Tina's Groove chronicles the personal and workplace adventures of a single, smart, attractive waitress who works at Pepper's restaurant. Shrewdly self-aware, Tina refutes cliched notions of single women as neurotics obsessed with career or marriage. Tina has found her groove and empowers herself by embracing life and everyone she meets head-on.
Rina Piccolo
Rina Piccolo has been drawing and doodling for longer than she can remember. Her professional career began in 1989 with her first published cartoon, and she’s been happily chained to the drawing board ever since.
Rina’s work has been seen in numerous magazines, books, cartoon anthologies, and greeting cards. She is the author of three cartoon collections: Stand Back, I Think I’m Gonna Laugh…, Rina’s Big Book of Sex Cartoons and Kicking the Habit: Cartoons about the Catholic Church. Rina’s work has appeared in The New Yorker and Parade magazine. Since 2000, Rina has enjoyed continued success as the “Wednesday chix” on King Features’ daily panel, Six Chix.
In 2002, Rina launched her very own comic strip, Tina’s Groove, syndicated by King Features Syndicate. In 2006, the first Tina’s Groove collection, was published by Andrews & McMeel Publishing. Samples of Tina's Groove can be seen online at www.tinasgroove.com
Rina also draws the Web comic Velia, Dear, which updates three days per week at www.veliadear.com
Rina lives in Toronto, Canada.
Tina
Single, sweet and over 30, wherever her groove takes her, Tina is happy being Tina. She isnt "waiting" for her life to begin shes living it! Tina is the every woman of our time: smart, funny, and real, as she struggles to deal with her job, dating and the ups and downs of day-to-day living.
Suzanne
Always looking for a good time, Tina's best friend and fellow waitress knows where to find it. With a social calendar like Suzanne's, going dateless on a Saturday night is an astronomical rarity. As Tina's personal matchmaker, Suzanne is always willing to dish out advice.
Monica
One wonders if Monica's having deep thoughts or if she's counting the tiles on the ceiling. Never "the hostess with the mostest," Monica only wishes she were somewhere else. Others say she's already on another planet.
Rob
If you happen to see him without his clipboard, you won't recognize him. Being the general manager of Pepper's Restaurant is serious business for Rob, even though it's not what he went to college for. A control freak at heart, Rob is a shy bachelor whose idea of having a good time is loosening his tie.
Chef Carlos
With the ego of six men, Carlos is a man's man. Whether he's having a beer with the boys or spicing up the rigatoni, you'll find he is big on talk ... especially when he is the topic of conversation.
Ma
Sometimes her wisdom is from another generation. But most times it’s from another wavelength…She’s proof that mothers and daughters don’t have to be on the same page to love each other.
Jake
Bar patrons are talkative, and that's just fine with Jake, who prefers to listen from behind the bar. Quiet and reserved, sometimes you wonder if he's even there.
Claud
There is never a dull moment when Claud drops by Pepper's. He is bizarre, outlandish and full of strange stories. If you ever hitch a ride in his cab, you'd better take along a grain of salt.
The Complainer
Patronizing a restaurant where no one knows his name, and no one cares to ask for it, "The Complainer" does just that: complains.