Cradle Rock blog tour

I'm so please to have the ever awesome Tara Tyler here today! I'm huge on the outdoors. We get a state park pass every year and love to explore. Here are some hiking do's and don't's from Tara.

When I was younger, single, and carefree, I didn’t know how great I had it! The freedom was ridiculous compared to now. It was basically just me and my dog, Cody. Greatest dog ever!

We lived in scenic Georgia, and Cody and I would go to parks and hike all the time. Loved going to waterfalls, rivers, and mountains. Nothing major, but it was a lot of fun. I miss those times!

Today, I’m sharing a few pics and some do’s and don’t’s for hiking!

CODY!

DO'S

• Do Scope out the park before you go - if you’re a beginner, don’t do a five mile hike through rough terrain. The levels of difficulty are usually marked.
• Do Pay attention and watch your step - roots and branches and rocks pop up out of nowhere! - some side paths are not meant for you! - shady trails dry slowly, watch for slippery mud.
• Do Use a “map my walk” app - it keeps track of how far you walk and you’re less likely to get lost.
• Do Be aware of wildlife, you’re walking around in their house.
• Do Wear comfortable, sturdy, not afraid to get dirty shoes.
• Do Dress appropriately, trails are usually cooler than the temperature predicts.
• Do Bring water.
• Do Remember where you parked.
• Do Donate if there’s a box for it. Save the parks!
• Do Take only pictures and leave only footprints!

DON'T'S

• Don’t litter!
• Don’t jump in the river - it may look inviting on a hot summer day, but rivers are quick-moving and frigid year round! Fishing is fine if it’s legal
• Don’t go too far. Pace yourself. If you start to feel winded or tired, head back. Unless you’re doing a loop, remember the return trip is as far as the trip out.
• Don’t freak out if you lose reception - I never had a phone in my hiking days, no one did for thousands of years and we survived! - use the sun as your guide
• Don’t be afraid to go by yourself, I did most of my hiking trips with just me and my puppy and many times I never saw another soul. But these days, bringing a friend might be safer…

Recently, I brought my boys hiking on one of the easy trails near my parents. Unfortunately, it was spring and the bees were happily buzzing in droves, so these “citified” boys didn’t enjoy it as much as they should have.

In Beast World, the young beasts have to hike around in uncharted territory, facing many dangers in unmarked forests. They experience more Don’t’s than Do’s! Gabe is hardly an outdoorsman, but he is determined. And with his werewolf buddy, Rove, they’re able to traverse the wilds.

Kids these days need more exposure to fresh air and nature and discovery! My recommendation to everyone in this stressed out, virtual world of technology…

TAKE A HIKE!

Thanks so much for having me, Christine! Always love stopping by here. Do you guys have any hiking experience or advice? I'd love to hear it!

WELCOME BACK TO THE FOREST!

CRADLE ROCK, Beast World Book Two

by Tara Tyler

Gabe the goblin just saved his town Broken Branch Falls from splitting apart. He also revealed that humans--horrible creatures of myth and legend--may actually be part of their history! But seriously? Nah!

Now Ona, Gabe’s girlfriend, is headed thousands of miles away to Camp Cradle Rock for Spring Break seeking evidence of humans. Gabe knows better than to tell a stubborn ogress she’s crazy, so he’s letting her go and spending the break at the beach like a normal teenage beast. And he’s determined to have a good time without her, whether he likes it or not.

But when Gabe hears Ona went missing, he and his friends set out for the wilds of the west to find her, no matter what dangerous creatures get in his way. Not even humans.

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Check out the Book Trailer!

Tara Tyler has had a hand in everything from waitressing to rocket engineering. After moving all over, she now writes and teaches math in Ohio with her three active boys and Coach Husband. Currently she has two series, Pop Travel (techno-thriller detective capers) and Broken Branch Falls (fantasy adventures). To squeeze in writing, she economizes her time aka the Lazy Housewife. Make every day an adventure!

Talk to me!
Author Blog ~~ @taratylertalks ~~ Facebook ~~ Housewives Blog


I'm also giving away signed copies of Broken Branch Falls and Cradle Rock, some Beast World swag, and a $20 GC!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cradle Rock flies into retailers!

WELCOME BACK TO THE FOREST!

Gabe the goblin just saved his town Broken Branch Falls from splitting apart. He also revealed that humans--horrible creatures of myth and legend--may actually be part of their history! But seriously? Nah!

