The Bumpy Journey of Publishing

Patience Pays Off
WINDY HOLLOW!
Beast World - Book 3

The saga of publishing my 6th book... and beyond!
I am so excited to finally have a magnificent cover for WINDY HOLLOW! It's been so hard waiting to hear from my publisher. They have downsized and are changing their business model (not great phrases to hear) Each time they finally respond, I get my hopes up, then they fall again when weeks go by with no news or progress updates. I've had to hound them. I eventually had to pay for the cover  myself--but it was worth it to keep the same talented artist (Ricky Gunawan) from the first two books. This also shows you what shape my publisher is in... But I'm still clinging to the promise of publication in April. They came through with my last book order for my February event. And he knows how dire the need is to get WINDY HOLLOW into print for my next book fair at the end of the month. Keep praying and crossing fingers! So close!

I also updated the BOOK TRAILER! with the new cover... 
Give it a look and a like, if you have a chance!

(Follow my Youtube Channel!)

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~~ RECENT EVENTS ~~
After a chilly winter, I was ready to get out there!

Hopewell Junior High
I had a blast giving four presentations to some animated 7th & 8th graders.
I even made some new fans!

Mason High School Chronicle
I was so honored to have one of my former students ask to interview me for the school newspaper.
Here's a link to the full article. She did a fantastic job!

 And I had to do a few test shots...

Then, one of my current students asked to do an article for our Badin HS paper!

These events made me feel special at a time I was feeling pretty low
about my publisher and writing in general. God takes care of us!

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Bookishness

Where I answer commonly asked questions and pass on writerly advice... My favorite, inquisitive fan on Goodreads has asked me many awesome questions, and I get to share them with you!

BookwormNerd: Besides your own books, what do you love to read?

Answer: I love reading sci fi, fantasy, and thrillers. But I've met some great authors who've broadened my scope and keep me reading their books (even a little romance, which is not my go-to genre!) My favorite authors are Michael Crichton, Piers Anthony, and Janet Evanovich, plus many more.

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What I'm Reading...

• I recently finished OF GODS AND SORROW by Christine Rains Book Two in her Demonic Sorrow series. High tension story with a thrilling, cliff-hanger conclusion!
• I'm still steadily reading SHADOW WARRIOR, the Mechanica Wars Book 2 by Jay Noel

What I'm Writing...

• FARTHER ALONG - I've decided to try to read it through once more and toss it to my critique partners. I'm really struggling to beef it up. Worry drains the creative juices...
• GERTRUDE (the Nerdy Princess) UnPrincess novella #4 - I'm stalled on this one too. But I've incorporated the help of my DAD to help with the illustrations. I know seeing his drawings will totally inspire me to get it done and published myself!
• Way in the future, the 4th POP TRAVEL novel is parked in the loading zone. I also have to spin it as a new novel in the event I start searching to publish elsewhere... maybe the universe is telling me something...
• I also hope to rejuvenate Beast World book 4 and spin it into a 3 book series starring Gabe's genius little sister Ginny. Never a shortage of adventures!

Where I'll be...

April

• April 16? - WINDY HOLLOW Release!! (been here before, let's hope it sticks this time!)
• April 27 - Ohioana in Columbus, OH. Great go-to event. They're holding it in the main library this year. And I will be on a panel again -- love doing author panels! Should be interesting... Things are always changing!

May & June

• I'll be in the stands, watching my youngest play ball. And hopefully writing. I get tons done in those long innings and type it up in the hotel rooms... Ah, the life of a baseball mom--I love it!
• I also plan to visit some friends on the road -- some writers and some not. Summer break will be a blast!

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If you like to read, tweet, and help others--I'd love to have you join my STREET TEAM! I treat my team to sneak peeks, and special swag for offering their services and time.

Please fill out this FORM if you're interested.

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Subscribe to Tara Tyler's Newsletter 

~~ Available for PRESENTATIONS, BOOK CLUBS, and BOOK TALKS ~~

Looking Forward

Time for a Spoonful of Sugar

You never know where the twists and turns of the ever unpredictable journey of life will take you. We just have to deal with what comes around the next bend, keep looking for the positives, and move on. I first found out life doesn't always go as planned when my fiance and I broke up in college--it was a devastating time. But I lived and things worked out. If I hadn't gone through that sorrow, I never would've lived on my own and had crazy adventures with so many new friends who eventually led me to become a writer and somehow get published! (and have a happy family too!)

