There's a large box filled with the awards won by Tosca Lee in one of the rooms of the Fremont farmhouse where she and herÌýfamilyÌý live.
There's no ego wall or elaborate trophy case — although a farmhouse renovation currently taking place could change that — to showcase the honors that have been collected over the years by the New York Times bestselling author.
"That would just be something else for me to have to clean," said Lee, a wife to a farmer and mother to three teenage sons.Ìý
The contents of that box expanded last month with the addition of honors from the International Book Awards for "The Line Between," and its sequel, "A Single Light," which was released last fall. More than 2,000 entries were considered for the awards.
In addition, her novels have also won a bevy of awards this year, including the Killer Nashville's Silver Falchion and Realm Makers Award.
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And what makes all of this a bit eerie is the plot of those novels, which center around 22-year-old Wynter Roth, who has escaped a Midwest cult as a frightening disease begins to spread across the United States.
"This has all added to the weirdness of this year," Lee told the Journal Star last week. "You think this would not be the year for pandemic-themed books. It's unusual because they turned out to be the most-awarded books I've had."
Lee said she is not surprised at all by the coronavirus pandemic, which has infected more than 6 million Americans, killing more than 185,000.
"It wasn't a question of if," she said. "It was a question of when. I'm not surprised at all. The only thing that has surprised me is the lack ofÌýpreparedness once this virus happened."
"The Line Between" has been optioned by Radar Pictures and Ed Burns' Marlboro Road Gang Productions and is in development to become a television series.
And as the wheels turned on those negotiations, the world seemed to stop. Lee, no different than anyone, was bound to the farmhouse with her family.
"From the end of March until last week when they went back to school, I've had three teenage boys here every day," she said.Ìý
Finding quiet time to write was the ongoing challenge, but she found a way to launch into her next project, a collaboration with Marcus Brotherton, a bestselling World War II author, on the Bataan Death March.
Their historical fiction book tells the story of teenage friends cast into the war with Japan that was taking place in the Asian-Pacific theater.
"It's a little out of my wheelhouse, but I'm learning a lot," she said.
50 celebrities from Nebraska
50 celebrities from Nebraska
Nicholas D'Agosto
Nicholas D'Agosto ("Final Destination 5") attended Creighton Prep in Omaha when he was discovered by Alexander Payne and cast in the film "Election." Since then, D'Agosto has been in more than 30 films and TV shows.Ìý
Courtesy photo
Farrah Abraham
Farrah Abraham, "Teen Mom OG," arrives at the MTV Movie Awards at the Nokia Theatre on April 12, 2015, in Los Angeles. Abraham was born in Omaha.
Matt Sayles/Invision
Moon Bloodgood
Moon Bloodgood, who starred in "Terminator Salvation" and the TV series "Falling Skies," poses backstage at the TNT and TBS Network 2014 Upfront Presentations at Madison Square Garden in New York. Bloodgood was born in Alliance.
Evan Agostini/Invision
Samantha Ware
Samantha Ware of "Glee," "Barry" and numerous theater credits is from Lincoln.
Courtesy photo
Ashley Graham
Model Ashley Graham attends the FULLBEAUTY Brands re-launching event of at Guastavino's on Thursday, April 2, 2015, in New York. Graham is from Lincoln.
Donald Traill/Invision
Nicholas Sparks
Author Nicholas Sparks poses at the premiere of the film "The Best of Me" at Regal Cinemas L.A. Live on Oct. 7, 2014, in Los Angeles. Sparks was born in Omaha.
Chris Pizzello/Invision
Janine Turner
Actress Janine Turner, star of "Northern Exposure" and "Strong Medicine," is from Lincoln.
AP file photo
Paula Zahn
Television journalist Paula Zahn was born in Omaha.
Andy Kropa/Invision
Scott Porter
Scott Porter, who starred on "Friday Night Lights" and "The Good Wife," was on the sidelines decked out in Husker gear during a game in 2007. Porter was born in Omaha.
TED KIRK/Journal Star file photo
Gabrielle Union
Gabrielle Union arrives at the 16th annual InStyle and Warner Bros. Golden Globes afterparty at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
Matt Sayles
Jorge Garcia
Jorge Garcia, shown with Sarah Jones in the Fox series "Alcatraz," was born in Omaha.
Jeff Korbelik
Jaime King
Actress Jaime King is from Omaha.
Omar Vega/Invision
Alexander Payne
Alexander Payne, shown at the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards in 2012, is from Omaha.
Associated Press file photo
Michael Biehn
Actor Michael Biehn grew up in Lincoln.
Chris Pizzello/AP file
Justin Bruening
Actor Justin Bruening is from the Nebraska town of St. Helena.
Eric Charbonneau/Invision
Lucas Cruikshank
Actor Lucas Cruikshank is from Columbus.
Paul A. Hebert/Invision
Lindsay Shaw
Actress Lindsay Shaw is from Lincoln.