Now Ona, Gabe’s girlfriend, is headed thousands of miles away to Camp Cradle Rock for Spring Break seeking evidence of humans. Gabe knows better than to tell a stubborn ogress she’s crazy, so he’s letting her go and spending the break at the beach like a normal teenage beast. And he’s determined to have a good time without her, whether he likes it or not.

But when Gabe hears Ona went missing, he and his friends set out for the wilds of the west to find her, no matter what dangerous creatures get in his way. Not even humans.

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Check out the Book Trailer!

Three cheers for Tara! I'm so lucky to have already read Tara's newest awesome release. I love her Beast World series. It gives me the same feelings as the Harry Potter world. Check out my review for Cradle Rock and go pick yourself up a copy!

Here is the list of wonderful CRADLE ROCK RELEASE PARTY POST HOSTS:

	12/5	Patricia Lynne	Nerds Rule
	12/5	Heather R. Holden	Vampires
	12/7	Juneta Key	author spotlight interview
	12/9	Julie Flanders	Teenagers Now vs 80s
	12/9	Elizabeth Seckman	Beast-themed Recipe
	12/12	Lori L. MacLaughlin	Merfolk
	12/14	Sharon Bayliss	Ogres
	12/14	Tyrean Martinson	5 Reasons to use Chapter Titles
	12/16	Michael Di Gesu	Craziest Spring Break Trip
	12/17	Cathrina Constantine	Teen Dating
	12/19	Christine Rains	Hiking Faux Pas
	12/19	Alex J. Cavanaugh	Beast vs Monster - terminology
	12/21	Ann Noser	CR Quotes
	12/21	Heather M. Gardner	Discrimination - joking vs hurting
	1/4	Ken Rahmoeller	Dragons
	1/4	L. Diane Wolfe	Marketing Tips - Live & Online
	1/9	C Lee McKenzie	Grownup Stereotypes
	1/11	M. J. Fifield	Crazy Road Trip
	1/25	Crystal Collier	Poetry & Songs in Stories - Writerly Wed

Tara is also giving away signed copies of Broken Branch Falls and Cradle Rock, some Beast World swag, and a $20 GC!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sharing a little bit of excitement!

Guess who I met on Saturday at Sci-Fi Central?

I met the awesome Tara Tyler!
She did wonderfully on her panel about sci-fi films and books. She's one fun and smart woman.

There were tons of people dressed up and lots of Star Wars stuff. My little guy had tons of fun exploring the museum. (Yes, the convention was in the children's science museum!) Tara had a table beautifully set up. I got her to sign my copy of Broken Branch Falls. Did you know the sequel is coming out in a few months? I've been lucky enough to read Cradle Rock already. Check out my review on Goodreads!

* * *

Only two weeks until the release of Dark Dawning (Totem #1)!

If you've subscribed to my newsletters, you've been getting Totem tidbits, excerpts, and giveaways! You can subscribe right now by popping your email address into the handy little widget on the right there. I'll continue to share all these goodies through to the release of the third book in November.

Pre-order Dark Dawning now!

What's Hot Now? and What's Coming Up Next? - guest post by Tara Tyler

You can find me over at Story Dam today with a guest post on being a hybrid author. Now let me hand you over to my awesome guest blogger today: Tara Tyler!

Thanks so much for having me, Christine! And thanks to you all for stopping by!

Everyone wants to know what's going to be the latest trend? What genre are agents looking for? What's going to sell? So after some research, I wanted to give you my quick take on...

WHAT'S HOT NOW? and WHAT'S COMING UP NEXT?

My research is based on what publishers and ezines are searching for and buying for anthologies and short stories, plus articles I've read from the publishing industry. One article I read at Kirkus Reviews had input from a ton of agents and industry professionals. All these combined, they confirmed most of my findings and predictions, but also had some fresh ideas, which is what we need, right?

The hard part is, trends don't last. We writers know it takes about a year to polish a novel. And if we aren't lucky enough to be cooking what's hot while it's heating up, we may miss the pie eating contest!

But don't throw away that manuscript that missed the boat. I also believe trends come and go in cycles. Most genres run their course in popularity, then a new one shows up or a classic returns - remember chick lit and vampires? Well, being a mathematician, I follow patterns and think I can make some sound predictions. But I'm also a believer in the fickle, unpredictable public - which is why I just go with my gut! And you should too!

So here are my assessments and predictions...

What's HOT Now?

