Tawhito Scene
By Ruby Gower
This is a scene from my novel, where the prophet Tawhito is giving advice to Anna and Ela. I think it’s a really important scene in my book because it’s a big turning point where Anna and Ela decide to kill the Queen, which sets off an important chain of events.
Process
I used animation software on my iPad to create this animation. This is the longest animation I’ve ever done, so persevering with it was a challenge. I learned how to pace the speed of my frames better, and I think I’m now better at animating people walking. I felt really good when I completed the project because I’ve never done anything so long.
Meet the Pair
MENTEE RUBY GOWER & MENTOR JANICE NIMURA
Ruby’s Anecdote: Janice and I recently took a trip to the Met Cloisters to get imagery for the medieval-style novel I’m working on. We met two of her friends there, who were both writers and were really supportive of my book. I got a lot of ideas from seeing the architecture of the old Cloisters, like the high ceilings and the frequent arches. We went outside to look at the courtyard, because there’s an important scene in my book featuring one, and even though it was wrapped away for winter, I had a really great time and learned a lot.
Janice’s Anecdote: Ruby’s fictional world is full of the material culture of medieval Europe, so we arranged to meet at the Cloisters for inspiration. I almost didn’t recognize her when she arrived: The night before, Ruby had shaved her head. We spent the afternoon time-traveling: a girl of the future, a curious elder, and the splendors of the Middle Ages. We were surrounded by stories told not just in ink but in silk and gold and glass and stone, and I couldn’t wait to see all of it reflected in Ruby’s writing.
Ruby Gower
Ruby Gower is a class of 2020 Girls Write Now mentee based in Brooklyn, NY.
