Beauty AND Brains

My guest today is Gina Dickerson, who I met at her launch party and discovered that we share a lot of interests, including wolves, dogs and magic. I read her book “Mortiswood” and loved it so immediately asked her to come and talk about her work. (The fact that she made me a fabulous wolf bangle was in no way bribery…although I adore it!)

First off – what would you like to drink?I have all kinds of home made cake, jam, bikkies etc – choice?

Thanks for inviting me to your lovely Bingergread Cottage, Ailsa! I would love a hot chocolate, thank you. I have brought some fluff with me (don’t tell my son – he’ll be super jealous!), it’s like the gooey inside of a chocolate and coconut covered snowball treat. Hot chocolate is great with a big dollop of fluff in it! I’ve only brought the white fluff with me, although you can buy it in raspberry and strawberry flavours, too. Oh, are those gingerbread biscuits over there? In the shape of a reindeer? Well, I’ll have to have a couple of those . . .

Your dogs are adorable, I’ve brought some treats with me for them. Will they come and lie on my lap if I bribe them? Is it okay that I’ve brought Jed with me? I spiked his fur up Riga-style, I tried doing it with animal fat but he just wouldn’t stop trying to lick it, so had to settle for doggie styling products!

Oh yes, they’ll love you for life but mind Titch, he drools a lot if you give him treats. Jed, here you get a cheese bikkie from me and then we’re all square – you boys don’t fight. OK?

Let’s start with your books – do you write under just one name or several? How many genres do you cover? How much have you had published including anthologies etc?

I write under my maiden name and currently I’ve written a contemporary romantic suspense novel, a festive novella in the same genre, a collection of dark, twisted short stories, and a novel in the fantasy/paranormal genre with hints of romance and lots of adventure! I’ve a festive fantasy/paranormal novella due out just before Christmas this year. I’ve also had short stories published in anthologies as well as poetry.

Wow! You are a productive lady! How long have you been writing professionally? I imagine that, like all of us, you wrote all your life before “turning pro”.

Yes, you’re right I’ve always written! I have a small book I wrote at primary school about a rabbit who goes shopping for a ball gown with illustrations! I worked for a Local Authority for quite a few years, ending up as an Enforcement Planning Assistant but decided to try writing full time in 2007.

Brave move! What was your first published work? Short story, magazine article, poem?

It was a poem written in secondary school, entitled “Cold Soldier”. A few years ago, I managed to track down a copy of the collection it was printed in.

What are your ambitions / hopes for your writing career?

For lots of readers to devour my books and enjoy them! I love to write so I hope readers love to read my words.

From what I’ve read of your work, that won’t be a problem. You and I tend to write in a very similar way, real magic, not airy fairy stuff.

Now on to you, the author. Where do you live and with whom? Describe a perfect day at home for me.

I was born, and still live, in Thanet. It’s on the north-eastern tip of Kent and I love it. There are gorgeous, sandy beaches, lovely parks, the quaint seaside town of Broadstairs which has links with Charles Dickens, and interesting art galleries. I live with my husband, son, and very hairy Siberian husky. I love spending time at home being able to put my feet up, watch a film, or fall into a good read.

Yes, your husky is gorgeous. You can leave him behind if you like! Do you have a “day job”?

My day job is writing, I feel lucky being able to spend my days doing something I love so passionately. If I couldn’t write I would be very, very grumpy and possibly a little crazy!

Yes, me too! Outside of writing and any other work, what is your main passion (greatest pleasures?)

I love shoes. Well, footwear, not just shoes but boots, sandals, pumps. Seriously, I adore them. So much so that I have a huge double closet filled with boxes of them. I can’t even remember how many pairs I own, at last count it was somewhere around the three hundred pairs mark. I also enjoy baking. Bread, pizza, cookies, and cakes are among the things I like to make the most. One Christmas I made a gingerbread house from scratch, it was a little crooked but yummy!

So agree. I’m a total boot-slut. Can’t wear heels due to back problems but anything flat, the fancier the better. Especially the sandals that my Old Feller calls “Cleopatra Boots”. Now, tell me two or three interesting facts about you that I haven’t asked.

I write a regular column for my local newspaper, the Isle of Thanet Gazette. It’s called Diary of a Fashionista and centres around shopping, fashion, beauty tips etc.

(Eyes Gina’s outfit and pulls own baggy cardi closer … fashionista eh? Well that’s probably one interest we don’t share! LOL)

I love creating book covers, and can easily spend many days creating one.

(That’s fantastic. I admire anyone artistic. I can’t draw for toffee!)

I know we feel the same about manners, so that’s another shared point and we’re both veggies! Whoohoo!

Gina, it’s been a blast and you must come back soon, when your next book is released. Must you go? Alright then, bye Jed, it’s been lovely to see you too. (slips him another bikkie)

Finally and most importantly – Bio and links please.

BIO

I live by the Thanet coast on the north-eastern tip of Kent, in the UK, with my family and playful Siberian husky. I write romantic suspense with a twist, horror, paranormal and fantasy because my characters refuse to play nice and wind up with more than a few bone-rattling skeletons in their closets.

When I’m not writing, I like to amble along one of the many gorgeous Thanet beaches with my pooch, or rummage in vintage shops for even more weird things to adorn the house with. I adore shoes, fashion, photography, and baking. I hate people with bad manners, mushrooms (although I’m a vegetarian), big hairy spiders, and vacuuming – which, sadly, is a must with an overly hairy Siberian husky.

My blog :ginadickerson.blogspot.co.uk

Website: www.ginadickersonwriter.co.uk

Goodreads: Gina Dickerson author page

Twitter: @GinaDWriter

Amazon UK: Author page

Amazon.com: Author page

Smashwords: Author page