"My name is Raea Gragg. I am an author and illustrator, but can I tell you a secret? I don’t like reading.”

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This is how I introduce myself to wide-eyed elementary school audiences, causing a stir as the kids gasp and whisper. Teachers and librarians murmur from the corners, all wondering the same thing: how can an author not like reading?

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I graduated cum laude from Loyola Marymount University School of Film and Television, majoring in animation and minoring in screenwriting. For my senior thesis, I created "MUP," a middle-grade graphic novel about a little girl trapped in the future with her teenage self. It garnered fans, sold thousands of copies, earned a Kirkus star, and led me to speak at schools and libraries nationwide.

 

At these events, I faced a choice: do I lie about my dislike for reading, or tell the truth? I decided to be honest. Growing up, I hated everything related to words due to a vision problem and dyslexia, making learning to read one of my greatest challenges. Despite this, my love of storytelling propelled me down an unlikely career path. By 15, I wrote and independently published my first novel and went on to create several more works of contemporary and illustrated young adult and children’s fiction.

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I aim to inspire, entertain, and engage squirmy young readers, especially those like me who face visual and processing challenges. I connect with students by sharing joyful stories through a blend of words and images, creating page-turning adventures with raw emotional appeal. ​