CONDUCTION Release Party!

After a long road of trials, tribulations, and personal re-evaluation, I finally published it...

CONDUCTION is here!

CONDUCTION by Tara Tyler

Sci Fi Detective Thriller/Techno Thriller

Book 4 in Pop Travel series

Preview of MAGNETRON, Book 5 included

Amazon Link

In 2085, cutting edge technology is the most valuable currency, and the black tech market offers high pay-offs for diamond-level code. Jared Nertz is an easy-going ex-juicer gone legit working for Pop Travel Technologies, and just when he finishes his long-awaited Conduction project--the process of storing data in the brain--someone immediately steals it and kills his mentor, framing him for the murder. Now it's up to his lawyer/wife Miki and their resourceful friends, Geri and Cooper to prove Jared's innocence by recovering the stolen tech before the criminal killer sells it. But that's only the beginning, as they discover a darker threat when they dig deeper into the case.

Cover Art by my long time writer/artist friend, Carrie Butler

And I've mentioned this before, but I love that I talked my son into posing for it.

I have a couple of reviews lined up, but there's always room for more -- let me know!

Here are a few fun quotes from the book...

Chaos, sweet chaos. -- Cooper

Watching Hasan argue with his droid, Geri wanted to shoot them both. Or herself. -- Geri

“What’s ASAHP?” -- Cooper

“As soon as humanly possible, of course!” -- Hasan

He was secretly very proud of himself. Weren’t all inventions potentially dangerous in the wrong hands? -- Jared

I am also excited to have some special guest hosts helping with my Release Party

 -- Everyone is invited!

L. Diane Wolfe  ~~~  Tyrean Martinson  ~~~  MJ Fifield  ~~   Sherry Ellis

And the party continues in January when I plan to release the ebook...

Alex J. Cavanaugh  ~~~  Christine Rains 

I'm so thankful for this writing community where we can share our ups and downs of the business. The IWSG keeps us connected as a Writerly Family. I don't know what I'd do without you all!

Stay warm, Have a great Christmas, and See you next year!

Keep writing!

via GIPHY

Fall inspires me

Happy IWSG Day. Hope you are writing or thinking about writing or about to be writing. However you are doing, maybe this little Fall poem will help inspire you, or gives you a chuckle. Plus a couple of surprises at the end...

Fickle Fall

Tis the season of dry hands

For turning off and on the fans

When we make then cancel plans

            if it rains.

Cozy colors everywhere

Xmas music in the air

And arthritis starts to flair

            oh, what pains.

Tis the season for achoos

And a few souls sing the blues

Don't forget the "I love you's"

            let them know.

Favorite flavor: pumpkin spice

Inside fire, outside ice

Fuzzy sweaters warm up nice

            on the go.

Tis the season for dry lips

Watching vids for all the tips

'Specially when cold weather nips

            like a pup.

Shorter days and longer eves

Crunchy, crinkly, colored leaves

Perfect time for story weaves

            looking up!

Surprise #1

I wanted to share my new cover with you all! I'm working very hard to get this one out there. Goal is December. And the awesome cover by Carrie Butler is motivating me to push myself even harder!

CONDUCTION by Tara Tyler

Pop Travel #4

In 2085, cutting edge technology is the most valuable currency, and the black tech market offers high pay-offs for diamond-level code. 

Jared Nertz is an easy-going ex-juicer gone legit working for Pop Travel Technologies, and just when he finishes his long-awaited Conduction project--the process of storing data in the brain--someone immediately steals it and kills his mentor, framing him for the murder. Now it's up to his lawyer/wife Miki and their resourceful friends, Geri and Cooper to prove Jared's innocence by recovering the stolen tech before the criminal killer sells it. But that's only the beginning, as they discover a darker threat when they dig deeper into the case.

I'm extra excited about the cover because I talked my oldest son into modeling for it. I love it!

Surprise #2

And lastly, a shout out to my writer friend, Christine Rains whose latest installment in her dark fantasy LitRPG trilogy, Khthonia was just released... BLIGHT OF THE NECROMANCER

When offered a choice between tedious research or fighting a dragon, the players always choose the dragon.

Even when they’re dangerously outmatched.

No one rational ever wants to play a bard, but Nora Quinn believed she could use her class’ skills of perception to her advantage as an investigator. As Essaerae the elven bard, she regrets picking the role now that the players are trapped in the dark realm of Khthonia. She desperately desires to go home, but her friends want to stay in the fantasy world, causing a rift in the party. To lift the Specter Plague curse from the land and win the game, the heroes must defeat the conniving necromancer. Yet he’s shadowing them with death the entire way.

Seeking the tools they need, Nora and her friends must survive perilous side quests and hordes of undead. The answer to how to slay the villain lies in the western ruins, but Nora is certain he is the only one who can get her home. And for that, he needs to stay alive.

Nora must choose between killing the necromancer and lifting the curse or siding with him and going home. Neither choice feels like a victory.

A fantasy LitRPG/GameLit for fans of tabletop role-playing games.

BUY THE BOOK HERE!

Happy November!

Cuddle up, buttercup!

New and Improved?

Welcome to the Insecure Writers Support Group - Oct 2023

I appreciate all the feedback from my "AI" post in Sept. Insightful and inspiring!

In a similar vein, I've had to do some upgrades and updates (I hate passwords!) It's made me wonder about "improvements" to writing and to the world in general. Every generation is encouraged to change the world, and many people take that and run with it. But what about the generations that came before? Aren't there some things that work great and should be left alone? Does old = bad?

In addition to the infinite updates in technology, they infiltrate education as well. New people come along (usually not teachers) and think they can revamp education. Unfortunately, they implement new changes before anyone can tell if the previous "improvements" made an impact. Don't get me wrong, I'm always trying to up my game, and I love hearing about and sharing new ideas with other teachers. But after decades of teaching, kids haven't changed. They all have they're own ways of learning--they just need more motivation. They ingest whatever knowledge we can get into them, then figure out life in their own ways.

I guess I've always been skeptical of change. I'm in the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" camp. But I also appreciate innovation and the comforts of life. I couldn't imagine living out west when the US was young. I love electricity and running water. And A/C is a must! I just wish the up-and-comers did more research into the current, tried and true ways before scrapping them.

Which brings me back to books. Way back when, books were revered, authors were celebrated, and reading was the thing to do. As technology evolved giving us radio, then television, then the internet with all-access streaming, books have taken a dive in the hierarchy of entertainment and information choices.

As if writing and getting published then hopefully noticed wasn't hard enough. Recently, Hollywood was on strike for fear that AI will one day take their jobs in writing and acting... The irony is that writers and movies foretold this! The good thing is writing programs can never be original, since the algorithms, though very creative, can only work based on what has already been written. 

Here's my big question: Are they really improving anything? What is the purpose of such programs? Just because we can do something, does that mean we should?

I resist change, but change can also be good. So before accepting it, I analyze it and look for the benefits not just the drawbacks. I accept the challenge of change to keep creating new and unique stories. And I hope you will too!

Sorry if that was a bit much, just been pondering a lot lately. Would love to hear your take!

Happy October!

PS - I just sent out a newsletter with my new CONDUCTION cover! I'll be posting it here in November...