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#InkRipples is a monthly meme created by Kai Strand, Mary Waibel, and Katie L. Carroll. They post on the first Monday of every month with a new topic. They’re all authors, but you don’t have to be to participate.
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My Featured Follower for January is Sandra Cox.
Me: Hey, Sandra. Where did the idea for Love, Lattes and Mutants come from?
Sandra: Love, Lattes and Mutants evolved out of a completely different WIP I was working on at the time. Aliens turned to mutants and adults to teenagers, only the ocean remained the same.*:)
Me: This is the kind of serendipity I love. And one more question: What’s been the most exciting/daunting part of becoming a published author?
Sandra: The most exciting part of becoming a published author was getting my first contract. I had written for a number of years before I got an offer.
The most daunting part is when I rubbed the stardust out of my eyes and realized it didn’t automatically mean people were going to be lined up to buy my book. I think most of us are surprised, when we first start out, to learn just how much self-promotion is involved in a writing career.
Me: You have told it like it is, and you have told it so well! Thanks so much.
And now welcome Tara Tyler and her new book with that kid-amazing cover!
Kids and teens are usually in a big rush to grow up. But adults know it’s not all staying up late partying or playing games with friends once you’re there. Sure, there’s more freedom when you’re an adult, but with independence comes responsibility. Some people mature, making good decisions, and some don’t. And a few adults seem like they’re still in high school, which brings me to my topic.
Adult Stereotypes. I’d say the majority of people grow up into decent adults and put away the pettiness and drama of high school. But we all slip up sometimes, letting a bad habit show once in a while. It’s tough being “adult” about everything all the time. Thank goodness for reality TV, giving us a quick reminder of how NOT to behave!
And so, here’s a fun list of Adult Stereotypes that you mostly only read about or see on TV or in movies for a laugh or for drama… They’re funnier or more dastardly because adults should know better.
Gossips – These sweethearts are syrup and sugar on the outside, but live for finding out and spreading juicy stories about you behind your back. Adult bullies who make others feel bad so they feel superior. I love it when they get their just desserts! (ha ha)
Nerds – I split these into two groups – the innocent rule-followers and helpers OR the super smarties who know they’re smarter than most and are condescending to the peons below them, they enjoy pointing out the mistakes of others. It’s fun to see the first type become heroes or the second type get shown up.
Jocks – There are three groups of this type – health nuts, muscle heads, or couch potatoes – and they’re all pretty selfish in extreme ways caring only about their bodies whether good or bad.
Partiers – They love to host or go out and drink and dance, etc. This is the worst group because they’re deceptively glamorized and don’t show the true consequences like alcoholism, addiction, and crime – unless it’s a serious movie, then it’s usually depressing.
There are more specific stereotypes, but I didn’t have room to list them all, like overprotective or oblivious parents, super strict or lazy teachers, etc. Irony sells. But the great part about books and movies with these outlandish characters is they usually get what’s coming to them or are taught a lesson for us to learn as well.
Thanks so much for having me here, Lee! This release party is making me go visit folks I haven’t seen in a long time – it’s been great!
by Tara Tyler
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 Beast World (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
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Quote of the Week: “The book designer’s responsibility is threefold: to the reader, to the publisher and, most of all, to the author. I want you to look at the author’s book and say, ‘Wow! I need to read that.'” Chip Kidd, Cover Designer
great being here with Sandra, congrats to you too!
and thanks everyone for the kind, positive words!
and Lee – you rock! thanks for your support, always!
Thanks for the many shout outs this month, Lee. You rock! And speaking of rocking, wishing Tara much success.
Having adults turn back into teens? Sounds like a horror novel! But, seriously, what a great idea.
Adult stereotypes. I bet I have. Just not enough brain power to remember one right now.
Congratulations Sandra and Tara. I love the stereotypes. I use them often with subtlety. I like when my readers figures the types out for themselves. Love the book covers!
Cool cover:) Although I would never have imagined combining love and mutants:)
Congrats to Sandra and Tara!!!
I believe book covers are very important. It's the first hook to the reader!
This is wonderful information. Congratulations to Sandra and Tara. The book covers are beautiful. Yes unfortunately, much of the marketing is left to the weary writer. You can do it, Sandra. After all, you have a published book to your credit. All the best to everyone in 2017!
Yeah! So excited for Sandra and Tara that they are being spotlighted here today. Fun to learn more about both of their books. Such interesting titles and covers. 🙂 Congrats, ladies!
~Jess
Congrats to Sandra and Tara! And yes to what Sandra said about promotion. So true!
Love, Lattes, and Mutants sounds fun! And I love, love that cover on Cradle Rock! But where on earth did you find that fabulous quote? So cool. Thanks for joining us, Lee!
Sandra, self promotion is the WORST and I wish you the best of luck with it!
Both Sandra's and Tara's book sound fun! I totally agree with Chip Kidd's quote. Designing and making are super hard and I'm struggling with one of my own now.
