Gina brown
Author & founder of novaheart media
A short history
When I was ten, my Mom gave me a pink and gold-trimmed diary, and a fountain pen with peacock blue ink. I loved how the turquoise ink rolled out of that pen! That's when I started writing and it hasn't let up since then.
I was raised in Nova Scotia, living in Dartmouth, Windsor Junction, Windsor, Bridgewater, Chester and Halifax.
On the road
After graduating with a Public Relations degree from Mount St. Vincent University in 1988, I left on a career dare with adventures in Montreal, Birmingham (England), Ottawa and Toronto. With bases loaded late in the 9th, I hit a home run back to Nova Scotia in 2004.
Eclectic career
As a marketing and communications specialist, I’ve worked in everything from music, film and advertising to museums, large-scale sporting events and education (and a few others!).
Travel bug
I’ve also traveled to 35 countries on six continents – from Canada’s Arctic, Finland and Russia, to Egypt, Malaysia, Dubai, Argentina and New Zealand.
The Sugar Bowl Feud (2024)
Support local: Buy at BookMark | Room 152, Dartmouth | Block Shop Books, Lunenburg | Local libraries in NS
Lucy McGee’s Moment of Truth (2021)
Support local: Buy at BookMark | Room 152, Dartmouth | Block Shop Books, Lunenburg | Local libraries in NS
WRITING, publishing & WORKSHOP EXPERIENCE
Two novels published through NovaHeart Media: Lucy McGee’s Moment of Truth (2021) and The Sugar Bowl Feud (2024).
Served as the editor for Robert Crockett’s memoir, Cross-eyed Optimist: How I Learned to See in 3D and Straightened my Eyes with Vision Therapy (2021).
Articles published in: The Globe and Mail, Canadian Living Magazine, Chronicle Herald, Flare and Fifty-Five Plus Magazine
Co-founder of Word Salad Writer’s Retreat now in its 11th year
Attended Arvon Fiction Writer’s Workshop in Wales, UK; Taddle Creek Writer’s Workshop, University of Toronto
Member of the C’est What? Writer’s Group in Toronto
Attended Master Classes at the Canadian Film Centre in Toronto, with writers from: The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, The Simpsons, ER
Produced an event, Film Conversations, with award-winning director, Norman Jewison and screenwriter, William Goldman (The Princess Bride), in TO
Over 30 years of writing, communications and marketing the arts including film, museums, music and performances
Launched Brainstorm Communications in 2016
Launched NovaHeart Media in 2019
WRITING & COMMUNICATIONS AWARDS
Women of Excellence Awards, for Communications and Public Relations. Canadian Progress Club, Halifax
Creative Writing – Finalist, Semi-finalist or Honourable Mentions for screenplays, travel and memoir writing: The Short Skinny, American Gem, the British Short Screenplay, Anything But Hollywood, Travel & Transitions Writing, and CBC’s Emerging Screenwriters’ competition.