Gabrina Garza
Author Gabrina Garza Tells All
ST: Hi, Gabrina Garza, welcome and thank you for visiting with us this week. Tell us a about yourself.
GG: Well, I’ve been writing for a very long time, since I was around seven, which gives me about twenty-two years of experience. My first love is fantasy, so I write a lot of fantasy-inspired stories as well as some more modern-day chick-lit/women’s fic stuff. Most of my stuff is erotic in content.
I’ve got a very corny, sometime dirty, and definitely twisted sense of humor. If I haven’t misheard what my friends have said, I have a witty sense of humor, though the “w” might easily be replaced with an “s”.
ST: Your debut novel, HOT PHOENIX NIGHTS, released in May, looks to be a fun and hot read. Let’s show everyone your gorgeous cover.
ST: Please tell us about the book.
GG: It’s about a Latina music reviewer scorned by her cheating boyfriend who decides to have a fling while out of town. She doesn’t expect to fall in love with this hot, Navajo drummer named Crow, who sort of turns the tables on her in a very good way.
ST: How did you come up with the story line?
GG: I’d have to have you eliminated if I told you that. LOL It was actually a challenge offered up, which I accepted. It was a lot of fun to write, and I hope that people check out the preview to see for themselves.
ST: And where and can we buy HOT PHOENIX NIGHTS?
GG: The e-book is available only at Amber Heat . I also have an audio version available for 3 dollars plus a dollar for shipping. The audio book was recorded by Leesa Mitchell, an awesome radio deejay and fellow animal lover like me. You can contact me at Gabrina@aol.com if you’d like an audio copy autographed by me. They make great coasters.
ST: How did you and Amber Heat come together?
GG: Dinner, drinks, and suddenly I was feeling very loose. Just kidding. I was one of the 2007 winners for their Amber Heat contest, which led them into buying HOT PHOENIX NIGHTS for May and the contest winning story ADENO for June.
ST: Thanks for stopping by today, Gabrina. Will we see you in the morning?
GG: I’ll be here!
June 6, 2007
The Write Side of Life
ST: Good morning, everyone. Last night Mandy and Elizabeth emailed me asking to see the Adeno cover. Never one to fail a friend or enjoy eye candy, I’ll post it now.
ST: Gabrina, please tell us what made you decide to be a writer?
GG: I don’t think you decide to be a writer, which might be cliché of me to say. It’s something I can’t stop doing, so in a way you could call me addicted to it. I spend hours a day writing and improving stories.
ST: How long do you write each day?
GG: This is sad…probably about ten hours. I seriously put all day into it and I don’t have a set schedule, so sometimes I’m starting at 7 in the morning, taking a few breaks, and still writing at midnight.
ST: Do you find writing to be fulfilling? And in what way?
GG: I don’t think I’d be happy not writing. All of my life I’ve been creating stories—fairly bad stories, mind you. It’s been a learning process all the way. People who don’t write probably don’t realize how much time and effort goes into creating a story that will take them an hour to finish.
ST: What’s a normal day like for you?
GG: Crazy! Along with writing I’m also a mom and I foster homeless dogs. There is always someone either crying, spilling something, chewing on stuff, or basically creating mass mayhem. Once I clean up after myself, I start writing.
ST: With your busy life how do you find time to write?
GG: Don’t tell anyone, but I’m secretly a cyborg.
ST: Where do you get the ideas for your novels?
GG: My sick, sick, twisted mind. I really love to be in a fantasy world where I don’t have to think about stuff like child molesters, kidnappers, killers, etc. I prefer the fun and entertainment of magic and manipulating a different world. Freud would say I like to be in charge!
ST: You’re too funny! Thanks for coming out again today and I’m looking forward to tomorrow. See you bright and early?
GG: I’ll be here and ready to go under the bright light again. lol.
June 7, 2007
Author, Author, Tell Us More
ST: Hi Everyone! Welcome back to learn more about the Amazing Gabrina Garza. All set, Ms G, for more questions?
GG: Absolutely. What do you want to know?
ST: Are there any quirks you have or do before or while you’re writing?
GG: Besides writing I’m addicted in the worst way possible to the internet. I read a quote on another writer’s website that said writing is “2% talent and 98% ignoring the internet”. That’s so true. I’m really bad with checking my email just in case there’s a life or death situation with one of my friends who just happened to be near a computer.
ST: Who or what encouraged you to write erotica?
GG: I sort of stumbled upon it after going to a conference. I’ve always been interested in romance and fantasy but didn’t realize that there were people who liked it as much as me. Adding some more spice was the icing on the naughty little cake.
ST: Who is your support group?
GG: Writing is such a solitary endeavor that I rely on only a handful of other fantastic writers and close friends. I’ve also learned the hard way that there are a lot of people who will say they are your friend and really aren’t. It makes me appreciate my good friends even more—and they know who they are.
ST: Please describe your writing space.
GG: It’s quite sorry, if you ask me. I have a laptop desk that looks like a garage sale reject and a chair I got on the cheap because it was out of style at the office store. There is no luxury suite for me! A lot of times I end up sitting in the recliner. Someday when I grow up I’m going to have my own office. Check back in about twenty years!
ST: What’s your favorite part of writing?
GG: Creating new people in different places and putting them through hell. It took me a long time to understand conflict in a story and why it was important, but now I love making my characters suffer.
ST: What do you absolutely hate about being an author?
GG: People who are jealous for absolutely no reason. I’ve been very fortunate and have had some fantastic authors help me, which makes me willing to try and help others when possible. Even though I’ve been writing for a long time, I just started in many ways, and I’ve seen a lot of the ugliness that comes out when stuff starts to happen and others decide you aren’t good enough or didn’t deserve it. I’ve spent the last ten years seriously writing and am now starting to see my name in print. I’m very proud to say I’ve fought tooth and nail for my contracts and seeing my stories out.
ST: Thanks for you frankness, Gabrina. You’re a dream to interview.
GG: My pleasure and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.
June 8, 2007
Gazing into the Crystal Ball
ST: Welcome back for our last day with the Amazing Gabrina. All set, Ms G?
GG: Go for it!
ST: What does the future hold for you?
GG: A whole lot of hustling! I have a lot of stories coming out this year, some fantasy, some mainstream, a vampire story, a women’s fic, and time travel/futuristic. I am trying to sate my own nerdome!
ST: If you had one wish that would be granted, what would it be?
GG: It actually wouldn’t be related to writing. Everyone who knows me has heard me harping on about animal rescue, so my wish would be to end the pet overpopulation problem and animal cruelty like dog fighting and such. By ending that, I think we could end a lot of horrible violence in the world. I just don’t talk about it, though. As I said earlier in the week I foster homeless animals and I also donate time and money into rescues. Violence toward animals usually leads to violence toward children and people, so by cracking down on the source cycles of violence could be ended.
My non-Miss America answer would be a trip to New Zealand to see where the Hobbits lived. See, I’m a nerd. But I’m a caring nerd!
ST: LOL. What’s in the works for the future?
GG: Tons! Bookmark my website and subscribe to my newsletter because I have a whole summer worth of giveaways and hot reads. This year I have books coming out every month from now pretty much through February by what it looks like, so by all means check it out. Next month SEX BETWEEN STRANGERS arrives and it’s one of my favorite stories, something completely different from what I’ve worked on in the past.
ST: Thanks, Gabrina, for spending so much time with us. It’s been a great week and I’ve enjoyed learning more about you. The very best to you in the future and keep us posted on your future releases.
GG: I’ll be happy to, Sloane. Thanks for having me come out and play.