Finding Folk in All New Ways

Author Interview with Patricia Telesco
by Neal Levin

Patricia Telesco is a professional author with more than 30 metaphysical books on the market.

PM: Patricia, tell us about Advanced Wicca: Exploring Deeper Levels of Spiritual Skills and Masterful Magick. Why did you decide to write this book?

PT: Advanced Wicca is a "202" book that looks at more adept magickal workings — things that require more concentration, focus, responsibility and balance in our methods. In the last few years the neo-pagan movement has been growing up rapidly. Many of us now have children... a second or third generation who want to learn our ways.  Consequently we need new materials that reflect that growth... things that have some meat on 'em.

PM: What thought process do you consciously go through before a book of this type?

PT: First, I had to realize that the book was going to be a process for ME — when you work on a book your life becomes a microcosm of what that book is about (think of the energy of focusing on a topic for 40 or more hours a week and how that manifests). So I fully expected some proverbial shit to hit the fan <lol> as all growth comes with trials. But it turned out to be a really good experience despite the difficulties.

PM: What kind of research did you do on this book?

PT: I looked to historical archetypes of adepthood - the magician card of the Tarot, for example, and what it tells us of this Path toward magickal mastery. From there, I researched modern practices and interviewed people who I regard as elders and teachers for their insights.

PM: What do you hope readers will take away from the book?

PT: The awareness that "advanced" doesn't always mean more powerful — it means better usage of your gifts. In some respects we never truly arrive at adepthood because there is always another level to which we can reach if we're willing to look beyond ourselves and trust Spirit.

PM: Tell us about your previous publications, you seem to cover a wide number of topics.

PT: Oy! I'm up to 50 books now...everything from divination and kitchen magick to sacred sites and labyrinth walking! It's probably easier for people to look up my name (Patricia Telesco) on amazon.com or come to my web site at http://www.loresinger.com

PM: Who are you when you're not writing? What kind of work do you do? What are your hobbies?

PT: Well I work as a moderator for MSNBC's BBS boards, and presently write articles for Planned Parenthood's on-line teen site. I always try to keep a back up job in place for those months or years when publishing isn't producing enough money to live on <LOL>. My hobbies include gardening, landscaping, cooking, brewing, antique restoration, singing and making wands. I have three children, three cats, two dogs, a bearded dragon and a tank full of fish that also keeps me pretty busy (smile), and absolutely love to travel — thus I'm lecturing somewhere twice a month on weekends  usually.

PM: When and why did you make your move to writing? How did you get started?

PT: Heh... well it was nearly 10 years ago now when I came down with a case of chicken pox. Now, a type A personality workaholic stuck at home for a week is just scary... so I put myself to work cleaning out my files and organizing them into what was a rough draft of Victorian Grimoire... guess you could say I was itching to write!!

PM: Who or what has most influenced your writing?

PT: Oh, so many people. In particular I loved Scott Cunningham. He was a gentle man with gentle ways, and a very down to earth approach about writing. In some ways, I hope my work reflects a similar spirit. Beyond that there are literally hundreds of people that I've met in the last ten years who have reached beyond themselves, shared experiences, and influenced a book (or several). I cannot name them all but I am so grateful for each of them!

PM:  What is your spiritual path, and how does it influence your writing?

PT: I consider myself a folk magician/kitchen witch. I work a lot with folklore and superstition because that's where magick hid when it wasn't socially acceptable to talk about the metaphysical. So a lot of my books include tidbits of lore from all around the world — mind you research can be a bear, but it's worth it when you find those gems that can easily be adapted and applied today in meaningful ways.

PM: What are your favorite books and authors?

PT: For fun I love Piers Anthony and Katherine Kurtz. Both have become pen pals over the years, and both have been very kind with their support of my work, even though it's in a different venue. One of my all time favorite titles is the Snow Queen but I can't remember the author right now.

PM: What do you enjoy most about writing?