Jordan Strauss/Invision
Adam DeVine
Adam DeVine, shown at the 2014 MTV Movie Awards , graduated from Millard South in Omaha.
Jordan Strauss
Marg Helgenberger
Actress Marg Helgenberger is from North Bend.
CBS
Marlon Brando, The Godfather
Marlon Brando, shown in a scene from "The Godfather," was from Omaha.
Paramount Pictures
Abby Miller
Abby Miller, a cast member in the FX series "Justified," is from Clay Center.
Chris Pizzello/Invision
HENRY FONDA
Henry Fonda, shownOct. 14, 1978, is from Grand Island.
MARTY REICHENTHAL/AP file
Hilary Swank
Hilary Swank, seen at eOne Films U.S. premiere of "You're Not You," is from Lincoln.Ìý
Alexandra Wyman
Emily Kinney
Kinney
JOHN SHEARER
Malcolm X
Malcolm X
Robert Haggins
FRED ASTAIRE
Dancer Fred Astaire was from Omaha.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ev Williams
Ev Williams, the Nebraska native who co-founded Twitter, spent a little more than a year at UNL.
COURTESY PHOTO / Silicon Prairie News
Matthew Sweet
Musician Matthew SweetÌý
L. Kent Wolgamott
Dick Cavett
Dick Cavett, on stage during the “Dick Cavett's Watergate" panel at the PBS 2014 Summer TCA, is from Lincoln
Richard Shotwell/Invision
Conor Oberst
Conor Oberst, shown performing at the Shaky Knees Music Festival in 2014, is from Omaha.
Robb Cohen/Invision
Nick Nolte
Nick Nolte, attending the L.A. premiere of "Gangster Squad" at the Grauman's Chinese Theater in 2013, is from Omaha.
Matt Sayles
Gerald Ford
President Gerald Ford, shown during a National Security Council meeting at the White House, was from Omaha.
AP file photo
Johnny Carson
Johnny Carson, the king of late night TV, graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is from Norfolk.
Courtesy photo
James Valentine
Guitarist James Valentine of Maroon 5, shown at the iHeartRadio Theater in 2014, is from Lincoln.
Paul A. Hebert
Robert Taylor
Film and television actor Robert Taylor, shown in 1953, is from Filley.
AP file
Willa Cather
"O Pioneers!" author Willa Cather graduated from the University of Nebraska.
Willa Cather Foundation
Harley Cozak
Harley Jane Cozak, an actress known for her roles in "Arachnophobia," "When Harry Met Sally" and "Parenthood," grew up in Lincoln.
Harley Cozak
Preston Hillier
Preston Hillier is from Lincoln and has appeared on "Nashville," "Macguyver" and many more shows.
149. Swoosie Kurtz
149.Ìý Swoosie Kurtz
1944-
Actress
The Omaha-born daughter of an Air Force colonel is a two-time Tony and Emmy Award winner who appears regularly on TV, including a recent six-season run on the CBS hit sitcom "Mike & Molly."Ìý
Larry the Cable Guy
Dan Whitney, aka Larry the Cable Guy
Journal Star file photo
James Coburn
James Coburn, holding his Oscar up to his cheek after winning for best supporting actor for his role in "Affliction" in 1999, is from Laurel.
AP file
Ted Kooser
Former U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser got his master's degree from the University of Nebraska.
Gordon Winters
L. Ron Hubbard
L Ron Hubbard, who created Scientology, is from Tilden.
AP file
Amy Heidemann
Amy Heidemann of Karmin is from Seward.
Richard Shotwell/Invision
Chris Klein
Actor Chris Klein went to high school in Omaha.
Richard Shotwell/Invision
John Beasley
Actor John Beasley is from Omaha.
Richard Shotwell/Invision
Brandon Sanderson
Brandon Sanderson was born in Lincoln and now lives in Utah. He is best known for finishing Robert Jordan's epic fantasy series "The Wheel of Time."
MICAH DeMOUX/Courtesy photo
David Janssen
David Janssen of "The Fugitive" is from Naponee.
Courtesy photo
David Doyle
Actor David Doyle of "Charlie's Angels" was from Lincoln.
AP file
Dorothy McGuire
The late actress Dorothy McGuire was from Omaha.
AP file photo
Randy Meisner
Randy Meisner (center) of the Eagles is from Scottsbluff.
Courtesy photo
Bryan Greenberg
Bryan Greenberg ("Friends with Benefits" and "Bride Wars") attends a special screening of Marvel's "Avengers: Age of Ultron" at the SVA Theatre on April, 28, 2015, in New York. Greenberg is from Omaha.
Evan Agostini/Invision
Jeff Zeleny
Jeff Zeleny, shown with Sen. Barack Obama on Oct. 1, 2008, on Capitol Hill in Washington, is senior White House correspondent for CNN.
Associated Press file photo
Reach the writer at 402-473-7391 or psangimino@journalstar.com .
On Twitter @psangimino
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