grayson ford.|
Horror Author. Mystery Writer. The Dark Write.
GRAYSON FORD
Grayson Ford is the reclusive author of suspenseful thrillers. Inspired by his grandfather, a quiet war veteran who found solace in observing the world from his porch, Ford crafts tense, character-driven stories with unexpected twists. When not writing, he can be found enjoying a good bourbon, the mournful tunes of Delta Blues on his grandfather’s transistor, and the companionship of his Bluetick, Otis.
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- Richard M.G. 7/1/24
RICHARD M.G.
Before I start, I'd like to stress that I hate talking about myself. That being said, I’m drinking a glass of Wild Turkey (neat) and the song playing is "Aero Zeppelin" by Nirvana.
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​Cheers.
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​I grew up in San Antonio, Texas, the youngest of three. I was raised Catholic up until the age of 13; that's when I watched a George Carlin special on HBO and was never the same since.
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​As a kid, my literature diet consisted mostly of Goosebumps. Now, it's a steady feed of Stephen King, Michael Connelly, and Agatha Christie. I still collect Goosebumps, but at this point, it's more of a hobby. And for what it's worth, I've always been drawn to the kind of stories that make you double-check your locks; the kind of novels where the hero is as flawed as the villain, and the line between good and evil is a scribbled mess; and the kind of whodunits where the characters point at each other like the Spider-Man meme.
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​I didn’t catch the writing bug until I was 17, at which point my only method for writing was literally a pen and paper. This spawned the mantra on my writing board: "With a degree, I am told where to go. But with a pen and paper I can go anywhere."
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​My first real attempt at a novel came five years later while I was a junior at Sam Houston State University (I majored in Criminal Justice and minored in Psychology. How I minored in Psychology, I have no idea, but it was listed on my transcript when I graduated, a mystery that remains unsolved to this day). One day, I suffered a terrible migraine that forced me to skip classes. Eventually, I went to the library where I wrote until about 9 p.m., grabbed some Whataburger, and then went back to my dorm to write until 3 a.m. I ended up with 150 pages of source material for my upcoming novel, The Three Kings (at that time it was called The Street King).
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​People often ask why I never pursued writing as a career if I enjoyed it so much, and the truth is, I don’t consider myself a writer—just a really good bullshitter. For me, writing is pure bliss, and I tend to keep it that way by not having any boundaries. I can start a sentence with “And” or “But,” and even craft one-word sentences with no objection. (See!)
When it comes to style, I like to think my work straddles the lines of Michael Connelly’s meticulous detail and Stephen King’s unnerving ability to make the mundane terrifying, all while speaking from the epic and manly voice of Danny Devito.
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​After college, I spent nine years working as a parole officer for the state, with seven of those years spent inside a prison (…as a parole officer! Not an inmate. God, you guys. Get your mind right.) But I like to think that if it wasn’t for those inmates, I wouldn’t be where I am today. You have to have thick skin to be a writer, but even thicker skin to work in a prison.
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- Richard M.G. (duh) - 10/16/24
ON WRITING
So you want to know how the magic happens, huh? Me too. While I won't give you full nudity, I'll settle with a PG-13 sneak peek:
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I find that I write best in the early mornings. My day typically starts at 5:30 a.m. with a light breakfast and some coffee. Not a lot. Maybe like five or six cups. In the evenings, I prefer a small, neat glass (or a few) of whiskey.
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Before I begin anything, I warmup with a typing test. This not only helps with my dexterity but also addresses my OCD with the positioning of my keyboard.
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When writing, I like to have background noise. I usually put on classic rock or grunge, or sometimes the occasional TV or movie score. Every once in a while, I enjoy listening to the San Antonio Spurs on my grandpa’s transistor radio. It’s how he followed his Houston Astros, and legends never die.
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I did not take creative writing courses in college, nor have I ever attended a writing seminar. Why would I? I have a gift from God. (J.K.) Truth is, school never really interested me, and I was poor most of my life, so I was unable to attend seminars due to what some might call "financial constraints." That said, I do take writing very seriously. It takes patience and involves a great deal of trial and error—mostly error. I READ and WRITE every single day, and I believe it's a habit you have to maintain every day if you want to be a writer. I listen to audiobooks on my way to work and read paperbacks on my breaks. When it comes to writing, I don't have a set goal; I just write to push the story further and stop when I feel comfortable.
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During my time as a parole officer, my mentor taught me this: "I don't care how long I've been here—five years, ten years, or twenty years—I'm never too old to look at my manual." On my desk, I have three books that I consider my manuals: On Writing Well by William Zinsser, The Elements of Style by Strunk and White, and On Writing by Stephen King. Other authors might have more or different texts, but this is what works for me.​
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Most of my ideas come from dreams or a simple "what if" scenario. I keep a notebook by my bed and on my sofas to quickly capture those thoughts before they disappear.
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I like to think of the creative mind like a river—it should flow free—or maybe it's like that song from Pearl Jam, "Even flow, thoughts arrive like butterflies." Either way, I maintain this vibe by occasionally moving my writing sessions to the kitchen table or taking a weekend getaway to the coast or the San Antonio Riverwalk. Sometimes a change in scenery can help alleviate that pesky writer's block.
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I do not have social media. Initially, I attributed this decision to my role as a parole officer and the nature of my work with inmates, but in reality, my mental health wouldn’t allow it—also, I have an apprehension about technology.
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Or maybe its just because I hate people.​ Yeah, that’s it.
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- Richard M.G. 12/13/24