The Perfect Gift

When's the last time you went to a bookstore?

I'm sad to say it's been several months for me... I love walking around and seeing the covers and smelling the fresh paper... checking out new titles from favorite authors, looking for new reads. I miss it. I need to go!

I wish a book was the perfect give for the people in my life. My parents still love to read, and I'm glad I get to buy them books for gifts. But so many of my friends and relatives don't. Makes me sad.

I'm not much better. I have enough books to last me a century of reading... Harder than picking out gifts for others, I hate coming up with gift ideas for myself! At my age, I just see what I want and buy it. I was glad my boys came up with great lists this year. Sometimes they just ask for gift cards. Maybe it's a sign of maturity? haha

So what's the perfect gift for you? You might give me some ideas!

Hope your holiday season is off to a great start and you have safe travels wherever you may go this month. 

Enjoy your family and friends.

And can you believe 2022 is right around the corner??

via GIPHY

2021 has been a tornado of a year! I'm trepidatious of what will happen next.

Good Luck and Cheers! See you next year!

Sailing...takes me away!

How's your SUMMER READING going? Love having a little extra reading time! And today, I'm excited to share another review with you...

I give you the first novel in a fun cozy mystery series...

MURDER AT THE MARINA

by Ellen Jacobson

Mollie McGhie is hoping for diamonds for her tenth wedding anniversary. Instead, her clueless hubby presents her with a rundown boat. She's not impressed.

When she discovers someone murdered on board, things get even worse. Mollie hopes it will convince her husband to rethink his hare-brained scheme of sailing off into the sunset. Instead, he's more determined than ever to fix the boat up and set off to sea.

Poking her nose in where it doesn't belong, Mollie finds herself drawn into the tight-knit community living at Palm Tree Marina in Coconut Cove, a small town on the Florida coast. She uncovers a crime ring dealing in stolen marine equipment, eats way too many chocolate bars, adopts a cat, and learns far more about sailing than she ever wanted to.

Will Mollie be able to discover who the murderer is before her nosiness gets her killed?

Amazon ~~~ Goodreads

My Review...

Sailing, Murder, and Chocolate!

Murder at the Marina was a fun, quirky mystery set in a cozy sailing community where Mollie never expected to find herself. With a pocketbook full of sweets and an intuitive feline helper, Mollie leads us on a hilarious hunt for a killer with a motive and more chocolate. I was left guessing who the murderer could be right up to the end. Looking forward to Mollie's next mysterious misadventure!

Feedback is life

Welcome, IWSG-ers!

As a writer, we type away, drafting, editing, laughing, sobbing, pouring our hearts an souls into our stories. Then it comes time to push the little bird out of the nest and hope it flies! But before we let strangers see it, we need to know if we're doing it right. We need FEEDBACK!

Constructive Criticism and Honest Praise are essential elements to a writer. Here are some places to seek this valued commodity:

• Critique Partners - you read mine and I'll read yours and we'll give each other honest opinions and advice
• Beta Readers - not necessarily writers, but willing to read and give feedback
• Critique Groups - live meetings where everyone shares their stories seeking feedback
• Reviews - before and after publishing - serious stuff, just don't freak out over one- and two-star drivel. Those just show you've made it!

Whatever route you go, don't be afraid to ask for feedback. We only improve and expand our knowledge by listening to what others have to say (and using it or not as we see fit!)

Now here I offer a review of C. Lee McKenzie's latest release...

NOT GUILTY
by C. Lee McKenzie

A bloody knife. Wrong place, wrong time, and fits the description. Just like that, Devon's future is over.

How can he prove he's not guilty?

Intense emotion and connections grab you from the beginning. One fateful day everything changes for Devon -- the star of the basketball team about to snag a full scholarship to the college of his choice. And it all happens so fast, accused, tried, and convicted of stabbing one of his arch enemies. But he didn't do it, and no one will listen.

At first, it was hard to take all the negative things piled one on top of the other to the point of hopelessness. But then Devon's devastation opened him up to a whole new world. He had to deal with what happened and gained new friends and a new perspective. Plus a few twists neither one of us expected!

AMAZON   B&N   KOBO   SMASHWORDS   GOODREADS 

Books * Website

Check it out!

WINDY HOLLOW - I did it!

WINDY HOLLOW
Beast World MG Fantasy Series, book #3
by Tara Tyler
Available NOW!

In BROKEN BRANCH FALLS, Gabe and his friends go on a quest to save their school, blowing up all the rules, and discover their origins.

Then they go to CRADLE ROCK and meet some real live humans, scaring them into attack mode. The Beasts realize they have to spread the truth ASAP.

Now, school's out, and Gabe is ready for a break from all the drama...

Gabe and his friends fly over the Great Sea for the wedding of the century: a dragon prince and a beautiful harpy. But Gabe can't relax on this vacation. Besides competing in rigorous wedding events, he overhears the nearby human village WINDY HOLLOW is in danger from an evil human scientist and a vengeful were-ogre experimenting on beasts. Gabe and his friends risk crossing the mountains to help, despite several warnings. 