Now, I have been thrown another curve ball. I mentioned this before, but my publisher is deciding where it is heading--up or out. I've seen many a small publisher thrive, then dive. And authors are the ones who suffer the most. I still believe I can squeak out Windy Hollow as promised. But the fate of my 6 books and any future books will most likely be on hold for a time as I figure out what to do next. Looks like it's back to querying for me! Starting over isn't fun--but sometimes it must be done!

And don't worry, I'll keep you informed. A writer's got to write!

WINDY HOLLOW
scheduled for release:
1/29/19

Still waiting on that Cover...

But LOOK! I made a BOOK TRAILER!

Follow my Youtube Channel!

*** I can always use reviewers. ***

Let me know if you're interested and I'll send you an e-copy.

And if you'd like to review any of my books, 

I'd be happy to mail you a print version--

plus some swag!

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~~ RECENT EVENTS ~~
Fall had me moving and grooving!

West Virginia Book Festival
So happy to see my wonderful friend and fellow author/really real housewife
Elizabeth Seckman!

Small Business Shopping Fair
A local event--just in time for Christmas sales!
No pics at the event, but I made some special ornaments to give away with my books--
they were a big hit!

I know Christmas is over, but if you'd like one for next year, just ask!

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Bookishness

Where I answer commonly asked questions and pass on writerly advice... Lately, I have a new fan on Goodreads who's been filling my in-box with awesome questions. I love it! Now, I get to share them with you. The first is my favorite and a multi-question. This section just got more interesting!

BookwormNerd: Hello Ms. Tyler. I think you are so cool! YOUR BOOKS ARE AMAZING!!! What is your writing process? What is your favorite thing to do, when not writing? What is your favorite color? How did you develop you characters, like Cooper is "Pop Travel" Thank you for your time, you rock!!!

Answer: Thank you for your questions, you are very sweet!
My writing process -- I get a general idea, then I outline a rough plot, then I write a first draft and keep adding details until it's ready to send to my readers who help me polish it.
Favorite thing to do besides writing -- playing card and board games with my family =)
Favorite color -- purple
My main characters are usually a mixture of people I know, characters from books and movies, and a little bit of myself. As the stories progress, they come alive, and I discover more about them than I realized!

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What I'm Reading...

• One of my favorite authors, Christine Rains, recently released, OF GODS AND SORROW, book two in her Demonic Sorrow series. Demons rule!
• Don't know why I kid myself that I can read two books at once, but I love escaping to different worlds... steadily reading SHADOW WARRIOR, the Mechanica Wars Book 2 by Jay Noel

What I'm Writing...

• FARTHER ALONG - Still chugging away. As I mentioned, life has been forcing me to pay more attention to it and less on my writing... but I won't give up!
• GERTRUDE (the Nerdy Princess) UnPrincess novella #4 - I've actually just about finished the rough draft for this, as I've been subbing more--giving me time to write in snippets at school.
• The 4th POP TRAVEL novel - I'm halfway through this draft as well. Writing in notebooks is easy during a movie I have to watch six times (sub-life) So many twists and turns, I love this series!
• Crazy as it sounds, an outline for the next BEAST WORLD has taken shape--this one focuses on Ginny and a new daring friend with a sordid past...

Where I'll be...

January

• At home--settling into our new place, still trying to sell the old one. Wish us luck!
• January 29 - WINDY HOLLOW Release!!

February

• February 14 - 7:30-11:30 Author Presentation at Hopewell Junior High School. Life put me in as a sub for the most enthusiastic language arts teacher who was looking for an author to speak at her school. Right place, right time. So looking forward to this talk!
• February 15/16 - WINDY HOLLOW Release Party. Time & Location TBD. Half Price Books or a coffee shop are tops on the list. Coordinating with my presentation!

March

• Spring Break looks promising for an event in Georgia. But I'm okay with taking a breather as I look ahead to Summer events.

Wrap up in a cute poncho
(like this one I got from my son's sweet girlfriend-I love her!)
and a cozy story this winter!

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If you like to read, tweet, and help others--join my STREET TEAM!

I treat my team for offering their services and time to sneak peeks, and special swag.

Please fill out this FORM if you're interested.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Subscribe to Tara Tyler's Newsletter 

~~ Available for SCHOOL PRESENTATIONS, BOOK CLUBS, and BOOK TALKS ~~

Who's got the time?

Oh how Time Flies!
Thrilled to be a part of this year's
 IWSG Anthology:
TICK TOCK - A STITCH IN CRIME

TICK TOCK - A STITCH IN CRIME
IWSG Anthology #3
Release Date: May 1, 2018

The clock is ticking...

Can a dead child’s cross-stitch pendant find a missing nun? Is revenge possible in just 48 minutes? Can a killer be stopped before the rescuers are engulfed by a city ablaze? Who killed what the tide brought in? Can a soliloquizing gumshoe stay out of jail?

