The 2018 Author Interview Series Featuring Tina Frisco

It’s time for the next subject for my 2018 author interview series. Author interviews are posted every Friday throughout the year.

I am honored to continue this series with California author and blogger Tina Frisco.

You can catch up with all of my past author interviews (nearly 200) on my Author Directory page.

If you’re an author interested in being interviewed in this series, I still have limited spots available for 2018. You can email me at don@donmassenzio.com

Now, please enjoy this interview with Tina Frisco:

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Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

I aim to do both, because both are needed for books to sell. But I won’t compromise originality, so at times it becomes a bit of a juggling act. I write because I enjoy it and am compelled to so. Writing is my life’s blood. And like most writers, I want to engage and communicate with others. In order to reach people, my writing must be both original and magnetic.

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

Pay attention. Observe what moves people and learn how to reach them where they are. Take your passion for writing and gingerly weave its message through the prevailing consciousness. People will turn a deaf ear to shouting, but they will strain to hear a whisper.

What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?

Woman Chief by Rose Sobol. It’s the true story of a woman who became chief of the Crow Indians by refusing the traditional duties of women and by outperforming her male counterparts.

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?

I confess that I’m not one to scrutinize my books’ reviews; not because I don’t care, but because I forget to do so! I have a note taped to my computer screen to remind me to check them. I post the good reviews to my blog. If a bad review is cogent and well-written, I pay attention to anything that might help improve my writing. If it has nothing to offer, I ignore it – that is, after the initial “OMG” reaction ☺

Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?

No. I publish books not only to entertain, but also to inject messages into our collective consciousness. I’m an activist and a healer. Humankind is teetering on the brink of self-annihilation. I’m loath to be complacent about this. Novels entertain and are a great vehicle for learning. As I write, I learn. And my hope is that my readers will, too.

Do you Google yourself?

I did this once, about a year ago, when someone else asked me that question. I was shocked by the number of menu pages that came up. So I entered the names of several author friends, and the result was the same. It made me wonder if I should have used a pseudonym for everything I did online. But that’s a moot question. The pros and cons seem to balance out. One thing is for certain: There’s no such thing as flying under the radar when you’re a published author!

What is your favorite childhood book?

The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter. I love all of her books – the storylines, and especially the exquisite illustrations. As a child, I would imagine myself a character in the stories. I didn’t know it at the time, but her conservationist ideal subtly and profoundly affected me.

If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?

I’d pursue perfecting my craft in every way available to me, as well as exploring avenues that seemed out of reach. My family was not well-off, and opportunities for its children were very limited. Had I known how to use the library’s reference section to my advantage, I’d have researched grants and scholarships for higher education in the field of writing.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

About three months of solid writing and research. And like most authors, I’m sure, this is much preferred to marketing and promoting the finished product!

Thank you so much, Don, for featuring me on your blog and for all the support you give to fellow authors.

About Tina:

Tina Frisco is an author, singer-songwriter, RN, activist, and student of shamanism. Born in Pennsylvania USA, she attended nursing school in New York and lives in California. She began writing as a young child and received her first guitar at age 14, which launched her passion for music and songwriting. She has performed publicly in many different venues. Her publishing history includes book reviews; essays; articles in the field of medicine; her début novel, Plateau; her children’s book, Gabby and the Quads; and her latest novel, Vampyrie. She enjoys writing, reading, music, dancing, arts and crafts, exploring nature, and frequently getting lost in working crossword puzzles.

Connect with Tina:

Website/Blog ~ https://tinafrisco.com
Amazon ~ https://amzn.to/2JDwjAK
Twitter ~ http://bit.ly/2qtizQB
Facebook ~ http://bit.ly/2bMVUpI
Goodreads ~ http://bit.ly/2qtsuoX
LinkedIn ~ http://bit.ly/2EGIEAK
Google+ ~ http://bit.ly/1Fc1Uzn

Tina’s Books:

 

VAMPYRIE: Origin of the Vampire 

What if vampires were not the undead, but rather the dying? What if there were two factions among vampires: the sustained and the unsustainable? And what if those factions were at war with one another over the life of a young woman who promised them a future? VAMPYRIE brings the myth of the vampire into the realm of possibility.

PLATEAU: Beyond the Trees

Is there any hope for humankind? Will love prevail over fear? A young tribal female is unaware she holds the answers to these questions. W’Hyani was born strong and willful and the Keeper of the Crystal Heart. Her mettle is tested by the cosmic forces that shaped her destiny. She comes face-to-face with fear in a battle that would shrink the will of the most daring warrior. The fate of all beings in the Universe depends on her defeating the bloodthirsty gondrah and unlocking the mystery of the Great Mosaic of Life.

Gabby and the Quads

Gabby is an only child who is about to become big sister to quadruplets! How will she handle this? Her parents decide on a unique approach to introduce her to and help her accept this awesome experience. Follow Gabby as she learns all about babies and the joy of loving.