C. Lee McKenzie

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author

  • Home
  • Young Adult
  • Middle Grade
  • Teachers & Parents
  • Appearances
  • Contact
  • About
  • Links
  • Blog

Hats Off Corner Welcomes Tara Tyler

September 14, 2015 By C. Lee McKenzie 68 Comments



My Special Offers Mailing goes out Wednesday. 

It’s Back to School for a lot of kids and parents and teachers! This is my way to celebrate the fall and the new school year. 


********



Hats Off Corner Welcomes Tara Tyler









A couple of weeks ago, I asked another writer these questions, and so I thought it might be fun compare answers. Tara said she was game, so here are her answers.

Me: As a writer I look to others whom I enjoy reading for inspiration. Do you have a writer or writers you read for inspiration?

TT: I’ve always been inspired by the writers of books I enjoy. Isaac Asimov, Michael Crichton, Piers Anthony, Janet Evanovich, George RR Martin. And many of my writer friends!

Me: Can you talk a bit about your experience with rejection, how you handled it, what you learned from it? Any “advice” to those who are still getting the “Thank you, but no thank you” letters?

TT: Rejection stinks. Especially when I slave over a query and rewrite it a million times… But once I hit send, I try to forget about it by working on other things. My advice is to expect rejection. It’s part of the process. And when the positive responses come, they make the rejections worth it!! Don’t fret, the positives will come – keep working, the right fit will present itself.

Me: Is there a story behind the story of this latest book that you wish to share? The ah-ha or lightning moment where the story inspiration struck?

TT: There’s always a story behind the story, right? After Pop Travel, I had requests for more. I picked up a trail I left with one of the characters. Hasan loves to create and experiment. In Simulation, he wanted to improve on his guard droids – and he did, but someone stole his work and tainted it… In Book Three: Disposal, Hasan will be working on the garbage/recycling problem and help Cooper and Geri bust some drug dealers making a highly addictive drug from recycled waste… Though he’s not the main character, he’s a driving force and hilarious to boot.

Me: What’s the hardest part of being a successful, published author? (i.e. finding time to write, creating new books that are of the same caliber as your other successes).

TT: Successful? Ha haha. My sales would disagree, but at least I’m published, right? The hardest part is the marketing. Authors are pretty much on their own these days unless they become a big huge deal with one of the big publishers. Finding a balance between home, work, and writing projects is high on the hard things to do list too! My days seem shorter and shorter all the time.

Thanks for hosting me, Lee! Great questions!

After Pop Travel, Geri convinced Cooper to move back to Atlanta, but for familiar reasons, things didn’t work out… In Simulation, Geri is fighting her way back to full-fledged, solo agent status, but first has to deal with one more annoying sidekick on an equally annoying case. Meanwhile, Cooper takes his mind off Geri leaving him by throwing himself into his work, investigating an illegal clone android simulation operation. Sparks fly when Cooper and Geri’s cases lead them down the same path. Of course Hasan wants to help them with their cases, and connives a plan to get them back together in the niddle of all the chaos!

SIMULATION delivers more technology, more intense action, more humor, and more exciting new characters. Come along for the ride.

SIMULATION
by Tara Tyler
Release Date: Sept 14, 2015

In 2082, androids are an essential part of daily life. Some are helpful, some would make better toasters, and some are so human-like they’re creepy. Back in Atlanta, Detective Cooper’s latest client has him searching for her boyfriend who she thinks was replaced by a simulation, an illegal clone android. The guy also happens to be a popular new congressman.

As if the case wasn’t frustrating enough, Cooper keeps crossing paths with his ex, FBI Agent Geri Harper who’s looking for the same guy. As Cooper closes in, Geri is kidnapped. But when she resurfaces in Washington and goes on a killing spree, he knows it isn’t her. Now under suspicion himself, Cooper must find the real Geri to prove her innocence, not to mention hunt down the powerful villain behind it all. Never a dull moment.

