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Hi there Tina!
It’s so awesome to have you here at the ECS Blog. Don’t worry about the
darkness, your eyes will adjust.
So tell me, who is Tina Frisco?
I’m an author, singer-songwriter-performer, RN,
shaman apprentice, and activist. I was
born in the USA in Pennsylvania,
attended nursing school in New York, and live in California. I began writing as a child and received my
first guitar at age 14, which launched my passion for music and song-writing. I’ve performed publicly in many local
venues. My publishing history includes
book reviews, essays, articles in the field of medicine, and my début novel -
Plateau: Beyond the Trees, Beyond 2012 - published in July 2012. Included in my pursuits are writing, reading,
music, and exploring nature.Well you sound like quite the
Renaissance woman. I can tell already, that this is going to be a fun
interview.
So whacha got for me today?
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| smashwords.com |
The underlying message in Plateau: Beyond the Trees, Beyond 2012 is
that we must keep our hearts open and act from love instead of react from fear,
and we must practice gratitude and compassion within every moment and with
every breath. In so doing, we'll help elevate the human species to a higher
consciousness, facilitating both personal and global peace. And above all, we
must harm none and walk in beauty. During this time of great change, the
question millions are asking across the globe is "Will love prevail over
fear?" Plateau proffers
a dash of insight and a bounty of hope. (See a 5 star review of this book by Nancy E. Robertson)I really like the message of this
book. It sounds very inspirational. I too like to envelop my books with a sense
of hope. I really like the cover of this book. It has such a wonderful use of
colors.
So who’s starring is this 2
dimensional script read of Plateau?
W'Hyani,
the protagonist in Plateau, is a 15-year-old tribal female who discovers her
strengths and destiny by overcoming adversity while honoring the wisdom of her
elders. Her will, fortitude, and ingenuity are tested relentlessly. She must
learn to trust blindly and overcome fear exhaustively, without fully knowing
why she was born the Keeper of the Crystal Heart, the requisite key to the
Great Mosaic of Life. She ultimately comes face-to-face with herself in a
battle that would shrink the will of the most intrepid warrior, unaware that
realizing her destiny will irrevocably impact all beings on earth and beyond.
The Great Mosaic of Life holds a message of hope that would allow us to see and
live beyond the year 2012. W'Hyani's people inject humor and wisdom throughout
this tale of adventure and mystery. Wow, I was not expecting this
character description after seeing the cover, but it really seems to fit. I
like that your heroine is a tribal girl. I think it sounds very exotic, but
have a feeling that it will be pleasantly down to earth.
Past, present, future, is there a
rhyme or reason to your writing?
I’ve written many
songs and performed in many local venues. When writing my books, I work at my
computer and allow my thoughts to flow. I don’t create a story outline
beforehand, but jot down ideas for future chapters that occur to me while I’m
writing. I’m totally focused on writing and allow no distractions. The
dictionary, thesaurus, and Gregg Reference Manual are my constant companions during this
process. I’m currently working on a sequel to Plateau, as well as a series of children’s books.I admire your talents and the
determination in which you pursue them. You seem to be very focused and
organized. I admire the fact that you use a reference manual, they are so
helpful; everyone needs a little help with their writing sometimes.
What author(s) has most influenced
your writing? Why or how?
Lynn Andrews
has inspired me the most. Her willingness to write about her spiritual growth
in a detailed and personal way profoundly encouraged my writing. (See a review
of Andrews’s Coming Full Circle by Tina Frisco)I must admit that I’m not very familiar
with Lynn Andrew’s work, though I have heard of her book Medicine Woman before. She seems like a very
dynamic personality. If she has the insight and experience to help you on your
writing journey, I’m glad you were able to find her work and connect with it.
Whose brain are you just itching to
scratch?
I’d love to interview Albert Einstein. Not only was he a brilliant scientist, but
he was also an inspiring philosopher with a wonderful sense of humor!I agree. A man who was told he was
dumb as child and then grows up to show the world something it had never seen
before, definitely sounds like he’d have something interesting say.
Who is so you and why?
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| BarnesandNoble.com |
I would say I relate
to Lonesome Star, the protagonist in WomanChief, by Benjamin Capps. I find her to be particularly
inspiring. The novel is based on the true story of a Crow woman who rose to the
rank of Chief despite her gender. She was unrivaled as a hunter-warrior within
her tribe, rejecting the traditional duties of women. Females – especially
girls – in our modern society could learn a lot from her.How very empowering she sounds and
so does the book. This is one I’m adding to me TBR list right now.
What’s your ideal reading spot for
your next highly anticipated read?
My ideal reading spot
is my rocker chair with footstool, within a quiet environment and a cup of tea
at my side. I’m about to read the paperback book, Adela, by Mary Nicol Jones. I’m eager to read
Mary’s book for two reasons: 1) she’s a neighbor, and 2) it encompasses the
theme of overcoming adversity with a tenacious and determined spirit.That’s cool that you live close to
another author and that you guys are friends. I’ve seen the cover of her book.
