Hello, everyone! Today, I’m thrilled to bring you an exclusive interview with Gabrielle, the protagonist of Zachary Paul Chopchinski’s young adult novel, The Curious Tale of Gabrielle. We discuss her ‘time traveling’ journeys, family, and adventurous spirit. Without further ado, here’s the interview!
Kate: Welcome, Gabrielle! Thank you so much for taking time out of your travels to talk with me today.
Gabrielle: Thank you so much for seeing with me. I do hope that it’s not too much of a bother.
Kate: Oh, please. It is my pleasure! So, why don’t you start by telling my readers a little bit about yourself?
Gabrielle: Well my name is Gabrielle. I am 13 years old and I like to wander, as my mother calls it. My father calls it “adventures”, but I just say that I like to see things. Strange things… New things…Old things.
Kate: And you have certainly seen your share of strange things. In fact, the whole adventure began in your friend Alexandra’s shop of oddities. Could you tell the readers a bit about that fateful day and how you view it in retrospect? If you could say anything to Alexandra now about that day and your following journey, what would it be?
Gabrielle: Well, honestly, I can’t even tell you how it started…or if Alexandra is even a friend. She is a kind, but strange woman, and she is the reason why I’m on this journey to begin with. But…it’s all so strange. I hardly know her at all, yet she acts like she’s known me for years. Since the day my family moved to Envisage, I made it a personal goal to see it all. Something was so strange about Alexandra’s shop, I don’t even know how to explain it…it’s like it was calling to me or something. It seems that my journey began as soon as I opened the door. Stepping into the shop and seeing all of the weird but beautiful things, and then meeting Alexandra…AND that bracelet!
If I could ask Alexandra one thing right now, it would be “Where are we going?”.
Kate: I think that’s something we’d all love to know! Speaking of the bracelet, what was it like when you realized the bracelet had helped you travel across time and space?
Gabrielle: WOW! I’m still really not able to describe it. At times, it’s almost like a dream. HAHA, in fact when I woke up in the first life…man I really thought it was a dream. I kept trying to wake myself up! Like I could wake up at any moment and none of it would have happened. It can be really amazing at times. Other times, it is terrifying. To be honest, I have no idea what I’m doing, why I’m doing it or what will happen. I still ask myself why I took the journey in the first place, but it felt like something that had to be done. Like these spirits need me, you know?
Kate: That is very noble of you. The first two spirits you met were Heather and Fionn. What was your favorite part about sharing in their lives? If you could send them a message now, what would you say?
Gabrielle: The life that I shared with Heather and Fionn was amazing. It still is difficult to accept all that happened with that journey. They were amazing people and I felt like I could have stayed with them forever…I think about them a lot…sometimes I even dream about them, like I’m back out in the field running with Heather and life is good…simple…happy.
If I could say anything to them right now, it would be that I’m sorry for what happened and it truly broke my heart. I wish that I could have done more.
Kate: I’m sure they appreciate you listening to their story and know that you tried. But not everyone in your story is like Heather and Fionn. What was it like meeting Morrigan during your adventure?
Gabrielle: Humm…well at first he seemed like a strange kid. Now that I know him better…well he can be a pain in my ass sometimes…but he has a good heart. I don’t want to talk too much about him because, well you will see more when I share the rest of my story. I don’t want to spoil the surprise! Lets just say we have a…complicated and frustrating friendship.
Kate: Haha, fair enough. Man, the way you talk about this adventure is so matter-of-fact. Despite all the scary moments in your journey, you never fail to be brave. How do you do that?
Gabrielle: I don’t know. I guess I just think of my mother and father. My father always told me to never be scared of anything in life. That at most times, that which scares you is only as strong as you let it become. My mother never seemed to let many things intimidate her either. She was always strong and my father always said that this was what made him fall in love with her in the first place. Also, I don’t really think I could run away, It just isn’t an option that comes into my head, you know?
Kate: What do you think your parents would say about your adventuring? Do you think they would be proud, supportive, fearful?
Gabrielle: Since my father…left us, my mother has been very protective of me. She probably wouldn’t really be happy about this adventure. My father…hahaha…he was a great guy! You would really have liked him. He would encourage the whole thing as long as I told him the tale. HAHA! Honestly, I think they both would support me at times and be fearful for me at others.
Kate: It sounds like they are truly great parents. Okay, we’re almost out of time, so let’s end on a few fun ones. If you could choose where and when the bracelet sent you next, to where and what time would you like to go?
Gabrielle: I know this isn’t really a possibility, but I would really like to go back to when my mom and dad were younger. When they were my age to see what they were like.
Kate: That would be very cool! If you could have taken one object or one person on your adventure with you, what or who would you have taken along?
Gabrielle: My father. He would have really liked this journey.
Kate: Great. Finally, your author, Zach Chopchinski, has sent you on a bit of a whirlwind by writing a second edition of your story. What is it like working with him, and do you have any requests for your next book?
Gabrielle: Oh yeah Zach…he’s a little weird. When we works, he insists on drinking tea, burning incense, listening to music and it being very dark. Not really my kind of scene, but I guess sometimes I have to do what he wants. He says it’s his version of a mix of sensory deprivation and immersion all rolled into one. He like to stay up late at night so that’s fun, I guess. I do like that he wrote in Morrigan in this edition. Morrigan can be cool…at least he’s someone to go through this with me. I wonder what sorts of things he will send me off to do next. In the future, I would like for him to maybe send me back to meet all of the people that I have met and will meet to talk about the amazing journey and to thank them for all that they have done, and give my condolences for what they experienced. I know its probably not possible, but it would be great to see everyone again.
Kate: As one of your readers, I know that I would enjoy that, too! Well, I think that is all the time we have for today. Again, Gabrielle, thank you so much for coming on my blog and sharing about your journey. If you wouldn’t mind, please tell the readers where they can read about your adventures and learn more about Zach.
Gabrielle: Well they can go to his website, www.zachchop.com, find him on something called Facebook and Twitter (whatever those are) and he wants everyone to know that if they ever have any questions or requests, to please let him know. I think that I should be going now. My bracelet is getting quite warm…… CLICK
About Jonas Lee
Kate M. Colby 