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."

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