It looks quite peaceful, but I guess that’s why they say don’t judge a book by
its cover. An overcoming adversity story has to stir you up a little bit…Oh,
and your reading spot sounds cozy.
What was your favorite book or
story, pre-teen years?
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TheLast of the Mohicans was my favorite book in elementary school. I love reading
fiction about indigenous peoples that contains historical references.I can see you have a great love for
the life, history, and ways of indigenous peoples. I can understand why you
like this book and can understand it leaving a lasting impression on you...Now
this is where the questions get a little kooky; are you ready? You becha!Alright then, here we go.
If you could only watch one movie
for the rest of your life, what would it be?
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WhaleRider is a movie I’ve seen many times, and I anticipate watching it
many times more! It’s the story of a New Zealand girl who becomes the leader of
her people, despite this honor having been reserved only for males throughout
their history. She’s aware of her destiny and pursues it implacably.Ya know, I think I’m beginning to
notice a pattern here (hehe). You definitely like what you like. I’ve heard
nothing but good things about the story of Whale Rider and can see why you like
it.
What makes you geek out?
I love crossword and
variety puzzles. They not only challenge my cerebral acumen, but I also learn a
lot!What a great answer. I actually went
through a phase when I was obsessed with crossword puzzles. I eventually
snapped out of it, but I still enjoy them on long trips. You do learn a lot
from them.
So what’s testing your patience
right now?
I’ve just begun
working on a series of children’s books. Writing for children is especially
exacting, because you’re reaching for two audiences: children and parents. So
the story line must be one that will engage the child as well as attract and
meet the standards of the parent, the person buying the book.
I'm also looking
forward to my dear friends' 5oth-wedding-anniversary gala in August. The entire
clan will be there, a warm and jocular bunch of folks with whom I always enjoy
spending time. Their celebrations are remarkably festive, and I need a little
infusion of festivity right now! Book marketing/promotion is extremely
time-consuming and, of late, has left little room for just plain fun!
I’ve always wanted to write a
children’s book and maybe one day I will. I’m very excited for you and your
journey down this special road.
Hear hear, I agree with you about book
marketing. Sometimes it’s nice to have a getaway from it all. A 50 year wedding
anniversary is a rare and special thing. I truly hope you have a wonderful
time.
When the soundtrack of your life is
playing in your head, what songs express your glee and what songs bring out
your rage?
Jazz is the only genre
of music that I don’t like. I actually find it irritating. Music that catches
my ear has what I term, “pattern and prelude.” I have a special place in my
heart for the songs I’ve written and often go about my day humming them. Joan Baez, John Denver, and Emmylou Harris are among my favorite artists. Joan’s Wind Rose, John’s Sweet Surrender, <=listen
and Emmylou’s The Pearl
<=listen affect me on a deep level. And the soundtracks from Last of the Mohicans and Chariotsof Fire make my heart swell and my spirit soar.I’ve heard a lot of people say that
they find Jazz to be irritating, but I like it. I also understand how after a
while it could drive a person crazy. I was really looking forward to your reply
to this question. I had a feeling that folk music would be involved somehow. I
figured a singer-song writer like you would have something profound to say
about music.
What’s the most fun experience you’ve
ever had, to date?
Travelling throughout
the southwest with three friends and two tents is a highlight in my life. We
camped mainly on BLM land, where one doesn’t – or didn’t, at the time – need a
permit. So we were out in the wide open spaces, free-spirited and enjoying
every moment. At one point, we even came face to face with a herd of cows!Travel camping does actually sound
nice, but I don’t know if I could do it for very long. I bet you guys had an
amazing view of the sky. I can only imagine just how non-stressful that trip
must have been. Ah, nature.
Not that you can see into the
future, but in your opinion, what does the future hold?
My dream for the
future is to live in a little cabin in the woods, growing healing herbs,
singing and playing my guitar, communing with nature, and writing whatever
spirit moves me to write.It’s so simple and I like it.
Is there a question you would like
to ask me?
Q: How do you juggle your time in order to write books,
maintain an exceptional blog, and simultaneously have a life?A: I don’t always, but I’m getting
better at it. As with all things, practice makes perfect and I do my homework.
I take advantage of the many organizational and scheduling tools to maximize my
blogging efforts. I literally have to schedule breaks and fun time for myself
or I’ll just work myself crazy. As for writing, I try to schedule that too, but
when my creativity is flowing, all bets are off.
Well Tina, I’ve really had a
wonderful time getting to know you. Thank you so much for stopping by. I wish
you the best in all your endeavors.
Ok humans, half-breeds, and
everything in between, that’s all for today. Be sure to follow this blog to see
who will be visiting next time. For more from Tina Frisco, check out these great
links:
Website & Blog: Tina Frisco: Writing With Hope and Gratitude
GoodReads: Tina Frisco
LinkedIn: Tina Frisco
Purchase links for Plateau: Smashwords, Amazon, Barnes & Noble & Nook Today, Tina has been so gracious as to offer Plateau for FREE at Smashwords.com. So be sure to stop by and download your free copy.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Click below to share
your Reactions and more. See you next
time, Toi Thomas. #cursescanbebroken