PT: That's hard to say, but I think a clever turn of a phrase really gets my juices flowing. Words have power, and when you put them together just right, they create a flow that takes a reader from cover to cover with excitement, hope, anticipation, and promise as a guide.

PM: What do you enjoy least? What do you find most difficult?

PT: Ick — editing. <lol> I cannot spell (never could), and the tweaking of a manuscript into perfect printed form is a difficult process for any writer because sometimes your "baby" gets changed... and well, it's your baby! It's like asking a painter to erase a stroke or two!

PM: What's the best thing about being published? Tell us the most exciting and memorable experience you've had since your books came out.

PT: Not an exciting moment, but one that changed the way I write forever came at one of my first book signings. It was in western NY and NO ONE came... I was so sad and disappointed (you know, first time author syndrome). After about 2.5 hours I was ready to give up and go home. Then suddenly a young woman came through the room clutching a copy of Victorian Grimoire to herself. She said "oh, I'm so glad you're here. Your book has been my best friend for the last year!" She went on to explain that she'd gone through a terrible divorce and for whatever reason VG helped her get her life back on some kind of fulfilling track. We laughed, we cried, and I came away very different.

New age publishing is NOT a numbers game — it's about PEOPLE. If that book hadn't sold another copy but to that one woman, it would have been worth the entire year it took to write... because it changed one person's life for the better.

PM: Why did you choose to go the route of having Citadel as your publisher for this book, instead of one of the others?

PT: Luck of the draw. I enjoy working with Kensington / Citadel because they give me a lot of freedom in what I write and how I write it, but honestly it was because they accepted the proposal... it wasn't a conscious choice.

PM: How would you counsel emerging writers who wish to become published authors?

PT: Don't quit your day job. It takes years to establish yourself in publishing, a lot of hard work, and a lot of sacrifice of personal time and energy. Know yourself enough to know if you can complete the work, or not... or even if you're really meant to write a book vs. doing articles or poetry. Not everyone has the gift of writing... everyone does have gifts, though, the trick is discovering which one is YOURS for serving the community.

PM: What's next? What are your plans for the future?

PT: A lot more raveling. I'm already booking events for 2002 (so folks if you want me to speak somewhere, get a hold of me early!). I really want to interact a lot more with the magickal community. I'm also helping presently with two special projects. The first is gathering goods and services for a pagan land fund in Florida (www.phoenixfestivals.com). This festival has been a mainstay for me for years, but they've outgrown their site, so we're raising money for a new site that can grow with the community and be wholly pagan owned and operated. Anyone who might like to donate something for this cause can e-mail me at trish@loresinger.com. I'm also helping support the Alaskan Witch's Conference (www.pagan.drak.net/cllee/) which is exciting because for the first time since 1980 they will be bringing in speakers from the lower states (myself and Dorothy Morrison).

Finally in 2002 I and my co-host (Rowan Hall) will be coordinating a ghost and fairy tour of Ireland. We don't have all the details yet, but should very soon, and they will be up on my web site at www.loresinger.com.

PM: As a writer, where do you see yourself in 10 years?

PT: Well hopefully still raveling and writing (not sure I'd know what to do with myself if I weren't writing! it's part of who I am now), and doing things that make our community stronger in body, mind, and spirit. We need each other... we need our "tribes" and we should treasure and honor them as the gift they are. Once the land fund has been successful, I will find another charity to support, and another after that so I never loose that all-important connection to what's going on within our Circle of spiritual folks, and so that I can use my "name" for good causes.

PM: How can readers contact you?

PT: E-mail is best (trish@loresinger.com), or you can stop by my yahoo club at http://www.clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/folkmagicwithtrishtelesco.

PM: Any closing thoughts or comments? Anything else about Patricia Telesco you'd like readers to know?

PT: Only that I'm walking this path with you and still learning so much (the more you know, the more you realize how little you know!). I'm just an everyday person who happens to write about what she lives, and my way is only one of many ... it may not be the right way for you! Remember even without the books, crystals, jewelry, robes, and other adornments, YOU are the magick .. it's always there, and it's always available. On the other hand, hard work and love are two of the most powerful magicks I know.

