Burning Gloveboxes and Bucket Lists: Gina Ramsey’s Journey From Chaos to Confidence

Sometimes, life sets the story for you—literally.

For humorist and author Gina Ramsey, the turning point came when her glove box caught on fire. Yes, actually caught fire. “That was it,” she says. “I knew that would be the title. I grabbed a manila folder, wrote Burnt Gloveboxes in permanent marker, and started collecting stories.”

It would take another 20 years, a supportive writing community, and a spontaneous leap into NaNoWriMo for that folder to become a published book—but Gina’s story proves that funny things happen when you stop waiting for the perfect time.

In her conversation with Sharissa on the Project Seed Money podcast, Gina details how she turned decades of “Murphy’s Law” moments—misbehaving pets, wild vacations, exploding dryers—into two published volumes of heartfelt humor. The biggest surprise? The confidence she found along the way.

“I think we all have impostor monsters on our bus,” she says. “They’re going to say things like, ‘You’re not good enough.’ But it’s your job to keep driving the bus forward anyway.”

Gina, a self-described bucket list guru, didn’t begin as a trained writer. What she had instead was a gift for storytelling and a willingness to show up, even when it was scary. From writing on the backs of receipts to waking up with story ideas she had to jot down, Gina is proof that creativity doesn’t need ideal conditions—just the courage to begin.

And now, she’s inviting others to join her journey.

Through her newest endeavor, The Burnt Glovebox Community Anthology, Gina is collecting real-life “Murphy’s Law” stories from other writers. The first theme: Animal Antics. “It’s like Chicken Soup for the Soul meets The Dog Did What?” Gina laughs. “You don’t need to be a professional. You just need a story.”

Whether you’re writing for your kids, for catharsis, or for the public, Gina encourages you to take that first step. “Say it out loud. ‘I’m writing a book.’ Write it down. Tell people. Even if all you have is a paper towel and a Sharpie—start there.”

You can follow Gina at her website and social media channels: