Meet and Greet is a regular feature on my blog. Be forewarned…Unlike the typical interview, these brief questions will get to the true heart of my guests…or at least the heart of what’s in their kitchen. Grab a latte (or other beverage of your choice), find a comfy chair, and prepare to make a new friend.
Please join me in welcoming my first Meet and Greet guest of the new year, Gina Conroy! Gina is a fellow Twitterite who shares many mutual friends with me. When she announced the news of her debut novella, I was excited to jump on the bandwagon! So without further ado, let’s learn the basics about her.
Gina Conroy is president and founder of Writer…Interrupted where she mentors busy writers. Knowing how difficult it is to raise a family as well as a career, she chronicles her triumphs and trials on Defying Gravity, hoping to encourage those on a similar path. She’s co-authored two nonfiction titles Anytime Prayers for Everyday Moms and Reach for your Dreams, Graduate. She is represented by Chip MacGregor of MacGregor Literary, and her first novella, Buried Deception, in the Cherry Blossom Capers Collection, releases from Barbour Publishing in January 2012. Gina loves to connect with readers on Facebook and Twitter, so don’t be a stranger!
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Welcome, Gina! Let’s get to the fun, shall we?
Opener Question: What seven words best describe you?
Seven words hmmm…Choleric, Introvert, Passionate (which is just a subtitle for soooo many things…if you’re curious, ask me in the comment section! 
) Insecure, Complicated, Driven, Stubborn…I know some of those words contradict each other, but I admitted I was complicated!
Either/Or Questions:
1) Maui or London? Maui. I’ve never been to London and while I’m a big fan of their accent (and of Dr. Who,Go David Tennet!) I have to choose Maui. Beautiful, tropical, paradise!! I’ve been once and wouldn’t hesitate to go back!
2) Chocolate cake or carrot cake? Chocolate. I’m not a huge cake fan, though since my son has taken to baking and decorating (and winning the state fair junior cake competition two years in a row,) I’m liking it more and more. So I’d choose chocolate with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Though I do enjoy a great carrot cake with cream cheese icing! Yum!
3) Indoors or outdoors? I’ve always been an indoors girl, not sure why, but as a kid I remember doing crafts inside when my sister would be playing in the neighborhood. Yet, if the weather is perfect (between 70-80) and I’m on vacation, I do enjoy sitting outside by the pool or on the beach with a good book and a cold drink!
4) Gourmet chef or Chef Boyardee? Gourmet chef and finding, no question about it. My kids eat the other stuff, but as an Italian who makes her own sauce, I can’t bring myself to calling the stuff out of a can Italian food.
5) On the move or home sweet home? There’s a time to travel and a time to stay at home. I LOVE both! My favorite destinations have been Nigeria, Africa where I lived for eight months, Italy where I spent a summer when I was 15, Maui, Cancun where I got to scuba dive, and my three and a half week MidLife road trip I took by myself across the MidWest and down the west coast! Remind me to tell you about it some time!!
6) Sweat pants or dress pants? Sweat pants, though I don’t mind dress pants if I have to dress up for school or a writer’s conference, but once I’m home I quickly change into sweats!
7) Dogs or cats? I’m not really an animal lover (please don’t hold it against me!) I grew up with a cat and now have a dog. If I had to choose (which I guess I do) I’d choose a dog, BUT it has to be MY dog. A King Charles Cavalier which I picked out for my kids because he was the sweetest, most obedient small breed dog I could find!
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Your dog secret is safe with me, Gina! I’m not a big dog person either. I tend to prefer dogs that aren’t too jumpy or slobbery, which pretty much eliminates, well…almost all of them! I’m dying to know your Italian sauce recipe, by the way. And wow, am I ever jealous of all your travels! I’ve got a serious travel bug myself and hope to see more of the world once my kiddos are a little bit older.
Thanks for being my guest today! I loved getting to know you better!