• Fairy Tales Retold - lots of folks asking for spins on traditional fairy tales, but most writers know that most stories are based on ancient tales anyway, so we got this!
• Not So Super Heroes - alternative lifestyles, weird-not-necessarily-tragic beginnings, hints of deviousness and lots of inner conflict
• Horror Fantasy/Historical Horror - what's with all the horror? I think people are so jaded these days, it's hard to scare them! Don't hold back with these tainted twists
• Diversity and Disability - everyone has story and we want to see them through the eyes of different people, not the same old-same old
• Adult Coloring Books - no, this is NOT X-rated Adult, but therapeutic detailed, coffee and coloring because we don't like being an adult coloring books! (I think this is millennial inspired)

Here's a peek into my crystal ball for Upcoming Trends!

• Sci Fi/Fantasy - I think it's already started with the current TV shows, but it has so many possibilities mixing technology with paranormal/magical elements (like Star Wars!) - but with great power comes great conflict! With all the gadgets and magic, there have to be huge obstacles, fallibilities, and limitations...
• Dark Heroes - contrasting a dark heart with a twinge of conscience or an awesome super hero with a serious problem that catches up with her, secrets, deception, playing two sides, not always a happy ending.
• Alternate POVs - overlooked MCs - the custodian, the checkout person, the garbage man, the ER receptionist - they have stories too, many more stories than a single hero, and these stories affect their lives.
• Virtual Thrillers - first person POV, really get into their heads, limited information, scare the reader with dire, drastic thoughts, like a virtual reality video game you can't control or escape.
• Techno Fun - a mix of the latest technology, horror, and suspense. You are being watched, followed, and documented - whether you like it or not! Many stories can be discovered and uncovered, like dead bodies through Pokemon Go - it's just the beginning!
• dare I say... Chick Lit! - NA (new adult) didn't seem to catch on as a reboot of Chick Lit, but I know there's an audience who loves young love, drama, and humor. These are all Rom Coms or Contemporary Romance! But they need a transformation. Or do they? Maybe just a new title, but definitely more Lit than Chick!
• more Illustrations - the dwindling attention span needs visual stimulation...

But it always comes down to this - WRITE A GOOD STORY AND WRITE IT WELL. You want to know how a trend starts? By touching a reader's heart. Make readers feel something, feel enough to tell others about the book they just finished and couldn't put down. That's how a trend is born.

What trends are you digging now?
Do you think these are accurate predictions? Working on any right now?
And what kind of story would YOU like to see?

CRADLE ROCK
by Tara Tyler
Publication Date: December 1, 2016

Welcome to the forest.
Gabe and his girlfriend Ona are headed in opposite directions for Spring Break. After finding out humans might be a real part of their history, Ona is determined to dig up evidence of them in the mysterious mountains at Camp Cradle Rock. Being a logical goblin, Gabe tries to talk her out of it, but there's just no reasoning with a stubborn ogress.

When Ona goes missing, Gabe and his friends fly to Cradle Rock to search for her and discover a village of trouble, igniting an age old war. His physical skills may be lacking, but Gabe won't give up. With the help of his diverse group of friends, he will find a way to save his girl and maybe all beastkind. Humans, bah!

Add to your Reading List on Goodreads!

 

Tara Tyler has had a hand in everything from waitressing to rocket engineering. After moving all over, she now writes and teaches math in Ohio with her three active boys and Coach Husband. Currently she has two series, Pop Travel (techno-thriller detective capers) and Broken Branch Falls (fantasy adventures). To squeeze in writing, she economizes her time aka the Lazy Housewife. Make every day an adventure!

Talk to me!
Author Blog ~~ @taratylertalks ~~ Facebook ~~ Housewives Blog

Goblins, Dragons, and Humans, Oh My! - Cradle Rock cover reveal

CRADLE ROCK

by Tara Tyler

Release Date: December 1, 2016

Welcome to the forest.

Gabe and his girlfriend Ona are headed in opposite directions for Spring Break. After finding out humans might be a real part of their history, Ona is determined to dig up evidence of them in the mysterious mountains at Camp Cradle Rock. Being a logical goblin, Gabe tries to talk her out of it, but there's just no reasoning with a stubborn ogress.

When Ona goes missing, Gabe and his friends fly to Cradle Rock to search for her and discover a village of trouble, igniting an age old war. His physical skills may be lacking, but Gabe won't give up. With the help of his diverse group of friends, he will find a way to save his girl and maybe all beastkind. Humans, bah!

Mark it to read on Goodreads!

And here's the book trailer! With sketches from my super fantastic inside illustrator, Laura Kramer.