About the Interviewee: “Ayana Gray is a New York Times-bestselling author of speculative fiction. Her works have been translated in more than a dozen languages across five continents and have received critical acclaim at the state and national level. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, she now lives and writes in Arkansas” (Bio from author’s website).
Find Ayana Gray on the following platforms:
Ayana Gray: For better or for worse, the ideas for my stories never come from a single idea. My process looks more like gathering kindling and scraps for a bonfire and hoping it’ll catch. By the time the fire has burned out, I often can’t remember those little scraps anymore. For Hawk & Sparrow, though, I knew I wanted to write a story set in a world inspired by The Gilded Age, and I wanted to challenge myself to write something whimsical and multi-genre.
AG: I write most of my books chronologically, so the first piece of the story that came to me was the beginning scene. As I outlined, I didn’t know where things would go, but I had a very strong sense of place from the start. I knew the book would open on a crisp autumn night, and I knew the main character had a strong aversion to sorcery. The rest came to me as I outlined, drafted, and revised.
AG: Thank you! This was my first truly multi-genre book, so figuring out how to balance mystery, history, fantasy, and romance was challenging at times. Fortunately, I worked with a terrific editor who pointed out the areas where things didn’t feel balanced! This is why we revise!
AG: You’re the first person to make that connection! In honesty, I didn’t deliberately make the acronym ‘MOM’ to mean anything specific. The reason I leaned into it so heavily was because this was my first murder mystery and I needed to keep those things front of mind as I wrote. In a way “Motive, Opportunity, Means,” helped keep the narrative focused.
AG: Thank you for noticing! Personally and professionally, I am always really interested in the way power is distributed within a society. More times than not, we assess a person’s value based on their perceived power, which I think is always a mistake. Something I love about Hawk & Sparrow is that we get to see lots of characters grapple with different kinds of power (or lack thereof) despite their race, gender, or social status.
AG: I think, like many writers, I’m subconsciously writing what I want to see, or didn’t see as a kid. Growing up, I was a Black girl who often felt forced into prescribed boxes based on societal expectations. That was a frustrating and at times heartbreaking experience. The stories I write encourage people to push against expectations and be themselves because I really think that is the key to finding genuine inner peace in this world.
AG: I’ve been lucky to have had many women in my life who’ve encouraged me to push against the status quo. As an author, I greatly admire Sabaa Tahir. She is a wonderful friend now, but as a debut she was also an invaluable resource who encouraged me to be [an] advocate for myself as a professional creative. I am incredibly grateful to know her.
AG: Absolutely! From the start, this book was intrinsically tied to autumn from the beginning. I was delighted when my editors in the U.S. and U.K. respected that vision enough to publish Hawk & Sparrow right at the beginning of the season.
AG: Ooh, I love this question! I actually gave Vesper one of my favorite cozy treat pairings in Hawk & Sparrow: a warm buttered croissant with hot chocolate (preferably with French vanilla).
AG: Thank you for such lovely questions! Right now I’m working on multiple projects. My next will more than likely be another adult novel that I often refer to as I, Medusa’s “cousin.”
Keonte Emerson, Pine Reads Review Co-Assistant Director, Lead Writer, and Social Media Manager