The Latest from Tara Tyler: 2020

Hanging in there! and Loving Fall!

We're seven weeks into our school year -- yay! The kids are doing terrific--wearing masks, distancing, behaving, learning, and we're all so happy to be in school. Sick numbers are miniscule and well-maintained. And we're getting creative with events, like socially distanced sporting event watch parties and an awesome Trivia Extravaganza Homecoming Party with super-tasty food trucks.

My army son was in town and came and helped--made it that much more special!

We've been making the most of everything and having a blast! I hope you are surviving and thriving in your neck of America.

COMING SOON!

I've been making time to do some writing and creating.

Here's a little-seen cover concept for my latest Un-Princess Novella

-- GERTRUDE, the Nerdy Princess

Gertrude doesn't fit in with the other poufy princesses at the School for Young Royals, and they make sure she knows it. But when she gets pushed too far, she runs away--and gets lost. But Gertrude is too stubborn to wait and be rescued. She's going to be a queen some day, so she needs to save herself, along with the wild, deaf boy she found in the supposedly inescapable, haunted forest. Even if the Night Witch is real, Gertrude will take her on too. This is what she should've been training for!

Coming Soon!

The rest of the UnPrincess adventures:

Jolissa, An Anti-Princess Story, Two Princesses, Princess B

What else is NEW!

Here's more of what I've been up to lately...

I republished all my books and ebooks except DISPOSAL and touching up WINDY HOLLOW.
Here's what I'm reading -- some great stuff for my writer friends - I'm lucky to get first dibs!

BUBBA AND SQUIRT'S MAYAN ADVENTURE

by Sherry Ellis

Bubba and Squirt travel through the mysterious vortex for another wild adventure and meet archeologists who are unearthing priceless artifacts. But someone is stealing them. And an encounter with the Tate Duende awakens magic within Bubba. Throw in the mysterious Alux and a new discovery and things get sticky. Will Bubba and Squirt solve the mystery, or will they be stuck forever in the jungles of Belize?

and on the other end of the spectrum...

LOVE AND OTHER LIES

by M.J. Fifield

Lavinia Kelly is going through the motions, keeping her pain buried. Then new, hot guy Llewellyn Weiss comes to town, and she has trouble denying her attraction to him. But it’ll take a lot more than witty banter and a flawless set of abs to change her mind.

Llewellyn has a few secrets of his own—secrets that, when they come to light, shake Lavinia to her core. Her past is thrust front and center, the present explodes, and she finally gives a crap about the future. Walking away isn’t an option, but there’s no telling where the alternative might lead. Or what it may cost. One thing’s for certain: nothing will ever be the same again.

As for my own work, I'm really moving on CONDUCTION, Pop Travel #4 - here's my first go at a blurb...

CONDUCTION by Tara Tyler

Pop Travel Series #4

Cooper loves his new role as Mr. Mom taking care of the baby while Geri works for the greater good, but he'd also love to get his hands dirty in a new case. So when someone steals the Conduction research from his tech-genius friend Jared and frames him for murder, Cooper is ready to work.

The race is on to free Jared, find out who the real killer is and who wants the cutting-edge tech. Geri and Jared's wife Miki go one way, while Cooper and Hasan go another. Things get more complicated when someone is pop-napped, another body is found, and Hasan can't stop ranting about all his wedding guests daring to cancel. They all need to work together, juggling their complicated lives while keeping each other safe so they can nab the villain--and save Hasan's nuptials. Finally, Cooper has a good challenge.

And I'm SOOOOO EXCITED to be doing an actual IN-PERSON EVENT!!

GIRLS NIGHT OUT - NOV 14th

in Lebanon, OH

@ Mulberry Street Books

I have to do inventory--it's been so long! I know wallets are tight right now, so I won't expect much in sales. But it's the perfect local event to get back into the swing of it and mingle with readers.

Lastly, I'm hosting a BLOG HOP at my place: 30 Days of Gratitude, a countdown to Thanksgiving. Join in with Pics, Posts, Tweets, and Likes!

It's been a long year, and it's not over yet. Hang in there! We can get through it together.

Final Note - Don't forget on my BLOG, the continuing episodes of a short story: THE DAY DAVE BROKE THE INTERNET

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Enjoy the sweater weather

and hold your loved ones tight.

Everything is better together.

Everything's gonna be all right!

Thank Goodness 2020 is HALF OVER!

I hope you are surviving the chaos of 2020. Remember when chaos used to be juggling work, kids, relationships, physical and mental health, and Murphy's Law? Everything was simpler then...

But Americans are survivors! We are social distancing, wearing masks, and supporting each other. I am happy to say that my friends (and I'd guess the majority of people in general) are NOT spouting hurtful things into the social atmosphere. We are intelligent and respectful of each other's differences and differing opinions. We listen. And if our views conflict, we use language and logic to express ourselves. Sometimes we agree to disagree, and that's okay. And we stay friends. My friends reside across the spectrum in all manner of diversities. And as far as I know, I haven't lost any of my friends in this chaotic time. I hope that goes for you too!

After surviving online teaching, I thought I'd be writing so much this summer. Unfortunately, I've been too tensed up and saddened. My writing seems trivial compared to all the pain and suffering out there. Though I want to see some positive news, I have to avoid watching it. All the news channels magnify bad behavior because it gives them ratings. And with everyone voicing opinions, it's hard to know what's real and true. Where has all the good news gone?

To pull myself out of this funk, I want to help. I'm going to do what I can in my own neck of America. Here are a few things I came up with that I'd like to try:

Free Tutoring for At-Risk Kids
Free Motivational Presentations
Donating Time & Money - with research into where the money goes
Positive, Encouraging Posts - which I try to do anyway, just need to do more!
Produce Positive Videos

With all the chaos going on, I don't have much writing progress to report. No live book events, no new publications... But for those times I can escape the chaos, I do have a few things in the works:

On my BLOG, I'm posting episodes of a short story all summer, and beyond: THE DAY DAVE BROKE THE INTERNET

I hope to finish editing SIMULATION for re-publication before school starts
I plan to submit an "out there" short story for the annual IWSG Anthology Contest - it's with my critique partner
GERTRUDE, THE NERDY PRINCESS is almost ready for publication...
I've started typing the first draft of CONDUCTION, Pop Travel #4

So I have a lot to work on, and plenty of time. I just need motivation. I think many of us do, especially when we can't get out of the house and chat together with friends. So we need to perk each other up in other ways...