Giselle Zado Wasfie was an editor for Glamour Magazine and she's written for SOHH.COM. She has had articles printed in numerous publications. Her first book "So Fly" was released earlier this year by St. Martins/Griffen.

Everybody knows I don't do e-mail interviews. I wanted to interview Giselle so badly after finishing her book. I soon found out that she is currently living in London. Yikes! That would be a pricey interview. So Giselle graciously answered my interview questions via e-mail.

When did you start writing So Fly?
Giselle Zado Wasfie-Began the first chapter in 2000 but didn't really start writing the until 2001/2002.

What made you decide to publish a fiction book rather than a non-fiction book about your real life adventures as a female entertainment writer?
Giselle Zado Wasfie-I've always been into creative writing and wanted to tell more of a story with all the elements of fiction.

When I was reading the book I thought the interviews with Ja Rule and Bahamadia were real. Then when I re-read the book prior to the interview I noticed the disclaimer that read in brief, "Though real life-celebrities are mentioned in these pages, it should not be inferred that these people participated in or granted their authorization or endorsement of this novel." Did you ever worry that people would read the book and think that the "fiction" interviews were real interviews?
Giselle Zado Wasfie-No, because as you said, it clearly states at the beginning of the book, that no celebrities were not directly or personally involved. I did want the book to have a 'real' feel to it so that is why I used real names. It should feel like it takes place in the real world, but it's actually fictional. Though I have interviewed Bahamadia and Ja Rule, respectively.

The book contains several interviews you conducted while working at popular hip-hop site SOHH.COM. How long did you write for SOHH and how did you get your start there?
Giselle Zado Wasfie-While I was working at Glamour, I freelanced as a hip-hop writer for Sonicnet.com which was later bought out by MTV. I always loved hip-hop, proved I could write about it through my Sonicnet gigs and SOHH.com took a chance and hired me full-time. It worked out well!

Are there any plans for "So Fly," to be turned into a feature film?
Giselle Zado Wasfie-Yes, we are currently looking into selling the film rights.

You are living in London now. How does the London music scene compare to the New York music scene?
Giselle Zado Wasfie-London is definitely more rock-n-roll than NYC. It's more grungy here and their pop music is actually really, really good. NYC is lots more urban.

Are you currently writing books?
Giselle Zado Wasfie-I have about twenty pages of a new novel. The tone is similar but it deals with a iraqi-american woman who goes back home to michigan to deal with some family drama.

Do you, like Sophie follow and listen to hip-hop music?
Giselle Zado Wasfie-Yeah, though I go in phases. I still love Gang Starr, PE, Tribe--the greats. Also Jean Grae, the Streets, and I've been killing this Mark Ronson/Jay-Z mixtape. I'm also a huge fan of MOP. .

I am a female entertainment writer. A good portion of the artists I write about are hip-hop artists. There are so many women behind the scenes in the music industry. Do you feel that the women behind the scenes, the A&R's, the writers, the publicists, the web designers, do you feel like we are the unsung heroes of the music industry?
Giselle Zado Wasfie-I feel like we are the unsung heroes of life in general.

Which craft do you prefer the most? Being a author or a journalist?
Giselle Zado Wasfie-Being a journalist is more of a profession to me. I love going out and meeting new people and facing challenges of getting a good story on the spot or scoring a hard interview. It can be more glamorous and exciting.

Being an author is more quiet, intimate and introspective. It's very fulfilling and fun to create characters and try to describe all the details of a scene. And the independence is great. But it's much more lonely too. In both cases, you are telling a story. Though one who hope that in journalism you are adhering to facts rather than fiction!

You have worked at several big magazines. What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about working at a magazine?
Giselle Zado Wasfie-That is it fun. In New York City, it is also very cut-throat. But I still love it. You are a tastemaker, get paid for your taste and people are into what you are writing. Can't really complain!

When will you be returning to the United States to promote your book?
Giselle Zado Wasfie-I will be reading on Weds, July 20 at 5.30pm at the Countee Cullen Branch of The New Public Library during Harlem Book Fair in New York City. More info here: More info here.

So Fly is available at Amazon.com and bookstores everywhere. You can visit Giselle on-line at http://www.gisellezadowasfie.com/

Giselle Zado Wasfie interview copyright Dorrie Williams-Wheeler, and Thabiz.com 2005
Dorrie Williams-Wheeler is the author of Be My Sorority Sister Under Pressure and the Unplanned Pregnancy Book for Teens and College Students. She is the founder of Thabiz.com and Imissthe80s.com and writes for the Rap, Teen, and 1980s section at Bellaonline.com. She is an ASCAP member as a writer and a publisher. Please contact Dorrie for advertising inquiries, lyric writing inquiries, reprint rights, paying entertainment jobs, or general comments.
Visit Dorrie on the web at www.sparkledoll.com or e-mail her at webmaster@thabiz.com.
Interview may not be reprinted, copied or distributed. You may link to this interview.
Interview copyright Dorrie Williams-Wheeler, thabiz.com October 2005.