Let's start with her Ph.D. from Berkeley then add in her J.D. from the University of San Francisco Law School and round it off with her writing credentials (author of more than 50 books), her career as a media consultant, college instructor and award-winning screenplay writer. Whew!
Gini Graham Scott
This California Boomer's latest two projects were inspired by her recent experiences when the unstable economy halved her work; her credit line came to an end; she defaulted on her mortgage and almost lost her house. That experience turned her into a spokesperson for what she calls "the mortgage mess." True to her multi-talented ways, she's publishing a self-help book, Living in Limbo, about her experience.
If that isn't enough to keep her busy, she's a member of the social justice group, Causa, Justa, that fights foreclosures to keep people from losing their homes. With all this going on in her life, she's a tough lady to track down, but we caught up with her late one afternoon at her home in San Francisco...
What are you doing these days?
I work primarily as a writer of books, my own and for clients. I have published more than 50 books on a variety of subjects. I grew up in New York but have lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for more than 30 years. I like living by the ocean. Since I'm in San Francisco, but not of it, I feel like I'm in the country, near the parks and beaches, but then I get in a car, and in 20 minutes, I'm downtown. I like the high energy and diversity of the area.
I recently wrote a book called Living in Limbo, about my experiences dealing with the mortgage mess and how I turned what could have been a disaster into a success. I also wrote a script inspired by the many people I met dealing with this crisis called The Suicide Party. It's about a once successful salesman who is losing it all and throws a Suicide Party. If it brings in enough money for him to save his home and find work again, he'll live. If not, he'll quietly end it all. The announcement of the party causes a storm of controversy and there's a twist ending.
I love writing and producing films. The one I'm working on now is called The Parking Lot. It's about two women who get into a battle in a parking lot that soon escalates into revenge and attempted murder!
What time do you get up on a work day?
8 a.m.
What time do you go to bed during the week?
2 a.m.
Who would play you in a movie about your life?
Mia Farrow because people used to tell me I looked like her when I was a kid.
What's your secret weakness?
I work too hard because I keep looking for that breakthrough project. My other secret weakness is ice cream, especially chocolate, coconut and vanilla with fudge or chocolate swirls. I look for sugar-free and low-fat versions so I can enjoy more without feel guilty! I use it as a reward when I take a break from working.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
That I also write songs. Even though I'm not particularly musical, I learned how to read music and play a melody line on the piano so I can turn whatever I've written over to someone else to do a full demo of what I've written.
What did you have for dinner last night?
Chinese - Fish and mixed greens. I love going to new restaurants, and ever since I moved to San Francisco three months ago, I've been going to the different Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai and other Asian restaurants in my neighborhood. I've also been trying out different dishes in each restaurant, and since some of these restaurants have more than 100 dishes, I have lots of possibilities!
What was the last movie you saw?
The Hatfields and McCoys, which is all about this classic feud between the Hatfields in Virginia and the McCoys in Kentucky that began over a fight over a pig and mushroomed into killings. It stars Kevin Costner as the old Hatfield patriarch. I love historical films like this and The Conspirator, which is about a woman accused of assisting in the killing of Lincoln. I like getting videos to see them at home after they are out a couple of months rather than spending much more and hassling with traffic and crowds to go to a theater.
Name three things in your fridge.
Orange juice, Cool Whip and yogurt.
Favorite TV show?
Celebrity Apprentice. I love reality shows, even though I know there's quite a bit of staging that goes on. What I like about them is their unpredictability, and it is especially interesting to see the celebrities become more real and emotional about their battles for their favorite charity. I tried to get on one of these shows - Shark Tank - to feature one of my business ideas featuring massage as entertainment - I even have a business plan and several videos illustrating the concept. So far, no luck. But I have some other ideas, so I'll try again.
What's your mantra?
Do it!
Prepare your own Mexican quick fix with this Chipotle-inspired bowl. Carbs are moderated by filling the bowl with beans, extra veggies and chicken. No need for rice, since the beans count as carbs.
Tips:
If you love tomatoes, increase the quantity to 1/2 cup, but note that the carbohydrates will also increase.
If preparing this recipe for one person, cut all of the ingredients in half. Or simply prepare the full recipe up to the end of step 2 and store leftover chicken and vegetable-bean mixture in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave on High for 1 to 2 minutes, or until heated through, and continue with step 3.
Health Bite: The iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc in black beans help to keep bones strong and healthy.
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