Maybe he's going too far this time, but he's in too deep to quit. It's do or die, hopefully not die!

Paperback ~~~ Ebook

After agonizing delays and finally accepting the inevitable, I took my rights back and published Windy Hollow myself. Now, I have to see what's what the rest of my books so I can re-publish them! All in all, it's not been too terrible. And those older books could all use a tune-up anyway. We get better and better with each book, right?

For now, I am soooo excited to have several friends helping me spread the news about WINDY HOLLOW! Check out my Release Blog Tour schedule where I'll be interviewed, guest posting, and more!

6/20 - Heather Holden - Reverse Interview, How does she Create such Awesome Art?
6/22 - Ellen Jacobson - Interview with some surprising questions!
6/24 - Patricia Lynne - Keeping Magic Alive
6/26 - MJ Fifield - Fantasy World-Building
6/30 - SA Larsen - Special Newsletter & a Vlog?!
7/1 - My IWSG post with updates and a Special Guest!
7/3 - Alex J. Cavanaugh - IWSG Day - Fantasy Movies
7/4 - Tonja Drecker - Independence Day! - Kids in Books
7/8 - Christine Rains - Levels of Romance
7/10 - Heather M. Gardner - Binge Watching TV
7/15 - Tyrean Martinson - Hiking!
7/17 - Julie Flanders - Gotta Have Friends
*7/22 - Juneta Key - Surprise Post! (she doesn't even know what it's about yet!)

I'm overwhelmed with appreciation. I'd never be able to do this alone. So glad to have this generous community offering time and talents!

And of course, there's a giveaway!
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Thanks for stopping by and playing. Your support is priceless!

Hot Genres - Darkness and Desperation

Dark and Desperate is always HOT, isn't it? The yearning, the unreachable, the unattainable, the struggle to find happiness in a horrible, twisted world.

Blech. Sorry, that's just not my cup 'o tea. Personally, I read more to escape my own dark & desperate, stressed-out, real-life chaos! Though I do like a little darkness with my escape, it's definitely more interesting, just not a whole book of it.

I mean, just read these titles from Amazon's top fiction list... For the most part, downright depressing!

And the covers. No hope, no happiness, just bleak, blurry, distant, nothingness! I've always wondered how some covers have so little on the front, yet they're best sellers?? Some of these are eye-catching, but some are almost bare. No fair! (Then again, I guess it depends on the genre. Scifi/Fantasy needs more fascinating covers...)

So, how do these books sound to you? Why do you think readers are drawn to darkness and desperation? Why do so many people want to read these intriguing tales of woe? And many times, they have sad or mysterious endings, far from fairy tale positive ones too. Is it just me? Could be!

Well, here's a theory or two of mine for the popularity of dismal dismay:

• It mirrors life, people can relate
• It shows life could be worse
• It gives hope, if there's a good ending
• It gives insight to others' plights
• They like their heartstrings pulled
• They like to feel hope for the characters
• The triumph is that much more triumphant

And here's a SURPRISE SURVEY - Tell us what you really think.

Now for my SHOUT OUT of the WEEK!

M. J. Fifield

I love this woman! We've been blog buddies forever. It was her sarcastic wit and hilarious haiku talents that drew me in. She's also an awesome author. EFFIGY is the first book in her epic fantasy series, and I've been dying of anticipation for the second, which is so close: SECOND NATURE.

M.J. blogs about the books she reads and the books she writes, the shows she watches, the music she listen to, and only occasionally about her pets. She's also an insomniac.


So writers, who can relate? Check her out if you haven't. Don't miss out any longer!

---------------

Since I will be on vacay next week, I won't post again until Aug IWSG. This will also give folks time to fill out the survey... pass it on!

Happy Mid-Summer Dreaming!

#Writer's Life Survey 4 - WIP

Is it Spring yet? Is February the longest shortest month of the year or what?

Hope you had a fantastic Valentine's Day - it's great for chocolate anyway, right?

Before we get to the survey, wanted to give a shout out to Patricia Lynne and congratulate her on the release of

ABDUCTED LIFE
by Patricia Josephine

Savannah Janowitz’s perfect life was destroyed the night she and her boyfriend vanished without a trace. When she reappears a year later––alone––she’s a shell of her former self. Robbed of her popularity and her boyfriend, she has no memory of what happened to her. Savannah struggles to move forward as strange, new abilities manifest.

Evan Sullivan never gave extra-terrestrials much thought until the night he and Savannah were abducted. While Savannah’s memory was wiped clean, he remembers every horrific detail. Constantly reminded of the experiments that made him less than human, Evan hides in the shadows and watches Savannah rebuild her life without him. But neither can let the other go.

When their paths cross, Savannah and Evan finally see a glimmer of their old lives return. As they face what happened to them, they soon discover they aren’t safe. There’s more to fear than what’s hiding in the stars.

