Nancy Kilpatrick Writer: Get to Know Fiction Writer. . .
TOSCA LEE
Tosca L...: Get to Know Fiction Writer. . . TOSCA LEE Tosca Lee NK - Tosca is an opera by Puccini, a place in Italy, a type of calcium, ...
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Get to Know Fiction Writer. . .
TOSCA LEE
Tosca Lee
NK - Tosca is an opera by Puccini, a place in Italy, a type of calcium, and a soft coral. And your name. What does
your name mean to you?
TL – It’s a type of calcium and coral?? I had no idea! To me, as a biracial kid growing up in the mostly white
Midwest in the 70s and 80s, it was another way that I was a little different—something I struggled with at that age,
but am so grateful for and celebrate today at almost 50.
NK - You were a ballet dancer and a model and now you are a best-selling author. What are the difficulties of moving
between diverse careers?
TL – Strangely, they’ve all been things that kind of help one another. The ballet helped with my stint as a
pageant queen (which happened when an acquaintance suggested I try
it out and I said, “Okay!”), which led to modeling. My time as
Mrs. Nebraska is also when I learned to interview on TV
and radio and started public speaking—experiences that have been
greatly helpful as an author.
NK - With 11 published novels,
all big stories, they seem to fall into two categories. The vast majority feature
either a fictionalized character from history and/or
mythology and are set in a historical time period, or the stories are
set in a post-apocalyptic/dystopian world which is not this
minute but lean towards the very near future. One could say you
focus on the past and the future in your work. What draws you
to both?
TL – I hadn’t thought of it
that way but you are very right! I think what intrigues me about the past is that we
tend to think of historical figures in glamorized or
larger-than-life terms sometimes, and we forget that they were people just
like you and me with similar hopes and dreams. And I just like
drilling down into the lives of people and times in history that
interest me. Likewise, I’ve always loved speculative fiction, supernatural stories, and dystopian ones in particular. It’s very intriguing to me, in this crazy-busy world, to imagine what
life might be like without all the things that vie for our
attention. When there is only one simple goal: survive!
NK - Wynter Roth is the protagonist of your current series. She is struggling to overcome a peculiar past plus cope
with existence during a pandemic while desperately trying
to save individuals and humanity. It's a compelling tale.
What's the connection to your daughter, who is also named
Wynter?
TL – Thank you for being an
early endorser for Wynter’s story! My daughter was the same age as the Wynter in the
story when I wrote it, and I’ve always loved her name. And Wynter
really enjoys reading. So I wanted to write a story with a
character she could identify with in some ways, if only for
the difficulties that come with being 22 and trying to
figure out what your life as an adult is going to be about.
It’s been fun for both of us to read reader comments about how
much they enjoy Wynter as a character.
NK - Your newest novel, A Single Light, is a continuation of The Line Between, both featuring Wynter Roth.
Tell us about the new story.
TL – The sequel starts up
directly where the first leaves off, at a time and place where Wynter and those with her
believe they are safe. Until they realize that nothing has gone
as planned. It’s the continuation of the story with twice as
much action and a brand new character I just love.
With the duology in development for TV, I’m open to
writing a third should there be demand for it. For now,
though, I’m very happy with where the story leaves off, and think
readers will be, too.
Fun
Tosca says: "I did something fun in The Line Between.
I hid a code in it. Those readers who find the code and figure out what it
stands for and enter the answer at toscalee.com/code/ unlock
the first chapters of A Single Light and can begin reading it
right away."
Books
Contact
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)