Ask the Author: Gina Salamon
Answered Questions (16)
Gina Salamon
Thank you for asking, Stefanie.
Yes, I am. I am currently working with my narrator to create an audio version of Redeeming Grace. At the same time, I am working hard to finish the second of my Halo Christmas novels, Inspiring Faith, which my narrator will be working on next.
The plan is to have the print, ebook and audio all released at the same time this fall.
I'm excited to be writing again.
Yes, I am. I am currently working with my narrator to create an audio version of Redeeming Grace. At the same time, I am working hard to finish the second of my Halo Christmas novels, Inspiring Faith, which my narrator will be working on next.
The plan is to have the print, ebook and audio all released at the same time this fall.
I'm excited to be writing again.
Gina Salamon
Good question and one without a simple answer. At least not when it comes to me. :)
Typically it's all character driver. I ask myself, who is this character? What is his or her family history and where do they come from? Next, what name fits this character's personality? And that's pretty much it.
Of course, on occasion, I might specifically honor someone close to me by naming a character after them. For instance, Julia, the heroine in Visual Contact, was named after my mother, my personal heroine.
Typically it's all character driver. I ask myself, who is this character? What is his or her family history and where do they come from? Next, what name fits this character's personality? And that's pretty much it.
Of course, on occasion, I might specifically honor someone close to me by naming a character after them. For instance, Julia, the heroine in Visual Contact, was named after my mother, my personal heroine.
Gina Salamon
Great question! Let's see if I can give you enough of an answer without giving anything away... :)
In Visual Contact, Book 2 of the Cold Case Squad Series, there is a scene where the MCs are dodging bullets. As I was writing it, I nearly laughed myself silly.
In Visual Contact, Book 2 of the Cold Case Squad Series, there is a scene where the MCs are dodging bullets. As I was writing it, I nearly laughed myself silly.
Gina Salamon
Hey Stefanie:
Thanks for your question, and to answer it depends on the story.
For instance, my Cold Case Series Novels take place in Northern Colorado very near my home. For this series, I wanted to be able to personally explore all of the areas my characters do. My hope was that by doing so I could more easily bring my readers right to the mountains.
For my Halo Christmas Novels, however, I've created the Town of St, Thaddeaus which resides somewhere in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado not easily found. A place where angels reside and troubled souls find their way. A place filled with the memories of my childhood and the people who fill them. This is my way of bringing the reader to someplace special while bringing all those people and memories closer to home.
Last is How To Train Your Angel, a standalone novel, which takes place in Philadelphia. And I honestly can't recall what provoked me to choose Philadelphia, but I believe it was probably nothing more than a way to bring family long ago closer to me once again.
Gina
Thanks for your question, and to answer it depends on the story.
For instance, my Cold Case Series Novels take place in Northern Colorado very near my home. For this series, I wanted to be able to personally explore all of the areas my characters do. My hope was that by doing so I could more easily bring my readers right to the mountains.
For my Halo Christmas Novels, however, I've created the Town of St, Thaddeaus which resides somewhere in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado not easily found. A place where angels reside and troubled souls find their way. A place filled with the memories of my childhood and the people who fill them. This is my way of bringing the reader to someplace special while bringing all those people and memories closer to home.
Last is How To Train Your Angel, a standalone novel, which takes place in Philadelphia. And I honestly can't recall what provoked me to choose Philadelphia, but I believe it was probably nothing more than a way to bring family long ago closer to me once again.
Gina
Gina Salamon
Hi Tirza:
I wish I could say I'm working on Book 4 of the Cold Case Series, or even working hard on that second Halo Christmas Novel that should have been released this past holiday season, but that wouldn't be honest. The truth is I've been so busy mentoring other writers this past year that I've simply had no time to write myself.
Both of the stories mentioned above have been started and are waiting patiently for me to get back to them, although I'm sure the characters themselves aren't quite as patient or very happy with me leaving them where they are. And I can certainly understand their frustration. I'm feeling it too.
With any luck, I'll manage to carve out some time for myself and them this year and if all goes as planned, both stories will hit the stands before year-end.
As for an excerpt, at this point, everything is subject to change, so I'll keep what's written under wraps a little longer. At least until I'm certain I'm not going to dump every word and start over, which is entirely possible. Being the pantser I am, you never know.
I truly appreciate your interest, and I hope you'll stay tuned for more because I'm not giving up. As they say, onward and upward.
And as I always say, happy reading everyone!
Gina
I wish I could say I'm working on Book 4 of the Cold Case Series, or even working hard on that second Halo Christmas Novel that should have been released this past holiday season, but that wouldn't be honest. The truth is I've been so busy mentoring other writers this past year that I've simply had no time to write myself.
Both of the stories mentioned above have been started and are waiting patiently for me to get back to them, although I'm sure the characters themselves aren't quite as patient or very happy with me leaving them where they are. And I can certainly understand their frustration. I'm feeling it too.
