In addition, Gratz has taught writing to middle school students in Tokyo, Japan, worked with young writers from the Columbus, Ohio area, and written a few episodes of A&E's City Confidential series. Gratz was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, and attended the University of Tennessee, where he earned a College Scholars degree with a specialization in creative writing, and, later, a Master's degree in English education. He currently lives in western North Carolina with his wife Wendi and his daughter Jo.