Interview With Gabriella Skory
Gabriella Skory is a young author who began writing The
Pages of Red Diamond as part of a homeschooling project when she
was 15 years old. In addition, she created a website to promote her
work. She contacted SmartGirl to help her get the word out.SG Author Camille reviewed The
Pages of Red Diamond for SmartGirl Suggests and came up
with these interview questions for the author. First, Camille asked
some questions about the story, and then she asked some questions
just to help us get to know the author. Read on! SG C: What was your inspiration for the plot of The Pages of Red Diamond? When you began writing, did you ever think you would complete it?
G: Honestly, when I was writing The Pages of Red Diamond I had no idea what was going to happen! When I write I can only take it one page at time--though at some point I know I have to start brainstorming so I can think somewhat ahead. And that’s really all writing is: one big brainstorm. Whenever I write I always have Minesweeper up--you know, the little game that’s on your computer where you have to click around the little bombs? Well, whenever I got stuck or couldn’t think of what to write I would always just listen to some music and play a couple of rounds of Minesweeper and then go back to writing. And if that didn’t work I would have a brainstorm session with my brother.
SG C: Whenever I write, the name of my main character usually has a story behind it. Is there any reason why you named your protagonist "Hazel," other than her hazel eyes?
G: I have always loved the name Hazel. When I was younger I always thought it would be so cool if I had been named Hazel. I also thought that Hazel was a good dog name. Hazel was actually the name of Snowball (Hazel's dog) when I first started writing The Pages of Red Diamond, and Hazel's name was Amber! After some thinking I realized that I wanted the main character's name to be Hazel and the best friend's name to be Amber and the dog's name to be Snowball.
SG C: I think Claire is one of the coolest aunts ever! Did you base her on anyone, like a parental figure or a person you look up to, or is she your dream aunt?
G: I actually do have some really cool aunts, but I think Aunt Claire is the aunt every girl would love to have. She's kind, understanding, youthful, fun, and loving. I just knew that Hazel needed to have that someone in her life who was just really cool and understood her. And that someone was Claire!
SG C: If you could have a friend like Calvin (a.k.a. a super genius), what would you have him invent for you? Which of his inventions did you like the most?
G: I'd probably have him make me some kind of machine that when you put your clothes in it, it would wash them, dry them, fold them, and put them in my closet! I'd have to say my favorite invention would be the door Calvin has that goes down to his 'Head Quarters.' It seems like the ultimate security system and really fun to open!
SG C: Hazel goes through the difficulties of trying to find her true self throughout the story, and especially being her true self in front of the J girls. Do you have any advice on how SmartGirls can deal with real life's J girls?
G: I have to say I have had my share of J girls in the past, and I've realized a couple things. When you find yourself with a group of girls and you're constantly worrying about what to say or what to wear or how to act just to hang out with them, then they're not really the type of friends you should want to hang out with, even if hanging out with them makes you part of the "cool crowd." Also, if you find yourself with people who are always trying to tell you what to do and gossip about other people, tell them that you're not OK with that! Let them know that you don't appreciate them telling you what to do and that you don't think it's nice to gossip about other people. It can be hard, I know. But if they are real friends, they'll stop. And if they are not, it's time to start looking for some new friends to hang out with.
SG C:
You really pay attention to detail when it comes to describing the clothing in your story. What is your favorite outfit in whole entire closet?
G: I'd have to say my favorite outfit is the outfit Claire designs for Hazel and Amber that they wore to Club Sizzle. It's very fashionable and I'd love to have something like it in my own closet!
SG C: Would you rather write out a story the old-fashioned way (ahem, a notebook and pencil) or the modern way (typing)?
G: I actually do both! I have tons of notebooks that I write in and I even still have a notebook I started writing The Pages of Red Diamond in! I also always keep a small notebook on me when I'm out that I use to jot down ideas when I get them. Though the computer is nicer when it comes to having to erase something (I tend to change my mind a lot when I'm writing), I still like the sound of pencil on paper. And of course, ultimately, any story will need to be typed up on the computer.
SG C: What are some of your hobbies?
G: Well I obviously love reading and writing, but I also love dancing, performing, playing the piano, hanging out with friends, and listening to music. As of right now, I take six dance classes: Jazz, Hip-hop, Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, and Tap. I also help teach a 3- to 5-year-old ballet and tap class.
SG C: What are your all-time favorite books? What's your favorite genre of books?
G: I get asked this question all the time, and I have to say it's quite a difficult question for me to answer. I don't really have a favorite genre. I love reading romance as much as adventure or mystery! Though the list keeps getting longer, I would have to say my favorite series of books would have to be Harry Potter, Twilight, His Dark Materials, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Watching Alice, Stolarz, Daughters of the Moon, and Alice. And my favorite books would have to be Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie, 1984, The Host, The Time Traveler's Wife, Catcher in the Rye, and the Giver. Told you it was a long list!
SG C: If there were a magical world you could travel to in a book, what would the world be like? Would you be an empress, the queen, a hero? Would it be a realistic city, like Red Diamond, or a more exotic city?
G: The city of Red Diamond was created from my imagination of what a perfect world to escape to would be like. I think I would want to do what Hazel does: help the city be a safer place while getting to know the people there and making great friends.
Thanks to both SG Author Camille and Gabirella for this interview! It was so fun to read. Have you read The Pages of Red Diamond? Submit your book review!Here are additional resources for Gabriella's book:
