's myth (spoiler: there are several conflicting versions), vs. allowing myself the creative liberty to make it my own. Eventually, I had to remind myself that a myth is simply a story retold over and over, and that by telling Medusa's story "my way," I was actually honoring and contributing to her legacy.
JJ: Any words of wisdom you have for writers whether they are at the beginning of their journey or multi-published?
AG: Whether it's your first book or your tenth, at some point in the process you're going to think "I can't do this." If you're working on your first book, you'll wonder if maybe you've chosen the wrong passion. If you've been published before, you'll wonder if maybe the last time was a fluke. When that happens, try to go to your local library or bookstore and just walk among the shelves. If you can't leave the house, go look up photos of old libraries. Look at all the books, and remember that every single author of every book you're seeing once felt the way you did. If they could finish their book, so can you.
JJ: Thanks so much for joining us aboard the Ventorship, Ayana! Author-passengers, read below for more info about Ayana and I, MEDUSA!
About I, MEDUSA
Meddy has spent her whole life as a footnote in someone else’s story. Out of place next to her beautiful, immortal sisters and her parents—both gods, albeit minor ones—she dreams of leaving her family’s island for a life of adventure. So when she catches the eye of the goddess Athena, who invites her to train as an esteemed priestess in her temple, Meddy leaps at the chance to see the world beyond her home.
In the colorful market streets of Athens and the clandestine chambers of the temple, Meddy flourishes in her role as Athena’s favored acolyte, getting her first tastes of purpose and power. But when she is noticed by another Olympian, Poseidon, the course of Meddy’s promising future is suddenly and irrevocably altered.
When her locs are transformed into snakes as punishment for a crime she did not commit, Medusa must embrace a new identity—not as a victim, but as a vigilante—and with it, the chance to write her own story as mortal, martyr, and myth.
Exploding with rage, heartbreak, and love, I, Medusa portrays a young woman caught in the crosscurrents between her heart’s deepest desires and the cruel, careless games the Olympian gods play.
Website: www.ayanagray.com
Authors, the Ventorship is looking for traditionally published writers to be featured with their latest book release in a future edition of The Vent! Email me at heyjasonjune@gmail.com with the subject: VENTORSHIP to let me know you’re interested. All you’ll need to be featured are answers to the same four questions asked above, as well as an author bio, cover image, and book description.
If you’d like to anonymously vent about anything author/writing related, write to me at heyjasonjune@gmail.com with the subject: VENTORSHIP. I’ll give you my take in a post, and we’ll crowdsource author opinions in the comments. Your identity will remain a secret, and any haters will be thrown overboard. Ultimately, I think you’re going to be buoyed up by author love and support as we realize we really are all in the same boat 🛳️
Great interview! Love this addition to the excursions and entertainment on this cruise! 💃🏾✨