Showing posts with label Tara Tyler. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tara Tyler. Show all posts

Monday, August 4, 2014

Never enough time? You can find it!

Happy Monday, friends. ☺

Today, I'm honored to have my good friend Tara Tyler stop by my blog as she continues on her Broken Branch Falls Summer Blog Tour. She'll be sharing some wonderful tips for finding time to write in the midst of our busy lives. Her ideas are also great for people who want to pursue other creative endeavors but always seem to find themselves asking, "How do I make time?"

Thanks so much for being here, Tara. Take it away!

* * * * *

Writing in the Game of Life!

Dana was one of my first blog buddies. I met her way back when I was still figuring out how to improve my writing and what to do with it, on Absolute Write. (It's okay for getting advice, but it's more of a distraction with lots of word game threads...)

Dana and I are both busy moms (but that statement is redundant, isn't it?). Her three kids are much smaller and more needy while mine are bigger and self-sufficient, but still needy. No matter the ages of kids, they always take up a ton of your time—silly kids, needing stuff from their moms! And there's always work to be done, in and out of the house.

So how do busy, hard-working moms find time to write?
Well, here's a glimpse at my writing schedule...
  • Weekends and Days Off
    • I usually wake up a good two hours before the monkeys, and this is my favorite time to write.
    • Unfortunately, half of this time is used on blogging, emails, etc.
  • Work Days
    • I take every spare moment
    • lunch, coffee breaks, waiting for stuff
    • not only to write, but to read, blog, jot notes, edit printouts.
    • Waiting is a great time to get stuff done, if I remember to bring it!
      • for kids at practices
      • for water to boil
      • at a restaurant
      • at games (halftime, between innings, when we have to be early, etc)
  • Bedtime
    • My kids sometimes stay up later than me! But they are supposed to have quiet time in their rooms...
    • I'm always tired, but I try to get at least an hour of work done.
    • Then I read a few pages of the book on my night table, and... zzzzzzz
So that's my routine! Fitting it in when I can! What's yours?
When is your favorite time to write? Morning? Evening? Throughout the day?

Dana always has something special to share—from laughs, to art, to sweetness.
If you aren't following her, you should! Thanks for hosting me, girl!

NEW! Try this BEASTLY SURVEY and find out which beast you are!
(And don't forget to enter the giveaway below!)

BROKEN BRANCH FALLS (MG Fantasy)
by Tara Tyler
Release Date: June 24, 2014 (NOW!)
Publisher: Curiosity Quills

Gabe is an average fifteen-year-old goblin. He’s in the marching band, breezes through calculus, and gets picked on daily by the other kids at school, especially the ogres. But Gabe wants to break out of his nerdy stereotype and try other things. He has his eye on the new ogress at school. Though it’s against all beastly rules, there’s just something about her.

Gabe starts a fad of mingling with other species, forcing the High Council to step in and ruin things by threatening to destroy the school and split up Broken Branch Falls. With help from other outcast friends, Gabe sets out on a quest to save his town. They'll show 'em what different friends can do together!

Available at
B&N ~~~ Amazon
Add it to your GOODREADS list!

Tara Tyler has had a hand at everything from waitressing to rocket engineering. After living up and down the Eastern US, she now writes and teaches math in Ohio with her three active boys and Coach Husband. Currently, she has two series, The Cooper Chronicles (techno-thriller detective capers) and Beast World (MG fantasy). She's an adventure writer who believes every good story should have action, a moral, and a few laughs!


Also by Tara Tyler, techno-thriller detective series,
The Cooper Chronicles, Book One: POP TRAVEL

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Something exciting is happening at my blog today! (Pop!)

Happy Wednesday, all. ☺

You're in for a special treat today. Tara Tyler, author of Pop Travel and one of my good blogging buddies, is here at The Daily Dose to share some of her Lazy Housewife Christmas tips! Take it away, Tara...



Oh, Dana. I'm so happy to be at your bright, sunny, happy blog! Thanks for helping me with my Pop Travel Blog Tour. You're a wonderful hostess!

Today, I'm in Lazy Housewife mode, getting the house all spruced up for Christmas and guests. Very excited to have my parents come to town! While I prepare, I'm going to share some Lazy Housewife Xmas tips!

