And trying to give voice to them as best I can.
I think women are always trying to figure out their own adolescence.
A lot of the gymnasts I interviewed dont feel connected to their high school at all.
They have agreements to have abbreviated days, so its just a different experience of adolescence.
Do they regret losing out on part of their lives?
Its an interesting question.
They start so young, and they didnt used to.
It changed in 72 withOlga Korbut, a Soviet gymnast.
Thats when the aging-down of gymnastics began.
Gymnastics is sexualized, but the women arent.
Theyre in a leotard with their hair and makeup done, but they dont have any womanly curves.
When do these girls desires come in at all?
What is their relationship to their bodies as part of that?
Because their bodies are this sort of machine or weapon, not something that really gives them pleasure.
Is there something you do to get into the mindset of adolescent girls?
Instagram, certain celebrities that are followed by a lot of teenagersthose are gold.
Youre often inspired by real events.
Are there any stories too dark for you to use?
Why did you write this book from the moms perspective?
The inspiration was Brooke Shields mom, Teri.
I remember her as the stage mom of all time.
That was interesting to me.
How do you know when youve entered that territory?
I thought if it was from the moms point of view, wed see the nuance.
I heard you had a playlist when you were writing this novel.
Hull, Sleater-Kinney, the Savages.
Angry girl music that mirrored Devons voiceso I would hear her screaming in the other room all the time!
