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- In Conversation With Award Winning Actress/Director Garbielle Stone Who Has Recently Published Eat, Pray #FML
In Conversation With Award Winning Actress/Director Garbielle Stone Who Has Recently Published Eat, Pray #FML
- By Norm Goldman
- Published July 22, 2019
- AUTHOR INTERVIEWS- CHECK THEM OUT
Norm Goldman
Reviewer & Author Interviewer, Norm Goldman. Norm is the Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com.
He has been reviewing books for the past twenty years after retiring from the legal profession.
To read more about Norm Follow Here
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