Guest Post with Tara Tyler and Windy Hollow with Giveaway!

Today, we're doing something a little different here on Bookworm for Kids. Instead of just presenting a book, we have an awesome author stopping by! Tara Tyler has more than just a couple of books under her belt, ranging from Science Fiction to Middle Grade Fantasy and more. Her latest novel, Windy Hollow, is the third book in the Beast World Series and a great read at that! You can find my review here. I enjoyed reading it and can recommend it highly to readers ages 8 to 12.

So, without further adieu... here she is....

Tara Tyler!!!

I am so honored to have a spot at Tonja's place -- she became a famous author overnight! Her MG thriller, MUSIC BOXES is tremendous and everyone loves it--me included!

(Wow! I was blown away after reading this first part...and am blushing. Thanks, Tara! But it's definitely me who is honored to have you here today!)

So, how do we know what kids are going to like? Today, I'm talking about MG Kids.

Kids are so fun to read and write about. They're daring, funny, adventurous, and they want to grow up too fast, even the shy ones. If you have characters like that in your books, you're sure to be a hit too! Here are some of my thoughts on writing for MG Kids.

• Age Appropriate - and I don't just mean PG. Though kids want to grow up, you can't make them sound like teenagers and give them teenage problems about intense relationships, unless something has happened to make them grow up sooner than they should. They should still be innocent, for the most part, full of wonder, curiosity, and energy.
• Watch Your Language - again, not just PG. You have to know how kids talk. What are they into these days? What slang are they coming up with? Don't make them sound too young, either. Some of them cuss to sound cool in front of their peers.
• How to discover these important factors:
1. Watch them - now, if you don't have kids, this might seem a little creepy... try not to get arrested while you research kids behavior
2. Watch their shows - this method is better suited to those who don't have kids... but the TV shows are a definite exaggeration of how kids really behave, especially the Disney shows. They want to be older, so they actually watch shows that are a bit older (I was devastated when my boys stopped watching Phineas & Ferb and The Suite Life, I loved those shows!) PS - they watch youtube non-stop, it's reality bloopers 24-7, ugh!
3. Read their books - another excellent way to know what they like to read. And how to write it well.
• The Adults in the Room - I discourage portraying adults as dimwits, but this tends to happen as kids find it hilarious. They can be realistic - dorky, sure, but still experienced and helpful. I think of the adults, especially the dad in Sixteen Candles. They're all clueless, but he's still a good shoulder to cry on. (SIDE NOTE: Clueless is another excellent movie MG Kids would love if their parents let them watch it because it might be a little old for them. It's funny to watch movies you thought were harmless with your kids--you notice every inappropriate thing you never really noticed before...)
• The Issues - Kids always have issues, even if it's just boredom, which usually leads to trouble! And they always know who in their class has something going on, even if they don't know what it is. So choose your issue: Kid v. Kid, Kid v. Society, or Kid v. Self. There are general concerns (like growing pains and life lessons) and there are faddish concerns of the day (like the latest youtube challenge)
• Be Funny - Even if it's a serious book, kids need funny to break the tension. They can't hold serious all the time. And they think some weird things are funny because they are kids after all. They like jokes, pranks, sarcasm, slapstick, embarrassment of others, and being smarter than adults.

Do you write for kids? Do you have kids? Do you read MG?

Tonja, thanks again for having me! When you get done with your whirlwind book tour, I'm looking forward to your video review of WINDY HOLLOW!

Thank you for stopping by! I enjoyed reading your tips and think they're spot on. 


Beast World is MG/YA. It's about teens and their problems, but they're fantasy teens who go on adventures. Though they do a lot on their own, they're still pretty innocent in the ways of the world. I love that sense of wonder and daring!

WINDY HOLLOW
Beast World MG Fantasy Series, book #3
by Tara Tyler
Available NOW!

This summer, Gabe and his friends fly over the Great Sea for the wedding of the century: a dragon prince and a beautiful harpy. But Gabe can't relax on this vacation. Besides competing in rigorous wedding events, he overhears the nearby human village WINDY HOLLOW is in danger from an evil human scientist and a vengeful were-ogre experimenting on beasts. Gabe and his friends risk crossing the mountains to help, despite several warnings. 

Maybe he's going too far this time, but he's in too deep to quit. It's do or die, hopefully not die!

Paperback ~~~ Ebook

Goodreads

And here she is...

Tara Tyler has had a hand in everything from waitressing to rocket engineering. After moving all over the US, she now writes and teaches math in Ohio with her husband and one boy left in the nest. She has two series, Pop Travel (sci-fi detective thrillers) and Beast World (fantasy adventures), plus her UnPrincess novella series where the maidens save themselves. She's a commended blogger, contributed to several anthologies, and to fit in all these projects, she economizes her time, aka the Lazy Housewife—someday she might write a book on that... Make every day an adventure!

website: Tara Tyler Talks

twitter: @taratylertalks

facebook: Tara Tyler - Author

Instagram: taratylertalks

newsletter: tara tyler news

Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Cover Reveal: Windy Hollow by Tara Tyler

WINDY HOLLOW

Beast World Series, Book 3

by Tara Tyler

Curiosity Quills Press

Middle Grade Fantasy

COMING SOON!!!

