Interview with The Opposite of Amber's Ruby

Today, I am honoured to have Ruby from Gillian Philip's The Opposite of Amber. The Opposite of Amber is out April 18th. Here's a bit about The Opposite of Amber, in case you haven't heard:

They found the fifth girl right after the snow melted ...the place where he left her was winter water, crazed with ice-feathers and dusted with snow. The traces from her body were gone, the ones that said his name, but she had an extra skin of ice that protected her and she looked perfect, like Snow White'. Ruby and her older sister Jinn live together on their own, just about making ends meet. Jinn is beautiful, with glittering blonde hair, and makes it her business to look after Ruby. They are horrified by, but try to ignore, the local newspaper stories of prostitutes who are murdered, their bodies eventually discovered underwater. Then the no-good Nathan Baird turns up on the scene - again - and Jinn starts to change. First Nathan moves in with Jinn and Ruby, making Ruby feel an outsider, and then Jinn and Nathan move out, leaving Ruby alone. Jinn no longer has time to look after Ruby. And it seems to Ruby that Jinn herself needs looking after. Her beautiful glittering hair starts to lose its shine. And then Jinn disappears. A deeply moving, chilling, and incredibly powerful thriller that celebrates the love two sisters have for each other and mourns the events beyond their control that will conspire to drive them apart.

Now, here is Ruby! :)

What made you decide to work in the salon?

Hi Erica! Well, firstly, of course, because I’m crazy about hair design. I love everything about it – the way it can change people, everything from the way they look, to the way they act, to the way they feel. What’s the first thing most women do when they feel they need a new chapter in their life? Change their hair. I love that!
Sometimes I do wonder if I made a mistake not going to college... and then I think, nah. Starting in work straightaway was just right for me, and it’s not like I can’t work towards my qualifications in the salon. I really like it there – the place, the boss, the other staff, the customers (except for Mrs Bolland of the Brick-Melting Face, but I shouldn’t say that).

But mostly, I think, I just wanted to get out of full-time education. I wanted to... grow up. Job-wise, at least. I wanted to go and make my own way in the adult world. I reckon that’s something to do with always being in Jinn’s – not shadow, I’d hate to use that word; maybe just Jinn’s care. I never really had to do anything for myself, look out for myself, and I suppose I thought it was time I did. Maybe one day I’ll regret not going to college. But not yet.

Can you share a favorite childhood memory with Jinn with us?

Oh. There are so many. OK... there was the key ring incident. I was about seven, I think, and I had this key ring – long before I had any need for keys, of course. It was just a toy to me. It was a really fierce-looking orc, all cross-eyed and snarly, and it glowed in the dark, and I loved it. I took it everywhere... which was a mistake, because of course I took it to the playpark one day and lost it. I didn’t realise till I got home, and then I was hysterical. My mother was pretty upset for me too – practically smothered me with hugs and sweets and promises to get a new one – but it was Jinn who didn’t give up on it, even though it was the middle of winter. Lara went out that evening with some bloke and left Jinn in charge, so Jinn got a torch and took me back to the playpark and we hunted for ages. She made it all into a big adventure. And sure enough, there it was half-buried in bark under the swings, glowing away in the torchlight, looking absolutely livid. Jinn gave it such a row, and told it it didn’t scare her and never to do that to me again, till I was practically killing myself laughing.

I still have that orc, even though it eventually fell off the actual key ring. I’m careless with a lot of my stuff, but that’s one thing I’ve kept safe.

How did you first meet Wide Bertha?

Must have been soon after she gave Jinn a weekend job at the mini-mart. I’d seen her around before that, because it’s a small town and she’s, ah – she’s a big lady. Don’t tell her I said that, or she’ll kill me. I remember being scared of her when I was little, thinking she was one of the Breakness witches, because she’s got a fierce face when she isn’t smiling, and she has this enormous presence (uh-oh, there I go again). So when I went to see Jinn at work one day, and Bertha was behind the counter, I was practically petrified. She said, ‘You’re looking for Jinn,’ and I couldn’t even speak (what’s new). She tried again, and I was still dumbstruck, so I just nodded. So she sighed, and rolled those eyes, and picked up a packet of Starburst and slapped it into my hand, and said ‘Well you might as well use that mouth for something.’ And after that we were mates.

If you could change your name to anything, what would it be?

You know what? I used to think I’d change it to something exotic or romantic, like Lola or Roxanne or Gabrielle. But now I wouldn’t change it for anything. It’s just me. It’d feel like changing my head for another one. I’m happy to be Ruby.

What's the funniest moment you and Foley have had together?

That’d have to be the time he tried to teach his little sister Mallory how to play Poohsticks. (Poohsticks! That was funny in itself. The child’s a delinquent psycho.) Anyway, there we were on the rickety bridge that goes over to the beach at Breakness, and he hadn’t collected very many sticks, so when one of them got caught under the bridge she was broken-hearted. Or pretended to be. So she did the Bambi-eyes thing that he always falls for, and he leaned right over, with me hanging on to his ankles, and tried to dislodge it. And needless to say, a rotten old rail of the bridge gave way and I lost my grip and he fell in. And again needless to say, when I leaned over, a bit worried and not thinking, the little minx shoved me after him. Now that I think about it, it wasn’t so funny at the time, but we did laugh about it later, especially when we got to dry each other off with our jackets. It’d have been even funnier if Mallory had fallen in instead.

Rapid Fire! Could you share with us some of your favorites?

Favorite Color:
Well, red of course!

Favorite Food:
Jinn’s chicken fajitas, with far too much sour cream. Or a sandwich picnic at Lara’s grave.

Favorite Flower out of Jinn's Garden:
Nasturtiums. They keep coming back all summer and they’re impossible to kill.

Favorite Animal at the Zoo:
Not the goat. Let’s see... I hate to admit it, but it’s those incredibly ugly pigs that Mallory likes. Oh, and I have a soft spot for the peacock, since it scared Foley into my arms.

Favorite Icecream Flavor:
Breakness Butterscotch. The chunks of butterscotch are big enough to stick in your teeth. Delicious, and another excuse not to talk too much.

Wow, Thanks Ruby for stopping by! The Opposite of Amber is out April 18, and you can pre-order is on The Book Depository!

You can visit Gillian on the web at her website, twitter, and Facebook.