Today we’d like to introduce you to Ara Grigorian.
Hi Ara, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I was ten when I found myself in awe of my grandfather. He was and had been a writer for decades. Watching him, I daydreamed about how awesome it would be if that was my job. Unfortunately, the English language was not my friend. As an Armenian, born in Iran, who had recently lived a few years in Barcelona, and had recently moved to the States, at best, my literary skills could be compared to Tarzan. So, I did what any respectable person would do: I decided to get an engineering degree from CSUN and stop daydreaming.
It was at CSUN where I met the woman who’d become my wife. One of our first dates, Delia asked, “If you could do anything you want without fear of failure, what would you do?” I didn’t hesitate. “Writer,” I said, but that was silly talk.
Fast forward twenty years later. We were married, with two boys (Thunder & Lightning) and two cats. My wife gave me the permission I hadn’t realized I’d been seeking. She told me to write now, not when I retire, but now. She was and always has been the one who knows me better than I know myself. Without her support, none of this would’ve happened, and none of it would’ve mattered.
So, I started. I learned I wrote, I sucked, I learned more, and eventually, I sucked a bit less.
During a business trip in Paris, the story for Game of Love materialized. I knew I was onto something. So, I went to conferences. Bought books. Did workshops. I worked at it. Rejection and rejection. Dozens of deep revisions while I tried to find the heart of the story. And when I did, I also landed my literary agent.
Since then, it’s been glory upon glory. Not really 🙂
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The literary career is not an easy one. You need to love what you do because establishing yourself can take a long time. Sometimes it never happens. I’ve known people from conferences for a good decade who are still trying to find that great story or are still searching for an agent.
I was rejected by well over a hundred agents. Once I had an agent, my debut novel almost got the deal of a lifetime, and then got into a less-than-ideal deal where my agent had to rescue it. Each time I thought, “Now I made it,” something else went wrong. This is not for the faint at heart.
I realize now that I did the shoot, aim, ready approach. I could’ve done more research to find coaches and mentors. I spent tens of thousands when I got my engineering degree from CSUN and my MBA from USC. Why would I not have extended the same respect toward my literary career? The problem is that finding the right coaches is hard. But the foundation of a successful career as a writer comes from the right mindset — are you willing to work and work and work? The magic of storytelling happens with your butt in the seat and your fingers on the keyboard.
So, no, it has not been a smooth road. But it has been a fun road. Nonetheless, I do believe that I am blessed.
I write the types of stories I love, and I have a fan base that’s excited each time I write something new. I believe my writing is about to take the next step, thanks to an amazing mentor (Rebecca Hamilton) who has helped me get even better. I have a family that’s supportive and a library of books I wrote that I am proud of. What else could one want?
I am now a USA Today Bestselling author. Two of my novels have won international awards. I am five novels published and working on a new series. I also teach workshops; I help authors and screenwriters. I speak publicly and love every minute of it. All this while I am an executive in the entertainment industry, helping technology teams achieve unimaginable goals.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I write fiction. In other words, I am a professional liar. Someone once said, non-fiction is opinion. Fiction is truth.
I write stories of second chances. I am intrigued by people and the choices they make and how those choices lead to where they are today. My novels include:
Second Chance Coast series:
Game of Love
Ten Year Dance
15 Days With You
Fortuny Bay Series:
Reunion at Fortuny Bay
Secrets of Fortuny Bay
It’s hard for me to say what sets me apart from others. There are so many amazing writers. But what may make my stories unique in their way is that I believe everyone deserves a second chance. What that has meant is that some of my books fall into the romance category–which puts me in the special category of the 5% — only 5% of romance writers are men. Some have compared me to Nicholas Sparks, probably because I’m a dude writing love stories. But fundamentally, I am a writer who believes in redemption. From a professional tennis player to star-crossed lovers to surfing road trips up and down the PCH, when you open my novels, you will find characters who have realistic flaws, with real broken hearts, who want a shot at happiness.
What are your plans for the future?
I have started a new eight-book series that I am very excited about. These are small lake town stories of second chances. I look forward to releasing this series in the second half of 2024 through the first half of 2025. I believe this series will be the game-changer in my trajectory.
I’ve launched my own Publishing Company and will be publishing other writers’ books as well. I’ll start slowly. But I’m stepping into this with faith that the gifts God has given me are meant to be used and not forgotten.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.aragrigorian.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ara.grigorian/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aragrigorianwriter/
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/aragrigorian
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/araTHEwriter
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Ara-Grigorian/author/B00UIF6I1M
Image Credits
Flashcube Photography
Armen Melik
Abramians Southern California
Writers’ Conference
