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| Tosca Lee and myself at a book signing |
TOSCA LEE'S BIO: Tosca is the critically-acclaimed author of Demon: A Memoir – Christy Award finalist and ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Silver Award winner—and Havah: The Story of Eve, which received a starred review from Publishers Weekly and 4.5 stars from Romantic Times.
Forbidden, the first book in her new Books of Mortals series with NY Times Bestseller Ted Dekker, releases September 2011. Iscariot, Tosca’s highly-anticipated novel about the infamous betrayer of Christ, is slated for the upcoming future—keep watch for up-dates.
A former first runner-up to Mrs. United States, Tosca received her B.A. from
What have been the benefits to you in having relationships with reading groups?
I LOVE reading groups/book clubs. They are so important to authors. I appreciate their support, their communication, and their questions.
Where would you like to see your relationship with reading group grow? How do you think your goals can be met? If so, how?
Tosca: It can be really hard to know what reading groups are out there, and to know how to find them. I have to rely almost solely on their contacting me (usually to let me know they're reading my books, or to request book marks, etc.). I just want to encourage book clubs to contact the authors they read, so the authors know and can, if nothing else, thank them for their interest and support!
Nora: My husband and I started The Book Club Network for authors and book clubs to get connected! It's a way for you to get to know reading groups and for them to get to know you and your books. We have a feature there for authors to post book signings and book events so that book clubs and readers can connect with you. There are many other ways for you to interact at the site. Some book clubs have had the actual book club meeting on-line. That way everyone at the site gets to know you as well.
Do you have a set size a reading group has to be before you'll talk to them on the phone or in person? What do you feel most comfortable doing?
Tosca: Not really any set size. A personal trip is just a matter of proximity and schedule, and a phone or video chat call-in is really a matter of scheduling. My schedule is pretty tight right now, but I try to join every group I can that invites me.
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| Finding Hope Book Club Discussing Havah |
Nora : I really appreciated you speaking to Finding Hope Book Club. We had a blast discussing Havah and we really enjoyed talking to you. We were all fascinated by the many questions you had in your research for that book. You are also honest, fun and a deep thinker. My group and I loved having you talk to us. Thanks for the wonderful memories!
What do you think about ebooks and future sales of your book? How will authors do book signings with an ebook reading crowd?
Tosca: Good question! E-books are exciting even if they still present many unknowns. I think book signings still have their place--readers want to connect with authors, to know and see them as real people, to share their experiences in reading the book and what it meant to them. It gets awkward trying to sign e-copies, so those readers who like to collect books signed by their favorite authors still have a reason to buy print books I think. I have seen authors sign Kindles before, though!
Which type of book club meeting do you prefer? Why?
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| Tosca talking about her research for Havah |
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| Tosca speaks to Finding Hope Book Club |
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| Tosca doing a book signing after book talk |
I like video-chatting in to book meetings, but nothing replaces visiting in person when possible.
Do you learn about your book and yourself from book club meetings? If so what?
Tosca: I learn about the people who find meaning in the things I've written. I am so happy to put faces and voices to readers. To know that I am not sending these stories into a void, but to a receptive heart.
Did you learn more about your characters than you original wrote about? Have you been surprised by readers reactions to one of your books? Characters? If so, which ones?
Tosca: I've really been amazed at readers' insight into characters, the way they pick up on things that I thought were possibly too subtle to notice, or even patterns or ideas that I wasn't consciously aware of while I was writing it. In that way, readers function as a mirror to me and my work. I love my readers.
Has your book club experience - getting feed back from reading groups - helped you in writing future books? If so, how has it helped you?
It has helped me to know more about what resonates with my core audience--their experiences, their stories, their dreams and hopes. I love learning about readers.
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| Catching up with Tosca Lee and Ted Dekker at ICRS Conference 2011 |
Tosca it was great fun to catch up with you and Ted Dekker and talk about your new book, Forbidden, written with Ted Dekker. I found the writing process very fascinating. You had mentioned that Ted and you wrote the entire book and then you blended it together. It's the first book of a three book series. I'm excited about reading a book the both of you wrote. You also told me that you are still working on your own projects. I'm excited about your new book adventure and talking with you again about your book club experiences!
All the best to you on your new book! Thanks for speaking to me about book clubs! Looking forward to you stopping by again.
Nora St.Laurent
The Book Club Network
www.bookfun.org
Thanks for having Tosca on, Nora! Really liked the pictures too. I think Tosca is one of the best in the CBA, I think for me, her books might be the ones I anticipate above all others because she doesn't come out with them often and they're always so unique and thought provoking. I thought I would have a major problem with Havah but after reading it, I'm left with a beautiful picture of how it really probably was and how so many relationship problems between men and women can be traced back to the fall. Absolutely genius!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering how Tosca is reached by the book clubs or vice versa. Do they reach her through her website, does she solicit them directly? Thanks ladies.
Gina, we are members of the mutual admiration society as I am a fan of your writing, as you know! :)
ReplyDeleteThe book clubs I've visited in person or virtually usually contact me through my website. I have a tab for them on the site with a discussion guide, etc. and so they'll write to me and I try to join them whenever, however I can.
We had so much fun with Tosca Lee both times my group met her. We LOVED HAVAH!! I thought it was incredible how Tosca showed the earth BEFORE sin entered, but we were all AMAZED how she showed how sin entered everything even their relationship with each other. It was fascinating.
ReplyDeleteTosca Lee's books are thought provoking and take you places you've never been before. She's also alot of fun! I highly recommend engaging Tosca Lee to speak at your book club anyway you can!
Nora St.Laurent
The Book Club Network
www.bookfun.org