Honors College to Host Lecture by Rising Literary Star Ayana Gray

Photo by Deanna Smith

Ayana Gray's debut novel, Beasts of Prey, published internationally across five continents and 16 countries.

U of A alumna Ayana Gray is a rising star in the literary world. Her debut novel, Beasts of Prey, the first in a pan-African-inspired fantasy trilogy, follows two Black teenagers who strike a deal to enter a magical jungle and take down the monster that’s been menacing their city for close to a century. 

Gray, who graduated from the U of A in 2015 with honors degrees in both political science and African and African American studies, will discuss Beasts of Prey during her campus visit.

The public lecture will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 27, in the Gearhart Hall Auditorium, with a reception to follow in the Honors Student Lounge (GEAR 130). Copies of Beasts of Prey will be for sale before and after the lecture. Parking will be available in the Harmon Street Parking Garage. 

The lecture will also be offered online via Zoom. Please fill out this online interest form to gain access to the lecture. 

“I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate the U of A’s 150th than to bring in an honors alumna like Ayana Gray,” said Lynda Coon, dean of the Honors College. “She’s already made a big splash on the literary scene. We’re excited to see how her career progresses.”

AN AUSPICIOUS DEBUT

Beasts of Prey was acquired by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin, in a seven-figure deal. It was published in the U.S. on Sept. 28 this year.

It will also be published internationally across five continents and 16 countries and is being developed by Netflix as a feature film, with Melody Cooper adapting the screenplay. 

Beasts of Prey is the first in a pan-African inspired fantasy trilogy.

“When I started writing Beasts of Prey, I never could’ve imagined that Netflix would be interested in adapting it into a feature film,” Gray said. “To get to partner with them, Melody and the team at Clubhouse Pictures to bring my book to life is a dream come true.”

Beasts of Prey is a School Library Journal Gold Standard Selection and received three starred reviews ahead of publication from Kirkus Reviews, Booklist and School Library Journal, designating it as a title of particular note and accomplishment.

A RECIPE FOR LITERARY SUCCESS

Gray attended high school in Little Rock and currently resides there. She said that the experiences she had as a student at the U of A “absolutely bled into Beasts of Prey."

She cited one class in particular, professor Jeff Ryan’s course on political violence, during which she learned about concepts like moral relativism. 

“I found it really fascinating,” Gray remembered. “By the end of the class, we were pretty uncomfortable. We realized that the world is not nearly as black and white as maybe we’re taught to believe as children.”  

Months later, she had the opportunity to visit Ghana, where she studied pan-Africanism, the trans-Atlantic slave trade and decolonization. Gray, still reeling from the political violence course, was struck by how a country so young could have such a rich history. 

“When I graduated just a few months later, it was the first time in my life that I didn’t have a very clear plan ahead,” she said. “I didn’t know what I was doing with myself. … But what I did know was that I love to write and that I love books.” 

She began writing stories about the things she’d learned. The project that would eventually become Beasts of Prey began as something she did for fun, but it evolved into a more intentional book as she delved further into her research. “I had that base knowledge about things like pan-Africanism and the trans-Atlantic slave trade, but I didn’t know a lot about mythos across the African continent,” Gray explained. “And it’s a hard thing, because so much of it is oral. I’m still finding new things,” she added.

Gray, who was active in the Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education during her time on campus, will meet with students in the center during her visit. 

She will also visit with students in Caree Banton’s Honors College Signature Seminar Black Utopias, as well as students in the U of A M.F.A. Program in Creative Writing and Translation.

Honors College Mic showcases notable leaders, alumni and top faculty members who share insights and expertise on a wide range of topics. Overall, these lectures foster intellectual conversation at the University of Arkansas through dialogue between lecturer and student, faculty and staff, and the wider populace.

About the Honors College: The University of Arkansas Honors College was established in 2002 and brings together high-achieving undergraduate students and the university’s top professors to share transformative learning experiences. Each year the Honors College awards up to 90 freshman fellowships that provide $72,000 over four years, and more than $1 million in undergraduate research and study abroad grants. The Honors College is nationally recognized for the high caliber of students it admits and graduates. Honors students enjoy small, in-depth classes, and programs are offered in all disciplines, tailored to students’ academic interests, with interdisciplinary collaborations encouraged. Fifty percent of Honors College graduates have studied abroad and 100 percent of them have engaged in mentored research.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the top 3% of U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.