INTERVIEW
Welcome on the blogs Tina Frisco, author, singer and performer.
TF: Thank you Darmie, it’s
a pleasure to be on the blogs.
DO: What cultural struggles, commitment and loyalty did you speak of in the
novel Plateau?
TF: The protagonist, a
15-year-old tribal female named W'Hyani, must overcome her fears in order to
realize her destiny, and she must do this in keeping with her tribal customs
and while honoring her elders. Also, her people adhere to their customs
and beliefs throughout the novel. They are peace-loving, forthright,
compassionate, and tolerant of diversity.
DO: Plateau, what does that mean?
TF: W'Hyani's people
live on a high plateau, sequestered from the outside world. This is
analogous to the plateau we humans often reach in our spiritual growth, and we
must persevere in order to reach enlightenment.
DO: What distinct voice did you bring to the world through this book?
TF: I began a shaman
apprenticeship many years ago. All that I've learned and achieved is
embodied in the characters in Plateau. The path of the shaman
requires tenacity and focused intention, portrayed by W'Hyani's utter refusal
to give up the search for her destiny, and by JoJiah's intense commitment to
her apprenticeship.
DO: How did your interest for writing originate?
TF: I've been a writer all of my life. As a
child, I wrote little poems and songs. I received my first guitar when I was 14, and song-writing
became a passion. I've performed in many local venues over the
years. I'm also an R.N. and have written and published a few articles in
the field of medicine. I've written many essays of all types, but Plateau
is my first novel.
DO: You studied nursing in New York, so you ventured into writing in hopes of
what?
TF: My reason for
writing Plateau was to put forth a message in the world. After
watching one too many "doomsday" documentaries regarding the supposed
end of the Mayan calendar on December 21, 2012, I felt both disheartened and
determined. I don't embrace apocalyptic theories and was compelled to
write a novel of hope.
DO: W'Hyani became an orphan at an early age. Were there challenges on her way
to adulthood that contributed effectively to the success conflict of the novel
Plateau?
TF: Yes, many
challenges. In each one, she must square off against her fear, confront
varying degrees of adversity, and recognize and rise above her limiting
beliefs. The conflict arises with her not understanding what her most harrowing
challenge signified. Her spirit begins to fade, which is in direct
conflict with her true nature. Limiting beliefs are what preclude our
manifesting our destiny, and W'Hyani exemplifies the warrior spirit that
refuses to forsake itself.
DO: Like W'Hyani, I wondered, too, how the tiny shard gifted her by her late
mother would manifest the realization of her destiny. Please, hint us on this.
TF: The shard is part
of a bigger picture. It's the requisite key to the Great Mosaic of Life,
something that she must search for and find in order to fulfill her birthright.
DO: What is a medicine womon? I didn't grasp that part of the book. Was that
some sort of a course Jojihah, W'Hyani's bosom friend, studied?
TF: A medicine womon
(woman), or shaman, is an intermediary between the human world and the world of
spirit. She heals afflictions by mending the spirit, which in turn heals
the physical body and brings the person into balance. She often enters
the spirit realm in order to obtain the answers she needs to perform her
healing. She essentially lives with a foot in two worlds.
Indigenous peoples apprentice younger members of the tribe and pass on their
knowledge in this way. An apprenticeship usually lasts many years, as is
the case with JoJihah.
How is Jojihah important to the story Plateau?
TF: Aside from being
W'Hyani's best friend and confidant, JoJihah often functions as W'Hyani's
conscience and touchstone. At times, she even plays the "devil's
advocate," injecting a bit of conflict and challenging W'Hyani to clarify
her intentions and beliefs.
DO: Why did W'Hyani's mother tell her to keep the shard away from people, so
that she wouldn't even allow her close friend see it?
TF: When we make a
focused intention to achieve a goal, it's often best initially to keep it close
to our heart and not speak of it. In this way, our intention builds in
power and our focus remains undiluted. If we speak of it before it has
ripened, we may sabotage our inner power by listening to the opinions of others
and likely begin doubting ourselves.
DO: How would you describe Plateau to someone who hasn't read it?
TF: Plateau
is a tale of adventure and mystery. W'Hyani, a 15-year-old tribal female,
discovers her strengths and destiny by overcoming myriad adversities, all while
honoring the wisdom of her elders. Her will, fortitude, and ingenuity are
tested unrelentingly. 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. Will love prevail
over fear? Plateau proffers a dash of insight and a bounty of
hope.
DO: How much of this book is personal and how much a work of fiction?
TF: The story itself
is fiction. The characters are imbued with qualities I've both achieved
and admire in others, as well as qualities I've both discarded and disdain in
others. I think this is probably true of most works of fiction. The
author can't help but inject a little of herself into the story!
DO: What message is there in this book that you want to influence your
potential readers positively with?
TF: The underlying
message in Plateau is that we must keep our hearts open, act from love
instead of react from fear, and 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.
DO: What are the titles of current books you are working on?
TF: I've begun
writing the first book in a series of children's books I plan to write. I
don't want to announce the title just yet, because that alone would give away
too much!
DO: It's been great talking with you Tina Frisco. Give my love to the family.
Thanks for stopping by.
TF: *Smiles*, sure. I also
thank you.
About Author: I am an author,
singer-songwriter-performer, RN, shaman apprentice, animal/human rights and
environmental/social change activist. I was born in (USA) Pennsylvania,
studied nursing in New York, and am currently living in California. I
love writing, reading, music, movies, and nature, among many other things. I'm
5 times an aunt and 9 times a great-aunt!
Book Title: Plateau: Beyond the Trees,
Beyond 2012
Genre: Fiction
Book Blurb: W’Hyani was born strong, willful,
and the predestined Keeper of the Crystal Heart, the requisite key to unlocking
the mystery of the Great Mosaic of Life. Unaware of the shard’s
significance, her fortitude begins being tested by the cosmic forces that
sculpted her destiny. She ultimately comes face-to-face with herself in a
battle that would shrink the will of the most intrepid warrior, unaware that
the realization of 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, into the Golden Age of Enlightenment.
Available Formats: Paperback, eBook,
hardback.
eBook Cost: Kindle - $1.99, Smashwords -
$0.99
Paperback: $13.25
Books Coming Soon: A series of children's
books
Buy Links: Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Tina-Frisco/e/B009NMOFNY,
Barnes & Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/plateau-tina-frisco/1112187541,
Chapters.Indigo - http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/search/?keywords=Tina%20Frisco&pageSize=12,
Friesen Press
-
http://www.friesenpress.com/bookstore/title/119734000004251564/Tina-Frisco-Plateau
