TEEN SEEN with Maya Gelber -- by Kimberly Sabatini

A long time ago, in what feels like a galaxy far, far away, I used to do teen interviews on my blog. I was originally drawn to them because I know some very amazing teens and they always astound me. The more I learn about them–the more I want to learn. And I’m usually so impressed, I can't help but want to share these amazing teens with the rest of the world.  

There's also a second reason to do a teen interview...here at the YA OUTSIDE THE LINES BLOG, we write for teens and we're friends with a whole bunch of folks who do the same thing. We know for a fact that YA writers are always looking for ways to get into the heads of young adults. 

Ultimately, we want to better know teenagers because they're fabulous humans, readers and future authors, but we also want to dissect them and use their parts in our writing--in a completely non-bloody, kinda nice way. So, sit back, relax and get ready to meet Maya.

I hope you love what can happen when a teen can be seen…

HELLO, MAYA GELBER--CAN YOU TELL OUR READERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF?

Hi everyone. I am a ninth grader and theater is my team sport! I've done shows such as Guys and Dolls, Matilda, Fiddler on the Roof, The Laramie Project and the Music Man. Some of my favorite roles I've played are Miss Honey and Sarah Brown. My type cast is usually characters who are quiet and sweet, but my favorite characters are anything but. I love criminology and horror in general. One of my favorite shows is American Horror Story because each season is a completely different, creative and smart story. I love to write as well, and more recently, I've been writing almost every day. Now that I don't have to get up for school at 6 AM, I've been having incredibly vivid dreams almost every night. I love to journal them, and keep them for inspiration.

AMAZING! I’VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO SEE YOU PERFORM AND YOU ARE WONDERFUL. AND I I LOVE THAT YOU THINK OF THEATER AS A TEAM SPORT.

Thank you so much!! There’s nothing that bonds people better than storytelling. 

 I AGREE--MAYBE THAT'S WHY STORYTELLING IS MY PASSION. AS AN ACTOR, WHAT WOULD YOUR DREAM ROLE BE?

It's so hard to choose one dream role, but I have to say it would be awesome to play Jack Torrance from the Shining. Such a twisted, complex role would challenge me and I’d love to get inside his head (for a little while).

My cast shot for The Laramie Project, 

where I played Leigh Fondakowski and John Peacock! 

THAT IS A FABULOUS AND VERY INTERESTING DREAM ROLL. I’M READING THE BOOK WITH MY YOUNGEST (ON AUDIO) AND I’M BLOWN AWAY (BUT NOT SURPRISED) AT THE COMPLEXITIES MISSING IN THE MOVIE. THE MOVIE IS A VISUAL FEAST, BUT THEY ARE STILL VERY DIFFERENT WAYS OF DIGESTING A STORY. 

I THINK YOU ALREADY KNOW THIS ABOUT ME, BUT I’M AFRAID OF HORROR, ALTHOUGH I AM FASCINATED BY SHOWS THAT REINVENT THEMSELVES ON A REGULAR BASIS. IT INTRIGUES ME AND ALSO INSPIRES ME WITH MY WRITING. I MAY HAVE TO PULL UP MY BIG GIRL PANTS AND CHECK IT OUT. YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THAT YOU WERE WRITING AND HAVING SOME VIVID DREAMS--WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON?

I recently started writing something actually based on one of those dreams. It takes place in the future, in a time when technology to erase memories has been developed. The government has set up a new program for prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment where they can get a chance at a new life. After they are officially convicted of their crime, if it’s severe enough, their minds are wiped and they’re placed in the hotel, either as a guest or staff member. From there, they’re assigned a mentor to show them how life works in the hotel. No one really knows why they’re there, but the living is high class and exquisite, so nobody complains. The cleaning staff is composed of government officials who make sure everything is running smoothly, and janitor closets have computers with all the data of all the guests on it. My main character, Blair, accidentally finds one of these computers and realizes that after they wiped her memories, they found evidence she was innocent of the crime she’d been convicted of. So, she plans her escape. 

