Welcome Author Tara Lazar – Giveaway Alert

Posted byauthorlaurablogPosted inUncategorizedTags:, , ,

I am honored to feature Tara Lazar and celebrate her recent release, BLOOP, illustrated by Mike Boldt. It’s a new favorite in our house. Charlie loves it because it honors the bond between dogs and humans. Tara’s known to readers everywhere for her creative. laugh out loud picture books and BLOOP fits that description perfectly. Some of my personal favorites from Tara are LITTLE RED GLIDING HOOD, illustrated by Troy Cummings and 7 ATE 9: THE UNTOLD STORY, illustrated by Ross Macdonald so while you’re ordering BLOOP, I recommend ordering these as well.

In the writing community, Tara’s known as an amazing role model with a generous spirit who started Picture Book Idea Month in November 2009 (PiBoIdMo) for picture book writers to have their own challenge in November. (Novelists have NanoWriMo.) It moved to January in 2017 with a name change, now Storystorm, but the challenge of brainstorming 30 story ideas in 30 days remains and the guest blogposts have helped me and so many authors immeasurably.

Tara is generously offering one lucky winner a picture book critique. Comment on the blogpost to enter the giveaway.

What were you like at the age of your target audience?

Pretty much the same as I am now. Creative and silly. Willing to do anything for a laugh. Here I am with one of my besties at the time, Jessica. I wrote a story for us to act out and another BFF, Veena, photographed it in action. This was before we had video cameras on every phone, of course! I remember waiting weeks for the developed photos to come back!

What inspires you?

I’ve learned that everything around you is fodder for stories. If you practice being aware of idea potential in your everyday life, you will get better and better at identifying it! I often post on Twitter with a photo saying “this is a #picturebook!” because I see them everywhere!

What’s the one thing you hope readers take away from your book?

That everyone has a place where they belong—it just may take some longer to find it than others.

What’s next for you?

My next book releases in November, and it’s all about ABSURD WORDS. It’s based on my popular blog page of fun, cool & interesting words for kids: https://taralazar.com/2014/06/09/list-of-200-fun-cool-and-interesting-words/. 

I researched backstories about the creation of words, uses in pop culture, and other odd and unusual factoids. The book contains over 750 words organized into 33 “word squads” based on themes like “Out of This World” (outer space) and “G.O.A.T” (superlatives).  It’s 314 pages long and I can’t believe I wrote the whole thing! After 10 picture books, it’s quite the shock! I’m flabbergasted!

If you’re not already a subscriber of Tara’s blog and follower on social media, here’s where you can find out more about her books:

Twitter: taralazar. Insta: taralaser. Website: taralazar.com

Published by authorlaurablog

I'm a reading specialist from Chicago, now living in the beauty of the Roosevelt National Forest in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. My first book "Aliana Reaches for the Moon" features a creative and curious girl who loves science, her little brother, and her very patient parents. I'm currently writing a MG novel and several picture books with STEM elements and dogs.

68 thoughts on “Welcome Author Tara Lazar – Giveaway Alert”

  2. Bloop looks adorable and I love the premise behind it! I’m one of those who has Tara to thank for finding the PB writing community. I found Tara & PiBoIdMo/Storystorm in 2014 and am very grateful!
    Many thanks, Tara!

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    1. Donna, how wonderful that Tara has brought so many of us together! I didn’t discover it until the year it was renamed Storystorm but I still look back at my brainstorm lists when I’m feeling the need for inspiration. Good luck in the giveaway.

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  6. I love BLOOP! I look forward to sharing it with my kids. I discovered Storystorm this year, and it changed the trajectory of my writing. Thank you Tara and Laura for this fun interview and giveaway!

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    1. Thanks for reading, Jennifer! I am a big fan of Storystorm, too and one of my friends and I chat about how transformative it can be to look for inspiration in different ways. Good luck in the giveaway and be sure to check out other author interviews for fun giveaways.

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  9. Even Tara’s titles are funny! Now I have an irresistble urge to say Bloop, Bloop, Bloop. Congratulations, Tara, and thanks for the terrific giveaway opportunity.

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  10. I can’t wait to receive my copy! All of Tara’s books are examples of great writing, and I keep learning each time I read them!

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  12. Just seeing the word Bloop is funny so I imagine the whole book is hilarious. Tara, you’re a true inspiration and I’m aways amazed how much she achieve and give to the kidlit community 😁

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  14. Having trouble commenting, so I hope this isn’t a repeat…

    I can’t wait to read Bloop! Absurd words looks like a must-have book too! Thanks for the great interview.

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    1. Hi Kirsty, thanks for reading and commenting. You were able to comment twice but no problem! Sometimes WordPress presents challenges. Glad you were able to see the interview. Good luck in the giveaway!

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    1. Thanks for reading, Mia! It’s really an adorable book and the kind you want to read more than once which is the hallmark of an excellent picture book! Good luck in the giveaway.

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  17. I love Tara’s sense of humor! Participating in Storystorm has helped me focus on idea mining more than anything else! I’m so grateful for Tara for creating such an awesome community.

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  18. I love Tara’s sense of humor. Participating in Storystorm has helped me focus on idea mining more than anything else. I’m so grateful to Tara for creating such an amazing community.

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  19. I enjoy this author’s work and admire how she always gives back to other writers, just as she is for one of us. I would be honored (and very nervous) to win a critique. Thank you for the chance!

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  28. I love that you photographed your story acted out! I used to tape record mine! BLOOP! looks like a great story and I love the cover! Congratulations!

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    1. Thanks for reading, Kathleen. I agree that acting the stories out is fantastic! My children and their cousins used to create plays for us. BLOOP is awesome. Good luck in the giveaway.

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  29. I would buy this book on the cover alone. My kids LOVE dogs! I love that she used to photograph her stories acted out, I used to do the same on cassette tapes.
    Congratulations Tara!

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  34. Thanks Laura & Tara for more insights into writing. I experienced StoryStorm fir the first time this year and continue to add ideas to my notebook. Can’t wait to read Bloop! I love all of Tara’s works and must order Absurd Words.

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    1. Thanks for reading, Jeannette. StoryStorm is such a gift to writers! I’ve even gone back to some of the blogposts for new inspiration because even if I read something before, I’m in a different headspace now and it can give me a new insight. Good luck with your writing and good luck in the giveaway.

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