Balance in all things :-)

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

How to Be a Wicked Witch - Fireside (Sept 2001)

Gardening With the Goddess: Creating Gardens of Spirit and Magick - New Page Books              (April 2001)

Exploring Candle Magick: Candle Spells, Charms, Rituals, and Divinations - New Page Books              (March 2001)

A Witch's Beverages and Brews - New Page Books (Dec 2000)

Advanced Wicca: Exploring Deeper Levels of Spiritual Skills and Masterful Magick - Citadel              October (2000)

A Charmed Life - New Page Books (September 2000)

Magickal Places: A Wiccan's Guide to Sacred Sites and Spiritual Centers - Citadel
             (Sept 2000)

Dog Spirit: Hounds, Howlings, and Hocus Pocus - Destiny Books (August 2000)

The Magick of Folk Wisdom - Castle (May 2000)

Shaman in A 9 to 5 World - Crossing Press (April 2000)

Cat Magic: Mews, Myths, and Mystery - Inner Traditions (October 1999)

Magick Made Easy: Charms, Spells, Potions, and Power - Harper (October 1999)

Ghosts, Spirits and Hauntings - Crossing Press (Sept 1999)

Wicca 2000: Invocations, Prayers, and Rituals for the Magickal Millennium - Carol Pub
             (May 1999)

Your Book of Shadows: How to Write Your Own Magickal Spells - Carol Publishing Group              (May 1999)

Little Book of Love Magic - Crossing Press (March 1999)

Mirror, Mirror: Reflections of the Sacred Self -Book World Inc (Feb 1999)

The Wiccan Book of Ceremonies and Rituals - Citadel Press (December 1998)

365 Goddess: A Daily Guide to the Magic and Inspiration of the Goddess - Harper
             (November 1998)

Future-telling - Crossing Press (May 1998)

Through-The-Year Book II (Through the Year) - Book World Inc (August 1998)

Through-The-Year Book III (Through the Year) - Book World Inc (August 1998)

Goddess in My Pocket: Simple Spells, Charms, Potions, and Chants to Get You Everything              You Want - Harper (May 1998)

The Herbal Arts: A Handbook of Gardening, Recipes, Healing, Crafts, and Spirituality - Citadel              (April 1998)

A Kitchen Witch's Cookbook - Lllewelyn (February 1998)

Healer's Handbook: A Holistic Guide to Wellness in the New Age - Samuel Weiser              (November 1997)

Wishing Well: Empowering Your Hopes and Dreams - Crossing Press (August 1997)

The Language of Dreams - Crossing Press (May 1997)

Through-The-Year: 365 Days of Prosperity (Through the Year) Book World Inc (May 1997)

Seasons of the Sun: Celebrations from the World's Spiritual Traditions - Samuel Weiser              (September 1996)

Brother Wind, Sister Rain - Galde Press (June 1996)

Spinning Spells, Weaving Wonders: Modern Magic for Everyday Life - Crossing Press
             (May 1996)

A Witch's Brew: The Art of Making Magical Beverages - Llewellyn Publications (1995)

The Victorian Flower Oracle: The Language of Nature - Llewellyn (1994)

The Urban Pagan: Magical Living in a 9-To-5 World (Llewellyn's Practical Magic) - Llewellyn              (1993)

Victorian Grimoire: Romance, Enchantment, Magic - Llewellyn (December 1992)

FOREIGN EXPOSURE:

     Kitchen Witch's Cookbook - translated into Russian
     Language of Dreams - translated into Dutch
     Wishing Well - translated into Portuguese & Swedish
     Goddess in my Pocket - translated into German & Dutch
     365 Goddess - translated into Dutch
     Herbal Arts - translated into Italian
     Victorian Flower Oracle - translated into German
     Healers Handbook - translated into Spanish