I’M ALREADY INTRIGUED BY YOUR STORY—SO BE SURE TO WRITE IT AND LET ME READ YOUR FIRST DRAFT. I ALSO HAVE TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH THAT REMINDS ME OF MYSELF WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE. I WAS DEEPLY INTRIGUED BY THE CONCEPT OF MEMORY WHEN INTRODUCED TO THE GIVER BY LOIS LOWRY IN MY 10TH GRADE ENGLISH CLASS. OVER THE YEARS, THE BOOK, IT’S IDEAS AND IT’S BACKSTORY (I HAD THEE PRIVILEGE OF HEARING LOIS SPEAK ABOUT IT AT A CONFERENCE) HAVE STUCK WITH ME AND EVEN INFLUENCED MY OWN WRITING. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY BOOKS THAT HAVE IMPACTED YOU THE SAME WAY?

Thank you! The first draft will be coming soon. :) One book I love is Matilda (I'm obsessed!!). It's not technically a YA book, but Roald Dahl's writing is ageless, and Matilda's characters are so complex and the story is much darker than what the surface portrays it to be. I'm influenced by his writing in that I try to create characters with depth and stories to tell, whether it be a five year old genius with telekinetic powers and bullies for parents or an anxious teacher with a horrible secret.

I LOVE MATILDA, TOO. AND DON’T WORRY, I’VE BEEN HAVING WEIRD AND VIVDS DREAMS, TOO. SOME OF THAT MAY HAVE TO DO WITH ALL THE STRESS WE ARE FEELING WITH LIFE IN THE TIME OF THE CORONA VIRUS. I FIND THAT OFTEN ADULTS DON'T LISTEN ENOUGH TO WHAT YOUNG ADULTS AND KIDS ARE FEELING IN A SITUATION SUCH AS THIS. WHAT WOULD WE BE SURPRISED TO HEAR IF WE WERE PAYING BETTER ATTENTION?

To be honest, I don't think there's much you would be surprised about! All of my friends talk about how historical of a moment we’re living through, and just try to keep each other’s spirits up during this time where we can’t see each other face to face. 

I’M GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU HAVE SUCH A SUPPORTIVE GROUP OF FRIENDS. I KNOW THINGS ARE CHANGING ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS—BUT IT ALWAYS HELPS TO BE AROUND PEOPLE WHO LOVE YOU.

I ALSO WOULD LOVE TO KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE CURRENT STATE OF YA. PART OF THE REASON THAT YOUNG ADULT BOOKS HAVE HAD SUCH A METEORIC RISE HAS BEEN BECAUSE SO MANY ADULTS HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THE STORIES. BUT I’VE ALSO HEARD COMPLAINTS THAT SOMETIMES YA BOOKS SEEMS TO BE WRITTEN MORE FOR ADULTS THAN THEIR TARGET AUDIENCE. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON WHAT WHERE WE’RE MISSING THE MARK AND WHAT YOU THINK WE’RE DOING WELL?

I think YA is a very tricky genre to be writing in as it's not technically adult literature, but it also isn't for children. I personally like it when YA books seem more mature and I think a lot of teens will agree with me - the last thing we want to read is something thats altered to be "age appropriate". I think when categorizing books by age, it's hard for ageless books, such as Matilda, to be seen in a serious light. Although many aspects of Matilda are geared towards children, there are many very complex, mature storylines behind some of the characters. For example, Miss Trunchbull and Miss Honey's dark and unhealthy relationship. 

YA captures a group of readers who want to see more mature material, and I think that most writers in the genre have done a great job. It is sometimes tricky because this very specific group of readers doesn't want to see any content that seems "dumbed down", and I've read firsthand books that do so. By creating the category of YA, you've engaged kids who want more complicated content in their books. YA authors should use this as an opportunity to write for kids who are hungry for challenging material!

YOU ARE DELIGHTFUL AND INSIGHTFUL AND IT MAKES ME BREATHE EASY KNOWING YOU ARE THE FUTURE OF YA BOOKS—AS A READER AND A WRITER. AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, I FEEL MUCH THE SAME WAY ABOUT MATILDA AND ROALD DAHL AND THE COMPLEXITIES OF YA AS YOU DO. I ALSO BELIEVE THERE IS ROOM ON THE SHELF FOR A BROAD RANGE OF STORIES. WE ARE ALL VERY DIFFERENT, BUT WHAT BUILDS THE BEST BOOKS ARE WRITER WHO CRAFT WITH HEART, SOUL AND THEIR OWN TRUTH ON DISPLAY. ULTIMATELY, I BELIEVE READERS WILL INHALE ANYTHING THAT MAKES A VISCERAL CONNECTION WITH THEM.

