Froggarita's Bookcase

The Apocalypse is coming...in one week. Chelsie Valdar and her brother are modern-day Viking warrior teenagers. They must find a mystical sword belonging to their ancient ancestor and flee to safety at a secret shelter, if they hope to survive. As the clock ticks, several Bigfoot and an outcast werecat become invaluable friends helping with the search for the sword and offering supernatural protection. Misfortune haunts their every move. Conflicts delay their progress. Especially when a devious and deranged enemy is infatuated with Chelsie and hungers for the sword, desperate to escape to the shelter with Chelsie by his side. Time is running out.

Gina, welcome to my Lily pad!! I am so happy to have you here today!!

First off tell us a bit about yourselves!!

I’m Gina Marie Long and the author of young adult, urban fantasy, supernatural thrillers. Unknown Touch-Werewolf Series and The Chelsie Valdar Saga are my creations. I love: reading YA, my cat Jessie, pizza, music, wearing ponytails and sweatpants, computer stuff, sci-fi and paranormal TV shows and movies. And yes, I like vampires and werewolves.

- If you could be anything but a writer what would you want to be?

Answer:  I would want to work with animals; more specifically cats and dogs. I have had pets my entire life and love them with all my heart. They are my “babies”! I’d love to help homeless/shelter animals find forever homes and teach people how to better take care of their pets.

-  What were your favorite books growing up?

Answer:  The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, Watership Down by Richard Adams, Carrie by Stephen King, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret  by Judy Blume, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, and in my late teens I started on Anne Rice’s books.

- What would a book about your life be called?

Answer:  Distractions of the Mind

- What is the hardest thing about being an author?

Answer: Scheduling time to write and sticking to it and actually pumping out tons of words without derailing because a squirrel hopped past the window.

- What 5 things do you have to have with you when you are writing?

Answer: computer, paper, pen, music, coffee.

- – Favorite Quote?

Answer:  “There is no reward without the risk.” Author Unknown.

- If you had to describe yourself in 3 to 5 words what would they be?

Answer:  Talk-a-holic, ADHD, goofy, low maintenance, cats.

- Which do you prefer? twitter or facebook? Are you an active poster or active reader?

Answer:  I prefer Facebook because it’s more visual. I use Twitter, but have a tough time making posts that are so short! And I do post to both, but not so often to make people puke. I definitely am an active reader, too!

Quick Fire Questions…

- Favorite Food?

Pizza

- Favorite TV Show?

The Walking Dead.

- Favorite Paranormal? (witch, vampire, zombie etc)

Werewolf.

- Coffee, Tea or Hot Chocolate?

Coffee.

- Favorite Fruit or Veggie?

Strawberries.

Thank you so much for joining us on Froggarita’s Bookcase! We loved getting to know you better and hope you stop by again soon!

About Gina Marie Long

Gina Marie Long is an author of paranormal thrillers, urban fantasy, and young adult novels. She has written the Unknown Touch-Werewolf Series and Rocked – A Chelsie Valdar Saga. Gina's fiction stories are inspired from her interest in the supernatural, science fiction and fantasy world. She enjoys reading, watching evening TV shows, movies and listening to music. Writing indulges her passion for the entertainment arts, giving her active mind a playground of possibilities to explore. She stays active on social media sites and blogging, making connections with others who share the same interests. She writes about werewolves, vampires, witches, werecats, Bigfoot, an occasional demon, psychics, Vikings, and riveting human characters. But not ALL in the same book! In addition, a light romance is included to spice things up (come on-every book, movie and TV show has some sort of a love story in it). The books do not fall under the romance category...just enough in the storyline to satisfy the girls. And the boys can breathe easy with the knowledge that they're not reading a romance novel but a paranormal thriller, instead. Depending on which series, the ages of the main characters are 16 through 30. Most are on the younger side. She lives in Highland, Illinois, with her husband and Jessie Cat.
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ATHENA MONROE is a struggling author who has just come out of a relationship. RYDER PIERCE is a billionaire who is used to getting what he wants. But when Athena comes into his life, everything changes. Soon, the troubled Athena realizes that Ryder will stop at nothing to get her.

Now onto a segment I call……

Show us you’re Warts!

Authors, Let’s talk about your wounded characters or character flaws that get exposed in the books! Tell us a bit about one of your characters and their flaws.

Well okay so basically Ryder is a very complex person. As much as he loves Athena he can be a little impulsive sometimes, doing things that may not be in the best of his interest. He also has this odd attraction towards bondage and stuff which is definitely a fault on its own I guess.

How do you think this flaw impacts the reader’s ability to relate with the character?

I don’t know how the people will react, quite possibly some will hate him a little and others might find something relatable deep down in their hearts… I really can’t tell at this point!

Do you think the flaw makes him seem more likable to the readers?

Likeable, like I said, I have no idea but it does make him human. It makes him, despite his whole millionaire façade, a person with faults, with issues, with a past that he wishes he didn’t have.

Do you see this flaw as a weakness or as a strength?

I find that eventually, every flaw is a strength, but only if you’re willing to work towards it. That’s what Ryder is like. Everywhere I look, I see people, giving in to their faults, their weaknesses, saying this is just how they were born or whatever excuse they have to last through the night – I don’t want Ryder to be that kind of person. He’s someone who owns up to his mistakes, and doesn’t repeat them, and he definitely becomes even more strong in the process of fighting his inner demons.

What do you think truly frightens our character and do you consider this a flaw?

What frightens him, is that he is feeling love towards a woman who probably thinks he comes on too strong or has faults that she cannot accept. He’s not the kind of guy who has serious relationships the whole time so it does freak him out, feeling that kind of love for someone.

If you could tell your character a piece of advice what would it be?

I’d ask him to do what he’s doing and hang in there, not let other people’s judgment bother him but I don’t think he needs that advice

Thank you so much for joining us on Froggarita’s Bookcase! We loved getting to know your character better and hope you stop by again soon!