Gina Marie Long lives in Highland, Illinois with her husband. Unknown Touch-Werewolf Series-Book One is her first novel and was released on October 22, 2009. She is a licensed cosmetologist and had owned/operated a salon in Marine for 16 years until June of 2010. She took the plunge and sold the shop to pursue a full-time career in writing. Ideas for the book were bounced around with her loyal customers who gave encouraging feedback.
Unknown Scent-Werewolf Series-Book Two is her second novel and was released on March 31, 2011. Both books are published through Black Rose Writing.
The series was inspired from Long's interest in the paranormal, science fiction and fantasy world. She enjoys reading, watching evening TV shows, movies and listening to music. Writing novels seemed a natural progression to indulge her passion in the entertainment arts, giving her active mind a playground of possibilities to explore. Additional books are in the works for her Werewolf Series (total will be five). She is also creating another paranormal/urban fantasy series (total will be three).
"It's exciting to create strong characters that the readers fall in love with…or want to strangle! Writing about other beings, such as werewolves and vampires, allows rules to be broken concerning life as humans know it to be. The idea to have these supernatural species living and breathing amongst us is so wickedly intriguing. Having close contact with them, developing relationships, dealing with the good vs. the evil; it sweeps you away into another reality – an escape from real life. The reader momentarily forgets that the characters are fictional. They believe and want them to be real."~~~~Gina
In addition, Gina is active on social networking sites, blogs and composes articles in her genre of fiction plus works on projects as a copywriter.
(Professional Photo taken by: Kennett Photography, Highland, IL)
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Frequently Asked Questions to Gina Marie Long
1. Favorite book as a child?
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.
2. What are your favorite type/genre of books?
Paranormal with or w/out romance, fantasy, urban fantasy, young-adult (even if I'm not a young adult!), science fiction.
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. (updated 5/17/11) Book 1 in my Bigfoot Series, then Book 3 in the Werewolf Series.
9. Do you have any rituals or routines to your writing?
I start with an outline. I research like crazy on the internet for names, locations, background info I need for characters, places, etc. 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, 2009 at 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?
The Vampire Diaries, Being Human (BBC & SyFy), True Blood, Fringe, Supernatural, Bones, American Idol, Survivor. Some that have been cancelled that I loved: Smallville, 24, Dollhouse, Lost, Ghost Whisperer, 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 and mini-marshmallows.
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.