I completely agree with you. <3

WE ARE COMING TO THE END OF OUR INTERVIEW, (ALTHOUGH I MAY HAVE TO KEEP OUR OWN CONVERSATION GOING BECAUSE I LOVE IT SO MUCH) BUT I DO HAVE ONE LAST QUESTION AND I’M STEALING IT FROM THE FABULOUS LITERATICAST PODCAST. EVERY TIME LITERARY AGENT JENN LAUGHRAN ASKS THE QUESTION TO HER GUEST SPEAKERS, I DISCOVER WONDERFUL, NEW THINGS I MIGHT HAVE NEVER EXPLORED. HER QUESTION IS...WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY OBSESSED WITH??? (IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE BOOK RELATED) 

I’M CURRENTLY OBSESSED WITH KNITTING AND PIANO. LAST FALL I STARTED TAKING KNITTING LESSONS AT THE ENDLESS SKEIN. THEY HAVE CREATED SUCH A WONDERFUL CRAFTING COMMUNITY AND IN JUST A FEW SHORT MONTHS I’M WORKING ON MY FIRST SWEATER. 

KNITTING HAS BEEN A LIFE SAVER TO ME. IF I AM OBSESSIVELY LISTENING/WATCHING THE NEWS, I CAN STILL BE DOING SOMETHING CREATIVE AT THE SAME TIME. ADDITIONALLY, WRITING A SUCCESSFUL BOOK CAN TAKE A LONG TIME. KNITTING HAS GIVEN ME A CREATIVE OUTLET WHERE I CAN SEE SUCCESS ON A MUCH DIFFERENT TIME LINE. 

AND FOR CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR I ASKED FOR A KEYBOARD SO I COULD TAKE PIANO LESSONS AND LEARN TO READ MUSIC. IT ISN’T SOMETHING I’VE EVER DONE, BUT AS A DANCER, MUSIC FEELS LIKE A LANGUAGE I PARTIALLY KNOW. I EMAILED MY SON'S PREVIOUS TEACHER AND ASKED IF SHE DID ADULT LESSONS. SHE DOES AND I LOVE IT! 

I’M AT THE POINT WHERE I’M LEARNING TO TRAIN MY BRAIN AND FINGERS TO DO TWO DIFFERENT THINGS AT THE SAME TIME. IT’S NUTS IN THE MOST WONDERFUL WAY. BOTH OF THESE ACTIVITIES ARE ON MY BULLET JOURNAL SHORT LIST (AN OBSESSION FOR ANOTHER DAY) AND I TRY SPEND TIME WITH THEM DAILY. 

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT OBSESSION????

I love this question! Two current obsessions of mine would be Billie Eilish and calligraphy. Billie's voice is incredible, and I love the way she can create a whole universe with an album of very different songs. Anytime I find myself needing music for any emotion she always seems to have a song that speaks to me. 

Calligraphy is something I started getting into around the same time last year, when my friend brought brush pens to school. I kept practicing, and now I’m constantly asked to do birthday cards and place holders for thanksgiving (I attached a picture of my project this thanksgiving!). I love to practice writing while listening to podcasts - some of my faves are The Daily by the New York Times and We Bought a House by Claudia Sulewski and Finneas (Billie Eilish’s brother). 

I’ve always wanted to play the piano! It’s been a struggle trying to get my hands to do two different things. 

MAYA, IT HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE JOY TO DO THIS INTERVIEW WITH YOU AND I'M SO EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO WATCH YOU SHINE AND CREATE. 

IF YOU'RE READING THE INTERVIEW AND YOU KNOW MAYA PERSONALLY, I'D LOVE TO KNOW...

1. YOUR FAVORITE YA BOOK WHEN YOU WERE AROUND THE AGE OF A HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN. 

2. YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT MAYA.

IF YOU'RE READING THIS INTERVIEW AND YOU'VE JUST MET MAYA FOR THE FIRST TIME, I'D STILL LIKE TO KNOW...

1. YOUR FAVORITE YA BOOK WHEN YOU WERE AROUND THE AGE OF A HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN. 

2. A PIECE OF WRITING WISDOM FOR MAYA-- AS A WELCOME INTO OUR WRITING FAMILY. 

I hope you all enjoy this new TEEN SEEN feature. I know I can't wait to do it again. <3