Available for 99cents at Amazon

Add to Goodreads

And now, for February's Writer's Life Survey!

Thanks for playing - looking forward to your responses! Results will be posted March 1!

2017 = Shine Forth

Happy Septendecdischili!
And Happy First IWSG of the New Year!

Fellow writers,
This year I invite you to join me as I challenge myself to reach more readers. I have tried several avenues and attempted many ventures, but I know I could do better. I put together a small list of things for us to try or improve upon...

• A Newsletter - I have a quarterly one that links to my Newsy Blog, but I need to improve it. I have a hard time with it because it's all about me and I really hate to sound like I'm bragging - it's pure fear and adrenaline, but I try to make it sound positive...
• Offer giveaways
• Keep it short and informative
• Don't send it too often
• Always have a signup sheet at events
• The Blog/Author page - I'm still deciding what I want to do. I definitely need to neaten it up and make it more professional-looking...
• Book Events - I love doing these, but I need to be more pro-active and reach out to schools and organizations...
• Marketing - the dreaded.
• More creative videos - let's get viral! See my Cradle Rock guest post at L. Diane Wolf's on Monday (1/9) for some ideas on author videos!
• Pay for ads on social media - sometimes a little will get you a lot
• Better giveaway campaigns - with a group? with cooler prizes? hmm...
• Shiny New Ideas
• With recent feedback, I'll be revising my Pop Travel screenplay - I'm determined!
• I'm also outlining a new story - taking a break from my two series once they both have three books. Yes, I can see it within my reach.

Let's break barriers! Let's move mountains! Let's finish what we start!

I will take any and all advice you guys have. Join in the fun in planning and dreaming!

Lastly, I have a few stops left for my CRADLE ROCK Release Party!

1/4	Ken Rahmoeller	Dragons
1/9	L. Diane Wolfe	Marketing Tips - Live & Online
1/16	C Lee McKenzie	Grownup Stereotypes
1/11	M. J. Fifield	Crazy Road Trip
1/25	Crystal Collier	Poetry & Songs in Stories - Writerly Wed

I'm also happy to announce the winners from my Cradle Rock Release Party December Giveaway!

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That time of year #Writerslife #Survey

What time of year? You know, the holidays are coming up! It's a busy season for all, including writers. I've always wanted to do a holiday themed anthology, but just like fashion, you have to have it ready six months ahead of the season!

Nov/Dec Writer's Life Survey... (and my answers)

1) Have you ever written/submitted/published a holiday story? Details?

I did one last year for Geekdom House "A Super Christmas" I'd like to do more, but like my Xmas shopping, I usually wait until the last minute... I started a cozy Christmas mystery about Cooper and Geri going up to visit his parents, but it sits unfinished. One of these days!

2) Have you ever been a part of/wanted to do an anthology? If so, how many? And How was your experience?

I've been a part of a few anthologies. And I've been rejected for a few too - ouch, but it doesn't stop me from submitting! I like writing short stories and an anthology has a bigger readership with multiple authors' fan bases!

3) What is your preferred length of a novel - to read and/or write? Shorter, Medium, or Looong?

I like shorter and medium, but will do long if I love it (Game of Thrones)

4) When is your favorite time to read?

Whenever I can! I steal spare moments all the time, especially when waiting.

5) Want to share a line from something you're working on? A teaser or quote? Or even an inspirational phrase? We could use something intriguing or uplifting!

Since the release of CRADLE ROCK is right around the corner, here's a quote from it...

"Girls can't resist the urge to fix things. Especially boys."

Bonus Question: Give us a book recommendation (not your own, cheesy!) - a gift we can give each other (and to another author!)

My Book Recommendation is The Totem Series by Christine Rains
These three shapeshifting sisters are as fierce as their polar bear alter egos. They are determined to save their kind by finding missing Totem pieces, no matter the dangerous legends and magic surrounding them nor the mysterious, evil shifter competing for its control.

These are the first three novellas in the series that are out so far...

Each book focuses on a different sister with distinct, clashing personalities. And besides helping their kind, they have to deal with relationship problems. It can be hazardous when mixing duty and pleasure.

Here's the links - Totem 1 - Dark Dawning, Totem 2 - Silent Whispers, Totem 3 - Cloak of Snow

Have a scrumptious Thanksgiving and get hopping on the shopping!
Looking forward to your responses!

** aLtErNaTiVe #marketingstrategy 2 **

Make a Video (besides a book trailer)

This generation loves videos. Well, videos and movies originate from WRITERS! We need to remind folks that reading is a great alternative to watching mindless shows sometimes - they need to exercise their brains with some reading!

And maybe watching a video can bring attention to our books. To show you how easy it is, I put together a video with some advice on how to make one!

One thing I forgot to mention, solicit help from friends - you are not alone!

