When I first heard about Ted and Tosca teaming up, I knew I had to feature the books on my blog. I've met Ted, but I know Tosca better than I do him. I love the way each of them write separately. Together, they have to be dynamite. Welcome, Ted and Tosca. I know that this is a collaboration. How did this story come
about?
Ted: I first came across Tosca’s work when I read Demon. Before I’d finished the book I
knew we had to create something together that combined her incredible gift of
prose with my style of storytelling.
Tosca: We’re really interested in the same kinds of
questions, thematically, but bring different strengths to the table. And Ted’s
being modest—it isn’t just his style of storytelling that he brought into this
collaboration, but his brilliance at it. A book and a half later, I still don’t
know how he does it.
Did you find it easy to work together on it?
Ted: Writing a novel is never easy. All of those analogies
of rowing a bathtub across the ocean or trudging up a mountain toward the
unseen summit only scratch the surface of what it’s like to tell a story in
that form. It’s brutal sometimes; other times it’s fun. I wouldn’t say it’s
been easy, but every moment has been special.
Tosca: It’s been very cool to be able to discuss story, and
the kinds of thematic questions we’re exploring. That is the big payoff, I
think, for both of us. But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a lot of
work—more, really, when you’re writing with someone else.
How did collaborating with this team impact you?
Ted: Writing is a form of journaling for me. It’s my way of
exploring a very dangerous world in a safe way. This novel about what it means
to be fully alive is my story, really. And yours, too. Co-creating it with
Tosca breathed life into it in a way that neither of us could’ve done alone.
The impact and pleasure of being part of that still inspires me.
Tosca: Every time I write, I learn something—about the
subject, and always about myself. This time I’ve had the opportunity to learn new
things from an author I really respect.
What is the hardest thing about writing as a team?
Ted: Everything takes longer. Everything. It’s not any
better or worse that way; it’s simply the way it is.
Tosca: Yes, much longer.
What are you reading right now?
Ted: [Laughs] Each other’s drafts of Mortal. We recently announced that all three Books of Mortals novels will be released between now and October
2012. Three novels in one year is a lot, so whenever we’re not sleeping or
eating we’re writing.
How did you choose your characters’ names?
Ted: They just kind of happen. We scour books and the
Internet for names that sound right and eventually land on the rights ones. In
some ways I think the names choose the characters.
Tosca: And sometimes a name just blurps out your fingertips
and it sticks and there it is.
Would you want to work on another book together?
Ted: We already are.
Tosca: We’re hard at work right now on Mortal, Book Two of the Books of Mortals.
What do you want to tell us about the book?
Ted: It’s an exploration of what it means to be fully human
spun in a way readers have never experienced before. Early reviewers and
readers are saying this is the “second coming” of The Circle Series. I hate to make that comparison because they’re
different stories, but I do believe this is the best story I’ve been a part of
creating.
Tosca: It’s really exciting. For me, this is a look at the
handwork of God, but it’s also a look at what it means to fear, and what it
means to love. At how much of what we do is motivated by fear… vs. love. We
live so much of our lives in fear. “Perfect love casts out fear” has taken on a
whole new meaning to me.
Where can our readers find you on the Internet?
Ted:
Tosca:
Ted: Also, there’s a large promotion our publisher,
Hachette, is running for the book release. It’s www.TheBookOfMortals.com. Readers
can download a novella that Tosca and I wrote specifically for the lead up to
Forbidden. They can also sign up to win a trip to Rome
Thank you, Tosca and Ted, I've really enjoyed this. And I know all my readers will rush to the site and download the novella and sign up for the trip to Rome. We'll have to do an interview for the next books in the series, too.
Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Forbidden (The Books of Mortals)
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