Frances Tse Ardika

Through my writing journey, I have met a lot of Indie Authors with amazingly colorful lives from my favorite FB network group, 
WLM (We Love memoirs), one of them is Frances Tse Ardika,

launching her debut novel, ‘Tresna, Gate of Love’.

The book chronicles her true life story and her journey to become the first foreigner to become a Balinese Temple Priestess.
1. Tell me about yourself.
Originally from Canada, I met my future husband on my third day in Bali on October 8, 2000, and in the years that follow, I became the first foreigner to become a Balinese Pemangku (Temple Priestess). Prior to settling in Bali, I lived and worked in Hong Kong, London, San Francisco, Tokyo, and Toronto.

Together with my husband, Adi, we own Taksu Bali Travel & Weddings, Tresna Bali Cooking School, and we have two lovely ‘Little Wooden Cottages’ in Ubud, Bali. When Covid-19 hit Bali in March 2020, we started “Feed Bali” to give 20 families around our cooking school enough food from our gardens and the local market to last for two-weeks. Shockingly, ‘Feed Bali’ grew exponentially with support from thousands of donors from all over the world. ‘Feed Bali’ has provided over half a million meals to feed 5000 families, built a house, dug a well, started Goat Farms (Baa Baa Goat program) and its long-term ‘Adopt A Family’ sponsorships. We’re now an official non-profit called Yayasan Tresna Bali Jaya. Tresna translates to LOVE in Balinese. I’m proud mom of Santi, my fellow bookworm and Como, my loyal rescue pup.
 
I love to share my deep knowledge of places to eat, play, pray and stay in Bali with like-minded foodies and travelers. And I hope one day to have the biggest book club in Bali!
 
2. Synopsis of your book/series in one sentence.
TRESNA, Gate of Love is the first memoir in the series, Chronicles of a Balinese Priestess: full of hope, courage – and even a touch of black magic – my memoir is a vivid, inside account of the unexplored beauty, culture, and food of the “real” Bali in the early 2000s, before the age of digital nomads and Instagram influencers.

3. Why did you write these books?
I’m writing my series: Chronicles of a Balinese Priestess to give readers a rare in depth look at real Balinese life, a side of Bali that tourists and even locals don’t have access to. My journey here is unique as I lived in a Balinese family compound and am the only foreigner to become a Balinese Priestess. My first memoir focuses on the journey of choosing a very different life path to what I and my family/friends expected of me.

4. What message or lessons did you want your readers to take from your books?
I hope that my memoir inspires readers to follow their heart and life path. And have the courage to live their fullest lives.

5. Are you writing at the moment?
Yes, I’m writing my second memoir, TILEM, Gate of Darkness which continues the journey back to my hometown of Toronto.

6. If you are not writing, what are you doing?
If I’m not typing away on computer, it’s likely because I’m at temple for the hundreds of ceremonies where I have duties such as preparing Holy water, blessing our community after praying and conducting ceremonies for my God, Barong. I also spend a few hours each day for ‘Feed Bali’. 

When I have free time, I love to bake cream scones or wrap dumplings with my daughter and of course, READ!
Every morning, I try to walk in Adi’s garden with Como at my heels. 

7. What advice can you give to emerging Indie authors?
I encourage them to finish a crappy first draft, not editing at all until they’re finished the book. Then, go back and do several stages of revisions. And hire the best editors and cover designers that they can afford. This is crucial. I took “90 Days to Done” with Racheal Herron which is how I was able to write my 95,000 word manuscript in 90 days. In total, my book was self-published in 9 months from start to finish because I gave myself a hard deadline on my birthday. It was a massive learning curve, but I read a lot from books and YouTube and learned from great teachers.

8. What are you reading right now?
The last book I read was “Crying in H Mart” by Michelle Zauner – an excellent memoir.

9. If you were a fruit or a vegetable, what would you want to be and why?
My daughter says I’m like a peach – all soft and fuzzy but with a strong pit. I guess that seed in me is always sprouting new ideas.

Check out more of my author interviews here.

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