I hope you enjoyed my amateur marketing video advice and maybe it was helpful! Thanks to all my volunteers - they're awesome! And there's more to come...

Thanks also to those who have volunteered to help with my Cover Reveal and Release of CRADLE ROCK - Again, here's the FORM if you're interested. I'll be contacting everyone soon about the COVER REVEAL on SEPT 1!

Have a great MONDAY! And wish us luck - it's our first day back to school =)

~~~ ALTERnative #marketingstrategy 1 ~~~

ORGANIZE A DEMONSTRATION!

Not to make light of true protests calling for attention to real problems - but a fun gathering in front of a bookstore or library - with their permission. Though it's a free country, we don't want negativity associated with our books, so make sure everyone knows it's a positive event to promote reading and a book release or signing. Come up with a cute chant to go with it. And provide some refreshment. I bet Half-Price Books would be thrilled for the publicity and it might even bring some news people! Doesn't it sound fun?

Here are a few slogans I came up with for my books to show you what I mean...

Now, if I could just rally some friendly protestors to help me!


By the way, THE THING THAT TURNED ME Anthology purchase links are just about ready. Poor Randi Lee, she's had one setback after another! But we all understand.


And I'm recruiting helpers for the Cover Reveal and Release of CRADLE ROCK - Here's the FORM if you're interested. THANK YOU! (Here's a cover teaser...)

What do you think of the Demonstration idea?

Come back next week for another unconventional marketing strategy!

Have a fantastic week!

Of Pens and Swords - #newbooks

I'm excited to have RENA ROCFORD visiting today as her latest book, OF PENS AND SWORDS just came out. It's a wonderful modernized YA from a cherished classic. AND she's taking over the blog with some great advice about making your Somedays into Todays. Here's Rena!

Thanks for letting me invade the blog today, Tara!

For years I’ve struggled with the somedays. You know them: Someday I’ll have my house perfect. Someday I’ll have all of my laundry done before the start of the week. Someday I’ll do a better job of making all the lunches so everyone has something to eat all week long and I don’t have to feel like a failure when I make the family eat mac and cheese for dinner (with hotdogs). Someday, I’ll finish writing this novel. Someday, I’ll finish this marketing campaign. Someday, I’ll really really be able to entertain my friends and family in my nicely landscaped backyard.

I’ve been living in the somedays for most of my life. Really, we all have. Isn’t it silly how much stress we give ourselves over laundry and housework? Like many people, I have a full time job and a gig as a writer, and you know what I don’t have? Somedays.

source: twitter

If I waited for my Somedays, I wouldn’t get to anything. There’s now and there’s tomorrow. It’s taken me a long time to really view my time like money. If you ever thought about how much time you spend on Facebook or instagram as money, or a fee per minute, you’d use it differently, right? I know I would. If FB cost a dollar a minute, I’d never hang out there. It doesn’t so we spend all the time we want there. It’s free, even. Except for one part: Facebook and instagram and pintrest and twitter aren’t free. They still cost one minute per minute.

And sometimes, I need a cat video because the real world sucks sometimes. Social media is good for that part of life—the getting away from the real world—but in the end, the only way to get to the somedays is to pick some of them and do them in the today.

But how do you pick which to pursue?

This is where you need peace. You need to make peace with the fact that some of your somedays will live in someday for a very long time (I just finished unpacking the boxes in my library, and we moved in a year ago). That doesn’t always mean they will stay somedays forever, but it’s not looking good for my getting into gymnastics if you know what I mean. Something happened last week, and my someday of weed whacking the front yard had to be put off for a full week. Somedays are just like that, and you need to make peace with it before you can move down that someday list. 

Of Pens and Swords

By Rena Rocford

Seventeen-year-old Cyra Berque wants two things in life: a date with Rochan and a chance to fence at the Olympics. But people with one hand don’t normally fence, and girls with big thighs don’t get the boy. Knowing that she wants to make the Olympics, Cyra’s coach sets her up with another coach, one who could take her all the way to the top, but the new coach costs more. Feeling her dreams slipping out of reach, Cyra agrees to tutor a ballerina with a rich father and a D minus in English. It’s triple the pay and triple the pain. The ballerina isn’t interested in passing classes―she wants Rochan, and she’s promised she’ll turn her D minus into a full-fledged F if Cyra doesn’t help her win the heart of Rochan. 

Buy it now on Amazon!

When Rena Rocford isn’t taking over the world one book at a time, she can be found living out her mild-mannered life, wearing out dance shoes, raising a herd of pets, and enjoying her time with her family in beautiful Northern California.

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Magic Ice Cream!

It's a hot summer day. Sweat is rolling down your back. You love the sun, but the heat is so intense. Where can you find some relief???

You need some MAGIC ICE CREAM!! I'm so glad to have Sharon Bayliss here to share some secret Magic Ice Cream recipes to help us savor the release of her latest December People book. Check it out!

