Author of "No Place to Hide"
(Questions About No Place To Hide)
As an American some of the names are quite strange. I understand that the names have meaning to the character's backstories but do they have meaning to you? How did you choose them?
I dislike, especially in fiction, the vanilla names that are used. Common names conjure up all kinds of stereotypes, both good and bad. So I set out to flip the script so to speak. The common thread in teh book would become the uncommon names. Each of the character names reflect the diversity of the characters. Smith became Smythe, beacuse I thought about her mother and "saw her mom" choose the first and middle name as a reflection of her mixed race heritage. Joao is a Portuguese name and means "God is gracious." Given his connection to all things spiritual his name seemed fitting. In fact my hope is that readers would at the very least google Joao's name. And Artie as the novel implies is short for Artemis. I wanted to give her an unusual first name, away from the stereotypical Italian names.
There are some profound (to say the least) ideas in this book, particularly when Smythe is talking to Joao. How did you come up with these ideas?
I didn’t. :) The threads of self-discovery of which you speak, are common in the transformation arena in which I work. The likes of Jack Canfield, Tony Robbins, Neale Donald Walsch and Lisa Nicols all weave these concepts into their teaching. I was a student of Jack’s for a year. As I embraced the concepts and began to live from them, my life changed. I teach many of those same ideas to my clients. It seemed fitting to add them to the story line. And it would be Joao who would introduce them to the main character.
What made you decide to make Artie a love interest to Smythe? Are you concerned at all that some readers might take this to be more of a Nightingale Syndrome than an actual true relationship?
I took the syndrome into account when I decided to develop their relationship. Yet, I know of several relationships where there were role imbalances and yet the relationships not only developed in spite of the imbalance but thrived. I will admit I threw out a couple of drafts where I did not develop Artie and Smythe’s relationship, but the story seemed to hollow without that story line. It’ll make sense (I hope) in the second book.
(For your reference, the Florence Nightingale Syndrome is defined HERE as: “A term of questionable usefulness defined as either a situation in which (1) a romantic attraction or bond develops between patient and caregiver and is the direct result of the care-giving experience or (2) a person’s self image is that of a healer of others pain”
Can you explain the final line of the book? “...what if there is no problem?” It feels as if I missed something of significance there.
Think back to everything the main character has gone through. What we see is that she grew as an outgrowth of everything she experienced. I live from a place that says I am grateful for everything in my life (yes even the bad) because there are lessons for my good. For example, what if losing a job to a lay off is not the disaster that we think it might be. The layoff might seem to be a horrible event. Our thoughts and emotions might certainly go into overdrive. How would I pay my bills, my housing, food? In the media, we hear about citizens across the nation who are not receiving unemployment benefits, some for as long as nine months. Yet as challenging as those circumstances may be, if we ask ourselves “what if there is no problem”. In that moment we have the potential to free ourselves from the negative energy that surrounds us. From the question, we have the ability to see opportunity. What if we can see this layoff as a way to do what we truly want to do in life. Even if what we were doing was something we enjoyed, what if the layoff was a jump start to do the next great thing. Of this I am sure—opportunity lives in the house of the statement “what if there is no problem.” Smythe’s dreams came true. She grew as a human, released her limiting beliefs about herself and developed courage along the way.
Do you plan on writing a sequel? Those who read the book and are interested in seeing how the crime side of the story plays out might find this interesting.
Yes, No Place to Hide is the first in a series of at least three books. And yes, the crime side of the story continues to be problematic in book two. In addition, Artie steps up front and center in the second book.
Did you already have the story plot in mind when you started writing No Place To Hide?
Not really. All I knew when I started to write was that I wanted to encompass some self-discovery concepts into the book; concepts that my main character would have to grapple with. As I wrote, the story simply unfolded before me.
Just how closely is the character of Smythe tied to you? Is her life and journey a reflection of yours and if so are there any major similarities or differences you would like to point out?
The main character Smythe is loosely tied to my own life’s journey. And yes there are similarities. She is a mixed race queer woman. Yep that’s me. She felt a sense of otherness; so did I. She left her job, I left mine. She had a mentor, check, I did too. She is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, so am I. She thinks deeply about issues, so do I.
The differences are that Smythe is not as adept at using some of the tools and techniques to keep her grounded as I am. In terms of character identification, although Smythe has similar experiences that I have had, in terms of temperament, I am more aligned to the character Joao.
(Questions About Writing)
What is your preferred media to use when you are working on a new story (for example do you use a computer, have a special pen or notebook)?
I work from my ipad, therefore I can write from anywhere and have. Yet I must admit, I typically write from one space in my home. It is cozy and offers little distraction, visual or auditory.
Writers are often believed to have a Muse or something that they draw inspiration from, how do you feel about that?
Maybe that’s so. My inspiration comes from concepts, or ah ha moments. When those aha moments land, I can literally picture the scenes in my head. That said, all things Spiritual are what drives my writing. I am curious and a bit obsessed with my relationship God, Universe, Spirit, whatever you want to call it. So I guess if I had a Muse it would be Spirit.
What made you decide that now was the time to start writing? That this was the ideal time for your story to be told?
