Ask the Author: Diana Hawk
Answered Questions (4)
Diana Hawk
Although I’ve had intense bouts of anxiety for as long as I can remember, my first full-fledged anxiety attack was in sixth grade. I hyperventilated until I nearly passed out, and then spent an hour sobbing in my closet and rocking myself back and forth, desperately trying to stop whatever was happening.
One of the only remedies I found for escaping the crushing waves of panic and terror was reading fiction. I picked up the first Gossip Girl novel at thirteen and was instantly obsessed. Serena and Blair became my idols. As I got older, however, I realized they may not be the best role models (lol). And then I thought: What if I could create something that felt just as fun, with a story that made readers fall just as in love with the characters as GG did, but had kind, positive girls in the limelight who actually learned valuable life lessons?
And that’s how Ariana, Kiara, and Jade were born. The three of them are based on different parts of me, mixed with some characteristics of my friends and some traits I found attractive or aspired to have at that age.
My hope is that Ariana, Kiara, and Jade will stay with my readers and that you’ll bring them to mind when you feel alone, hopeless, or afraid. Because we all feel that way sometimes, and therefore we’re never truly alone.
The girls may not be perfect, but their hearts are in the right place. The lessons they learn are some that massively helped me in my life. Kiara’s trials with eating disorders and how she begins to heal are based on my own. As are Ariana’s battles with anxiety and how Jade works through why people react with malice and negativity toward humans they don’t fully know.
We’re all fighting unseen battles.
The book also delves into high school debauchery, and sex is shown on page as well as experimentation with alcohol and drugs. I wanted the story to be and feel real, and therefore I didn't censor the things that teenagers are actually surrounded by.
It's fun, silly, heart breaking at times, and guides the reader through the darker sides of high school while keeping a lighthearted tone!
One of the only remedies I found for escaping the crushing waves of panic and terror was reading fiction. I picked up the first Gossip Girl novel at thirteen and was instantly obsessed. Serena and Blair became my idols. As I got older, however, I realized they may not be the best role models (lol). And then I thought: What if I could create something that felt just as fun, with a story that made readers fall just as in love with the characters as GG did, but had kind, positive girls in the limelight who actually learned valuable life lessons?
And that’s how Ariana, Kiara, and Jade were born. The three of them are based on different parts of me, mixed with some characteristics of my friends and some traits I found attractive or aspired to have at that age.
My hope is that Ariana, Kiara, and Jade will stay with my readers and that you’ll bring them to mind when you feel alone, hopeless, or afraid. Because we all feel that way sometimes, and therefore we’re never truly alone.
The girls may not be perfect, but their hearts are in the right place. The lessons they learn are some that massively helped me in my life. Kiara’s trials with eating disorders and how she begins to heal are based on my own. As are Ariana’s battles with anxiety and how Jade works through why people react with malice and negativity toward humans they don’t fully know.
We’re all fighting unseen battles.
The book also delves into high school debauchery, and sex is shown on page as well as experimentation with alcohol and drugs. I wanted the story to be and feel real, and therefore I didn't censor the things that teenagers are actually surrounded by.
It's fun, silly, heart breaking at times, and guides the reader through the darker sides of high school while keeping a lighthearted tone!
Diana Hawk
Do anything other than sit at your computer and stare at the screen in despair! Go for a walk, strike up a conversation with a stranger, sit at a coffee shop and listen to the snippets of conversation around you, watch a good show or movie, read a book, take a nap. Inspiration hits me most often when I’m not staring at a screen :)
Diana Hawk
Because of writing I’ve become curious and fascinated by other humans which in turn has made my life that much more exciting. I’m never bored now. Writing made me realize how many incredible stories of love, loss, excitement, struggle, passion, and joy each human contains—I want to know everyone’s stories, and have learned to ask better questions in order to elicit those answers, which leads to far more interesting conversations than I had before. I’ve become a better listener because of this, and I now make friends anywhere and everywhere I go.
Writing has taught me how to live a better life in many ways. How to stick with something (like my book that took years) even when it's daunting, and not give up on my creation even when there was no one pushing me to finish it. I’ve had to step out of my comfort zone and find the courage to share my writing with the world even when I was terrified of what people would think (especially on more vulnerable pieces). It’s taught me to be brave. It’s taught me to persevere.
Also, I just love the afterglow I get from a great writing session. I feel I walk through the street differently and hold myself in a higher regard, which makes others respond to me differently. Or re-reading something I’ve written and finding that it elicits an emotion from me (a laugh, a cry) is one of the most incredible feelings.
Writing (even if it won't ever be shown to anyone- just for the sake of it) does something to me that changes how I carry myself through this world.
Also, I just love the afterglow I get from a great writing session. I feel I walk through the street differently and hold myself in a higher regard, which makes others respond to me differently. Or re-reading something I’ve written and finding that it elicits an emotion from me (a laugh, a cry) is one of the most incredible feelings.
Writing (even if it won't ever be shown to anyone- just for the sake of it) does something to me that changes how I carry myself through this world.
Diana Hawk
Know that it's a marathon, not a sprint.
Find a subject that you can’t NOT write about. There will most likely be many points along the way in which you want to give up, but having a subject that you’re a bit obsessed with will help. If you’re just trying to write about what's popular at the moment to follow what's successful… not the best route. And it might not even be what's popular by the time you finish. Write for yourself, write what you love.
On that note, having inspiration (whether this is other authors, books, or your heroes) in mind when you’re wanting to give up can be super helpful. And remember that we all feel that way sometimes, and it will pass! Keep going! I threw away my book for months and even years at a time before picking it back up- it’s now published!
READ books/authors you’d like to emulate. Learn from them. Learn their style and create your own with theirs as inspo.
You got this!!
You got this!!
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