To celebrate the recent release of A Taste of Death and Honey, I've asked some of my spring wizard friends to share some magical summer concoctions. Through the years, Mundanes have attempted to make sweet treats without sugar. They've devised all sorts of chemicals to replace sugar, but there is really only one way to enjoy sweetness without sugar--magic. With the use of magic, you can even make ice cream without sugar OR fat. Don't believe me? Give some of these recipes a try.

Our spring wizards have released some of their secret recipes for magic ice cream just for Tara Tyler's blog:

Strawberry Ice Cream

Ingredients

• 4 cups fresh strawberries
• 3 tsp. real vanilla extract
• 3 cups heavy cream
• 1 1/2 cups local honey
• 1 1/2 cup whole milk
• Pinch of sea salt

Instructions

Put 2 cups of strawberries in a saucepan. Cover and heat over medium for about three minutes to soften. Chop the rest of the strawberries finely. Put heated and chopped strawberries in blender. Blend for only about 30 seconds to chop.

In a large bowl, whisk together cream, honey, milk, salt, and vanilla.

Add in the strawberries and beat until thoroughly combined. While you beat, recall a happy memory from your childhood. Preferably one experienced outdoors during the springtime.

Process in your ice cream maker according to manufactures’ directions.

Adapted from Live Simply.

Roasted Banana and Cinnamon Sorbet

Ingredients

• 6 ripe bananas
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 

Arrange unpeeled bananas on a baking sheet. Roast until the banana skins have become deep brown, about 20-25 minutes. Let cool slightly.

Peel the bananas and place in a blender with the cinnamon. Blend until smooth. Pour into an ice cube tray and freeze for at least eight hours.

Place frozen banana cubes in the blender and let melt slightly (about five minutes). Blend! While you blend, think about the beach. Listen to the waves crashing against the sand and smell the salty air.

Watermelon Mint Sorbet

Ingredients

• 1/4 of a seedless watermelon
• 2 Tbsp fresh mint (preferably from your own garden)
• 2 limes

Instructions

Cut the watermelon and scrape it into a blender. Blend until juice-like. Reserve 1/2 cup watermelon juice and pour the rest into an ice cube tray and freeze for at least eight hours.

Place frozen watermelon cubes, reserved juice, juice from limes, and mint in the blender. Blend! While you blend, recall your best memory from summertime. Preferably one from a day spent outdoors when you got a suntan.


Tropical Colada Sorbet

Ingredients

• 2 cups frozen pineapple
• 2 cups frozen mango
• 2 cups coconut milk
• Juice from one orange

Instructions

Just place everything in a blender and go to town! Adjust ingredient amounts to create the desired consistency. While you blend, think sexy thoughts. Preferably about spending a hot night on the beach with the one you love. Serve with a tiny umbrella.

---

Now that you've enjoyed some tasty spring magic, try A Taste of Death and Honey!

This book will grab you by the throat, challenge your mind, and turn your heart inside out. Sharon Bayliss delivers a powerful, emotional punch with her third book in the December People series. - Amy Bearce, author of  The World of Aluvia Series

When Samantha’s parents died, she lost everything. Her home. Her friends. Her hope. Then a life-loving spring witch at the children’s shelter fills her life with light and joy once again.

But like the springtime, Samantha’s happiness doesn’t last forever. Her friend dies violently in front of her, the victim of a mysterious killing spell. Furious and grief-stricken, Samantha resents her own weak spring magic. She doesn’t need life and renewal. She wants revenge…and death.

Homeless and alone, Samantha seeks shelter with her old friends, the Vandergraff family, and finds an unexpected ally in the powerful winter solstice witch, Evangeline. The girls’ anger and eagerness lead them to cast a killing spell before knowing the truth behind Samantha’s friend’s death or the identity of her killer. 

Once the spell is cast, they can’t take it back, and they must fight to stop their own curse before it takes away everyone they love.

BUY HERE

A proud Austinite, Sharon never saw much sense in moving anywhere else and got her degree in social work from the University of Texas at Austin. As an author and social worker, she has devoted her life to making the lives of real people better and the lives of fictional people much, much worse.

When she’s not writing, she enjoys living happily-ever-after with her husband and two young sons. She can be found eating Tex-Mex on patios, wearing flip-flops, and still playing in the mud (which she now calls gardening).

So happy for Sharon! Her December People series is a delight!

On the home front, I wanted to mention that BROKEN BRANCH FALLS is on SALE this coming weekend JUNE 24, 25, 26 for 99 CENTS in honor of its Book Bday!! 

And if anyone would like to volunteer to do an ARC Review of the sequel, CRADLE ROCK, please let me know in the comments or email me, taratylertalks - at - gmail - dot - com. The cover is so awesome!! Reveal details COMING SOON!

Have a scrumdiddlyumptious week!!

Author Branding Rebel!

I'm very excited to have Tyrean Martinson here today! She's turned the tables and written a "5 Reasons" post of her own...

Author Branding: When an author writes only one brand/style of fiction or non-fiction so that fans will “know” exactly what they are getting when they pick up that author’s books. A brand is meant to communicate the purpose of the author and to gain a steady, constant readership. None of this sounds bad, exactly, but I find myself squirming when I hear that I “must” have an author brand.