I was in the midst of participating in a year long training program with Jack Canfield--considered America's number one success coach. (I was intrigued by his book the Success Principles and learned that he offered a course where students would do a deep dive into the principles. My thought was that I could blend some of his training work into my own coaching practice.) Out of the blue one day about a third of the way through his program, I had an inspired thought to write a book that would straddle the fence between fiction and nonfiction. A story that would incorporate a certain level of mystery and intrigue with spirituality and self discovery. I must admit, it has been a challenge for my publisher to find just the right niche for the book. For people who have not been exposed to transformation work, it would be an opportunity for them to lightly tip their toes into the waters of transformation work. So in terms of timing, the time is always now.
(Questions About Opa Hysea Wise)
What do you like to do in your free time when you are not writing?
Well, since the pandemic, I’ve been a bit of a hermit except when I run groceries over to my mom who lives about 20 minutes from my home. Lately I’ve taken up cooking. I’ve grown to enjoy the art of it all. I’m also a runner, and until four months ago, I would pound out 3-7 miles 4-5 days a week. I recently injured my foot, so I’ve replaced running with walking. I also read a lot. Self-discovery and spiritual work mostly.
What is your stance on physical books vs. e-books? How do you feel about audio-books? I don’t take stances—too much bother. I prefer to read a physical book, so I create the time and space to do so.
What font do you like the most? What font do you like the least?
Whatever feels right for the story line. I jumped from one font to the next until I found one that seemed appropriate while I wrote No Place to Hide. I’m following the same pattern with the second book and I haven’t landed on one that I prefer.
What was your favorite book as a child? What is your favorite book today? Why did/do you like those books?
I read everything as a child and don’t recall having a favorite. If Harry Potter was written while I was a child, I am sure it would have been a favorite. My most favorite book as an adult is The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo. Paulo writes in a way that forces me to read far less than I typically read in sitting. Mostly because his writing I find so profound, I often pause for long periods of time to contemplate his wisdom.
What is your favorite quote (from anyone or anything)?
What if there is no problem?
What was your childhood like? You briefly mentioned a sense of “otherness” that you experienced, can you elaborate on this a bit more?
My family lived across the fabric of the United States. Growing up I was typically the only one or one of just a small handful of brown skinned kids in school, presenting as an African American. Because I was the new kid on campus and brown skinned, in a sea of white kids, I was typically not welcomed into most groups. I earned high marks in school, played sports, but wasn’t welcomed, no matter how hard I tried to fit in. Instead, I was held as suspect, challenged at every turn, especially in junior high school and high school. It was not uncommon that teachers and classmates alike often thought I cheated on tests—“how could she score so high?” Or derided because I was given special opportunities as a result of excellent performance. At first I thought that perhaps I had done something to offend. After all other new kids came in and were readily welcomed into various hierarchies, but I hadn’t been. I thought there was something wrong with me, because I felt so much like an “other.” Over time it dawned on me, those new kids were new white kids and it wasn’t me—the essence of me that had been rebuffed. It was my brown skin that was not accepted. So I spent a lot of time alone. Some have asked me why my parents did not prepare me for such a world. My answer is always the same.They did. Their only edict in our household without commenting on the whys of it, was that my sibling and I had to excel and be better than everyone else at everything. And I always followed the rules—so I excelled. Needless to say, I spent my time free alone, contemplating how I would overcome the garment of otherness that had been draped across my shoulders. Over several adult years, I've come to a place where I appreciate all the parts of me that make me stand out in a crowd.
Is there anything else you would like to share?____________________________________________________________
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WEBSITES & SOCIAL INFO:
Author Website: https://opahyseawise.com
Facebook: @opahyseawise
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BOOK PURCHASING DETAILS:
"No Place to Hide" is available wherever books are sold including:
· Amazon
· Bookshop
· Walmart
ABOUT THE BOOK “No Place to Hide” :
Against hope, Smythe Windwalker Daniels’ anonymity is compromised, and a threat has been made against her life. The danger impacts not only her life but the lives of those around her. She reluctantly accepts the FBI’s protection, hoping to testify and bring a promise of justice to a community. Smythe is a woman with vision in her eyes and fire in her soul. From a young age, Smythe was discriminated against as a mixed-race girl in a predominantly white neighborhood. She leaves her career to escape the corporate rat race, only to get entangled in a pesticide poisoning cover-up attempt by a mega corporation. While on the run, she seeks to find meaning in events that now threaten her life. Through a series of misadventures, she discovers how all events are all woven together in this tapestry called “life.” As she uses her past experience to find meaning in her present, she begins to see beauty in the midst of chaos. But the harder she tries to hide, the more difficult it is to survive.
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BIO:
Opa Hysea Wise is an American author, born to mixed race parents. Like so many people of color, she came to experience a sense of “otherness,” which fueled her desire to discuss diversity as the woven fabric within the American tapestry. She worked as a Training and Development specialist and manager in Government and Corporate organizations. Often tasked to develop and deliver diversity courses, Opa brought a sense of understanding, compassion and a call to action to her audience, with the firm knowledge that returning to the connection we all have would be but one step to returning to love. As both a Jack Canfield Success Coach and an author, Opa Hysea Wise looks to set a fire within the hearts of both her students and her readers. Her book No Place to Hide released on Nov. 3, 2020.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:
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CONTACT INFO:
Arden Izzo (Publicist) – 716-713-7645 (texting is best) arden@farrowcommunications.com
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