Available Now!
Amazon ~~ Barnes and Noble
Goodreads giveaway!

Tara Tyler writes sci fi and fantasy action-adventures from her little corner of the world in Ohio as she tries to keep up with her three boys and coach husband. Always making time to write, she sometimes puts off chores and lets laundry pile up… hence, she’s also the Lazy Housewife, offering advice and tips to other gals out there trying to do it all without going crazy. She and her housewife friends blog at The Really Real Housewives of America.

tara tyler talks and tweets and facebooks
And don’t forget the Rafflecopter!  
a Rafflecopter giveaway

********

Quote for the Day: “Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” Benjamin Franklin

Are you ready for the fall? Does Tara’s newest sound exciting to you? It does to me. 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: hat's of corner, special offers mailing, Tara Tyler

Comments

  1. Romance Reader says

    September 20, 2015 at 8:16 am

    Congratulations to Tara Tyler! Sounds interesting book. Loved the interview.

    Reply
  2. J Lenni Dorner says

    September 20, 2015 at 3:57 am

    This sounds like an interesting book. Cool interview.

    Reply
  3. DMS says

    September 19, 2015 at 11:00 pm

    Simulation definitely sounds interesting. Great to hear from Tara! 🙂
    ~Jess

    Reply
  4. J.L. Campbell says

    September 18, 2015 at 2:16 pm

    Love the cover on Simulation and it's true to say that the days seem to have less hours to go around.

    Reply
  5. Tyrean Martinson says

    September 17, 2015 at 10:10 pm

    Hooray for Tara! I agree with her on the rejections. I brace myself for them, but I'm still kind of in shock sometimes. Acceptance is amazing every time.
    I love Tara's covers and her blurb is positively intriguing!

    Plus, I love that quote! 🙂

    Reply
  6. Shannon Lawrence says

    September 17, 2015 at 7:11 am

    Every time I get an email from a publication, I brace myself for the rejection. The high when it actually turns out to be an acceptance is amazing. So I agree on your tip, though I think I secretly think positive. :p

    Reply
  7. M Pax says

    September 16, 2015 at 8:03 pm

    The author life is a very, very busy one. It's hard to fit in breathing some days. Congratulations, Tara!! Woot woot!

    Reply
  8. Crystal Collier says

    September 16, 2015 at 4:28 pm

    Yay for Tara! I read the first one an enjoyed it. Her cover is absolutely amazing if you ask me.

    Reply
  9. Carol Kilgore says

    September 16, 2015 at 4:21 pm

    I loved this interview. My favorite question was the story behind the story. I always love knowing that.

    Reply
  10. Cathrina Constantine says

    September 16, 2015 at 3:48 pm

    I love this cover! Congrats to Tara!!!

    Reply
  11. Loni Townsend says

    September 16, 2015 at 3:01 pm

    Grats Tara! Great interview, Lee. It's funny that we think of sales as a measure of success. I think you're successful, Tara. You're at least popular!

    Reply
  12. Yolanda Renee says

    September 15, 2015 at 9:53 pm

    Rejection is part of the process, and hard no matter what, but you're right that acceptance washes it away, well, until the next one. 🙂
    Marketing is so hard. I've decided sales are no longer the focus, it's all about the writing. So I have to take a job to support my hobby, I'm not the first and I won't be the last. Writing is my joy!

    Reply
  13. Julie Flanders says

    September 15, 2015 at 7:45 pm

    Always great to hear from Tara!
    And I am more than ready for fall. Love this time of year. 🙂

    Reply
  14. Yvonne Ventresca says

    September 15, 2015 at 6:03 pm

    Congrats on the new release, Tara!

    Reply
  15. Heather R. Holden says

    September 15, 2015 at 2:10 pm

    Great interview, and congrats to Tara! I completely agree with how hard marketing can be. I never feel like I'm doing that correctly myself, most of the time!

