{"href":"https://api.simplecast.com/oembed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpage-one.simplecast.com%2Fepisodes%2Fep-18-ayana-gray-beasts-of-ruin-vY8BGeWF","width":444,"version":"1.0","type":"rich","title":"Ep. 18: Ayana Gray: Beasts of Ruin","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/8583da00-42e9-4897-ab16-2a2d61be8a44/7c4d895c-1a07-41d3-bdd2-3cb820afa09b/copy-of-ep-18-ayana-gray.jpg","thumbnail_height":300,"provider_url":"https://simplecast.com","provider_name":"Simplecast","html":"","height":200,"description":"In Episode 18, we interview NYT bestselling young adult fantasy author, Ayana Gray, about the first pages of her second book, BEASTS OF RUIN, published by G.P. Putnam. If you’re interested in knowing how to build a story world that thrills and captivates both young adult and adult readers, tune into this episode to hear how one college course on “Good & Evil” catalyzed her career as a literary force and catapulted her to master storyteller status after her debut, BEAST OF PREY, became an instant best seller. Ayana talks openly about navigating the discomfort of accessing deep emotion, which to her is “scary but satisfying.” While we only had time to discuss book two in her trilogy, I hope it’s enough to have you catch up on the first book and enter a world unlike any you’ve ever encountered. What a gift to explore Pan African myths with one of the most compelling female protagonists you’ll ever meet and hear from the creator herself on what it took to birth this wildly imaginative story world. \n"}