TIME FOR A TREK INTO THE FOREST.....

Hi, Everyone....

Today I'd like to repost a blast from the not so distant past.... 

BECAUSE my Friend and co-blogger has come out with BOOK II of her amazing fantasy series....


HAVE you ever dreamed of creatures just steps away living in your nearby forest?  

One can only guess what or who is lurking within the trees, ravines, brooks, or under foot.

Are they friend, or foe?

Are they zombies, ready to eat your brains?

Or fairies to delight and entertain you with their grace and charm?

Perhaps mischievous elves, wanting to place you under their spell?

What about frolicking water nymphs, to serenade and calm you with a  tranquil dance.

Or maybe, just maybe, something more...

Welcome to BROKEN BRANCH FALLS

by 

Tara Tyler

Tara is visiting today.... YAY! She is on tour with BOOK TWO- CRADLE ROCK. But today Tara is telling us about her Craziest Spring break.... Take it away Tara~

Spring Break is like Vegas - what happens there, stays there… So many details of my trip have been omitted! But I bet this is lame compared to some!

In high school, I was a total nerd. Guys looked at me as a friend and an answer key. I started to blossom my senior year, but I really broke out of my shell in college. New found independence and a makeover do wonders for a nerdy girl’s image - just look at what Penny did for Amy Farrah Fowler!

My craziest spring break took place my senior year in college. I brought my good friend "Lewanda" down to my house in South Florida. We had a nice time with my parents and sister and local friends. The exciting parts happened on the way home...

I’d just started dating the love of my life, or so I thought, and he and his buddy happened to be staying in Daytona. Lewanda and I made plans to meet them and give them a ride back to school. Their place was a dump, but that stuff doesn’t matter when you’re young. We went to the beach and some clubs and had a great time! This guy was the one, in my eyes.

Since the hike back to school was so long, I offered to ask one of my high school buddies if we could stay at his place for a night. He went to FSU which was on our way, and was happy to have us. When we got there, he took us out to a party and showed us all a good time.

Once we settled in for the night, my buddy scooted up next to me on the floor. Though my friend Lewanda was snoring next to me, and the boys were in the next room, he started putting the moves on me. I was half asleep and thought it was my beau…

I stopped as soon as I realized who it was. Then, we heard someone walking around and froze, pretending to be asleep. I felt terrible. When the roamer left, I scolded my buddy. He chuckled an apology. We’d been good friends for a long time, and he was very laid back, never taking things seriously. He explained he’d never gotten the courage to try anything with me before. I told him he had terrible timing, and I was in love with my beau. He understood and said he would be there for me if things didn’t work out. So awkward!

I went into the other room and confessed everything to my beau. He was definitely upset, but he forgave me.

To top off our crazy spring break, the next day, we were rear-ended at a light! And still many miles from school. No one was hurt, thank goodness, but what a scary experience for a bunch of clueless college kids to deal with in the middle of nowhere!

*** NOTE: all of the above took place WITHOUT CELL PHONES! A true adventure!***

The saga of me and my beau was serious. We even got engaged. But alas, it wasn’t meant to be… Later, I dated my buddy, but he was a little too laid back for me. After several more failed attempts, I finally settled down with the right guy at the right time.

The lesson for this story? Be true to yourself. Be open to new experiences, but keep your eyes open! A solid relationship forms when two people have similar values and goals, not just a strong attraction. And don’t give up on lasting love - it shows up when you least expect it!

In Cradle Rock, Gabe is a goblin deeply in love with ogress Ona, but he lets her have the space and freedom to be herself and she adores him more for it.

Thanks so much Michael, for joining in my release party and letting me tell this reminiscent story. And I can't wait to hear how you like Cradle Rock! But I don't know how you will top your Broken Branch Falls splendorific rendition!

Have any of you been on any crazy, memorable trips? I know you have! Do tell! 
You are soooo welcome Tara! I will be posting my review soon! And yes, I totally love 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

LOFT CLOSING, MOVING, and INSANITY....BUT, ALWAYS INSECURITIES in WRITING...LOL

Hi, All,

Sorry for the late post, but I just realized today is the FIRST Wednesday of the month!

Thanks to Alex we have one day each month to VENT... LOL. Be sure to visit our other members for support, cheering, and advice.

Today has been just a whirlwind. The temps dropped in Chicago to the deep freeze it usually is. So maneuvering around the city with the crazy wind has not been fun. Yesterday, while moving, a wind gust pinned me and a the cover to my mop flew at me, grazed just beneath my eye and hit me on the side of the nose. UGH... thankfully it was only plastic, but it left a nice bump and under my eye is all red. Looks like someone punched me in the eye. Not black, but red. So needless to say....

I closed on my loft today! YAY! So now I am officially a renter in Chicago again. It feels right. I found a stunning 17th floor corner unit with 10 ft. Wrap around, ceiling to floor windows with a SE exposure. My favorite lighting source. I even semi cooked inside my apartment today. Had to draw the blinds. It actually got up to 77 degrees in my apt and I had the heat set to 68. But now the drafts through the windows dropped the temp inside considerably... AH, winter in Chicago! What I love most, I actually will have an amazing writing/art space EVENTUALLY. Right now the spare room is stuffed with boxes and everything imaginable. It will take me until Christmas to dig my way through it. Lol...

Although my mood was lifted today with finally saying farewell to the loft, although beautiful, it is wonderful to be free, I did get a rejection on a short story... so I am kind of depressed about that. It seems most other things in my life seem to be moving along, but not my writing. I'm honestly not sure why. I have always received great reviews from other talented writers and readers, but it seems the publishers are not too impressed. It saddens me. I just don't know what to do next as far as my writing goes. 

Maybe once I settle again and write something new, maybe that is what I must do. I just wish I had the drive.

Anyway. That is what life is dishing me these days. I should be in Florida, but I am still here. I hope to be packing up the car and pup and escaping soon. I wish I could leave now.... Single digit temps are forecasted for next week.... UGH! HELP! LOL.... I can't leave here until I finish up with my design client and setting my place up. My story doesn't seem to change, but I always appreciate my wonderful writer friends encouraging me along my journey which seems to lead nowhere.... Maybe I am just a literary lover and nothing more. I spin words into visions and atmosphere, but perhaps that just isn't enough. Time will certainly tell. 

I miss all of you and think of you often! I hope you can forgive my absence, but every time I renter our world, I seem to be whisked away! 

HUGS to ALL of you and WISHING YOU ALL THE MOST AMAZING HOLIDAY SEASON!