2013 GRL Authors: Andrew Grey

When you think of a soft-spoken gentleman who writes like a demon, who comes to mind?

No, no, not Ralph Waldo Emerson. A contemporary writer. What's that? Andrew Grey? Why, yes, that's right. :)

Andrew's another writer I came across for the first time during my reviewing years. I may have been a bit critical with my first review, but it was early on in Andrew's career and I saw something there in the manner and the mode of the storytelling that attracted me. My second Andrew book was one of the Farm Series books - and after that I snatched up every one as quickly as it was entered into the database.

When I look back through my review folder (yes, I saved them all, so there) I have tons of L.E. Bryce, a good bit of Josh Lanyon, ones and twos from lots of others, but my folder is just peppered with a healthy population of Andrew Grey novels. Once upon a time, I could safely say that I had read everything Andrew had written. But he's such a prolific writer that I can't keep up and sadly *sniff* have had to curtail my devouring of his novels.

Again, these are a bit atypical for me. While Andrew wrote some fantasy early on, his focus is more real world - farms, cowboys, vintners, restauranteurs and so on, but for me, Andrew is a comfort food author. He's who I turn to when I feel heart sore and world weary. His writing, while there's certainly conflict and often souls in terrible need, is gentle and kindhearted. Everything's going to be OK and there are still good people in the world. Andrew says so. His characters show it's true.

I do play favorites, I'll admit. The Range series really got to me (Dakota's father has MS, after all, something rather close to home for me since it's the retro-virus that decided to take residence in my body, too) and I do still love the Farm family. But I have a special place in my heart for the Of Love series which takes place in lovely Carlisle, Pa, not too far from me, and features some really lovely food scenes as well as poignant characters in difficult situations. (Tell me you don't cry over Billy trying to take care of his little brothers on nothing, I dare you.)

Luckily, Andrew goes to lots of events throughout the year so there are tons of photos out there of him. The first time I saw him in person was in the Swag room at last year's GRL. I need to warn you, the photos are correct. Andrew is quite tall. (And I am quite short) So the hug was a bit of a tiptoe stretch, but, hooray! Andrew hug!

Some writers are exactly as you imagined them. In some cases, this is a really good thing. :)

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