Tara Ellis's Blog: Making Progress, page 7

Free Middle Grade Mystery!

FREEThe Mystery of Hollow Inn

Available for FREE from 9/30/16 to 10/04/16Get your copy now!



A modern day Nancy Drew Twelve-year-old Samantha Wolf, and her best friend Ally, are excited to spend part of their summer break in the mountains of Montana. But unbeknownst to them, Hollow Inn is bathed in mystery and legend. After arriving, they soon discover that things are not going well for Sam's Aunt and Uncle, who own the Inn. There's vandalism, ghostly sightings, and rumors of lost treasures. Determined to help, Sam and Ally embark on a challenging journey to discover the truth.
***


Book #1 - The Mystery of Hollow Inn 
Book #2 - The Secret of Camp Whispering Pines
Book #3 - The Beach House MysteryBook #4 - The Heiress of Covington RanchBook #5 - The Haunting of Eagle Creek Middle SchoolBook #6 - A Mysterious Christmas on Orcas Island


Available now for pre-order!Book #6


Order here!





Tara Ellis, an Amazon best selling author, lives in a small, rural town in Washington State set in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She enjoys the quiet lifestyle with her two kids and several dogs. Tara was a firefighter/EMT, and worked in the medical field for many years, before committing herself to writing young adult and middle grade novels full-time. 

Connect with me on FB: Facebook
Follow me on Twitter: @taraellisauthor
Find me in Goodreads:  GoodreadsTake a look at all of her books on Amazon:   Amazon

It Won't Define Us

I didn't sleep well last night. In fact, it was 3 am and I was still laying there in the dark, trying to make sense of what's happened to our small community.

I wasn't at the mall.

My kids (thank God) weren't at the mall.

But some of my friends were. I know people that ran from the building, confused and afraid for their lives. I know someone who hid in a bathroom with their child, while a murderer slaughtered five people not far from where they huddled.

We're a small community. It's likely that most of us either had family in the mall or surrounding businesses, knew someone that went through it, or were there ourselves.

We are all impacted by this, and the nation ... the world, is watching.

What are they seeing?

I think back over the other, similar tragedies around the nation recently and how I reacted to them. I was horrified, sometimes I cried, but I didn't have this balled-up, sickening feeling festering in the pit of my stomach like I do sitting here now. The rest of the world will quickly move on in a day or two, and soon the word Burlington or Skagit County will only be 'that place where the mall shooting happened', but for those of us who live here ... this will be a long, painful process that will never quite go away.

We are now brutally aware of how fragile our society and safety is. And this isn't the first time we've seen it so raw and exposed.

Just eight years ago, Zamora went on a killing spree that left six people dead. Six people that left behind a gaping hole in so many lives. I knew one of the people murdered that day. I don't know yet if I know any of the victims from last night, and it took me hours this morning, after a restless sleep, before I even looked at facebook or the news. I'm afraid to see the names, because then it makes it all real. The grieving begins.

There is already a vigil going at on at Maben park. There are several local fundraisers for the victims families, even though we don't know who they are yet. There are more vigils planned, and acts of community support.  I encourage anyone who feels a need to be a part of these to DO it. It's important. Because even if you weren't there, you are a part of it. It will affect you, and it's necessary to process those emotions.

Now, more than ever, with the nation watching, let's be the example of a community that IS strong for each other, and together. But God, please, let this be the last time that the name of one of our small towns hits the headlines. We've been there so many times lately, and it's hard to make sense of why.

We live in such a beautiful place, and I have a hard time merging the two realities. Be kind to each other, especially now. Remember who we are.

A #BucketList Trip To #Yellowstone!

To properly begin this story ... err ... saga, I need to go back one year. Last summer, I had recently re-connected with my childhood best friend via Facebook. We hadn't seen each other for nearly twenty years! Turns out she was into photography, much like myself. I was wanting to take a photography trip to Yellowstone and threw out the suggestion that we should go together the next summer. She said sure!

Fast-forward to this summer. I saw some new photos she (Lisa) shared, and it reminded me of the Yellowstone thing. I still wanted to do it. Not really expecting her to say yes, I shot her a message, asking if she wanted to go. "Sure!" she said. What? really? Really. For two months, we formed a rough plan, and set the date for early August.
Now, you might be thinking, "Won't that be awkward?" I can see where you would think that being stuck in a car, alone, for over 2,000 miles with someone you haven't seen for twenty years as odd ... but we were totally okay with it. You see, we're kindred spirits. The kind of friendship, bonded at a young age, that will forever stand up against the test of time. (and life) While our friends and family were skeptical, we were unfazed.
Logistics. That was our greatest dilemma. I don't know if you have ever tried to plan a trip through Yellowstone, or the Jackson Hole area, but accommodations are extremely limited (and expensive). Things fill up fast and early. If you haven't reserved your camping spot at least a year in advance ... HA! Good luck. Unless you are willing to pay around 400/night in Jackson, better bring that tent and hope to get in on one of the very few first-come, first-serve sites in the Grand Teton park.
(Just to help you all out, here is a map)
(photo credit National Geographic)