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Cherry Blossom Capers Collection
Four townhouse neighbors encounter romance and mystery near our nation’s capital. In State Secrets, White House assistant chef Tara Whitley and FBI agent Jack Courtland stop a plot to sabotage a State dinner—and find love still hidden in their hearts. In Dying for Love, attorneys and opponents Ciara Turner and Daniel Evans uncover love while searching for justice. In Buried Deception, archaeologist Samantha Steele and security guard Nick Porter dig up love while uncovering a forged artifact. In Coffee, Tea and Danger, amateur sleuths Susan Holland and Vince Martini find love while investigating a string of mysterious accidents.
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Blog Readers: Let’s talk…Are you much of a traveler? Where’s the most exotic place you’ve visited? Or how about a boring place that turned out to be funner than expected? Do share!
*Giveaway Details: Gina has offered to give a copy of Cherry Blossom Capers to one lucky commenter! (For extra entries, you can Tweet or share this post on Facebook…I’ll add an extra entry for each. Just make sure to mention it in your comment.) Winner will be announced in next Monday’s post. Good luck!
**The winner of last week’s Amazon giveaway is Lacie Nezbeth! I’ll contact you this week to coordinate delivery.
Learning to LOVE traveling…now I want to know where the travel budget is to accompany this new love!
Oy vey, I feel your pain with that travel budget, Bekah! Hmm, how about backpacking and living in hostels?
When I find out, I’ll let you know! Guess we should start saving our pennies now! All my travels were taken over the past 20 years and Maui was a company trip, Nigeria, a missions internship, and Midlife Road trip was my 40th bday party. I know how to travel cheap, though I do prefer a 5 start hotel to a hostel!!
I I already follow Gina on Twitter, but it was GREAT getting to know her better.
I’ve never been to Europe. Someday… But I’ve been to a lot of beautiful islands.
Weren’t Gina’s answers so fun, Jennifer?! And one of those beautiful islands sounds soooo good right now.
Thanks for following, Jennifer! I’m always up for making new friends, so feel free to start a conversation with me on twitter, FB, email!!
Definitely a fun Meet and Greet. This is the 2nd blog today that talks about Hawaii, we must all be getting winter cabin-fever. It sounds like a beautiful place to be right now. And, I’m curious about Gina’s Passionate subtitles, so I’m asking
I’m passing on the Giveaway, but thanks for the talk today, ladies …
Oh yes, Joanne, cabin fever has officially settled in!
Thanks for stopping by today!
I probably should have written down the synonyms for passionate at the time, because I lost that train of thought! LOL! But I think what I meant is that I feel things strongly, anger, love, a sense of justice when I think people are wronged, encouraging others, especially my kids, to follow their dreams… How’s that for starters??
Nice to meet you, Gina! I love to travel as well, though I agree that there’s nothing like returning home after a nice trip. I’ve been to Europe for 6 weeks one summer (London for 3 weeks, Dublin for 10 days, and Edinburgh for 2 weeks) and Hawaii too. Both were great fun for different reasons. I suppose Hawaii is the most exotic place I’ve been, but this July we are going on a Caribbean cruise to several islands that sound exotic! I can’t wait!
Lindsay! A Caribbean cruise?! How fun! And 6 weeks in Europe sounds FABULOUS.
Oh, that reminds me, Lindsay, we’re suppose to be planning a Caribbean cruise with two other families before all our oldest boys go off to college. They’re juniors now, so guess we better start making those plans for this summer. Where did you go and what would you recommend?
Sounds like an enjoyable, light, intriguing read. Please put my name in the hat for the giveaway. Novellas are fun reads
I agree, Vera. These novellas all sound great! I’ve got you entered in the drawing.
This book looks great.
I want to be a traveler…but due to finances and family, I often do my traveling online.
Online traveling sounds fabulous, Heidi! Can’t beat the price.
I pre-ordered Gina’s book and have already enjoyed her story — and all the others — during the holidaze! Lots of twists and turns in your novella, Gina. So,what’s next for you, fiction-wise?
Most exotic place I’ve visited: I lived in Turkey for 2 years, thanks to Uncle Sam. (My husband was in the Air Force.)
Oh wow, Beth, I had no idea you lived in Turkey! I’d love to hear stories sometime.
