Thursday, March 31, 2022

Chatting with PJ Gray



I'm excited to be chatting with PJ Gray, author of low comprehension fiction for emerging and reluctant readers of all ages. These books are perfect for mystery fans!

Please help me welcome PJ.


What inspired you to write this book?

The essence of the main character (Luna Garza) came to me in a dream. That had never occurred in my writing career. Once I began to develop her personality, the rest followed.


What are you working on now?

The first seven books in the series are being released this spring. I am currently working on number 10.


How did you come up with the concept and/or characters for the book?

I knew I wanted to write a mystery with supernatural elements. Once I realized that the main character was going to be a Nancy Drew, I knew the best setting would be a historical place/town. That kind of history is a wellspring for creativity.


Tell us about your main character.
Luna Garza, a tween growing up in small-town Ohio. Mysteries seem to find Luna and she can’t help but get pulled into solving them.


Tell us about the research you did before writing this book.

Research varies with each book in the series. Once the story is captured in outline form, I devote research time any historic elements that require accuracy.


Tell us three things we’d find if we looked under your heroine’s bed?

--a pair of new slippers
--her older and much-worn favorite slippers that she can’t seem let go
--a cookbook titled “Best Meatballs from Around the World” that she needs to return to the library


What are you reading?

Keep the Aspidistra Flying by George Orwell

Tell us about a book that stayed with you long after you finished reading it.

The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan


Did anyone’s writing inspire you to become an author?
Too many to count


Guilt pleasure… books you can’t get enough of?

Cookbooks


About the series
Series Title: Luna Garza: Accidental Detective (book series)
Author: PJ Gray
Genre: Supernatural Mystery

Blurb: Mysteries seem to find Luna Garza, a tween growing up in small-town Ohio. Luna can’t help but get pulled into solving them. Middle school readers will love following Luna as she digs into the puzzling occurrences that arise during her everyday life in an all-American town.

Learn more and buy links





About the author: PJ Gray is an author of low comprehension fiction for emerging and reluctant readers of all ages. His writing career has included television writing, magazine editing, ghost writing, blogging, research, food writing and editing, cookbook publishing as well as storytelling. He currently resides in Chicago, Illinois.

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