Meet Gina

Dear Guest,

At 5 feet tall, strangers must think I’m travel-size because I’m often stopped in the Southwest Airlines aisle and asked to take the middle seat. I actually agreed once and spent the entire four-hour trip without an armrest. Discomfort aside, I love to travel and will begin a grand adventure in fall 2022 when I complete my MA in Creative Writing Prose Fiction at the University of East Anglia.

My passion for historical fiction began when I spent a night at The Hotel Del Coronado. It’s a magical Victorian beauty. Inspired, I wrote a short story set when the hotel was first built (1888). That story became FROM ACROSS THE ROOM. If you love unfolding history and want to feel a bit voyeuristic, then this novel is for you. Then while researching, I stumbled on the topic for my next novel, a female lobbyist in 1887. Now if you remember your history, this means women were lobbying before we had the right to vote. What?! I had to explore more. Did you know that in 1887 there was a proposed 16th amendment that would have granted women voting rights? Me either. Put these together and I came up with the fast-paced REMEMBER THE LADIES. The wonderfully controversial ending is based on the real-world challenges these amazing women faced.

Along with 250,000 women in the U.S., in 2009 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. My journey was eased by caring family and friends who wrote me cards and letters. To encourage other women going through treatment, I started a charity called Girls Love Mail. In 2017, we put out our gift book, DEAR FRIEND; Letters of Encouragement, Humor and Love for Women with Breast Cancer. It’s a book of 100 beautiful letters out of the over 200,000+ we’ve sent out so far. Just be careful, Girls Love Male is completely different.

When I’m not writing, traveling, or at Girls Love Mail, you’ll find me solving whodunit mystery puzzles. The clues and plot twists are great for my own writing. Tip: The poison is in the ice cube. I also love to bake, swim, and am a sucker for puppy videos.

If you’re wondering about the pic of Steve Harvey and me, I was on The Steve Harvey Show in 2014 to talk about my writing and charity, Girls Love Mail. I’ve never worn so much makeup. Watch the interview now, complete with a surprise guest. Is it obvious I can barely see through the layers of mascara?

Oh, and the pic of me in period costume is the 2020 Rose Parade. I was fortunate enough to be one of 100 women who walked behind the float commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage. Truly, one of the best days of my life.

Before you leave, learn how to wow your friends with the Prince of Wales napkin fold below. If I can do it, so can you. And don’t forget your free download and to check out my books.

If you have any comments or questions, I’d love to hear from you. Without you, dear reader, writing isn’t nearly as fun.

Best,
Gina