Please welcome author T.K. Toppin to the SGLSF blog. Master Key, the second book in her Lancaster Series is now available. She’ll be giving away a copy today. Just add a comment.
10 Things You Didn’t Know About T.K. Toppin
1. I’m vertically challenged, i.e. I’m short. This affliction has been the bane of my existence as I live among giants. I’m five foot and a half inch (don’t forget that half inch!). Why am I so short? Because…
2. I’m of Japanese descent. Enough said…
3. T.K. Toppin really is my name. The Toppin bit, well, that I took from my husband.
4. I never went to university, and I never had any formal training in writing. There was never anything that particularly took my interest so instead I went straight into the world of work.
5. I’m a graphic artist by day. I never had formal training in that either. My formal training was in hotel management (I got as far as a community college). But I didn’t really work in the hospitality field, since I ended up working at an art gallery. I did a brief stint as a Food and Beverage Manager/Supervisor, but I hated the hours. Eventually, I fell back into art and then decided to work full-time as a freelance graphic artist. During this time, I was lucky enough to be picked through a joint UNICEF/Disney workshop to learn animation. That was really cool!
6. I have a thing about large crowds. I don’t like them. It’s not a phobia (that would be germs), just a preference.
7. I’m an introvert and proud of it. And the more I get into my writing world, the more the outside world gets shut off. It’s not unusual for my car not to be driven for weeks…I even found vines growing under it once.
8. I’m lactose intolerant. This was a gradual development, which I have to accept with a heavy heart. I love ice cream and my all time favourite dessert, banana splits, has had to be shelved. I suppose I could take the Lactaid pills, if I can only remember to. It’s just easier to avoid milk. I’m good with cheeses, strangely enough.
9. I hate cooking but I have to because I hate starving. This doesn’t mean I’m going to do a half-assed job…it has to taste good too. But I do complain throughout the cooking process.
10. I lived in Brazil for nearly a year. I was 12, my mother’s family lived there, and we had plans to settle there permanently. I’m glad that didn’t work out. I loathed going to school there, and found Portuguese extremely hard to understand and learn. That aside, the year was spent in perpetual ‘summer holiday’ mode and I had one of the best times of my life.
Feel free to ask me questions, and providing they aren’t too embarrassing, I’ll answer back. I’ll also be giving away a PDF copy of The Master Key and picking a name at random. So make sure you include an email so I can contact you.
The Master Key book blurb:
The second book in the trilogy, The Master Key spins a tale of mystery and intrigue as Josie’s life is now thrown back into her past.
All is not idyllic as Josie begins her new life in the future as wife to the world president, John Lancaster. A dangerous man from her past returns — Michael Ho — to wreck more havoc and destruction. With him, Ho brings a hostage, Margeaux, who turns out to be Josie’s great-niece. He demands a trade off — a keycode for the life of her niece.
As revelations of Josie’s past, three hundred years ago, begin to unfold, every question she has ever asked is answered. Together with John, and head of security, Simon, they head to the Scrap Yard, a cybernetics space station where they battle it out with Ho who is hell-bent on taking control of the world.
Can Josie save the life of her new-found niece? Will learning the truth of her past and family really be enough to put the ghosts to rest?
Smart Girls love SciFi 
Hi, TK,
What was your impetus to write novels? And why SF?
Hi Toni,
Well, honestly, to begin with, I suppose I always had the urge to write, something…anything. I was forever doodling with ideas, or drawing out the written ideas into cartoon-style stories. Then, the final push was reading a book that was (in my opinion) truly dull and uninspiring. I remember wonder how this book ever got published in the first place, and thinking, well, if this book got published, then so can I. I chose SF because I’ve always loved the genre (and fantasy). The possibilities to create and fall into different worlds are limitless. Thanks for stopping by Toni.
TK, I hear ya on the vertically challenged thing, though I’ve got two inches on you, ha! But I’m not with you on the cooking thing. I’m all about making my kids eat whatever new recipe I’ve found. 🙂
And I hope Josie is able to save the world!
Thanks Abigail…haha! I Stay tuned, Josie just might.. 😉
Ha! I’m five foot ten xD it’s like Gandalf and Frodo! You know I heart you xD
OMG! I giantess!! 🙂 Now I’m really afraid of you, you Elven-talking, caffeine-addicted, garden-gnome hoarding, fantasy writer about to take over the world!! Thanks Diana for stopping by, I heart you too!!
thanks for that. I thought I’d be able to ditch my 2nd cup for the day. Not gonna happen. Need. Caffeine.
Nai Valaraukar tye-mátar. (May blarogs eat you.) with love, of course.
Well… I have 4 inches on you! ha! Short people rule! I also am a self-trained graphic designer by day! We’re like twins-n-stuff! (Your hubby a tall blonde oaf, too? 😉
Best of luck with your new novel!
Re: Hubby…funny enough, minus the blonde bit, yes.
Great to meet you T.K.! I’m with you on the introvert thing–in writing that is. No pics of me on my site (just imagine an Italian model, and you’d be wrong LOL) and I don’t tell people I meet IRL I’m a writer. I like having it as my alter ego. Yep, I’m weird, but then that’s why we all like sci-fi 🙂
Hiya Bellastreet! Thanks for stopping by. And yes, it took me quite some time before I decided to “show my face” to the world. And weird, is good. 🙂
Interesting! Some of my favorite cousins are vertically challenged! Has nothing whatsoever to do with creativity!
Haha, nope, it doesn’t. Thanks Julia for stopping by.
TK – Did you do the cover art for your books? They are AWEsome, btw. The disney animation thing sounds fun.
Hi Charlie,
Nope, that credit goes to the talented Amanda Kelsey who does some amazing work for my publishers, Champagne Books. And, yes, the Disney animation stint was incredible!
hey TK … guess the hotel managmnt gig didnt appeal cuz it wuznt creative enuff fr yah eh ? or duz it come in handy wen ur cookin ? Well like u i hate crowds but i gotta wrk..sighs. btw cant wait fr my hard copy of the MK to arrive. even tho i be a scifi fan i lov d feel of a real book in hand!
cheers!
Thanks Sindy for stopping by. Nope, the hotel management did not appeal. It did at the time, but it just wasn’t for me.
Just wanted to say thank you so much Charlie for putting up with me. This has been a very fun and interactive platform. Thanks everyone for stopping by and leaving great comments and questions. AND…I’ve picked a winner via my random magic finger wave!
(Drum roll):
Congratulations Bellastreet!!! If you see this, send your email addy – you can find me at tktoppin@gmail.com