| FAQ
FOR MAYA GOLD
Have you always wanted to be a
writer?
I’ve always loved reading, and
used to write and illustrate stories for my family when I was little.
Later I fell in love with theatre and started to write plays, usually
funny ones about my teachers. I also drew a comic strip for my high
school newspaper. In college I studied theatre and creative
writing, and for awhile after that I earned a living by writing TV
scripts. So I guess I’ve been telling stories of different
kinds all my life.
What do you like best about
writing books?
I love daydreaming about my
characters when I’m doing other things, like making dinner or taking a
shower or walking my dog. It’s like having a huge cast of friends in
your head. And it’s wonderful getting to work at home in your pajamas!
Have you ever worked in a
dry-cleaners?
No, but I have very strong
memories of the cleaners in my hometown. There were big plate-glass
windows in front, and a tailoring section a lot like the one where
Nelson works. When I was little, the place seemed like magic to me, with
its automatic doors and plastic-bagged clothes traveling around the room
on a giant conveyor belt – what Diana calls The Dress Parade.
How did you get your name?
My grandmother was born in Mexico,
so I was named after the Mayan Indians who built the great pyramids in
southern Mexico and Guatemala. My father’s family came from Russia,
and Gold is a shortened version of what was once a longer name.
Did you know there’s a chocolate
bar called Maya Gold?
Yes, and it’s delicious! It’s
made by the organic chocolate maker Green & Blacks. It’s a dark
chocolate, flavored with orange, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla – very
exotic. It wasn’t named after me, of course, but I’m still very
flattered. Here’s a picture:
 Yum!
Who is the girl on the book
covers?
Isn’t she great? I love how
completely different she looks in every photo. The real
"Diana" is a professional model and actress who lives in New
York City. When the Scholastic Book Fair came to her middle school last
fall, her classmates were thrilled to see her on a book cover!
Any advice for kids who love to
write?
Practice all the time. Keep a
journal and write about things you see and want to remember. Write
stories, poems, songs, plays--anything you enjoy reading. There are no
limits to your imagination, and you never know where a story will take
you.
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