Yay!! Glad you liked it, Beth! Right now I’m shopping around a women’s fiction WWII story… I would love to continue writing fun, mysteries though and really hope one day the “WIP that never sold” (which has a similar feel to Buried Deception) will find a home and with ebooks on the rise, I should probably look into doing something with it!
Gina has been a genuine treasure that I keep coming across on this writing journey. Awesome you interviewed her here. She’s radiant!
~ Wendy
Don’t you love when God places people in our path over and over, Wendy? He’s always got something up His sleeve.
Thanks, Wendy! It was great finally meeting you in person and I feel like our paths haven’t crossed much since conference! What are you gonna do about that?
YOU are radiant…tall! I still think you look shorter in your headshot! 
Loved meeting you at ACFW, Gina! Just as friendly and down-to-earth in person as you are on FB and Twitter! Congratulations on your continued success! (Oh…and by the way…I’m sooo envious of those lovely curls! In a Christian way, of course.
)
Most exotic place I’ve visited? St. Thomas. Sun, sand, surf, and seafood! Need I say more?
I agree, Cynthia…Gina’s curls are gorgeous! And I’ve heard wonderful things about St. Thomas. My stepsister actually lived there for a short while, but I never had the chance to go.
Great meeting you at ACFW as well! Your friendly greeting really ministered to me! And I’ve been wanting to do a post for a long time for curly head ladies and how to have curls like mine. I don’t wake up looking like this, that’s for sure!
Great to meet you, Gina! I would love to know your sauce recipe as well.
Sarah, oh yes, I’m a traveler. That’s funny. I mention my crazy itch to go places on my blog today. I would say India & North Africa have a special place in my heart. Just talking about it makes me want to go.
Oh Melanie, I pray you’ll get to go to those places soon!
I posted the recipe on my blog a few years ago. http://www.ginaconroy.com/ginablog/wordpress/2007/03/03/blog-party-day-2/
Thanks, Sarah, for the intro to Gina! I enjoyed getting to know her a little. Her book sounds great.
Happy Monday, all!
Hi Karen! The book sounds great and the cover is gorgeous, isn’t it?! Happy Monday to you!
Karen, hope you get a chance to read it! I think there are several giveaways from the other authors going on right now.
Nice to meet you, Gina! Congrats on your success!
I love to travel. Paris was by far the most romantic and most historical place that I had ever been to.
Hi Loree! My only trip across the Atlantic so far has been to Paris, and I agree…What a fascinating culture! And the cafe au laits…delicious.
Thanks so much, Loree! I’ve never been to Paris, but would love to go back to Europe some day.
*not an entry*
I just finished Cherry Blossom Capers last night and really loved it, but so LOVED Gina’s debut voice. Really, really fabulous and a great short(er) story. I hope she has the chance to write many more, because I want to read them!
Hi Casey! I can tell just from Gina’s interview that I’d love her writing voice. Thanks for the thumbs-up!
You guys need to check out my interview with one of the characters in the book! So fun to revist Nick Porter again! http://www.margaretdaley.com/2012/01/hero-interview-in-cherry-blossom-capers-by-gina-conroy/
Thanks so much, Casey! Yours is my new favorite review quote!! Can I “steal” it for my blog? I have a mystery similar to Buried Deception in a full length that never sold and I would LOVE for it to see the light of day!! Did you see the interview with Nick Porter I did? http://www.margaretdaley.com/2012/01/hero-interview-in-cherry-blossom-capers-by-gina-conroy/ Also, I’m playing with the idea of blogging journal entries in Nick & Samantha ‘s voice at cherryblossomcapers.blogspot.com What do you think?
Waving to Gina!
Absolutely! I’ve thought to email you, just because I so enjoyed your story. You turned a phrase and broke some cliches in such fun ways that made me chuckling/smiling. Plus you packed a lot in a shorter story, but it didn’t feel rushed.
I liked it.
LOL! Journal entries in character voices are always fun to read! I’m going to go check that blog out… (and hoping too your other story sells!!)
If I had you smiling and chuckling, than my job was complete!