    Reply
  16. Nick Wilford says

    September 15, 2015 at 12:48 pm

    Great interview! I must get round to Tara's series as the books sound action packed.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      September 15, 2015 at 5:14 pm

      I can't read fast enough these days. Writers! Slow down, so I can catch up.

      Reply
  17. DEZMOND says

    September 15, 2015 at 8:30 am

    that eye in the O is so nasty!

    Reply
  18. Denise Covey says

    September 15, 2015 at 7:34 am

    Lovely to read more about Tara. Like the way she can send something off then move right on. Thanks for hosting Tara, Lee.

    Reply
  19. Medeia Sharif says

    September 15, 2015 at 5:44 am

    Rejection and marketing–we writers must push through those things. Tara's latest looks great.

    Reply
  20. Tammy Theriault says

    September 15, 2015 at 3:30 am

    Congrats Tara!! Janet Evanovich, huh? I do see it!

    Reply
  21. Beverly Stowe McClure says

    September 15, 2015 at 2:00 am

    Congratulations on your book, Tara. It does sound interesting. Great answers to Lee's questions. Great questions, Lee.
    Sigh, the marketing is hard, especially when you just want to write. 🙂
    Good luck to you.

    Reply
  22. Kelly Hashway says

    September 15, 2015 at 12:03 am

    I agree that marketing is the toughest part of being an author. Best of luck to Tara.

    Reply
  23. Southpaw HR Sinclair says

    September 14, 2015 at 10:50 pm

    Hooray for Tara. It is nice to see how authors answer the same questions.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      September 15, 2015 at 12:35 am

      Yep. And they are all different, but with similar themes.

      Reply
  24. Jemi Fraser says

    September 14, 2015 at 10:43 pm

    Yay for Tara – she's awesome!
    Marketing is always the toughest part for authors – wish their was a wand to wave to make it happen efficiently and effectively!

    Reply
  25. Jay Noel says

    September 14, 2015 at 8:04 pm

    Having just met Tara in person over the weekend, I can say without a doubt that she is AWESOME.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      September 14, 2015 at 8:17 pm

      How lucky you are to meet Tara in person.

      Reply
  26. Melissa says

    September 14, 2015 at 7:28 pm

    Great interview, ladies. 🙂

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      September 14, 2015 at 8:16 pm

      Hi! Always very nice to have writers here.

      Reply
  27. SA Larsenッ says

    September 14, 2015 at 6:43 pm

    Tara's writing wisdom definitely shines throughout this interview. Expecting rejection at the onset is so much easier than setting oneself up for failure. Not everyone is going to like us or our work, and there are so many variables as to why. Congrats again, Tara!

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      September 14, 2015 at 6:58 pm

      She did a great job answering the questions, didn't she?

      Reply
  28. Shooting Stars Mag says

    September 14, 2015 at 6:07 pm

    I can imagine that marketing your book would be difficult – there are SO many titles out there, especially with e-book and self-publishing becoming more popular. 🙂

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      September 14, 2015 at 6:47 pm

      Yep. Standing on a corner waving a sign board just isn't doing it anymore. 🙂

      Reply
  29. Bish Denham says

    September 14, 2015 at 5:50 pm

    Wow, sounds like a great scifi series. Droids that can't be told apart from humans? That's frightening.

    I love that Franklin quote!

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      September 14, 2015 at 6:48 pm

      The scary thing is it's quite possibly the future.

      Reply
  30. Catherine Stine says

    September 14, 2015 at 3:38 pm

    Making a drug from recycled waste, now that's creative and unique!

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      September 14, 2015 at 5:11 pm

      Futuristic or the future? One never knows.

      Reply
  31. Chrys Fey says

    September 14, 2015 at 3:24 pm

    Yay for Tara! I'm seeing her everywhere today. Woot! 😀

    Reply
    • cleemckenzie says

      September 14, 2015 at 5:48 pm

      I love the excitement of a launch!

