A visit with Gina Danna

GinaDanna_TheWIckedNorth800

What genre(s) do you write in and why? I write historical because I have always loved history. Got my BA & MA in History with work toward my PhD in it plus taught college US History courses and worked in museums. I’m also a Civil War re-enactor. Yeah, I’m pretty deep in it.

What inspired your latest book? Love of the American Civil War – there’s so much to learn, so much to appreciate. And it touches the lives of many of us living as our ancestors fought & died in it, such as myself. It’s a time that should not be forgotten as it formed this country at a pivotal moment.

What is your next project and when will it be released? My current project is a short novel on the Regency period, set for release this fall in a boxed anthology set. Pretty excited about it!

How likely are people you meet to end up in your next book? That depends. Really, I have more people I know ask to be in my book over me placing them in there. Kinda funny, really.

Give us an elevator pitch for your book. Well, it’s more a blurb –

Kidnapped during a trip to London, Lady Elanor Whitmore awakes in the hold of a ship with no memory of her past or of her perfect marriage to Lord James Haddington III, Earl of Windhaven. All she knows is that a fierce and stunningly handsome pirate is yelling about women being bad luck on a voyage. Adrift at sea in both body and mind, she finds herself falling in love with the pirate captain, whose flashing eyes and muscular frame leave her breathless.

Lord James had resisted the shackles by marriage until he met Eleanor. Her beauty and charms captured his heart, and now he cannot imagine life without her. He vows he will find her and his search becomes a chase to the New World, a trip that could destroy him as Eleanor’s bonds with Captain Cavendish tighten. Can James provoke her memory and win her love, or will the pirate steal her heart as they land at death’s door?

Do you prefer to read in the same genres you write in or do you avoid reading that genre? Why? I’m pulled by the same though I find I won’t read the one I’m writing.

What are you currently working on? I’m doing that Regency, with the sequel to The Wicked North, books 2 & 3, started, as well as book 3 for The Gladiators series. Yeah, it’s a lot but my muse is busy.

Describe the genre of this particular title, and is the only genre you write in?  This book is on the American Civil War, the Victorian period. It is a subject matter I love and have done and continue to do a ton of research in. It’s the only genre but not the only time period.

The Wicked North – excerpt

Rose Hill Plantation, Silvers’ residence. Parlor game of the 19th century called “Kissing the Corners” – a kissing game where a gentleman was stationed in each corner of the room and the ladies went to get a kiss. It was a ‘forfeit’ to redeem for losing in an earlier game. Emma, our heroine, finds herself faced with kissing Jack, the man she so wanted to kiss but this was her first time kissing. Would he kiss her or not?

“I’m right here, Emma,” Jack said, drawing her attention back to him.

He was too handsome. She wanted to both kiss him and avoid him. A tingle in her belly spread up to her nipples.

When Jack smiled his devilish smile, Emma felt as though she would turn into a puddle at his feet. Her mouth went dry as she stood there, frozen.

“Why didn’t you ever write to me?”

The question rattled her, bringing her back to her senses. “I sent you a letter, but I never received one from you.”

He quietly chuckled. “I sent you a letter, hoping you’d respond.”

“I never received any correspondence from you,” she said.

“Hmm, I never got yours either.” His low drawl reached inside, soothing her. “But,” he continued, “I believe you owe me a kiss.”

She opened her mouth, but not a sound came out.

***

            Jack stood still. She fidgeted. The silk dress clung to her breasts and her narrow waist. Her cage crinoline maintained a respectable space between them, regardless of how much he wanted her closer. He put his hands at the waist of her skirt and felt her tremble. She bit her lower lip. Oh, how he wanted to soothe that lip.

With a gentle tug, he pulled her closer. The motion unbalanced her, and her hands sought his arms. When she still didn’t lean up to kiss him, he brought her even closer, his eyes fixed on her lower lip as her teeth released it.

He wouldn’t meet her halfway. This could be the only time he’d have the advantage, and he didn’t want to waste it. Because Emma’s feet were slightly lifted from the floor, she gripped his arms tightly.

He brought her to him. As he kissed Emma, his tongue traced her lower lip before his mouth enveloped hers. He wanted her to open her mouth, and he prodded the crease between her lips, coaxing her with his tongue. She parted her lips but pulled her head back as his tongue invaded her mouth.

Gina_034BIO –
A USAToday Bestselling author, Gina Danna was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and has spent the better part of her life reading. History has always been her love and she spent numerous hours devouring historical romance stories, always dreaming of writing one of her own. After years of writing historical academic papers to achieve her undergraduate and graduate degrees in History, and then for museum programs and exhibits, she found the time to write her own historical romantic fiction novels.

Now, under the Texas sun and with the supervision of her three dogs, she writes amid a library of research books, with her only true break away is to spend time with her other life long dream – her Arabian horse – with him, her muse can play.
Buylinks –
Kindle     http://bit.ly/1Pon7vu
Amazon  http://bit.ly/28WjPRY (print version)
Nook       http://bit.ly/2993TOj
Barnes & Noble  http://bit.ly/299ALbo (print version)