You
can find Tosca at ToscaLee.com, on social media, or hanging around the snack
table.
FIRSTBORN,
the long-anticipated sequel to THE PROGENY, is in stores now!
INTERVIEW
If
you had to describe yourself in one sentence, what would you say?
“She’s
only ever had one foot in the real world.”
What
do you do when you’re not writing? Any interesting hobbies?
Last
year I married a single father of four, so I play football and video games with
my kids and cook. I’ve traveled my whole life, and try to get away with my
husband when we can. Other than that, my main hobby is sleep.
What
was your favorite book as a teen or child?
In
high school, it was Clan of the Cave Bear
and The Mists of Avalon. The
research, concepts and characters were so rich, and both impacted me greatly as
a writer.
Tell
us three things about yourself that might surprise your readers.
I
hate running, used to be a classical pianist, and I like shooting stuff. My
kids give me exploding targets for Mother’s Day.
What
genre did you start out writing? Have you changed course? Why or why not?
My
first (unpublished) novel was historical, a genre I’ve always loved, but I ended
up publishing a suspense novel first because it was the one I had ready.
Everything since has been a historical or thriller. I get bored if I do too
much of the same kind of thing.
What
has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the
best compliment?
I
had a review several years ago I think for Demon:
A Memoir, in which the reviewer said the book was written with the deftness
and wit of an inebriated two year-old. LOL Sheesh.
The
best compliment is just the loyalty of my readers, who are amazing. A more
caring, loving group of people you’ll never meet. It’s such a privilege to do
this journey with them.
Any
other genres you’d like to try? If yes, what and why?
Maybe
romance. I never thought I’d attempt it, but falling in love did something to
me.
If
you could go back in time and do something differently at the start of your
career, what would it be?
I’d
have written my second book while I was waiting to sell my first one. Guys, if
you’re trying to get published, keep writing in the meantime. Trying to write
your second novel on deadline while your first one is getting published is
really hard!
What
is the most important thing you’d like readers to take away from your books?
That’s
so hard for me to say because I think what readers take away depends so much on
what they are bringing to the story. If nothing else, I want them to enjoy
themselves and feel like maybe someone else out there gets them.
What
is the most valuable piece of advice you’d like to give to unpublished authors?
If
you’re not published yet, this is a special protected time. Write a lot. Be prolific,
bold and audacious. It gets harder to write this way as you publish and are
constantly aware of those who will soon read your work. That’s why I say my #1
Rule of Writing is to write like no one will ever read this. Like you’re
writing secret stuff in your closet. It helps keep fear from getting in the
way.
THE PROGENY
When
you wake up, you remember nothing. Not your name, or where you were born, or
the faces of the people you knew. Just a single warning written to yourself
before you forgot it all:
Emily,
it’s me. You. Don’t ask about the last two years… Don’t try to remember and
don’t go digging. Your life depends on it. Other lives depend on it.
By
the way, Emily isn’t your real name. You died in an accident. You paid extra
for that.
You
start over in a remote place with a new name, a fresh life. Until the day a
stranger tells you you’re being hunted for the sins of a royal ancestor who
died centuries before you were born.
You
don’t believe him, until they come for you. Now you’re on the run.
Every
answer you need lies in a past you chose to erase. The only thing you know for
sure is that others are about to die and you need those memories back.
But
first, you have to stay alive.
Leave a comment, along with your contact information, and you could win a copy of THE PROGENY! (U.S. only, please!)