Gabe just can't stay out of trouble, even when he's just trying to help.

It's summer break and the young beasts are traveling across the Great Sea for a wedding extravaganza. But Gabe suspects Professor Hardaway is up to something more serious behind the festivities. Spying and sneaking around, Gabe and his friends discover there's a village of humans across the mountains--Windy Hollow, and they might be in trouble from the strange happenings at the old castle above the Mist.

Despite the professor's warnings, the young beasts venture over, risking more than they realize when they get caught up in the dangerous experiments of a deranged scientist who's recruited a large, lonely beast. Gabe wonders if he's gone too far this time, but he's in too deep to quit. It's do or die, hopefully not die!

Review: Cradle Rock by Tara Tyler

CRADLE ROCK

Beast World Series, Book Two

by Tara Tyler

Curiosity Quills Press

Middle Grade Fantasy

264 pages

Welcome to the forest.

Rumors are spreading about beast origins, and it isn't pretty. Once thought to be evil mythical creatures of folklore, humans turn out to be a real part of beast history, and horrifically, a part of beast beginnings. And this discovery of the truth is all thanks to Gabe, a goblin from Broken Branch Falls. He never set out to change the world, but change it, he has.

Now, Gabe and his girlfriend Ona are headed in opposite directions for Spring Break. Being a logical goblin, Gabe tries to talk her out of it, but there's just no reasoning with a stubborn ogress, and Ona is determined to dig up evidence of humans.

But 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. Though his physical skills may be lacking, Gabe won't give up. With the help of his friends, he will find a way to save his girl and maybe all beastkind. Humans, bah!

MY TIDBITS

This fun-filled adventure takes middle grade readers into a fantasy world packed with action and imagination.

Spring break has arrived, and Gabe's looking forward to hitting the beach with his best friend. Too bad his girlfriend, Ona, is off to Cradle Rock for hiking instead. When she disappears, Gabe and his friends take off to find her and discover much more than they bargained for.

This is the second book in the Beast World series but can be read--without too much difficulty--as a stand alone. 

In this series, beasts are the norm. Gabe, a young teenage goblin, is as normal as any goblin could be. He's adventure friendly, pretty bright, sometimes a little self-concious and more courageous than he's willing to admit. His girlfriend is a ogress, and his best friend is a werewolf--all as natural as any teenage friends could be. The author does a terrific job building a world which despite the fantastical attributes, comes across familiar and natural. Still, it's exactly the fantastical quirkiness of the characters which adds just the right amount of fun.

The pages are marked with adventure pure, gliding seamlessly from one escapade into the next. There's tension, action, secrets and surprises. But the friends manage to work their way through, having to come up with solutions when none seem possible. There's also a little, sweet romance built in, exactly that which fits to the age group and will set off a perfect smile, blush or giggle too.

There are many messages weaved into this book, some more obvious than others. Acceptance and the dangers of fearing the unusual are thoughts which come across clearly, while the value of friendship, self-confidence and maintaining hope glide along a little less conspicuously. It's refreshing not only to watch the characters learn these lessons for themselves, but actively work to teach them to others as the characters already live some of these virtues themselves.

Summed up, this is simply a fun read kids are sure to adore. The magical world draws in and lets the imagination take flight, while keeping the reader glued to the pages until the very end. It's a great read for boys and girls ages 9 and up.

Broken Branch Falls by Tara Tyler

BROKEN BRANCH FALLS (MG Fantasy)
by Tara Tyler
Release Date: June 24, 2014
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.

Chaos erupts when Gabe sparks 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 different species can work wonders together!

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



MY TIDBITS

 

Wondering what happens after all humans disappear? Fantastical creatures develop (elves, trolls, dragons...) and their world isn't that much different than our own...well, in many respects, anyway.

 

The high school goblin Gabe should be intelligent, a geek and stick to his own kind. That's what all creatures do - never mingle with other species, although they go to school and live with each other everyday. They have to stick to their stereotypes too - ogres play sports and are stupid, goblins are smart and so on. Those are the rules. The moral of this tale is pretty laid out from beginning on as Gabe (by accident) turns into a leader of change. But that doesn't ruin the story at all.

 

Gabe is an under-dog and an unlikely hero, something that grabs a reader's sympathy from the first page on. Despite his goblinness, he and his friends are very human as are their surroundings. The world Tara builds is familiar enough to make it easy to relate to, but at the same time fantastical, allowing dreams to take flight. The high school scenes in the beginning are very detailed, but later in the story, the fantastical world opens up as Gabe and his friends embark on a journey to save and improve their way of life. This easing in was really refreshing.

 

Despite the fantastical world, serious high school issues are touched upon such as mobbing and unexpected (often unaccepted) relationships. I honestly found this an interesting and clever way to address these issues - very forward but at the same time, because of the imaginative world, not irritatingly preachy.

 

Summed up, this is a fun story for young fantasy lovers and is sure to keep them hooked to the pages until the very end.

 

 

And here she is. . .
TARA TYLER!!!
 

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!

Twitter ~~~ Facebook ~~~ Blog

Also by Tara Tyler, techno-thriller detective series,

The Cooper Chronicles, Book One: POP TRAVEL