After making some random comment about my upcoming trip on Facebook, I got a very unexpected offer from a FB friend (Debbie). She is a fellow author, and someone who has helped me out a great deal for the past six months or so with my children's books. We have never met, nor even spoken on the phone. However, she resides in Jackson Hole through the summer, and very graciously offered the use of her cabin on the outskirts of town, at the edge of the Grand Tetons National Park. Now, again, you might be thinking, "But you've never even spoken to her. How do you know that the cabin exists? How do you know that she exists?"  This whole trip already had a kind of 'on the edge' vibe to it, so why not? Plus, while it's hard to explain why, I never doubted the sincerity nor the reality of my friend in Jackson. :)
Everything was set. We had our maps (via my friend in Jackson, with not only accommodations laid out, but also a slew of activities), our cool cabin in Jackson, a rough plan of events and timeline. Really, the only important aspect remaining were our cameras.
Then, the day before we were to leave, my back went out. Now, I have of course known several people who have said that their back went out, and having worked in an ER for many years, helped take care of people making the same claim. I, however, had never experienced this for myself. It basically involved me going to stand up from the couch on my way to bed, and abruptly falling back down, and not being able to move again for about half an hour. I eventually slid onto the floor, and crawled around to where I could pull myself up, and eventually walk down the length of the couch, all the while yelling encouraging words to myself, as if I was about to go into the game for the big play.
I was supposed to go to work that night, and then leave very early the next morning for our epic road trip. I couldn't even walk. Instead, I did go to work, but as a patient. A few hours later, I planted myself once again back on the couch with anti inflammatories, muscle relaxants, and a heat pack. I spent the day like that. Then that night. Then the next morning (the day we were supposed to leave.) By that afternoon, I was ready to take a test drive, and I made it around running errands okay. It hurt, but I could do it. I was determined. I WAS going on this trip! We left the next day.
Our mission started (for me) in the Pacifc Northwest, from a small town called Sedro Woolley. This is just about a 40 minute drive from the Canadian border in the NW corner of Washington State. I picked Lisa up from her home in Eastern Washington, and we continued on our way, our belongings crammed into the spacious trunk of my Ford Taurus.
I kept the seat warmer on, the advil handy (not the muscle relaxants ... can't do that and drive!), and stopped to stretch at regular intervals. We made good time getting to our first stop, Missoula Montana. Here, Lisa was reunited with my mom whom she hadn't seen for thirty years! It was if no time had passed at all. 
(mom, me and Lisa)

Considering, I was doing very well! Um, except for the headache that started when we headed over one of the three passes between my home and Missoula. The next morning, I felt like I had a hangover, and decided not to take any more muscle relaxants. (I had taken one before bed)
We were off for Jackson Hole! The drive was great. The conversation was fun, and it was like we were kids again. My middle grade mystery series, The Samantha Wolf Mysteries, was actually conceptualized back when I was friends with Lisa. The two main characters were originally based on the two of us, so this trip took on a little extra meaning because of that.
We made it to Jackson Hole that night, and other than being a bit stiff and fighting a persistent headache, I had no complaints! We made our way to the hotel that my friend Debbie worked at, to finally meet in person. She was just as I had pictured her (and very real ;) ), and it was an absolute pleasure! After snacking in the hotel restaurant, she took us out to her cabin (again, very real), and we were floored! I think that all I have to do is show you this picture of the view from the living space. No other words are needed!

Grand Tetons, as seen from the window!!! 
We slept well that night, under an amazing sky ripe with the persieds meteor shower. The next day, I opted out of white water rafting like we had originally planned (no way my back could handle it), and instead we drove through the Grand Tetons National Park, and found an amazing, gentle hike to Taggart Lake.
Taggart Lake
Me taking a picture of Lisa taking a ... well, you get it. ;)
I couldn't help but snap a picture of some foreigners who were thoroughly enjoying themselves!!