5 Reasons Why I Rebel Against Branding

1. I’m a natural, left-handed rebel. In kindergarten, my teacher told me that I must choose which hand to write with. I chose to write with my left-hand because I knew that would irritate her. I struggle with the urge to rebel every time someone says I “must” do something.
2. I fear that author branding means that I have to write the same kind of story over and over again.
3. I don’t want to create several pseudonyms to cover all the genres I want to write. Can you imagine keeping up a social media presence for several names?
4. I read a variety of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. All of those books influence my writing. My earliest influences included: the Bible, a book of fairy tales and nursery rhymes that I read until the cover fell off, Where the Wild Things Are, The Hobbit, The Chronicles of Narnia, the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, Star Wars, Star Trek, Scooby Doo, my mom’s nursing books, my dad’s airplane magazines, National Geographic, Zane Gray, my grandmother’s real-life bed-times stories, and Shakespeare. (And guess what? With my favorite authors, I love to read outside my “normal” genres.)
5. I want to take a walk in a variety of character’s shoes. I love that sensation of stepping into a new world with a new character and not knowing what kinds of twists and turns stand between the character and the top of the story mountain ahead. When my mom used to say, “Take a walk in someone else’s shoes,” to remind me to have empathy for others, I daydreamed about what that would be like.

Photo Credit: Tyrean Martinson, Shoes from Martinson family members.
Can you guess which ones are mine? (Hint: I have teen daughters.)

What shoes would you choose? And, would you want to take the same walk every day in the same shoes?

Tyrean Martinson is an everyday writer, believer, and daydreamer who lives within a mile of the Puget Sound but who can’t see the water from her house (unless she climbs a tall cedar tree in her backyard). 

Her latest book reflects her love of taking a walk in a variety of character shoes.

Flicker: A Collection of Short Stories and Poetry includes most of the short works Tyrean Martinson wrote between the fall of 2013 and December 2015. These short works range from extremely short in length, from haiku and hint fiction to flash fiction and short fiction. Forty-eight of these works found publication in magazines before becoming a part of this collection, and forty-two new works reside in these pages, as well. Flicker contains an eclectic mix of types of writing, as well as subject matter, from light to dark, from real world to speculative worlds.

Currently, Flicker: A Collection of Short Stories and Poetry is on sale for 99 cents June 11th thru June 21st for Kindle and Smashwords readers. 

I enjoyed Tyrean's post and feel like a genre rebel myself! I'm so happy for her latest release!

Finally as promised, here's a picture from the Sci Fi Valley Con I went to this weekend - I had a fun and successful time!

My costume was pretty tame compared to some of the wild and elaborate outfits that paraded through the aisles - fun people-watching! and it was great to meet new readers!

No End in Sight - Good or bad?

Some people dream of an endless summer, endless love, or even an endless life. Romantic notions, but in reality, do we really want endless? I quite like good things coming to an end. Without an end, you can't have a new, exciting beginning. Endings, especially happy endings, let us look back and fondly remember. I also am more than happy to find the end of endless edits, endless dull meetings, and endless colds.

This to brings us to Misha Gerrick's latest release, ENDLESS! An exciting dilemma of immortal proportions! And today, she's offering a guest post on the endless headaches of technology and what to do in the down time... Take it, Misha!

Five things a writer can do when the internet is down

I recently had to move house, which meant that for almost a month, I got stuck with no internet. Tara thought it would make a good subject for my blog post, so here’s the top 5 things writers can do without internet: 

1) A lot. 

I know, right? No Facebook. No Twitter. No distractions. It makes for much higher productivity compared to when we’re connected. 

So drink lots of water to get through your internet withdrawal ASAP, and then pick a project you want to work on. Depending on how long you’re going to be stuck without Internet, you might actually be able to finish one. 

(I finished three.) 

2) Read. 

Okay, so you’ll suddenly find yourself with a lot more spare time than you’re used to. So go to a book store and pick up some book to read. Or, if you’re like me, start catching up on all the books you haven’t been able to read lately because you’ve been too busy writing. 

3) Plan ahead. 

Just because you don’t have Internet doesn’t mean that your hands are tied. You can still write a ton of blog posts that you can schedule ahead once you’re connected again. You can also start thinking about what you need to get done for your marketing once you’re able. 

4) Spring Clean

Yeah, I know how we tend to say something along the lines of “I would, but I need to write a few chapters first.” Funny how procrastination for writing rarely extends to house chores. But now, while you’re internet free, you’ll have time. So use it to do some of the things you just never seem to get time for. 

