Tosca Lee
Tosca Lee is a critically acclaimed American novelist of speculative fiction. Her sometimes controversial books are best known for their lyrical prose, extensive research, and vivid imagery.
Lee was born on December 1, 1969 in Roanoke, Virginia to Sang Moon Lee and Laura Moncrief. Her father, a first-generation Korean who initially entertained dreams of becoming an opera tenor before he went on to establish himself as a leading academic in the area of business management, named her after his favorite Puccini opera, “Tosca.”
Lee received her B.A. from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts in English Language and Literature. She also studied International Economics at Oxford University. While at Smith, Lee wrote her first novel—a story of the Stonehenge people of Salisbury plain (unpublished).
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Writing
Lee wrote the book that would become Demon: A Memoir around 2000. It sold in a 2006 multi-book deal after nearly six years of rejection. Despite its nomination for a Christy Award, the release was not without some controversy within the religious market due to the book’s title and fiery cover.
Lee’s Havah: The Story of Eve garnered a starred review from Publisher's Weekly, 4.5 stars from Romantic Times and solidified Lee’s reputation for prodigious research and scriptoral interpretation. But Havah brought its own controversy—this time for its sensuality in the portrayal of Eve’s relationship with Adam.
In 2010, Lee signed to write a new post-apocalyptic series with New York Times bestseller Ted Dekker. Forbidden, the first book in the series, debuted September 2011 at #17 on the NY Times Bestseller list.
She has recently finished work on Iscariot, about the infamous betrayer of Christ.
Recurring themes
Lee is particularly known for creating three-dimensional characters from traditional Biblical archetypes, with themes involving redemption, and the ultimate battle between good and evil.
Awards
- 2011 NY Times Bestseller List, Hardcover Fiction, #17 (Forbidden)
- 2009 ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Bronze Award Winner (Havah: The Story of Eve)
- 2008 Christy Award Finalist (Demon: A Memoir)
- 2008 ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Silver Award Winner (Demon: A Memoir)
Books
- Sovereign (with Ted Dekker), October 2012 from Hachette Book Group
- Mortal (with Ted Dekker), June 2012 from Hachette Book Group
- Forbidden (with Ted Dekker), September 2011 from Hachette Book Group
- Iscariot (Pending)
- Havah: The Story of Eve NavPress, 2008; Re-released by B&H Publishing 2010
- Demon: A Memoir, 2007 NavPress, 2007; Re-released by B&H Publishing 2010
References
- ^ B&H Publishing Group: http://www.bhpublishinggroup.com/books/products.asp?p=9781433668807#bio
- ^ Christian Fiction Review: http://christianfictionreview.com/?review=493
- ^ University of Nebraska at Lincoln http://www.cba.unl.edu/people/profile.asp?id=1068. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
- ^ "Faith and fiction". Smith Alumnae Quarterly. http://saqonline.smith.edu/article.epl?issue_id=188&article_id=1836. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
- ^ Publisher’s Weekly: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/home/index.html
- ^ http://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-review/havah
- ^ Publisher's Weekly Review: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/new-titles/adult-announcements/article/11593-web-exclusive-reviews-week-of-9-22-2008-.html
- ^ "The Christy Awards". http://www.christyawards.com. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
- ^ "Book of the Year Award Winners". ForeWord Magazine. http://forewordmagazine.com/botya/search2k7.aspx?srchtype=category&srchval=18". Retrieved 2009-01-05.