      Reply
  32. Sherry Ellis says

    September 14, 2015 at 2:41 pm

    Simulation sounds terrific. That's so cool that it picks up where Pop Travel left off.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      September 14, 2015 at 6:54 pm

      Writing sequels is a challenge, but so rewarding.

      Reply
  33. Susan Gourley/Kelley says

    September 14, 2015 at 2:38 pm

    Tara's book does sound exciting. I like what she says about mailing out that query and working on something else instead of waiting for that rejection. Good luck, Tara.
    Susan Says

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      September 14, 2015 at 6:54 pm

      That makes a lot of sense to me.

      Reply
  34. Dianne K. Salerni says

    September 14, 2015 at 2:26 pm

    Good luck to Tara on her newest release! Yeah, the rejections suck, and they don't stop coming even after you are published. But since the only way to avoid rejection is to stop trying at all … well, I don't have to tell you guys that. We're all still here … 🙂

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      September 14, 2015 at 6:55 pm

      You're so right. There's no escaping rejection except by quitting.

      Reply
  35. nashvillecats2 says

    September 14, 2015 at 2:03 pm

    Wonderful interview Lee, Good luck to Tara also.
    Yvonne.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      September 14, 2015 at 6:55 pm

      These are old questions, but the answers are always fresh.

      Reply
  36. S.K. Anthony says

    September 14, 2015 at 1:50 pm

    Congratulations to Tara!!!!
    That's so cool to read a bit more about Hasan! And yes, he's definitely a driving force and hilarious in these stories lol

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      September 14, 2015 at 6:56 pm

      Isn't it great when you love a character?

      Reply
  37. Pat Hatt says

    September 14, 2015 at 1:36 pm

    Very true, just have to accept rejection and keep on trucking along.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      September 14, 2015 at 6:57 pm

      Do poets truck along? I've always thought of them as meanderers. 🙂

      Reply
  38. Stephen Tremp says

    September 14, 2015 at 1:21 pm

    good luck Tara. I read Pop Travel and look forward to Simulation!

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      September 14, 2015 at 6:57 pm

      You and Tara are busy today with new books!

      Reply
  39. L. Diane Wolfe says

    September 14, 2015 at 12:58 pm

    Congrats to Tara.

    Once we throw marketing into the mix, it becomes an interesting balancing act.

    Reply
    • cleemckenzie says

      September 14, 2015 at 4:44 pm

      You need rocks–lots of rocks–to put on the other side of that fulcrum! The hours for promo are astonishing sometimes.

      Reply
  40. Hilary Melton-Butcher says

    September 14, 2015 at 12:47 pm

    Hi Lee and Tara – great to read … and finding that balance with three boys and your coaching hubby – not much change for the housewife is there. Still bet they give you creativity and help with the chores? Let's hope .. cheers Hilary

    Reply
    • cleemckenzie says

      September 14, 2015 at 4:34 pm

      Having a family makes for creative thought, doesn't it? She seems to be balancing her writing and her family very well.

      Reply
  41. Christine Rains says

    September 14, 2015 at 12:35 pm

    Congratulations to Tara! I loved her book. Hasan really is hilarious.

    Reply
    • cleemckenzie says

      September 14, 2015 at 4:32 pm

      It sounds as if he'd moving toward being a very "green" sort of guy in th next book.

      Reply
  42. Natalie Aguirre says

    September 14, 2015 at 12:17 pm

    Congrats, Tara! Yes, promotion is hard, even for traditionally published authors unless an author's book is one of the books the publisher is most excited about.

    Reply
    • cleemckenzie says

      September 14, 2015 at 4:27 pm

      It's a full time job this!

      Reply
  43. Mason Canyon says

    September 14, 2015 at 11:59 am

    Tara, congratulations and love your attitude. The books sounds intriguing.