5) Miss the Internet. 

I’d like to say that my increased productivity meant that I hardly ever felt the lack of connection. Sadly… no. 

I’d lie if I said that the month I was offline didn’t feel like I’d amputated one of my hands. It did. And the longer I was without it, the more I longed to plug in again. 

And yet, now that I’m online, I miss being unplugged. Go figure. 

What do you do when you’re stuck without an internet connection for long periods of time? 

Thanks so much Misha!

Now here's her fabulous new release, ENDLESS!

“First, do no harm.” Blake Ryan swore that oath to become a doctor. Ironic, given that he spent most of his thousand year life sucking souls out of other immortals. 

Things are different now. Using regular shots of morphine to keep his inner monster at bay, Ryan has led a quiet life since the Second World War. His thrills now come from saving lives, not taking them. 

Until a plane crash brings Aleria into his hospital. Her life is vibrant. Crack to predators like him. She’s the exact sort of person they would hunt, and thanks to a severe case of amnesia, she’s all but defenseless. 

Leaving Aleria vulnerable isn’t an option, but protecting her means unleashing his own inner monster. Which is a problem, because his inner monster wants her dead most of all.

Amazon US | Amazon Universal | Apple | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

Misha Gerrick lives near Cape Town, South Africa, and can usually be found staring at her surroundings while figuring out her next book.

If you’d like to see what Misha’s up to at the moment, you can find her on these social networks:

Tumblr | Twitter | Google Plus | Writing Blog

Have a great week everyone!

The road not taken, for a reason

It's THE UNDEAD ROAD!
Today I'm happy to welcome my friend and space knight, David P. King. I hope you enjoy this little interview I was able to talk him into...

Q: How did The Undead Road come to fruition?
A: I’ve always wanted to write my own zombie story, but it wasn’t until I saw the first episode of The Walking Dead when it finally clicked. This book is also semi-autobiographical, meaning it’s based on how my twisted mind thought about things and perceived the world when I was 15.

My boys LOVE the walking dead, and I have no idea why... but you will totally relate to them!
Q: What are your thoughts on the new trends in publishing?
A: It’s a complicated shift from what I expected when I first set out to publish in the 90s. Self-publishing makes it easier for authors to get their work out without a gatekeeper holding them back. When I couldn’t get traditional publishers to sign this book, “self-publish” was shouted at me from all angles. I figured if my traditional efforts didn’t pan out, why not self-publish?

It's a whole new world - and seems even more competitive than ever!
Q: Do your undead characters resemble anyone you know?
A: A friend of mine won a Zombify Me! contest a while ago. She’s a zombie in the book! Look for Ilima Todd within the pages. And if you’re not nice to me, you’ll get undead soon enough.

That's awesome Ilima is an immortalized zombie! Ha!
Q: Can you share a short section of The Undead that you particularly enjoyed writing (nothing gross please!)?
A:
       Her oncoming baseball bat made me stumble back. My voice caught in my throat as the dog joined in with a bark. This girl was quick! I reached for my .45, but before I could grab the handle, she had me pinned, ready to splatter my brains.
       I closed my eyes, expecting her blow. Nothing happened. I blinked my eyes open. The girl was standing right over me, and she smiled a smile that I would never forget.
      “Now we’re even.”

Ooo - great sneak peek! Wicked smile =)
Q: And finally, how's it going? I hope all is well on the home front! Any good news to share (besides your latest book!)?
A: Truth be told, I’m currently unemployed. I was laid off before the holidays. While I am seeking new work, my writing is the only source of income I have (not much, but better than $0). I’m still writing and looking forward to the writing conference scene this year, and hoping upon hope that I will find a new job to support my family. Please share this book with all you know!

That last question was asked a while ago. I feel bad for nosing in expecting innocent happy stuff. But I'm also glad he shared his struggles because now we can help him by spreading the news about his awesome books. And hopefully it will just be a temporary setback or lead him to something better!

It was so nice to have David over here - it's been too long. And now, here are some details about his fabulous book. The cover is sensational and the story is to die for - poor choice of words? Regardless - check it out!

The Undead Road, My Zombie Summer: Part One
by David Powers King
Publisher: Dashboard Books / CreateSpace
Ebook Release: January 2st, 2016
Paperback: January 26th, 2016
Cover by Steven Novak
Edited by Reece Hanzon

Nothing brings the family together like a zombie apocalypse …

Fifteen-year-old Jeremy Barnes would rather watch a zombie movie than shoot a real one, but he has no choice if his family wants to survive the end of the world. Their plan? Drive across the infected United States to a cabin in the Colorado Rockies without a scratch, but their trip takes a complicated detour in the middle of Nebraska when they find Kaylynn, a girl who can handle a baseball bat better than Jeremy can hold a .45 Berretta. And when they stumble into a sanctuary, Jeremy soon learns that Kaylynn is stronger than she looks—a deadly secret lies inside her.

