T.L. Rotkiewicz is the name and writing is her game. Well...that and music of course. A vibrant, quirky soul who dares to be different, she tends to surprise people with her style. A combination that culminates into a cinematic approach which can be said to be writer verte. She thinks in terms of imagery rather than simply words on paper. So, if you happen to read one of her stories and come up with images on your own? That's not a fluke. You're reading through the eyes of the author. Her words range from humorous to downright heart-wrenching. Whatever scene or scenario she writes, you know it's going to be full of emotion.
Her journey into writing started at the tender age of eight when she was whisked away from her third grade classes for a smaller group of individuals who honed their craft in writing. Writing was the most important thing emphasized. Creative writing. Where school children would come up with whatever their little hearts desired, it would wind up on paper. T.L. would be inspired by TV shows. Lots and lots to fuel her imagination. Brought up on dramas and a daily dish of cartoons, her mind became more fertile as she would incorporate elements. Loving the idea of human conditions, she would further her studies later in life by finding ways of fleshing out emotions on paper. For a time, T.L. would immerse herself in the art world, but writing would always remain a passion. By the mid '90s she began coming up with ideas which would later become the basis for her stories. Along the way, she would get attached to particular entertainment figures who served their purpose by fueling her with the idea of casting characters. In viewing what various writers had done with fan fiction, she could only consider her own original characters for such a task. Thus creating characters with charm, frustrations, attitude. Everything under the sun.
The Freedom To Rock was born of all these elements in 1999 as only a monologue (which never made it to the final draft). Since she was brought up with an FM radio near her crib, it would only be natural to gravitate towards music as the subject further down the road. Somewhere along that road, she started fixating on sound and having an uncanny sense of knowing certain instruments and brands by the sound. A self-professed sound junkie it too would seep into her stories. T.L. has no fear in talking with people in the entertainment world, musicians in particular. She asks technical questions to maintain future ideas and to simply know for her own knowledge. The Freedom To Rock had a rocky start in early 2005, but as time would roll on, so would the ideas and life's little experiences. It's just music related fiction. Whatever else is purely up to the reader.
T.L. not only writes as a passion but remains active in art and always comes up with ideas. She loves to do freelance promoting for various projects and sometimes individuals. It's not so much about the giving as it is the challenge. Ah, chalk that up to her being a Leo. Enthusiastic. Creative. Sometimes referred by others as charming (which she will vehemently deny). It's simply all in a days work. Whether she promotes a wonderful musician friend or for a school of exiled children, she will put her heart and soul into it...with a passion. If it helps somebody, then that's even better...and it's free!
Here's a small list of whom or what she helps spread the word about.
In Control Advanced Driver Training - A defensive driver's course for new and inexperienced teenagers serving the South Shore of Boston, MA. A safe driving fund was created by T.L.'s friend, Lucy Wightman who's sixteen year-old daughter, Torri was killed in a car accident with an inexperienced driver at the wheel in 2006. T.L. spearheaded a tribute concert for Torri in March of '08 and celebrated her life with musician friends who helped out. $3,000 was donated from the event to save the lives of teenagers who would need the driving experience to survive on the roads.
Jhamtse International - T.L. came across this one due to some circumstances of promoting somebody else when this particular situation presented itself. Jhamtse Gatsal is a school in the Himalayas for Tibetan children, exiled from their own homeland by the Chinese government. She proposed the idea of Project Lotus - Art For The Exiled as a comfort for the children and because art plays a huge part in their culture. Project Lotus consists of new art supplies donated to the school. None of the items are made in China. T.L. continues in promoting Jhamtse Gatsal and the foundation itself, notifying different Tibetan organizations and places of interest in acknowledgment of its existence.
Also her wonderful sweet musician friend Christine Ohlman. She of the big beehive hair, with even a bigger heart.
So, you thought T.L. was just an author. Ha! Guess again!