Bookpleasures.comwelcomes as out guest Award Winning Actress/Director Garbielle Stone. Garbrielle is the daughter of actress Dee Wallace (over 200 film credits including ET: The Extraterrestrial /CUGO/ Just Add Magic, etc) and Christopher Stone (Dallas/Bionic Woman/The New Lassie).    Gabrielle has recently published Eat, Pray #FML.

Good day Gabrielle and thanks for participating in our E-Interview.

Norm: What do you consider to be your greatest success (or successes) so far in your careers?



Gabrielle: That's a tough question! It's a toss up. I was very proud of my first directorial effort
It Happened Again Last Night which ended up screening at 16 festivals with 22 nominations and 12 awards.

However, to be honest, nothing has come close to the success and pride I've felt in the last three weeks that this book has been out into the world. So I would have to give it to Eat, Pray, #FML.

Norm: What has been your greatest challenge (professionally) that you're overcome in getting to where you're at today?

Gabrielle: The film industry is definitely not the easiest pool to swim in. There have been many challenges, a lot of no's, huge let downs, and things that make you not feel good enough. I would say the greatest challenge is continually believing you are where you're supposed to be and are on the right path. The second you start doubting yourself, it's way harder to reach your goals.

Norm: When was your first role as an actress and what was it?

Gabrielle: I was nineteen and I played three different characters in the film
Henry John and The Little Bug. I remember walking off that set thinking "Oh, I never want to do anything else." I had grown up on sets with my parents but I didn't really get serious about wanting to do it until that first project.

Norm: What is the most extreme change to your personality, hair, body weight, etc etc, that you have done to land a role?

Gabrielle: I'm still waiting for a role that tells me I have to gain a bunch of weight (I'm such a foodie at heart) although I would probably be miserable after trying to loose it all. I've had my hair every color under the sun. For
It Happened Again Last Night I had a full sleeve tattoo which was a lot of fun. My hair was hot pink for a project once too. I love changing up my look for a role.

Norm: If you could change just one thing about the movie industry with the wave of a magic wand, what would it be?

Gabrielle: That more people took chances on talent with "no name" and that you didn't need certain names attached to get projects green lit.

Norm: How difficult or easy was it to become a woman director? What films have you directed?

Gabrielle: I've been lucky that I chose to move into directing at a time where the industry is celebrating women. Both of the projects I've directed were my own, so I maintained control and produced everything as well.

Directing has given me a sense of freedom in my work and a depth that I am so thankful for. I never knew I would love it as much as I do. My second film, After Emma starring Amy Smart, Dee Wallace, and Taymour Ghazi is just hitting festivals now.

Norm: What was your main reason for writing Eat, Pray #FML and how did you come up with the title?

Gabrielle: I like to say the book really happened TO me. In 2017 I found out my husband of almost two years had been having an affair with a nineteen-year-old for six months.

I filed for divorce and left. Shortly after I met a man and we fell madly in love. It was a whirlwind romance for a month and a half and he convinced me to join him on a month long trip to Italy.

Forty-eight hours before we were getting on a plane, he told me he needed to go by himself. I was absolutely devastated--but I had a decision to make. Either stay at home heartbroken, or go travel Europe for a month by myself.

So I went, with a backpack and no plans, and did seven countries over the span of a month. And wrote a book about it.

The title actually came when Javier (the man who I was supposed to go to Italy with) asked me how I was feeling right before leaving. My response was: "Like I'm about to go on a journey of Eat, Pray, F*%k my life." And there was my title.

Norm: If people can only buy one book this month, why should it be yours? As a follow up, what do you hope will be th everlasting thoughts for readers who finish your book?

Gabrielle: This book has so many things in it. From what I hear people can't put it down. It really is like reading a Netflix show that just so happens to be real life. Apart from the insane journey, bad decisions, wild times, and crazy adventure, there is so much deep healing.

It somehow ended up being a book that won't only be fun to read, it will help people heal, learn to love themselves, and really resonate with them on many deep levels.

It really has something for everyone, women and men. I think everyone who reads Eat, Pray, #FML will take something different from it. But if there is one thing I know I took from it and want to pass on it is how to love yourself. And that no matter how bad things may seem, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel...and more often than not, it's way more magical on that side anyways.

Norm: Could you tell us a little about your book?

Gabrielle: The book spans over three months in my life. From when I found out about my husbands affair, my romance that happened shortly after, and my month long Europe trip that happened after.

I wrote the book on my trip in a leather bound journal I carried with me. Many readers say they feel like they were right there on the journey with me, and that's partly because I was writing it all as it was happening to me. I didn't embellish anything for dramatic effect (believe me, my life doesn't need any help in that department) nor did I leave anything out.

Many people asked if I should change my name or not include certain things--but I wanted this book to be raw, honest, and real. If my mistakes, heartbreak, wins, losses, and healing can reach people and help them heal on their journey, then it is well worth it.

Norm: What challenges or obstacles did you encounter while writing your book? How did you overcome these challenges?

Gabrielle: My biggest obstacle was it was too long! I had to really decide where I could cut things so that I could spend more time writing about what was important. My editor Erica Ellis was amazing and really helped me do that in such an important way. Apart from that, it honestly just flowed out of me like it was meant to be written. I had never written a book before but knew exactly how I wanted it structured and completed.

Norm: Any unique ways you'll be marketing your book that is different from how others authors market their books?

Gabrielle: Yes! I've been doing FML Talk on my Instagram, where I answer questions about the book that people submitted. They're super fun, I don't see any of them before hand, and I answer them all (and honestly) so it's pretty entertaining! They can be found on Instagram @GabrielleStone and @EatPrayFML. I also release a little story every day that is a real video from my trip with a voice over from the book.

Norm: Do you feel that writers, regardless of genre owe something to readers, if not, why not, if so, why and what would that be?

Gabrielle: What an interesting question. I think every writer is writing something for themselves and every reader is reading something for themselves. When I wrote this book it was literally like therapy for me.

It was what got me through 2017. It was very much so for me. However through that, I gave so much of myself to my readers and during my rewrites and editing process most definitely thought about how I could make sure when they finished this book they were left with much more than when they started.

Norm: What do you think makes a good memoir?

Gabrielle: Something that is raw and honest. I remember reading Jenna Jameson's
How to Make Love Like a Porn Star and couldn't put it down because it was so vulnerable and real. I think in our world today so much is censored that people can really appreciate and connect with material that is authentic and truthful.

Norm: What upcoming projects are you excited about?

Gabrielle: I'm in development for a feature film I'm directing that is based on a best selling book. I'm excited o bring such a powerful story to the screen. I have a film called
Await The Dawn coming out next year, and we're also in development for a film my mother and I are playing mother/daughter in for the first time.

Norm: Where can our readers find out more about you and your book?

Gabrielle: The book is exclusively on Amazon in both paperback and ebook. You can read more about it at MY WEBSITE and it's on all social platforms @EatPrayFML. I'm on everything as well @GabrielleStone.

Norm: As this interview comes to an end, what question do you wish that someone would ask about your book, but nobody has?

Gabrielle: What's your favorite chapter? And quite frankly...it would be the hardest to ever answer.

Norm: Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavors