Q&A With Gina Sorell 

Today I have the honor of doing a Q&A with author Gina Sorell. Gina Sorell is the author of the novel “The Wise Women,” which was a Read With Jenna Most Anticipated, GMA Buzz Pick, People Magazine Best New Books, New York Times Editor’s Choice, WaPo selection.

Q: So Gina when did you realize that writing was your calling?

A: I’ve always loved writing. When I was younger, it was journal writing, poetry, plays, and sketch comedy. In my previous life as an actor, writing was a way to express myself creatively and create work for myself. I’ve always loved storytelling, but it wasn’t until I was in my thirties that I decided to go back to school and focus on my writing. I enrolled in UCLA Extension Writers’ Program and fell in love with long-form fiction. 

Q: What advice do you give anyone who wants to be a writer? What advice do you give to anyone who struggles with writers block?

A: I think the best advice is to write. I know that sounds simple, but just start and try not to judge the work. No one way is right for everyone, and I think each person needs to find what works for them. Some people need big chunks of time; others can grab minutes throughout the day; some need silence, and others need to work in a coffee shop with people around them. I think it’s important to experiment with it all and, in doing so, find what’s right for you. Whenever I get writer’s block, I like to write from a character’s point of view. It could be an interview, a confession, or a memory—something that’s still connected to the story but also frees me up because it’s not going to be included in my work in progress.

Q: Does Hollywood have the rights to your novel?

A: Not yet! Fingers crossed.

Q: Are you writing a new novel now? If so, can you spoil it a little bit about it?

A: I am! I’m writing a novel about friendship and second chances. It’s also about aging, ambition, and the next chapter in these three women’s lives.

Q: Whats it like to have your novel “The Wise Women,” be selected to be a Read With Jenna Most Anticipated, GMA Buzz Pick, People Magazine Best New Books, New York Times Editor’s Choice, WaPo selection? All of that sounds very impressive. 

A: Thank you! It sounds impressive, but I must tell you, it doesn’t always feel that way. I’m aware of how incredibly fortunate I am that THE WISE WOMEN received such a warm welcome, but that doesn’t mean I don’t still worry whether or not my book will find readers who love it and know what I was going after. And it certainly doesn’t make writing any easier. But at the end of the day, the only thing any writer can control is the writing, so I do my best to focus on that.