Triana, Gaby 1971–

PERSONAL: Born October 12, 1971, in Miami, FL; children: Michael. Education: Florida State University, B.A.; Nova University, M.S.

ADDRESSES: Agent—c/o Author Mail, HarperCollins Publishers, 10 East 53rd St., 7th Fl., New York, NY 10022. E-mail—gaby@gabytriana.com.

CAREER: Taught third and fourth grades in Miami, FL for seven years; teacher of an online writing class.

WRITINGS:

Backstage Pass (young-adult novel), HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2004.

Cubanita (young-adult novel), Rayo (New York, NY), 2005.

SIDELIGHTS: Gaby Triana left teaching to become a full-time writer. Her first young-adult novel, Backstage Pass, is about Desert McGraw, the daughter of aging rock star Flesh. Desert has been raised on the road by her father and her mother, who is also the band's manager, and the family has moved from Los Angeles to a mansion in Miami, Florida. Not wanting to deal with requests for concert tickets and other favors, sixteen-year-old Desert tries to keep a low profile at school, but when her new best friend, lesbian song-writer and guitarist Becca, admits that she worships Flesh, Desert risks telling her the truth. With the help of new friends, Desert begins to relax, but when she discovers that she is being followed by a journalist, she suspects that her new friends have betrayed her. As the story continues, it is Desert's father whose secrets are revealed, and Desert learns the strength of true friendship.

In reviewing Backstage Pass, Kliatt critic Claire Rosser wrote that "readers will probably feel they too have a backstage pass to such an unusual life as they read Desert's story." "With its unique look at culture shock, this is a fast-paced and enjoyable read," wrote Karen Hoth in School Library Journal.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, July, 2004, Cindy Welch, review of Backstage Pass, p. 1835.

Kirkus Reviews, June 15, 2004, review of Backstage Pass, p. 582.

Kliatt, May, 2004, Claire Rosser, review of Backstage Pass, p. 14.

Publishers Weekly, July 12, 2004, review of Backstage Pass, p. 64.

School Library Journal, August, 2004, Karen Hoth, review of Backstage Pass, p. 130.

ONLINE

Gaby Triana Home Page, http://www.gabytriana.com (September 14, 2005).