Gina Giordano - Enthralling Historical Adventure

Gina Giordano always had an insatiable curiosity and a penchant for history. Born in New York City, she is a writer, artist, and conjurer of the past. She holds a BA in history and a master’s degree in historical fiction from New York University, and has traveled to over fifty-five countries across the globe. When she is not climbing ancient ruins or exploring forgotten palaces, she enjoys swimming with sharks in remote pristine waters. Her debut novel, STRANGE EDEN, was longlisted for the 2023 Bath Novel Award. As our Author of the Day, she tells us all about Strange Eden.What inspired you to set Strange Eden in 1791 Nassau, Bahamas?I love to bring attention to lesser-known periods. I absolutely love the eighteenth century, and there are many books on the market about Regency England, but fewer books about where some of these individuals ended up resettling outside of Great Britain. I have always been fascinated by Caribbean history, and while there are many novels about pirates in the early 1700s, for example, I’m more intrigued by the aftermath of world events. What did the Bahamas look like after the Age of Piracy? How was it affected by its newly founded neighbor America after its revolution? That’s where I like to dive into. I was also driven to highlight the Bahamas as more than just a cruise stop. These islands have a significant culture and history worth celebrating.How did your background in history and historical fiction shape the creation of Eliza’s story?As a huge history nerd, I was overjoyed to finally put all that historical knowledge and research into action. I love historical fiction because it can be used as a great educational tool, but in a fun way. The kind where you’re hooked on what’s happening with a set of characters and forget you’re learning at the same time. I spent many years researching for this series. I’ve also included a bibliography at the end of each book if readers want to continue learning about the time period.Eliza’s journey explores themes like freedom, love, and resilience. Which of these themes resonates most with you as an author?That’s a tough one. I would say freedom. I have always been very independent, and I love the freedom that comes with being an independent author. Having a voice in all areas of production is critical to me. I love designing my covers and formatting the books, as well as retaining control of my editorial and marketing direction. On the other hand, to survive as an author, you must also be resilient and love what you do!How did you balance historical accuracy with the fictional elements in the novel?Authenticity is the most crucial factor to me when crafting my stories. I like to revolve my novels around fictional characters that are realistically true to the period regarding worldview and behavior but have real historical settings, events, and actual historical figures surrounding them. It makes for a more exciting range of possibilities in the story.Besides writing, what other secret skills do you have?I’m very artistic, and I enjoy photography, particularly of landscapes and safari wildlife. I love spending time in Africa completely disconnected from everything and just watching a cheetah for hours on end. (It was one of the best days of my life!) I like to spend time drawing and painting. I also have a photographic memory, which is handy when researching my novels.How did your travels to over 55 countries influence the vivid and immersive setting in the book?World travel is one of the best ways to do research. You can read as many books as you want on a particular topic, but physically being in a space where your characters once stood hundreds of years ago is irreplaceable. Even if I don’t travel to a tropical location, I can still take away something useful and apply it to my characters’ experiences in my writing. I’m always taking notes wherever I go. Learning to understand different perspectives from the people I visit in other countries, whether in Africa, Asia, or elsewhere, is also massively helpful for my writing.Eliza’s love for swimming contrasts with the restrictions imposed on her. Was this an intentional metaphor for her yearning for freedom?Yes, I view the ocean as a healing environment. It would be a crime not to highlight its beauty, especially in the Bahamas. The turquoise waters of these islands are some of the most beautiful in the world (I have a running tally every time I travel. Top of my list is French Polynesia, the Maldives, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, and Mauritius, to name a few…) and when I envisioned Eliza breaking strict societal rules by engaging in something so simple to modern people as swimming I loved exploring that theme. Besides acting as a safe space to retreat, the ocean also suits her naturalist sensibilities when observing the tropical fish. I really enjoyed writing all the scenes of her in the water.How does the atmospheric style of Strange Eden enhance the emotional depth of the story?I wanted readers to read the story and feel that they were right next to Eliza in a beautiful but deadly paradise. I wanted them to hear the dry scratching of the sun-soaked palms, to feel the warmth of the crystal clear water. Some readers have said that my setting serves as a character on its own, and I love hearing that feedback. I want to transport my readers to the past, and I love it when they connect to the story. On the surface, many people might ask what’s so significant about the 1790s in the Bahamas, but if you transport them there with well-crafted words, then they become immersed in it and more invested in the characters’ trials and journeys.What message do you hope readers take away from Eliza’s journey?I hope they see her resilience as a young woman in a dark and cruel 18th-century world, and I hope they see that situations are never purely black and white. That is one message I love delivering: I love to turn everything on its head when readers think they understand something from one character’s perspective. Empathy is so important: to be willing to wait to judge someone until all facts are known, whether a character in a book or a person in real life.Do you have any interesting writing habits? What is an average writing day like for you?Yes, I don’t write consistently. I tend to dedicate a few months in the year to writing only, and I’ll produce my manuscript then in one shot. I also love writing in my kitchen, which some of my readers have found interesting.As this is the first book in a series, can you give us a glimpse of what to expect in the next installment?Yes! I’m proud to say that the next book, The Island King, was released this past June and has done really well. Readers can expect more unexpected twists, even higher stakes, and shocking character development. I apologize in advance for another brutal cliffhanger and any potential heartbreak. The final installment of the Strange Eden Series will come out in 2025.Where can our readers discover more of your work or interact with you?I’m really active on Instagram, where I post news and updates about my work and host frequent giveaways. You can find me at @ginagiordanobooks. I love connecting with readers, and I’d love to see you there!