INTERVIEW WITH Gina L. Dartt

May Newsletter 2006

By Connie Ward, BSB Publicist/Author Liaison

What made you decide to become a fiction writer?

Well, I’ve always enjoyed writing fan fic, and when Justice House contacted me and indicated that they’d be interested in anything I might have in the original line, I decided to give it a try.  I was also suddenly unemployed around the same time, so it seemed the perfect opportunity to give it a go.

What type of stories do you write and why?

I try to write stories where the relationships between the characters, particularly the two main women, are as important as the actual plot of the mystery/science fiction adventure/whatever.  I’m not so much interested in how the women get together and are attracted to each other as I am in how they make it work in the aftermath.  Of course, that tends to be an ongoing thing so I have a habit of writing a lot of sequels.  I’m not sure why I settled on this aspect of relationships as a theme to explore.  Perhaps because I have so little luck with it in real life. *G*

What does/do your family/friends think about your writing?

I’m not sure.  It clearly has not made me much in the way of money (though it has been rich in other rewards), so it’s less than impressive that way, but otherwise, they think it’s a cool hobby, I guess.  My friends who end up in the books get a particular kick out of it.  Until I can actually make a living at it, they perceive it as just something I do in my spare time, much like playing tennis or watching football.

Where do you get your ideas?

They just come to me.  Sometimes they’re sparked by current events or things I see on television.  Sometimes I see someone going through a particular issue in their relationship, and I think that would be something interesting to explore with fictional characters. 

How do you write? Do you plan everything out or just write?

Generally after I get the initial idea, I let it simmer in my mind to see if it will develop into a full-fledged story or if it will fade away.  If I’m still interested in it beyond that, then I sit down and work out an outline.  If I can’t come up with an ending, then I know it’s one of those stories that just isn’t going to be written.  I always have to have an ending before I start.  When I actually sit down and write the story, it tends to go very quickly, perhaps because it’s already written in my head.  I’m just putting down on paper (computer?) what my mind is dictating from memory. 

What makes Unexpected Sparks special to you?

Well, it’s my first book, but I’m not like other authors who consider their works “their baby.”  My first series is more like “Okay, I’m throwing you in; let’s see if you float.”  Really, I intend for these initial books to help me develop into a better writer and hopefully teach me how the publishing business really works.  I don’t consider them particularly profound or meaningful stories, but at the same time, they are close to me in that I wrote what I knew as far as locale and characters are concerned.  It’s my home town, my friends, and parts of myself in various characters that perhaps won’t be present in future books.  But as far as import goes, I don’t consider it to be more “important” or meaningful than the fan fic I’ve written and that people have enjoyed.  Writing it was a little more like “work” than fan fic is. 

How much of yourself and the people you know are in your characters?

Quite a lot, actually.  Certain things have been changed and enhanced and exaggerated, of course, but there is a lot of me and mine in the Unexpected series.

Which lesbian authors inspired you most?

Hmm, I suppose the lesbian author I enjoy most is Rita Mae Brown and her Mrs. Murphy series.  My all-time favorite authors aren’t lesbian (as far as I know).  I like Elizabeth Peters and Nevada Barr.  I’m amazed by Nora Roberts/JD Robb.  Her novels are almost formula, particularly the Eve Dallas novels, but she really develops the characters over many books.  And I’m truly impressed by the amount of stuff she can pump out.  I also enjoy a lot of sci-fi/fantasy writers like Anne MaCaffrey and Mercedes Lackey.

Do you have any suggestions for new writers?

Write for yourself.  Write the type of stories that you enjoy reading.  That way, even if no one else likes ‘em, at least you’ll get some enjoyment from reading them.  The other thing is to really know your characters and why they do the things they do.  Even if it’s not in the book, you should know why a character made a certain choice and what influenced her to make it.

When you’re not writing, what do you do for fun?

I play tennis, I hike, I enjoy spending time with friends.  I watch football and hockey.  I like researching love scenes (over and over).  *G*