This week we're excited to feature the mind behind "Pods, Life at Sea" and "New Mexico Winds." These two stories have spent less than one year in our library and have already been read widely, in addition to being used by our organization as "exemplar reads" - stories which do a great job of showcasing the sort of content we are looking to crowd-source for our audience.
Pods, Life at Sea tells the tale of a world at war, and a child who employs the use of a high-tech pod to disappear to safety. New Mexico Winds, on the other hand, features a character navigating herself away from a crumbling life-style and an unsupportive, self-centered mother while also looking out for her younger sibling. Between these two stories, we see not only the author's talent, but also that the books she writes are as varied as the ones she reads. We're honored to host Ginger's genre-spanning skills in our library, and we're looking forward to reading even more from this author in the future!
To learn more about Ginger and her work, read through her interview below, or visit the links included at the end of this post.
- Why do you write? What inspired you to begin writing?
I write for two reasons that are completely unrelated. First, my dreams of impossible inventions. I have dozens of ideas that are pretty unlikely in the real world. For instance, if I had 19 billion dollars, there would be a space coaster right now in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. I would build a ride that would take people up and out of the earth’s atmosphere. The coaster would begin next to SpacePort America - GT’s Space Coaster! I also have a fun idea about communicating with people in nursing homes... maybe I’ll write about that too.
The second reason I write was born out of my worry for so many kids who are unprotected. I live in an area where women and children are at very high risk of abuse. It bothers me, I’m passionate about it, I write about it. I also try to help with legislation in my state to pass stricter laws to protect women and children. I think about these two things often and I write about them.
- What have you written?
I’ve written several short film scripts, mostly comedies for film festivals and contests. I like to write a good visual story without too much dialogue. A weakness of mine is that I talk too much. So, I try to avoid writing characters that do too much talking. I’m increasingly grateful that Story Shares provides a place to write my stories. The kind people behind the collection are generous advisers when I have questions.
- What projects are you currently working on?
I am working on a story about mass travel to space. A fantasy story about regular people lifting off. Playing with crazy ways to get loads of people into space travel is fun. I envision families in lines, holding pricey tickets to get off our planet. Like a Disneyland ride that blasts you into space.
- What prompted you to write for Story Shares?
I started writing for Story Shares when I was "Library Mom" at my kids’ school. On Wednesdays, I would walk my daughter’s class to the library. My job was to help students find a "good fit book”. I repeatedly and radically failed at following their policy.
If a student made too many reading mistakes from his chosen book, he was sent to the "easy" section. Unfortunately, the “easy” section did not have many themes consistent with a student's grade level or interests. I would try to let kids sneak by with a book he or she wanted. After getting busted too many times, I challenged the “good fit” policy.
I was (almost) the first “Library Mom” in the history of the entire world to be FIRED. After negotiating, I was able to keep my weekly volunteer position until the end of the year. About that time, I found the Story Shares contest and started writing.
Over the most recent school year, I was "Art Mom”. I don't know a thing about art. However, I like that I didn’t have to send a child away with only one pink crayon because she couldn’t create a masterpiece yet.
- Do you find reading to be necessary for writing? How often do you read?
The stories I read are nothing like the stories I like to write, dusty and old books. Some are obscenely old, like The Holy Bible. Authors I like; Checkov, Tolstoy, Dickens, and Hemingway. I skipped reading the classics when I was younger, I’m making up for that now. Last week, I started reading a Stephen King series called, The Gunslinger. I borrowed the whole set from my friend. Reading a variety of works helps me learn about my writing. King is the king of descriptive writing, I enjoy learning how.
I am also in an audio book club with my kids. Recently, we listened to Space Case, Spaced Out, Hitler’s Daughter and The Landry News. Discussing books with my kids is eye opening about what kids consider important details.
- Do you prefer to work from an outline, or plot as you go? Why?
I don’t outline. I make lists, then build on my ideas. Stories always come to me when I am trying to sleep. Many nights I lay down and there is a character or idea I follow, like daydreaming. I used to try to remember everything in the morning and that is useless. So now I jot down notes in the dark or get up and type.
Connect with Ginger online at:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/gingatea
Twitter - https://twitter.com/GingerTRex
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/g4tull/