With any luck, I'll manage to carve out some time for myself and them this year and if all goes as planned, both stories will hit the stands before year-end.
As for an excerpt, at this point, everything is subject to change, so I'll keep what's written under wraps a little longer. At least until I'm certain I'm not going to dump every word and start over, which is entirely possible. Being the pantser I am, you never know.
I truly appreciate your interest, and I hope you'll stay tuned for more because I'm not giving up. As they say, onward and upward.
And as I always say, happy reading everyone!
Gina
Gina Salamon
Hey, Stefanie.
On a typical day, I get in zero writing time. It's actually rare for me to get ahead on editing deadlines and find time to sneak in a few hours for myself. But when I do, I often sink into it and write for twelve hours straight or more.
On a typical day, I get in zero writing time. It's actually rare for me to get ahead on editing deadlines and find time to sneak in a few hours for myself. But when I do, I often sink into it and write for twelve hours straight or more.
Gina Salamon
She wanted to scream but her lungs would not inflate, just as when she tried again to break free, the bindings held her in place.
Although useless, her eyes opened again and with the black came one final thought: Surely not even God would condemn someone so young, for she couldn’t possibly have committed a sin that would warrant a death such as this.
From Dream A Wicked Dream
Although useless, her eyes opened again and with the black came one final thought: Surely not even God would condemn someone so young, for she couldn’t possibly have committed a sin that would warrant a death such as this.
From Dream A Wicked Dream
Gina Salamon
Several of my favorite authors have new books coming out this summer, so I, of course, plan to gobble those up, along with enjoying, once again, some of their older stories.
First on the list is Amanda Quick (a/k/a Jayne Ann Krentz) with THE GIRL WHO KNEW TOO MUCH, already released and already in my hot little hands!
Next, Karen Robards will be releasing THE ULTIMATUM in July and I can hardly wait!
Sandra Brown then finishes off the summer with her release of SEEING RED in August! (I can't stand the thought of waiting that long, so I'm trying to convince myself it's just around the bend.)
There's more, too, but I just don't have time to keep going - I have a book to write and another to read!
Hope everyone out there enjoys their summer reading as much as I know I will.
First on the list is Amanda Quick (a/k/a Jayne Ann Krentz) with THE GIRL WHO KNEW TOO MUCH, already released and already in my hot little hands!
Next, Karen Robards will be releasing THE ULTIMATUM in July and I can hardly wait!
Sandra Brown then finishes off the summer with her release of SEEING RED in August! (I can't stand the thought of waiting that long, so I'm trying to convince myself it's just around the bend.)
There's more, too, but I just don't have time to keep going - I have a book to write and another to read!
Hope everyone out there enjoys their summer reading as much as I know I will.
Gina Salamon
The mystery of the missing shoe. Just thinking about it gives me all sorts of plot possibilities.
Gina Salamon
Oh, my gosh, way too many to choose from. My brain is flying from one author to another trying to decide and I just don't know!
So, I guess I will have to go with my all-time favorite book and choose Lady Brenna and Laird Connor MacAlister from Julie Garwood's The Wedding.
I love when a couple can be sarcastic and intimate with each other at the same time.
So, I guess I will have to go with my all-time favorite book and choose Lady Brenna and Laird Connor MacAlister from Julie Garwood's The Wedding.
I love when a couple can be sarcastic and intimate with each other at the same time.
Gina Salamon
Life. It's really that simple. My mind is always ON and at any given time, something I see, hear or simply experience in some way can and often does inspire either a character trait or name, or perhaps a scene, a line of dialogue, or even a new plot line.
Gina Salamon
Fingers crossed, I've haven't really had the problem yet, unless you count being stuck at a certain point and not sure where to go next.
You can truly push your characters into a corner I've discovered, completely without plans on how to get them out. I find the best way to deal with that is to switch to another project until inspiration hits.
You can truly push your characters into a corner I've discovered, completely without plans on how to get them out. I find the best way to deal with that is to switch to another project until inspiration hits.
Gina Salamon
Creating gives me a thrill. When I sit back and look at the finished product, I feel like I know these characters, they're real and I'm going to miss them.
And it's that sense of creating those real life characters just out of my head that inspires me to do it again.
And it's that sense of creating those real life characters just out of my head that inspires me to do it again.
Gina Salamon
Exactly what I hear from my favorite authors: Read, read read, write, write write. And write what you love to read.
Gina Salamon
I am currently working on book two of my Cold Case Series, which is titled Visual Contact. I hope to have it out this fall.
Gina Salamon
I honestly can't recall, as I started writing this book four or five years ago. It was pushed aside after I started my Cold Case Series and then brought out again last November, taken down to no more than the original characters and idea of plot line, and then completely rewritten almost from scratch.
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