Tosca Lee's Blog - Posts Tagged "havah"
Story of a Release, Part II
I'm thumbing through my first copy of Legend of Sheba--it just arrived on my step an hour ago. This is always a surreal moment for me. Here's why: there's a story I tell myself when I'm staring at the blank computer screen wondering how I'm going to fill it. I tell myself, "It's not really now. It's really the future. You're standing in the kitchen, reading this book right now. The words are on the page, and some of them are familiar, and some you forgot you wrote, but they're there, printed on the page. You're thinking back to this moment, wondering how to write this story. But in fact, the book is written."
I used to do this same trick when I played the piano. I was a competitive concert pianist in my teens. The only problem: I was terrified of performing. When I gave my first solo recital at age fourteen, I was certain I would be the first fourteen year old in the history of mankind of die of a coronary. I remember standing backstage, saying to myself, "It's not really now. The concert is over--you're only remembering back to this moment." And of course, at a near point in the future and ever since, that has been true.
Yes, it's a mind trick, but in a way, it really is true. The book is already written. Time is not a straight line as we know it. And honestly, even after manuscript is turned in and committed to print, it's not really finished; no art ever truly is. It's just captured at a moment in time when it's as near complete as it can be at that moment. Sometimes we get the chance to go back and reprise a performance or revise a story (I'm having my second shot at this with Demon and Havah as they are getting released for the third time this coming year from Simon & Schuster.) Other times we let that snapshot stand, even as the art continues to evolve, unobserved.
I used to do this same trick when I played the piano. I was a competitive concert pianist in my teens. The only problem: I was terrified of performing. When I gave my first solo recital at age fourteen, I was certain I would be the first fourteen year old in the history of mankind of die of a coronary. I remember standing backstage, saying to myself, "It's not really now. The concert is over--you're only remembering back to this moment." And of course, at a near point in the future and ever since, that has been true.
Yes, it's a mind trick, but in a way, it really is true. The book is already written. Time is not a straight line as we know it. And honestly, even after manuscript is turned in and committed to print, it's not really finished; no art ever truly is. It's just captured at a moment in time when it's as near complete as it can be at that moment. Sometimes we get the chance to go back and reprise a performance or revise a story (I'm having my second shot at this with Demon and Havah as they are getting released for the third time this coming year from Simon & Schuster.) Other times we let that snapshot stand, even as the art continues to evolve, unobserved.
Behind the Scenes: On Havah
At some point during the six years I waited for Demon to sell, I randomly penned a single page in the voice of the earth’s first woman. I imagined her nearly 900 years old and near death, preparing at last to tell her full story. I’m not sure why I did this—I only remember her voice, warbled with age, as vivid in my head as my old Korean grandmother’s was the last time I saw her before her death.
And then I put the page away in a drawer where I kept scribbles and random story notes, and forgot about it.
In 2005, as my agent and I were negotiating the sale of Demon, my soon-to-be-editor asked what else I had. I remember looking blankly around, yanking that drawer open and fishing inside. “I have this…” I said, pulling out the fringed notebook page, which eventually became the prologue to Havah. Of course, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. A year later, Genesis commentaries, horticulture textbooks, books on ancient farming, early weapons, textiles, basket weaving, brick-making and early civilizations littered my floor alongside a copy of What to Expect When You’re Expecting.
I was fascinated with the emotional journey of Adam and Eve, with the potential for tension between the alpha Adam and his first son, the idea of seeing a first infant, the first death, the first enmity between human and animal and dysfunction in relationship.
But there was a problem. I was paralyzed by Demon’s early success, which had garnered rave reviews and award nominations in the first months of its release. And here I was, about to prove myself a one-hit wonder.
I chased Eve’s story in a dogged panic and overwrote the first draft by 67,000 words (about 260 pages). Somewhere toward the end, I called my friend Meredith.
“I can’t do this anymore. I’m so tired. I can’t get it out.”
“You’re almost there!” she said.
“I can’t—”
“Push! PUSH!!”
I whined, begged for some kind of creative epidural and went back to work, convinced I was birthing some literary monster.
Some time after Havah released with a starred review from Publishers Weekly, I realized I had learned a valuable lesson. I wasn’t sure what it was yet, but it had something to do with forests and trees and simply bearing down on the work.