Thanks for having me, Sarah! Your questions were super fun and I intend to answer everyone’s questions in the comment section, I’m just still recovering from my Mystery book launch party yesterday! Oy, lots of work, but tons of fun. You can check out some of the pictures on facebook!!
Oohh, a mystery party?! What a fun idea, Gina!
The most exotic place I’ve visited is New Orleans it has it’s on persoanlity.
I’ve never been, but I’m sure I’d love New Orleans.
I’ve never been either, Theresa, but we have close neighbors who are from there originally and they make some mean gumbo!
Wow..I feel like a plain Jane having never really traveled anywhere. Lets see, I live in Indiana, does Michigan and Ohio count as an exotic place? I see….I guess you aren’t buying that those states are exotic! Nope..I can see you aren’t. Didn’t I tell you I’ve never really traveled anywhere?!
I would love to win a copy of this book. It sounds like a great read and the cover is so beautiful.
Blessings!
Judy B
P.S. I do love big slobbery dogs but hubby won’t let me have one!
LOL, Judy, As a Midwest gal myself I will definitely let you count Michigan as exotic. Ohio though? I might need time to think about that one.
I’ve got you entered in the drawing!
Oh this looks like an amazing book. I would love to read this. Thank you so much for the chance to win this.
agent_beckster(at)yahoo(dot)com
You’re welcome, Rebecca! Good luck!
I’m looking forward to travelling to Writer’s Interupted. And always enjoy a new read! The most exotic place I have been is Angel Falls, Venezula. Beautifu!
Ohh, sounds beautiful!!
Oh wow, Lynn, I’ve heard AMAZING things about Angel Falls. I’m so jealous!
I loved visiting Garden of the Gods in Colorado. God must have given that area some extra attention.Gorgeous!
I’d love to win Gina’s book. Thanks for the giveaway.
susanjreinhardt AT gmail DOT com
I agree, Susan! Garden of the Gods is fantastic!
Garden of Gods sounds like paradise!
As a little girl I have been to Disney World. I don’t know if that would be considered exotic or not, but I’m very grateful for the chance. Because now that I’ve got a family, financially we just can’t afford it. I think that’s why I enjoy reading so much because I can hear about far away places and imagine what it would be like to travel.
Hi Jennifer! Disney World is definitely exotic…You can travel to so many places all in one place. And I agree about reading…The places to explore in a book are endless.
Jennifer,
Love Disney world and if you make it to Epot, then you won’t have to travel the world! A taste of the world is right there!
I shared this post to Facebook and I forgot to mention that I have a mini-long haired dachshund named Samson and two kitties named Punkin and Sprinkles. I’m definitely a animal person.
jennydipton[at]gmail[dot]com
Thanks for sharing, Jennifer! And I love your pets’ names, by the way.
The most exotic place I visited would have to be The Great Barrier Reef, QLD, AUSTRALIA. Just absolutely stunning.
Oh wow, Mary, The Great Barrier Reef would be amazing to visit! Thanks for stopping by today!
Oh, that would be a fabulous place to visit!
I wouldn’t say Branson’s exotic, exactly, but we had a whale of a good time there with the boys. For a family, it’s a great spot to go! One of the best weeks we ever had was down there in the mountains.
I totally agree with you, Rhonda! We went to Table Rock Lake last summer and want to make it a regular destination now. So much fun and beauty in one place!
Love Branson! And Silver Dollar City is like stepping into a different time!
i LOVE these posts! sorry i’m just now getting around to responding, but i’d had to say the most exotic place i’ve visited was newfoundland. we were in nova scotia and traveled by boat to newfoundland, where we hung out for a few hours and did the touristy thing before getting back on the boat and returning to nova scotia. absolutely breathtakingly beautiful land up there.
cherry blossom capers sounds like a fun read! thanks for featuring gina!
Thanks for commenting, Jeannie! Just the name Nova Scotia sounds exotic!
I lloooooove to travel
I spent a semester living in Austria and traveling all over Europe. I’ve also been to Belize and a lot of the US states. One of my goals is to visit all 50 states by the time I am 50 
This book sounds like a fun one!
Bethany,
What a great goal! Does it count if I traveled through all 50?