Interview of Larry B. Gray

Interview with Larry B. Gray

Reviewer, Blogger, Business Writer  

Questions by R. Murry

Can you tell me a little about yourself?

I grew up in Eastern North Carolina in the small rural town of Aurora. My early years were spent working on my grandparents’ tobacco farm and exploring my world of family, friends and school.

After marrying my high school sweetheart in 1972, I moved to Lakeland, Florida where I spent my adult years raising a beautiful family and working in the citrus industry, selling real estate with my real estate partner and wife, Sara Gray, and being a writer wannabe. I attended and graduated from Florida Southern College while working full time and starting a family.

I am still married to my high school sweetheart and have 3 beautiful children and two wonderful grandchildren. Life is not always easy but in the scheme of things it is fun and gets better every day.

Do you remember the first story you wrote?

I wrote a lot of poetry throughout my school years. After marriage time seem to be hard to come by so my writing stop. A few years ago I started blogging and out of that “A Boy from Down East” started and I have been writing since.

Were you inspired by someone or something?

My grandmother was instrumental in instilling the love of reading in me at a young age. I remember her getting books for me to read off the bookmobile in the summer.

I had a high school English teach, Mrs. Downing, who always told me some day I would be a writer. The verdict is still out.

What do you like about writing a story?

I love the thought of sharing things, whether it is information, experiences, knowledge or adventure.

Can you tell us about your book?

Problem Solving – Dealing with Employee Issues is a “how to” book on basic leadership and supervisor skills. It is a part of a series of short books which deal with different aspects of leadership and career development.

Everyone in a leadership position will have to deal with employee issues. Whenever people work together friction occurs. How you deal with these issues will have a major impact on your success as a leader. “Problem Solving – Dealing With Employee Issues” lays out a systematic approach to dealing with employee issues and the associated problems.

What genre best fits for the book?

Business and / or leadership.

Are you working on something new at the moment?

I have been working on my memoirs about growing up in a rural eastern North Carolina town in the nineteen fifties and sixties entitled “A Boy from Down East.” You can read several stipites from it at http://www.aboyfromdowneast.com.

I am presently going through the process of having it edited and doing rewrites. I hope to have it ready for release later this year.

I also have a couple of additional books to the leadership guide series in the outline stage.

Do you have any tips for aspiring writers?

Yes, write. Write as often and as much as you can. Don’t accept excuses not to write. A writer writes.

Where can people go to read your work?

My books are available on Amazon.com, Smashwords.com, Kobo.com, Sony, and Barnes and Noble website.

You can also get them at www.larrygraysells.com along with links to my other websites.

Do you have anything to add?

Just a quote from Dr. Seuss: “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Your than You.”

Thanks and God Bless, Larry