Exploring the facets of time, eleven authors delve into mysteries and crimes that linger in both dark corners and plain sight. Featuring the talents of Gwen Gardner, Rebecca M. Douglass, Tara Tyler, S. R. Betler, C.D. Gallant-King, Jemi Fraser, J. R. Ferguson, Yolanda Renée, C. Lee McKenzie, Christine Clemetson, and Mary Aalgaard.


Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these eleven tales will take you on a thrilling ride into jeopardy and secrecy. Trail along, find the clues, and stay out of danger. Can't wait! Anticipation is a killer!

My story is RESET:
Twelve-year-old Casey has no time for her quirky family.
Mr. Zander has been searching for the perfect specimen to save his.

When Casey walks into Mr. Zander's clock repair shop, he sees her as a prime contender and coerces her to help him. Hopefully, the machine will work this time.

Find out more:

Tick Tock Blog  - - Goodreads - - Facebook

Also coming out soon:

How cute is this!!
Illustrated by Imani Allen

I finally found a fabulous illustrator and some wonderful beta readers to give it the final touches and care it needed! Very excited to get this out there - and especially happy to bring it with me when I go to Atlanta and do a show there - that's where my inspiration came from, when I taught there.

PRINCESS B

Unconventional Princesses #3

Release Date: April 10, 2018!

Twelve-year-old Bria Randall is the “man” of the house, now that her older brother Kendrick went missing. Though caring for little sis Shae is a tough job, she does what needs done. When Princess B finds a stuffed dragon keychain, he gives her some magical help to stand up to the evils that threaten them, and comforts them as Kendrick once did. But some things Princess B must face alone. She’ll do anything for a happy ending.

Book trailer and more images next newsletter!

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~~ RECENT EVENTS ~~

These are from Conglomeration - Louisville, KY - 3/31/18

These are my favorite swag items so far!
And they were a big hit!

added a little purple pizzazz!

table was perfect!

Princess Vader stole the show
and strangled everyone in sight!

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Bookishness

Where I answer commonly asked questions and pass on writerly advice...

Q&A - How do you come up with your ideas? I get my story ideas from life, from my students, from past experiences, from songs, and from daily what ifs... We are surrounded by potential stories, it just takes a wild imagination and then loads of research... Of course, my favorite inspiration to get writing is to read a book!

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April ~ May ~ June

April Fool-Me-Not!

I always look forward to Spring and heading back out to the events. It's also baseball season where I get to see my son play ball and write in the stands between pitches...

May - It's TIME!

The TICK TOCK anthology will be released this month! And hopefully, I'll be working on edits for WINDY HOLLOW - the publisher said it would be released in 2019... I'll have to keep on them!

June - busy bee month!
I didn't do Spring Break in Atlanta because I'll be headed there for 2 weeks of baseball and spending time with the folks! Plus 2 or 3 writing events - including a scriptwriter's meeting! Really looking forward to it!

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What I'm Reading...

• I've started several and seeing which one "takes" - I'll report back later
• Also busy proofreading!

What I'm Writing...

• FARTHER ALONG - Typing up the first draft. Would love to have it ready to submit in the Fall. I should be able to crash through edits this summer! Wishful thinking.
• MAGIC STORM - I'm hoping to start back into this one, now that I have another potential artist to help me create a graphic novel - not a comic, but a book with lots of pictures.
• GERTRUDE (the Nerdy Princess) UnPrincess novella #4 - Outline complete, ready for rough draft!
• The 4th POP TRAVEL novel - CONDUCTION. Outline in the works. New fathers Jared and Cooper are the stars of this one.
• Looking forward to transforming one of my favorite author's stories/series into a screenplay... The 13th Floor series by Christine Rains - ooo doggie!

Where I'll be...

April

• April 14 - Ohioana in Columbus. This is my fourth year. Always a success. Love this event!

May

• Staying close to home with my second son graduating from high school. That's two college kiddos - ack! I need a movie deal to pay for this stuff!!

June

• June 16 - Lift Up Atlanta - a vendor event where proceeds go toward local Atlanta families in need. Excited to be doing an event back where it all started!
• June 19 - Atlanta Film Society - can't wait to hob knob with other screenwriting hopefuls and looking forward to hearing some award winning advice. Maybe I should lower my expectations a bit, eh?

Warmer weather is finally here,
So I painted my toenails and shaved my legs - Let's go!

Subscribe to Tara Tyler's Newsletter 

~~ Available for SCHOOL PRESENTATIONS, BOOK CLUBS, and BOOK TALKS ~~