We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tosca Lee a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tosca, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I grew up writing and winning contests for my writing, but never thought of it as a “thing” per se—I had my sights set on becoming a classical ballerina and spent all my young life in pursuit of this dream. After getting sidelined at the age of 14 by an injury, I knew that a professional career was probably not going to be in the cards for me. As I headed off to Smith College, I figured I’d go into advertising or business. But while visiting home during spring break that first year, I was in the car with my dad talking about one of my favorite novels of all time and how a great book is a lot like a roller coaster with twists and turns. And right then and there, I blurted out, “I think I want to write a book.” I wanted to see if I could create a roller coaster ride like other authors had for me. My dad said, “Okay, I’ll make you a deal.” I was supposed to spend that summer working as a bank teller—a job I had done the summer before and wasn’t very good at. Dad said, “I will pay you what you would have made working at the bank if you write your first novel full-time all summer and treat it like a job.” Deal. I did it, and wrote my first book.

It was really bad. But I did it.

Tosca, 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?

I’ve written ever since. Not always novels–I wrote for a computer magazine out of college, and also wrote a computer book. In fact, it took me 17 years from the time I wrote that first novel during college until the time I finally got my first novel (not that one, but a different one) published.

Today I’m a New York Times bestselling author of 12 novels ranging from ancient historical to WWII war, to dystopian thrillers. What I’m most proud of isn’t the bestseller lists (which are nice) or the awards (which are always fun) but the rapport I have with my readers. To have readers who will follow you across genres and readily go on the next adventure–whatever it may be–with you is such a privilege and honor. I’m honored to have their trust that I’ll transport them on a journey that will be worth their time and the money they paid for it. And that’s one of my favorite things in the world, meeting readers and hearing about *their* stories.

I’m also proud to spend a lot of my time teaching and speaking and inspiring others on their writing journeys. This is something I love and am passionate about and that I just frankly enjoy. It would be unimaginable to me 20 years ago that anyone in the world would ask me for novel writing advice or that I would be able to speak from any kind of experience about this business and the writing life, but I’m so grateful to be here now.

Today, I write novels that may take place in the present, or may not. They may be centered around male or female main characters. I devote myself to uplifting and inspiring stories that I hope will engage, inspire, and entertain my readers. This is what I love to do and strive for every book I write.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Support young people in their creative endeavors from an early age. Encourage them to go after the artistic dream as a primary goal–not as a secondary one after a “sensible” career or job has been established. Surround them with encouraging, open-minded teachers who won’t legislate style, but let each young person find how they create and work best. Help teach young people early how to identify their strengths and lean into them.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I don’t honestly believe in “non-creatives.” I have people tell me all the time when they learn what I do, that they are “not creative.” But I beg to disagree. Creativity is in all of us. It may not be writing, or sculpting, or dancing, or music… it might be decorating or gardening, cooking, storytelling, new ways to approach how we solve problems or handle relationships or encourage others to grow. It’s in all of us.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://toscalee.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toscalee/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ToscaLee