  • Don't spread yourself too thin
    • Did you volunteer to bring treats/appetizers here, there, and everywhere? You don't have to make them all; buy some! I love Kroger!
    • Make sure you take a break. Doing too much will also wear you out and leave you more susceptible to getting sick!
  • Don't kill yourself with the cleaning
    • Spread it out
    • Prioritize
    • Clean least used areas first and high traffic areas last
    • When you are cleaning, make sure you lighten your mood with some tunes!
    • Use some seasonal air fresheners or candles
    • Know that your visitors love you even if your house isn't perfect!
  • Do enjoy the best parts of Christmas
    • Christmas decorations and lights make me smile
    • I always dig out my Christmas DVDs and watch them or listen to Christmas music while decorating – makes things merry & bright!
    • Watch snow fall, catch some on your tongue, make a snowball or a snowman – be a kid!
    • Make a favorite seasonal recipe to share
    • Decorate cookies! with the kids (or without)
    • Make a gingerbread house
    • Sing, play, and just relax with loved ones!
  • Do show extra kindness to others
    • Mailman, garbage man, teachers, babysitters, etc. (I like to give them candy or small gift cards)
    • Tip a little extra
    • Volunteer and give if you can - it's that time of year
  • My special Christmas tips:
    • From my mom: display Xmas cards by hanging on ribbon in a doorway
    • Also from my mom: save the Xmas cards and clip the scenes or cute characters to use as To/From tags for next year
    • Decorating: fill glass vases with small ornaments, Xmas potpourri, garland, pinecones, tiny lights, etc
    • Light timers! not just outside, but inside all around the house. I have twinkly lights
    • I love catalogs - they have great decorating ideas, especially Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, and Pier 1.
    • Use the kids' art to decorate

I guess I'll stop there. I could ramble on and on! One of these days, I'll finish my Lazy Housewife book. I'd actually like to make some funny videos and include some of my tips… I just wish I had the time and resources. For now, I put some ideas on pinterest. Yes, I finally joined.

Well, I hope you enjoyed my tips. I sure had fun stopping over here. Thanks again, Dana! You're a peach! Merry Christmas, all!

The Lazy Housewife finds shortcuts for housework to make time to write... Here are some details for my sci fi thriller, Pop Travel.

Cooper thought he could get through
life without having to pop...
Pop Travel by Tara Tyler
A tale of deception and teleportation.

When a distraught client enters J.L. Cooper's small town detective agency, ranting about a pop travel teleportation cover up, Cooper takes the case. He blames the pop travel craze for his wife's death and would love to expose a glitch in it.

But the glitch turns out to be disintegrating travelers. And now, his client is dead, his secretary is missing, and a hit man is stalking him. Plus there's all the webcams watching his every move. Cooper must find a way to expose the deadly flaw, while using pop travel to escape the maniacs covering it up, not to mention save a couple of tagalongs he's not sure he can trust. No problem.

Available now on Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Goodreads  <==>  Trailer  <==>  FB Author Page


After having a hand in everything from waitressing to teaching math to rocket engineering, Tara Tyler now writes and teaches in Ohio with her three active boys and Coach Husband. In addition to her novels, she has published short stories and poetry in Science Fiction, Fantasy, Thriller, and Humor. So many stories to tell!



 

Thanks for the great tips, Tara! Come back anytime.

Wishing you all a fantastic Wednesday. ☺

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Exciting news!

Happy Tuesday, friends. It's another chilly day in my part of the world. How are things looking where you are?

I have some news I can't wait to share! Today I'm honored to help with fellow blogger Tara Tyler's cover reveal. Tara was among my first blogging friends and is one of the most positive, upbeat people I know. I'm so excited about her first book!

Without further ado, here's Tara's amazing cover:

POP TRAVEL by Tara Tyler
Release date: July 7, 2013
Publisher: Curiosity Quills

Blurb:

Private Investigator J. L. Cooper always knew pop travel laser teleportation was too good to be true. Finding video proof of a disintegrating traveler is the stomach turning “I told you so.”
 
Not bothering to upload the video to the nosy, government monitored Qnet, Cooper digs around, bringing the death of his client and threats to his political little brother, who is in jeopardy of turning to dust anyway for disregarding Cooper’s warnings not to pop. Cooper has to do everything himself.
 
If he survives his first pop, Cooper won’t let anything distract him from getting the job done. Not the android security guards, the constant surveillance, or even Southern Comfort in a purple dress, Geri Harper. Nothing Coop can’t handle.


Author Bio:

Math teacher by day, sports mom by night,
When does she have time to write?

Good question, but the Lazy Housewife makes time! Tara Tyler writes sci fi, thriller, and fantasy, with dabs of romance and humor and tips for efficient living. Something for everyone.
 

Many thanks to Tara for allowing me to be a part of the excitement. ☺

Wishing you all a happy Tuesday.