Author Bio:
I was an Air Force brat and a navy widow. Meaning of course, my father was in the Air Force and my husband served in the Navy. I lived in Germany and Turkey and moved to several different states. Now I reside in Western Colorado--God's Country-- with my high school sweetheart, Danny. We've been together for 34+ years, married to for over 30 years. I am mother to three grown sons. I have two lovely daughter-in-laws and four grandchildren, with another one due by the end of the year.
[Anne] When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
[Tina] I started writing in elementary school. I actually wrote my first novel then. I continued to write, working on short stories, poetry, songs and some longer stories. I started another novel in Junior High called, Just In Time for the Rain. It took place in Turkey where we lived at the time. I got involved in journalism, enjoyed it but found fiction was still my favorite. When my children were born, I decided to cut back and not push as hard getting the stories done. I wondered if that was the right decision and decided with my husband in the Navy and gone a lot and three boys, I couldn't wrap my head around a story and give it the necessary attention. Once the boys were in school, I picked it up with a bit more fervency. I sat down and wrote a 900 page novel in a few months time, which promptly got when my computer fried on me. Thank heaven I made a hard copy and was able to plug it all in again.
[Anne] Tell us about your latest book.
[Tina] In the Manor of the Ghost has romance, a love story and a ghost. I'd like to think it's a pretty good read. But it's important to know that some of the houses we reside in aren't always made of lumber or stones. They are fashioned from our fears and are as thick around us as a wall might be. Some of the Ghosts we face are those fears, real or perceived they haunt us.
While the main scene for In the Manor of the Ghost does take place in a manor, the story is inspirational fiction written with the spiritual aspect in mind. It is my belief that as God is the author and creator of love and romance, some of the most beautiful love stories come out of two people growing together through good times and trials, facing their fears and turning them over to the Lord.
[Tina] We had just traveled to Minnesota and I wanted to work it into a story, but more so, I wrote the story because of where I was at in life. Like Kaitlin, I wondered how I fit, and had lost a loved one, (my father had passed away not long before), but I identified more with Devlin in some aspects of the story and his journey to find himself. To believe he had the worth. He invested in everyone else, but didn't think he was worth redemption.
[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?
[Tina] I like to use the computer, of course, it's convenient, but I love to delve into old books. The information there can't be matched. If I can travel somewhere to get a feel for the place I will, a lot of times I'll write from a place I've been, because it left a mark on my thoughts.
[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?
[Tina] I am currently working on a Sci-fi time-travel series, with clones, gene mutation, and sinister people trying to get rid of Christ. Counting Tessa is the first installment. Then I plan to get back to two Civil War Era stories I've been working on, Finding Middle C, as story about finding the music of Life and From Hell to Eternity, a story about Andersonville Prison.
[Anne] Are you a plotter or a pantster?
[Tina] I am a pantster. I get a thought, usually a dream and set down to write. I like to be surprised by my characters. I make a light outline (because it can change) of my thoughts, do research and type away.
[Anne] If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?
[Tina] I would like to be Rebekah, from my Oregon Trail/ Civil War Series, When Shadows Fall, just so I could be married to the Hero, Matthew. LOL.
[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go? (Okay so maybe this isn’t very likely to happen but since I’m asking the questions…)
[Tina] Just one??? I'll narrow it down to these: Australia, Scotland, or Alaska.
[Anne] You’ve just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?
[Tina] Someone who looks like Adrian Paul, during his Highlander days, would be Devlin, and Zoey Deschanel would be Kaitlin
[Anne] What type of books do you like to read when you’re not writing?
[Tina] I read several types of books, I just read Sarah's Key, by Tatiana de Rosnay. Doctor in Petticoats, by Mary Connealy, and I like to read Dean Koontz, John Saul, Ted Dekker, among others.
[Anne] What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?
[Tina] You will be tested, you will learn to persevere, you will be disheartened, and want to give up several times a day. But hang in there, study, learn your craft, research, and read, all those things are important, but first and foremost, write from the heart and imagination that God gave you.
[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?
http://tinapinson.blogspot.com
http://www.tinapinson.com/
[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?
[Tina] Desert Breeze Publishing & Amazon. Please note… if buying at Amazon, there is an old copy/print book there as well. It was written years ago, and has little editing. I've been trying to get it removed but the site is being stubborn. Thanks.
[Anne] Is there anything else you’d like to add?
[Tina] I have another book Touched By Mercy coming out in Dec. 2010 you can read an excerpt of it on my website http://tinapinson.com/
Leave a comment with your email in the post to be entered in a contest for a free download of In the Manor of the Ghost.
[Anne] How generous! Thank you, Tina. And thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to pay us a visit. Okay folks, start commenting!
