Seven Questions with a Supernatural Scribbler

Stepping into the Literary Thunderdom... Art is Storytelling, Storytelling is Art

Seven Questions with a Supernatural Scribbler

Gina Briganti has newly released the first book in her Natural Gifts Series, “The Dreaming”. She’s a lovely person and a talented and generous writer. I’m so happy to have her thoughts and perspective here, given that she writes on the lighter side of the paranormal spectrum. Our writer brains come in all shapes and shades folks. There’s a fantastically romantic supernatural little ditty out there for everyone and “The Dreaming” has a sigh worthy charm that will stick with you.

You only get so many questions in The Dreaming. Dana wanted to know what the other world she slipped into when she slept was. She never expected to walk away with the soulmate of her dreams when she woke up. Want to find out what happens? Yeah, I was dying to see how things unfolded too.

Gina is an inspiration and a positive creative force in the writing community. It’s a pleasure to get the chance to ask her some questions about “The Dreaming” and about writing itself so we’re just going to jump right into it.

Gina: Thank you, C.V.! Your introduction is so sweet. I’m glad that our publishing experience brought us together. It is wonderful getting to know you, and the world you have created with Courting Shadows Chronicles. Now I’ll answer the questions you’ve put together for me.

Let’s do this thing then. I’m not shy, I’ll break out the big guns early.

What is the single most powerful challenge when it comes to writing paranormal romance?

Gina: I think that the single most powerful challenge when it comes to writing paranormal romance is writing a believable story that the reader can get lost in. We might be asking a reader to suspend belief for a while, but it wouldn’t be fair to them to take it too far.

Why writing? What are books even for?

Gina: Writing is my favorite creative outlet. I have developed a few others, like photography and cooking, but writing remains my favorite because of the worlds I get to create and be a part of. It’s an amazing feeling.

Books are for sharing those worlds that writer’s create. For getting lost in them. For being swept away on a dreamy sigh as you are reminded of special times in your own life. They can also be for learning and teaching. I write and read non-fiction, too.

Where did the idea for The Dreaming come from?

Gina: The idea for The Dreaming came from chucking out all the advice I had read or heard about writing because I was so confused I couldn’t stand it. I stepped away for a short time, and then I started to write only for myself, to see how much I could entertain myself. I was laughing to myself as I wrote it. The storyline literally just came to me. There is an element of writing what you know in there, too. I teach meditation, I have a degree in nutrition, I have a son and a daughter, as Dana does. In some ways, Dana is my avatar.

Do you believe that everyone has a soulmate? What would you say to the idea that we earn them over course of our lives?

Gina: The soul mate question is a tricky one. I do believe in soul groups, and a soul mate can come out of that. In that way, the answer is yes. The tricky part is that I think there can be more than one, but not in the Natural Gifts series, and hopefully not overlapping unless you’re into that kind of thing.

I would say that the idea of earning a soul mate over the course of our lives would be a nice reward. Like, you done good, here’s a perfect fit in the romance department.

If you could spend a large amount of real world time with one character from your books who would it be? What would you do together?

Gina: It would be Lucy, who in fact is modeled after my writing partner, Lynn Burton. I think we would have more fun together than anyone would know what to do with. I’m sure we would spend hours together in bookstores, taking pictures, going to concerts, and eating.

I would have chosen Joe, and who knows what we would have done together (raises brows), but I have my real life Joe in the form of my boyfriend Alan. I won’t have to arm wrestle Dana for him.

If you could share one thing about your writing, have people view it in a certain way, what would it be?

Gina: I would love it if people come away from any of my writing, whether it’s a blog post, the workbook, or The Dreaming, feeling inspired.

What’s the loveliest thing you have ever read or seen?

Gina: The loveliest thing I have ever seen is my children. I marvel all the time that those two magnificent people used to live in my womb. I have been known to say “I made this” about them. They are 21 and 17 now.

Gina: Thank you for having me over to your website today, C.V. Your question are thought-provoking, like I knew they would be. You have that indefinable thing that good writers have. Don’t ask me to define it, other than to say that your mind works in compelling ways.

Gina is very kind to my writerly ego. It’s high praise coming from such a dedicated writer. It’s been a pleasure as always Gina! Thanks for sharing your world with us for a little while!

By now you’ve noticed, dear readers, that Gina is a generous and fun author. She’s offering a giveaway for a few very lucky fans! Enter to win by subscribing to Gina’s newsletter at GinaBriganti.com and become her fan and/or friend on Goodreads!

Why should you do these things? Why?! Because there are fabulous prizes, that’s why! You will receive an e-copy of The Dreaming AND Joe (who does not have a limit on his questions, will visit The Dreaming and ask your question. Any question you like. How cool is that?

Now, If you already have a copy of The Dreaming, you may choose to gift your e-copy to someone else or I will send you an autographed copy of my workbook, designed to help you develop your abilities to visit The Dreaming. One winner will be chosen randomly two weeks from today and notified through e-mail.

Gina Briganti has been writing since she could hold a pencil. It has always been a comfort that to create with only three things; the pencil, the paper, and her imagination.

Gina Briganti