After the radio picks up a distress call from Kansas City about a possible cure, Jeremy’s parents go with a team to investigate. They never return. The only way to find their parents is for Jeremy and his sister Jewel to rely on a dangerous girl who might just turn on them at any moment.

Don't wait! Get yours TODAY!

Amazon -- Amazon.CA -- Amazon.UK -- Amazon.AU -- CreateSpace -- Kindle Store

AND HERE'S WHERE YOU CAN HELP SOME MORE!

ENTER THIS EASY CONTEST!

Visit davidpowersking.com and leave and comment and/or tweet about The Undead Road (at least once) for a chance to win a free ebook. One out of every 10 comments and tweets is a winner!

"Nothing brings the family together like a #zombie #apocalypse..." amzn.to/1RT8xly #99c #kindle! @DavidPowersKing

About the Author:
David Powers King was born in beautiful downtown Burbank, California where his love for film inspired him to be a writer. He is the co-author of the YA fantasy novel WOVEN, published by Scholastic. An avid fan of science fiction and fantasy, David also has a soft spot for zombies and the paranormal. He currently lives deep in the mountain West with his wife and three children.

Blog -- Facebook -- Twitter -- Goodreads -- Newsletter

And don't forget to join Christine Rains, C Lee McKenzie and I for our uplifting MEME BLOGHOP, February 29 - March 4 ...

#Tips for Surviving the #Holidays

Don't you just love this whole concept? I do!

And I'm happy to have Rena over during her blog tour for a guest post. The poor thing is sick, but she's such a trooper, she wrote me a post anyway. Here's Rena!

Thanks for hosting me on my debut book’s blog tour, Tara!

How to Survive the Holidays: A Practical Guide

As you may or may not know, my debut novel, Acne, Asthma,And Other Signs You Might Be Half Dragon released the Monday before Thanksgiving. I haven’t recovered yet, which got me to thinking about how people always go about the holidays sort of grumpy and crazy, so here’s a post on how to survive the hype without pulling your hair out (You’ll want that hair for the pictures they take at the office party).

Tip one: Be flexible. Look around at everything that everyone is trying to do for the holidays and pick ONE thing. Pick the one thing that really makes you happy, and let all the other things be flexible. Now if you’re part of a family, everyone is going to have a different thing, but even so, that might take your crazy schedule down a couple notches as everyone prioritizes their hopes for the Holidays.

Tip two: Don’t hold yourself to the same standard as your neighbor/sister/friend/Martha Stewart who has been planning for the holidays since June. Those people have a lot invested in this time of year, and if you’re the type to survive the holiday, don’t feel bad that your stuff isn’t as awesome. If you’re looking around this year and feeling left out because those people have organized their family into the perfect carol choir, maybe you should consider building up a bit for next year. Which leads me to…

Tip three: Take notes. If you see someone doing something for the holidays that looks awesome and fun, but you can’t manage to do it this year, try planning for it next year.

Tip four: Smile. If you’re in a crabby line at the store, try to remember that the people who are crabby are having a bad day for a ton of different reasons. Maybe someone lost a job. Maybe their dog died, but they still have to put on Christmas. Maybe their heart is made of coal. Hey, it’s legit, that could totally happen.

Okay, there's more, but you don't have time for that! It's the holidays! Good Luck! 

These are my kinda tips, Rena! Thanks for stopping by!
And here's the info on Rena's fabulous debut...

ACNE, ASTHMA, and OTHER SIGNS YOU MIGHT BE HALF DRAGON

Find it: Amazon  |  Goodreads

Allyson fights acne, not trolls. As an inhaler-carrying member of the asthma society, she just wants to meet the father who turned her mother into a paranoid, move-across-the-nation freak. Now she’s trying to fit in at yet another school, but for the first time in her life, she has a best friend, Beth. When Allyson accidentally spits fire at kidnappers in the mall, she realizes why her father isn’t in the picture: she’s half dragon. Her acne? Emerging scales. Her asthma? The side effects of her dragon’s fire breath. Instead of freaking out, unflappable Beth reveals her own troll heritage and explains how things work with the supernatural creatures hiding within the modern world of smartphones and skyscrapers.

When trolls kidnap a unicorn, Beth gets blamed. Allyson is determined to prove Beth’s innocence and keep her friend off the unicorn chopping block. When they start looking for the kidnappers, they get a call from the last person they expect: Allyson’s father. He tries to warn them off, but he’s been put under a spell by the kidnappers to keep the victims from escaping. Nothing short of death can stop him. Now Allyson must choose between killing the father she’s always dreamed of, or letting her best friend die for a crime she didn’t commit.

About the Author:
Living as a muggle has brought Rena some levels of success such as completing her master’s degree, but always the stories returned, calling her to the keyboard in the dark of night. Now, having built armies from words, Rena has set her sights on world domination, one book at a time.

From her secret base in the wine country, Rena has enlisted the help of her cats, her loyal dogs, and her family―who can be relied upon to hide the launch codes at a moment’s notice. You can find Rena at her blog, follow her on Twitter, Goodreads, or find her on Facebook.