In 2005, as my agent and I were negotiating the sale of Demon, my soon-to-be-editor asked what else I had. I remember looking blankly around, yanking that drawer open and fishing inside. “I have this…” I said, pulling out the fringed notebook page, which eventually became the prologue to Havah. Of course, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. A year later, Genesis commentaries, horticulture textbooks, books on ancient farming, early weapons, textiles, basket weaving, brick-making and early civilizations littered my floor alongside a copy of What to Expect When You’re Expecting.
I was fascinated with the emotional journey of Adam and Eve, with the potential for tension between the alpha Adam and his first son, the idea of seeing a first infant, the first death, the first enmity between human and animal and dysfunction in relationship.
But there was a problem. I was paralyzed by Demon’s early success, which had garnered rave reviews and award nominations in the first months of its release. And here I was, about to prove myself a one-hit wonder.
I chased Eve’s story in a dogged panic and overwrote the first draft by 67,000 words (about 260 pages). Somewhere toward the end, I called my friend Meredith.
“I can’t do this anymore. I’m so tired. I can’t get it out.”
“You’re almost there!” she said.
“I can’t—”
“Push! PUSH!!”
I whined, begged for some kind of creative epidural and went back to work, convinced I was birthing some literary monster.
Some time after Havah released with a starred review from Publishers Weekly, I realized I had learned a valuable lesson. I wasn’t sure what it was yet, but it had something to do with forests and trees and simply bearing down on the work.
Reader Bonus: Deleted Scenes from HAVAH and ISCARIOT
I’m going to let you in on a secret–I often overwrite. I mean really overwrite. When I’ve immersed myself in research and writing, I can get carried away. I overwrote Havah: The Story of Eve by 260 pages and Iscariot by more than 500!
Suffice it to say, I’ve written many scenes that never made it into my books—scenes I ultimately cut, but still loved. You’ll find a few of them below. Enjoy!
Havah: The Story of Eve
At some point during the six years I waited for Demon: A Memoir to sell, I randomly penned a single page in the voice of the earth’s first woman. I imagined her nearly 900 years old and near death, preparing at last to tell her full story. I’m not sure why I did this—I only remember her voice, warbled with age, as vivid in my head as my old Korean grandmother’s was the last time I saw her before her death. And then I put the page away in a drawer where I kept scribbles and random story notes, and forgot about it.
That page eventually became the prologue to Havah: The Story of Eve. I was fascinated with the emotional journey of Adam and Eve, with the potential for tension between the alpha Adam and his first son, the idea of seeing a first infant, the first death, the first enmity between human and animal and dysfunction in relationship.
I chased Eve’s story in a dogged panic and overwrote the first draft by 67,000 words (about 260 pages). That’s a picture of the cover from the first edition to the left.
Read deleted scenes from Havah: The Story of Eve at this link: http://toscalee.com/wp-content/upload...
Iscariot: A Novel of Judas
From the first moment that editor friend Jeff Gerke suggested the story of Judas, I was running fast and hard in the other direction. I knew how much research that story would take and was completely cowed.
The thing that finally got me was the idea of slipping into the skin of the only disciple Jesus called friend, of sitting down at the side of this mysterious healer, teacher and uncontrollable maverick called Jesus. I wanted to see him for myself, to experience him in this way.
I compiled a library and consulting team of academics, theologians and Bible experts. I went to Israel (and ate so much hummus I couldn’t touch the stuff for two months after returning), read incessantly and then sat down to write.
Once again, I overwrote the book—this time by 140,000 words (more than 500 pages). Somewhere in that giant forest of history and geek theology I realized I had lost my way, had utterly obscured the trail of this journey and the mystery of Judas and Jesus’ relationship with it.
Read deleted scenes from IscariotIscariot here:
http://toscalee.com/wp-content/upload...
Suffice it to say, I’ve written many scenes that never made it into my books—scenes I ultimately cut, but still loved. You’ll find a few of them below. Enjoy!
Havah: The Story of Eve
At some point during the six years I waited for Demon: A Memoir to sell, I randomly penned a single page in the voice of the earth’s first woman. I imagined her nearly 900 years old and near death, preparing at last to tell her full story. I’m not sure why I did this—I only remember her voice, warbled with age, as vivid in my head as my old Korean grandmother’s was the last time I saw her before her death. And then I put the page away in a drawer where I kept scribbles and random story notes, and forgot about it.