    Reply
    • cleemckenzie says

      September 14, 2015 at 4:22 pm

      Good morning, Mason! Thanks for the comment.

      Reply
  44. sage says

    September 14, 2015 at 11:44 am

    I like her answers, especially her thoughts on rejection. Her book sounds interesting.

    Reply
    • cleemckenzie says

      September 14, 2015 at 4:18 pm

      Everybody handles it differently and so it's always interesting to read what people have to say about it.

      Reply
  45. Alex J. Cavanaugh says

    September 14, 2015 at 11:35 am

    Congratulations, Tara!
    Rejection stinks but you'll never get an acceptance if you don't risk rejection.

    Reply
    • cleemckenzie says

      September 14, 2015 at 4:14 pm

      Writing and publishing books teaches you a lot about life, doesn't it?

      Reply

Leave a Reply to Cathrina Constantine Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Find Lee Online:

Email Facebook Twitter

LinkedIn GoodReads Google+

The Adventures of Pete and Weasel

Blogroll

  • A Bit About Britian
  • Alex J. Cavanaugh
  • Bish Denham
  • Book Sage Reviewer
  • Books in the Hall
  • Cathrina Constatine
  • Christine Rains – Writer
  • Denise Covey
  • Diane Burton
  • elements of emaginette
  • Elephant's Child
  • Evernight Teen
  • Everyday Writer, Tyrean Martinson
  • Everything Must Change
  • Fantasy, Myth, Fiction
  • H.R. Sinclair
  • Happy Ever After
  • Insecure Writer's Support Group
  • It's Rhyme Time
  • J.H. Moncrieff
  • JQRose Book Blogger
  • Julie Flanders
  • Just Jemi
  • Kidbits
  • Laws of Gravity
  • Lee Lowery Murder Mystery
  • Life As Only I Know It
  • Literary Rambles
  • Mama Diaries
  • Mark Noce Stories
  • Musings
  • My Hogwarts Sabbatical
  • My Pet Blog
  • Nick Wilford, Speculative Author
  • Olga Godim
  • Patricia Lynne, Independent Author
  • Pen & Pro$per
  • Pensive Pen
  • Play Off The Page
  • Positive Letters …. inspirational stories
  • Quiet Laughter
  • Sandra's Blog
  • Shady Dell Music & Memories
  • Shooting Stars Mag
  • Summer Snowflakes
  • Susan Says
  • Tamara Narayan, Author
  • Tara Tyler Talks
  • The Cynical Sailor & His Salty Sidekick
  • The Happy Whisk
  • The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow
  • The Story of a Writer
  • The ToiBox of Words
  • The Warrior Muse
  • Thoughts in Progress
  • Uniquely Holden
  • Welcome to My Magick Theatre
  • WordDreams…
  • Writing In The Crosshairs
  • Yvette Carol

Archives:

Recent Comments:

  • Elizabeth Seckman on Omar, His Camel, Anubis, and Me.
  • Jemi Fraser on Omar, His Camel, Anubis, and Me.
  • Di Williams on Omar, His Camel, Anubis, and Me.
  • Elephants Child on Omar, His Camel, Anubis, and Me.
  • Pat Garcia on Omar, His Camel, Anubis, and Me.

Tags

2009 Deb Blog Tour 2009 Debs' Tour 2013 A-Z Blog Challenge Alex Cavanaugh Alligators Overhead Arlee Bird AtoZChallenge2015 AtoZChallenge2016 Blog Hops Book Signings C. Lee McKenzie Christmas Contest cover Damyanti Double Negative Email Connect Halloween hat's of corner Heather M. Gardner Her Grammarness Insecure Writer Interview IWSG Jeremy M.J. Joachim marketing Middle Grade Monday Monday Miscellany Monday Moods New Books Nicole Ayers Pam Small Things Hop Stephen Tremp Story Collection Throes of Thursday Tina WEP WIP writing YA Young Adult