Frequently Asked Questions to Gina Marie Long
1. Favorite book as a child?
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.
2. What are you reading right now?
Christine Feehan – Dark Series.
3. What is a favorite line from your book, Unknown Touch?
"He entrusted Dom to protect me while he went into the battlefield. Tears were hanging on the rims of my eyes, as Daniel walked off to meet Stephen head on."
4. Why that segment?
As you're reading the book, it is a time Daniel has to make serious life and death decisions. He cannot protect Kara at that moment; and he is forced to entrust her safety to someone else.
5. Will you do book signings and/or readings?
Absolutely. It's critical to the life of your writing career to get out and mingle with the readers.
6. Favorite part of writing a book?
Knowing that I'm creating an entire novel, hundreds of pages that others will read, is very intoxicating. It's wild how an entire fictional world is brought to life.
7. Least favorite part of writing a book?
Preparing for and progressing through my original submission process to publishers. Very time consuming.
8. Are you working on anything new?
Yes. Book 2 in the Werewolf Series.
9. Do you have any rituals or routines to your writing?
I start with an outline. I match up music to scenes in the book. I diligently back up my writing in three places.
10. Comment on the writing life...
I'm proud and surprised to say that while I wrote my first book, I never had writer's block for more than five minutes. My brain is constantly on "go". Time zips by when I write.
11. When was Unknown Touch written?
April 2009 through July 2009. I really dove in during mid May all the way to when I finished it on Saturday, July 25, 6:58 p.m.
12. Why do you write?
I love the entertainment field. I like being my own boss. It's exciting. It doesn't feel like work, most of the time. You enter a different world – an escape from daily life.
13. When do you write?
I don't have any set time or day. I do like to be able to get a decent stretch of time into writing, though. In other words, it's unlikely I would sit down to write if I only have thirty minutes of time.
14. When did you know you were a writer?
In high school, I made A's on my essays and book reports. I can talk up a storm. I'm into details. I'm organized and like to do research. When I realized that 90% of what I do in my spare time revolves around something with entertainment, I figured I wasn't barking up the wrong tree by deciding to write a book! Oh! When I was a pre-teen, I created Long's Little Library (also known as The Triple L)!! I had a number of books that I loaned out to a few friends to read. How's that?
15. What are your favorite TV shows?
Vampire Diaries, True Blood, Fringe, Smallville, Supernatural, Ghost Whisperer (do you notice a theme here?!), Bones, American Idol, 24, Survivor, Dollhouse, Lost. Some that have been cancelled that I loved: Terminator-Sarah Connor Chronicles, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Dark Angel, Prison Break, Xena-Warrior Princess, Hercules-The Legendary Journeys.
16. How did you react when your book was accepted for publication?
First, I stared at the unopened email. Then I clicked on the email and turned my head away, thinking that if it was a rejection, I still had other publishers I hadn't heard back from yet. Then I read the email, gasped for breath, bent over in the chair, hands clutched at my stomach in total euphoria! After screaming a few times with tears in my eyes, I called my parents and stuttered through fifteen minutes of talk in an attempt to explain what had happened. Wheee!! So exciting!!!
17. What kind of research did you do for the book?
I spent a month on research. I thoroughly hunted for the right location for the book, using maps, Google terrain info, nearby towns, names of rivers, etc. I made sure the names of the werewolves were appropriate for their actual ages. I had to lay out on paper how the werewolves were connected to each other. I performed historical research on dates and events to confirm for accuracy. I had to create the human characters – names, original occupations, etc. The final name for my book was very difficult to decide upon. The majority of my writing time it was untitled. Many, many hours I contemplated over what to call my book. I knew I would write a series and wanted a common theme with all the titles of the books. So, take notice of the book titles as they are released!
18. What is your drink of choice?
Caffeinated coffee in a large mug with two sweeteners.
19. What is your favorite food?
Pizza. Although Chinese runs a close second!
20. At what moment did you realize you had the right idea for the book?
The morning I ran out of the bathroom, partially presentable for the day, grabbed a notebook and pen and started scribbling as feverishly as I could the Foreword to the book. Then I finished up in the bathroom, ran out to the garage to find my husband, read him the paragraph and we brainstormed ideas. I absolutely knew at that moment I had the plot to my story figured out.