Congrats, Sandra! Your cover looks beautiful.
Tara, I have to admit I'm not really big on either teaching lessons or using stereotypes in my writing. Sometimes, something to learn crops up in my stories (bound to happen at some point), but I never set out intending to teach anyone anything.
Misha – i don't blame you, i started out writing just to entertain!
and i didn't really set out on teaching a lesson in this series, but it turned out that way as i showed the species differences and they got along in spite of them, it also helps as a selling point when i want to speak to schools!
wowzers! tons of great comments! and i'm very happy to be here with Sandra – what a great title, and i lament with her on the self-promotion, it's the worst part!
I'll be running around to your places for a visit back soon!
And thanks so much Lee for having me! Always a tremendous response!
Congrats to Sandra and Tara. Two great stories and eye-catching covers.
congrats to Tara, it is a fun cover
Great post. I love both interviews–they were a lot of fun. Both releases have a great premise.
Congrats to Sandra and Tara. I've read about these before and they sound exciting!
A couple good looking books.
Hi, Cheryl!
I enjoyed the list of Adult Stereotypes found in books, movies and television series. As an older adult I have noticed drastic change over the years in the type of individuals that are idolized and imitated. I came of age in the 1950s and 60s. Back then there was tacit agreement in our society that the traditional hero should be the most important character in a story. Good role models, characters with positive attributes, were given the most lines of dialogue and the most screen time, and a happy ending was their reward for good deeds and ethical behavior. When in the early 70s flawed characters like Fonzie on Happy Days became scene stealers and breakout stars of their shows, the focus shifted. Spoiled, selfish, morally bankrupt characters that behaved badly became the stars of their shows. Today there is a proliferation of books, movies and TV shows in which most of the main characters, the heroes and heroines, are not only shallow and flawed but often mean and downright evil. Scream Queens is a good example. There no longer exists that tacit agreement on the importance of positive stereotypes taking precedence over negative ones.
Thank you, dear friend Cheryl, and have a great week!
Congrats to Sandra on her book and being showcased here and congrats to Tara and I use stereotypes because they are often on the mark…a gossiper lives across the street from me.
Congrats to both ladies. I love the looks of Tara's books. The covers are awesome.
Love, Lattes and Mutants is a catchy title
Two very nice covers and exciting sounding books. Congratulations to Sandra and Tara.
I don't think I stereotype adults in my stories. Maybe a do sometimes, but I try not to.
Great quote.
More booky temptation. Thank you.
Sigh on the stereotype front. I drift between a few of them.
And hooray for Lazy Housewives. Particularly for those who write and give me a reason/excuse to continue to fail on the Domestic Goddess front.
I love Sandra and Tara. 🙂 I wish them both all the best.
Congrats to Sandra and Tara! I agree with Sandra that getting a cover is not the perfect result we imagine. We have to do the marketing for our books, and there's no guarantee of future book deals.
Congrats to Sandra and Tara! I haven't written about any adult gossips/bullies but I've definitely known some!
Awesome covers from Sandra and Tara. =)
Congrats to Sandra and Tara. Both of these are on my TBR list.
Great to see Sandra and Tara here. I've had a couple of stories mutant into completely different novels – it's fun watching the metamorphosis. I try not to use stereotypes, although I probably fall into them by accident 🙂
Thanks for sharing! Self-promotion is a big factor in a lot of things, but especially in writing!
Great post Lee, being a follower of Sandra's I was delighted to see her on your post.
Tara's cover is certainly eye catching,both good authors. Good luck to both.
Yvonne.
Congrats Sandra and Laura. Stories do often change over time. Stereotypes can help people decide who they really want to be.
When I worked at UPS (many, many years ago) the entire delivery records department was a bunch of gossips. Drove me nuts. I never wanted to work in another office full of women again.
Sandra, no matter the size of the publisher, self promotion is always needed.
Congrats to Sandra and Tara! Wishing you both well.
Lee, thanks for hosting, and for sharing the quote. I like it! 🙂
Great covers! Congratulations to Sandra and Tara! Personally once I discover an adult behaving in ways suggested by the stereotypes I do what I can to avoid them.
Or the adult that think they no it all and are always right. Pfft to those.
Yep, there sure is a ton of marketing involved. Ugg to it is all I say haha
Congrats, congrats! Love both those covers.
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
Nice featured covers!
Nice featured covers!
I’ve just come over from Bish Denham’s blog where she is also talking about book covers, which is fine because you can never have enough books or covers. Great to read more about Sandra, and I just love that book cover and the ones on Tara’s book.
Sandra, I think we are all surprised by the amount of marketing.
Don't forget the adult sociopath, the one who thinks everything is a conspiracy and everyone is out to get her. Yes, I work with one of those.
Sandra and Tara are both awesome…as are their book covers! Very cool to see them featured here today. It's fascinating to learn how Sandra's book evolved, and Tara's list of adult stereotypes is a lot of fun!