We were lucky to catch up with Tasche Laine recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Tasche thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I’ve known I was creative since I was five. I used to put on elaborate, dress-up comedy sketches for my parents, even ‘directing’ my friends in them. But we had little talent, so I had to dream other dreams. In fourth grade, we had to answer the prompt: what do you want to be when you grow up? I answered a Veterinarian because I loved animals. We were encouraged to share our career aspirations with the class. When it was my turn to share, my dreams were quickly dashed when a classmate pointed out the pitfalls of the job . . . having to put down an animal. My sensitive heart couldn’t handle having to ‘kill’ anyone’s beloved pet, so I had to change dreams again.

That same year, my teacher encouraged me to write a book and enter it in a contest through the school. My first book, written and illustrated by a nine-year-old me, was about a cat. It didn’t win the contest. But it did instill a love of writing. In high school, I wrote for the Yearbook; and then the newspaper staff in college. My first job post-college was as a TV news reporter for KTVZ, in Bend, Oregon. And I’ve been writing ever since.

Tasche, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Since my reporting days, I’ve also held jobs as varied as newspaper proofreader, Boeing tour guide, high school English teacher, and studio teacher (set teacher for child actors and models in Hollywood)—all before finally publishing my first book in 2018 (the one I started writing in 1985)—thus proving that it’s never too late to follow your dreams.

Now, I have 18 published works in three genres: adult contemporary fiction, young adult, and children’s picture books. I co-write the children’s books with my husband, and we publish them in English and Spanish.

Even though the books we write cross genres and reader audiences of ages 4-100, they have a common theme. Our books strive to have honest, impactful messages while conveying engaging, entertaining, and teachable moments in each story.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In 2012, I was told I’d never speak again. In 2016, I had a major surgery that removed a 5.6-pound cancerous tumor (and my left kidney), and then I nearly died that night from too much blood loss.

Now, it’s 2023 . . . I still have a voice and I’m still here. My thyroid surgeon called me a “medical miracle.” He said my voice box had been crushed and believed he hadn’t been able to reconstruct it well enough to allow me to ever speak again. My kidney cancer surgeon said I was “lucky to be alive.”

And I am. I am grateful to my amazing surgeons, Dr. Lee and Dr. Anne Schuckman, as well as the quick-acting medical staff that gave me a blood transfusion. I am also beyond blessed and grateful to be alive, grateful that I beat cancer, and grateful to have a voice—so I’m using it.

I’m using my voice to share my stories with the people who need to hear them, to provide hope.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an author is when I receive emails from readers who tell me my books have helped them. For me, that’s what it’s all about. To know that my stories are reaching people, connecting with them, helping them, giving them hope, or just letting them know they’re not alone, means more to me than I can put into words. It fills my heart to overflowing.

Contact Info:

• Website: taschelaine.com
• Instagram: @tasches
• Facebook: @taschelaine
• Youtube: @lilpeterbooks
• Other: children’s books site: lilpeterbooks.com