Hi Gabriella, thanks so much for joining me on the blog today!
G: Hello! Thank you so much for having me! I’m so thrilled to be here.
When did you first realize that writing is what you wanted to do with your life?
G: It came pretty early on after I decided I wouldn’t be able to make it as a professional dance due to tight hips that prevent me from having a good turnout. I’ve known from a young age that writing stories are my passion, but after I finished writing my debut, I finally was like ‘This is what I want to do for a living.’
I know you said you’re currently rewriting your debut novel, but can you tell me when you first originally published it? What was the story about?
G: Mark of Genesis, my debut was originally published in July of 2018. The premise is still pretty much the same, even though I’m rewriting it. Here is the official one sentence description:
On the verge of being overtaken by his misery due to intense bullying, a one-of-a-kind teen boy with the ability to feel other’s emotions enters the hidden world of the elves, hoping for a fresh start; but after two attempts on his life at the hands of a chilling creature with shocking threats, he must learn to accept himself for who he is before his time runs out.
What inspired you to write this story?
G: Well, I’ve always known that I wanted to dedicate myself to a series long term with the same characters and the same world. I decided to use my passion for racial unity to tell the story of two races and how one treats the other. My main inspirations for this story were Harry Potter, the By Darkness Hid Trilogy and recently, The Dragon Prince TV show on Netflix.
How similar will this rewrite be compared to the original? Pretty similar or really different?
G: My original plan was to keep it pretty similar and just tweak some of the writing. However, the more I looked over my book, the more the flaws stuck out, and since this is the first in the series, I decided practically rewriting the book in order to make it stronger was necessary not just for the individual novel, but also for the series as a whole. One of the biggest (and most unexpected) changes I recently made was to switch from third person to first person POV to help readers better connect with my hero, Kade.
Do you have any other books out, or just the one currently?
G: For now, it’s just the one, though technically it’s not available to purchase any more.
When can we expect the rewritten version of your debut to be published? (Can be an estimation if you aren’t 100% sure yet! <3)
G: My game plan is to have it re-released in the fall or winter of 2019. I’d like to have it up by the end of September, which is Kade’s birthday, but at this point, so much is being changed that I may have to push it back.
What is your favorite part about writing?
G: Brainstorming and outlining!! I love coming up with all my ideas and then connecting them. I also like drafting too though, because then I’m experiencing those ideas come to life.
How would you describe your writing style?
G: It’s very much still developing as I learn more about myself as a writer. Currently, I think it’s very character driven, but also heavy on description, specifically describing characters’ feelings and experiences.
Do you have a genre you prefer to write in or no?
G: Yes, YA fantasy is my genre and I’d like to stick with it, though I may step out of my comfort zone and try something new in the future.
Do you have a favorite snack or drink you enjoy while writing?
G: COFFEE. I love my coffee. 🙂 I also love to have nuts or berries on hand sometimes too. (I sound like such a health geek. I promise I’m not. I was munching on potato chips before I started answering these questions.)
Having written for eight years, do you have a favorite character that you’ve enjoyed writing more than the others?
G: Yes, Kade is my favorite. I’ve been with him for about five years thus far, but I find there’s always something new for me to learn about him. He just opened up to me recently about having anxiety, and it’s been so interesting exploring that and learning how to implement that into my story accurately.
What is some advice you can give aspiring authors out there that you wish you had known when you began your writing and publishing journey?
G: Be open to learn and accept critique. When I first published Mark of Genesis, I got two one-star reviews and zero five stars. It made me open my eyes and realize my book wasn’t ready to be published yet. Right after I started re-editing my book, I enlisted the help of a group of beta readers/street team members who read my book as I edit and point out all the things that could still be fixed. They’ve apologized if they’re being ‘harsh’ but honestly, after reading some long rants about my writing, I’ve welcomed all the advice I can get, and I eat up new tips that will help me improve.
If you want to be a writer, know from the start that your writing WILL get critiqued, or maybe even hated. Use that as a source of knowledge, rather than letting it cut you down. Trust me, it’ll make you a much stronger writer.
More About Gabriella….
Gabriella Slade grew up as the eldest of seven, two of her sisters being adopted from West Africa. As a homeschooled student, Gabriella spent her free time reading novels and scribbling down stories from a young age, where she discovered her love for fantasy. As a teen, she wrote and edited her debut novel over a period of 3 years. Gabriella has been blogging since 2015. Her blog won the Libester award in 2017. You can connect with her online at gabriellaslade.com
And if you would like to follow Gabriella and her writing journey, you can find her anywhere here:
Website: https://gabriellaslade.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/authorgabriellaslade
Instagram: https://instagram.com/authorgabriellaslade
books by s.r. 
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