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NTRWA March 2006 Spotlight
On...
Gina, I have been a bit of a gypsy in both my personal and professional life. I was born in New York, grew up in New Jersey and Florida and moved to Texas as an adult.
Finished my first novel--a fantasy adventure based on myth--two years ago. Was astounded when the first publisher I sent it to didn't snap it up. After receiving six more rejections, decided I might need to learn more about the publishing industry. Joined RWA® and NTRWA during the spring two years ago. Joined Sisters-in-Crime at about the same time. Both have been invaluable in teaching me about writing in general and the publishing industry specifically.
I'm on my fourth career. Started out planning to be a high school teacher and took my undergraduate degree in secondary education. During a summer break, worked at a stock brokerage house and fell in love with it. When I was forty, I burned out and took a year off. Tried my hand at writing and sold my first piece to "True Confessions." Found it a fun, easy way to earn extra money. Also volunteered in the Psychiatric ER at Parkland. Ended up going back to school and earning my MS degree in Social Work. Planned and developed the first psychiatric mobile crisis team for kids in Texas.
Two and a half years ago, I decided to try my hand at full-time writing. That's what I've been doing ever since.
Wow, what have I been doing with my time? How does your experience in social work come into play? My experiences working in the Psych ER at Parkland and on two mobile crisis teams brought me into contact with a wide variety of situations and people. Those experiences help to enrich my writing, particularly in doing realistic characterizations and plotting.
What are you working on right now and what do you struggle with as a writer? Jacky is marketing two manuscripts for me: a paranormal and a contemporary erotic romance. I am working on a sequel to the paranormal and a companion piece to the erotic romance.
I am a serious "pantser." I've never been able to chart out an entire novel before I sit down to write. I usually start with an idea for a "hook" and then let my characters direct the action. Sometimes this can backfire.
Sometimes the level of information coming at new writers, like me, is overwhelming and even contradictory. What advice would you give? Don't be afraid to ask questions. NTRWA is a very safe and welcoming group of people. Also, do what you're doing; get involved. It increases your opportunities to network. Last May I joined a group of writers who wanted to talk about erotic romance. When we decided to form a new RWA® chapter I volunteered to be membership chair. Less than a year later, I'm the membership chair of Passionate Ink with over 300 members.
What accomplishment are you most proud of? Of being a good and loyal friend who has good and loyal friends.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? I’d like to be doing exactly what I am doing right now. Paul Bishop said, “Writers are the only adults who get to spend all day in their pajamas playing with imaginary friends.”
Have you had any inspiration about the quote I wanted from one of your manuscripts? How about the start of my latest novel, the unnamed sequel to WITCH VAMPIRE? that Jacky Sach is marketing right now, which is pretty typical of the starts of my books--immediate tension and problem: Abby had no warning. One minute she was alone in her office, and the next instant there was a man sitting on the sofa across the room from her. Her stomach did a nasty flip, and she instinctively reached for the phone. “Don’t.” He wore a funny kind of half smile--not a friendly it’s going to be okay smile. More like you can’t dial faster than I can reach you smile.
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