That page eventually became the prologue to Havah: The Story of Eve. I was fascinated with the emotional journey of Adam and Eve, with the potential for tension between the alpha Adam and his first son, the idea of seeing a first infant, the first death, the first enmity between human and animal and dysfunction in relationship.
I chased Eve’s story in a dogged panic and overwrote the first draft by 67,000 words (about 260 pages). That’s a picture of the cover from the first edition to the left.
Read deleted scenes from Havah: The Story of Eve at this link: http://toscalee.com/wp-content/upload...
Iscariot: A Novel of Judas
From the first moment that editor friend Jeff Gerke suggested the story of Judas, I was running fast and hard in the other direction. I knew how much research that story would take and was completely cowed.
The thing that finally got me was the idea of slipping into the skin of the only disciple Jesus called friend, of sitting down at the side of this mysterious healer, teacher and uncontrollable maverick called Jesus. I wanted to see him for myself, to experience him in this way.
I compiled a library and consulting team of academics, theologians and Bible experts. I went to Israel (and ate so much hummus I couldn’t touch the stuff for two months after returning), read incessantly and then sat down to write.
Once again, I overwrote the book—this time by 140,000 words (more than 500 pages). Somewhere in that giant forest of history and geek theology I realized I had lost my way, had utterly obscured the trail of this journey and the mystery of Judas and Jesus’ relationship with it.
Read deleted scenes from IscariotIscariot here:
http://toscalee.com/wp-content/upload...
Eve, The Queen of Sheba, Now on Audible
Two of my novels' most famous heroines have been released on audio!
Havah: The Story of EveHavah, The Story of Eve. Myth and legend shroud her in mystery. Now hear her story. From paradise to exile, from immortality to the death of Adam, experience the dawn of mankind through the eyes of Eve, the woman first known... as Havah.
"A passionate and riveting story of the Bible's first woman. Lee's superior storytelling will have readers weeping for all that Havah forfeited by a single damning choice." -Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
Get Havah audiobook on:
Audible: https://www.amazon.com/Havah-The-Stor...
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/artist/tos...
The Legend of Sheba: Rise of a Queen. Her name is legend. Her story, the epic of nations. The Queen of Sheba.
There is the story you know: A foreign queen, journeying north with a caravan of riches to pay tribute to a king favored by the One God. The tale of a queen conquered by a king and god both before returning to her own land laden with gifts. That is the tale you were meant to believe. Which means most of it is a lie.
“Tosca Lee’s The Legend of Sheba is a tale of lush prose, rich setting, and meticulously researched historic detail. The Queen of Sheba may be a figure obscured by the millennia, but Tosca Lee brings her to life—and she is strong, capable, and irresistibly seductive.” – Allison Pataki, New York Times bestselling author of The Traitor’s Wife.
Get The Legend of Sheba audiobook on:
Audible: https://www.amazon.com/Legend-Sheba-R...
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/artist/tos...
Havah: The Story of EveHavah, The Story of Eve. Myth and legend shroud her in mystery. Now hear her story. From paradise to exile, from immortality to the death of Adam, experience the dawn of mankind through the eyes of Eve, the woman first known... as Havah.
"A passionate and riveting story of the Bible's first woman. Lee's superior storytelling will have readers weeping for all that Havah forfeited by a single damning choice." -Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
Get Havah audiobook on:
Audible: https://www.amazon.com/Havah-The-Stor...
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/artist/tos...
The Legend of Sheba: Rise of a Queen. Her name is legend. Her story, the epic of nations. The Queen of Sheba.
There is the story you know: A foreign queen, journeying north with a caravan of riches to pay tribute to a king favored by the One God. The tale of a queen conquered by a king and god both before returning to her own land laden with gifts. That is the tale you were meant to believe. Which means most of it is a lie.
“Tosca Lee’s The Legend of Sheba is a tale of lush prose, rich setting, and meticulously researched historic detail. The Queen of Sheba may be a figure obscured by the millennia, but Tosca Lee brings her to life—and she is strong, capable, and irresistibly seductive.” – Allison Pataki, New York Times bestselling author of The Traitor’s Wife.
Get The Legend of Sheba audiobook on:
Audible: https://www.amazon.com/Legend-Sheba-R...
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/artist/tos...