We got back to the cabin that evening feeling like we were making the most of our time, since both of us love the outdoors, and landscape photography. The scenery of the Grand Tetons is breathtaking!
Grand Tetons


We shared an (almost) equally breathtaking dinner that evening with Debbie. Now .. I can't say that I'm much of a steak eater, and I hadn't had buffalo before. But, after having a divine buffalo steak, I was hooked. ;) On that note, unfortunately, I also ate more buffalo than I saw ... but that's another story. ;) Over dinner (I think Debbie) mentioned that perhaps I had altitude sickness. Hmmm. I hadn't thought of that. We were at 6,200 ft. Back home, I reside at a measly 56 feet above sea level. (Yes, I am near the ocean)  Come to think of it, I realized that the last couple of times I visited Montana, I suffered a headache for a couple of days, both while at Missoula and Flathead Lake.

When I got back to the cabin that evening, I did some research. (yes, we also had wifi ;) ) Missoula was at 3,200 ft and Flathead was 2,900. It's not typical to suffer symptoms that low, but I also reside near sea level, and I had all the symptoms. In fact, it was a bit concerning how severe my headache was still (it came back with a vengeance that night), and according to the online info I dug up, if it doesn't go away in three days, you are to see a doctor. Well. Here was to hoping it went away, because we were heading into day four. Of course, I did absolutely everything I wasn't supposed to, including drinking caffeine and alcohol (both in moderation. I thought it would help the headache), no strenuous exercise (does hiking count?) and getting lots of rest. 
The next day, the headache was less severe. We went over our options of activites. We had been hoping to do some horseback riding, and then hit the local ski venue that is turned into a bit of a theme park during the summer. This included a gondola. We decided that rather than press our luck, we would settle for a nice drive through the Grand Tetons National Park, and perhaps another hike. We were leaving very early the next morning for a marathon dash through Yellowstone.

Our drive took us down Moose Rd, were we encountered .... a Moose!



We then took a cruise through the teton village. The gondola was quite tempting, but when I found out that it climbs about 4,000 feet, I decided that my head was likely to explode! (on a more serious note, it could have actually been dangerous, since I still had altitude sickness symptoms. It could potentially have caused increased pressure in my brain)


Okay, we did see one other moose. But I don't think this one counts. (it was in the restaurant at Teton Village)

Our drive took us past a trail marker for Death Canyon, and of course, we couldn't resist that! It ended up being what I consider the most beautiful hike that we took.
Part of the trail to death canyon
Lisa and I at the top!
I was sad to say goodbye to Debbie that night, but I know I will see her again. (Thank you, Debbie!!!) It was the perfect setting, and I feel blessed to have such a good friend!
The next morning came very fast, and we headed out at 5:30 am for Yellowstone! We made great time, and avoided the traffic getting into the park. We even had time to stop at a lakeside restaurant just inside the entrance for breakfast!
The view from the deck of the restaurant
An elk that made an early morning appearance in the park. Aside from a lone buffalo along the side of the road, this was the only wildlife we saw that day. Have to say, that was a bit disappointing!
Okay. The challenge was on! We stopped at a visitor station and armed ourselves with additional maps and information. Where to stop? What was worth the time and effort? It was a hot day, the traffic was quickly picking up, and we wanted to make the most of it!
Of course, we headed for Old Faithful. :) We made it just before an eruption.
Old Faithul



We dashed away towards our next destination ... and then the next, and the next. For those who haven't been in the park, it involves quite a bit of maneuvering to find a parking space, and a whole lot of walking on boardwalks that sometimes feel as if you are in a sauna! (so in other words, tiring! :) ) 



The geothermal displays are like stepping onto another planet. I have been following, and to a degree, studying the park and its seismic and geothermal history, so I found it all extremely fascinating!

We're both big goofs, so we never missed an opportunity for 'silly selfies'. 


Hard to give the proper perspective on the falls, but it was massive!


Mammoth Hot Springs. Surreal. 






Both Lisa and I agreed: If ALL we did was drive to this, the Prismatic Springs, and saw nothing else ... it would have been worth it. By far, this was the most awe-inspiring sight of the whole trip. I literally had goosebumps walking up to it.


We made it through the park and walked enough boardwalks so that we didn't think we could walk any further ... all in record time. As we passed through Gardiner, and headed for Bozeman (our destination for the night), we were feeling pretty good. It was an amazing trip, and considering I couldn't even walk the day before we were supposed to leave, we both felt content with the hiking, and photo ops that we had.
But don't think that our adventure was over! You see, we were feeling so good, that when we came upon Bozeman around 7pm that night, we decided to go for it, and head for the hotel we stayed at on our way there, in Missoula. I hit so many bugs at dusk, just before Missoula, that I could hardly see out the window by the time we got there. (not even kidding) First, the wiper fluid light came on (I used it all smearing the bugs around), then the gaslight came on as we took the exit, and destiny seemed to be telling us that this was our stop. However, as we came down the street, and saw it literally lined with parked cars, we got a very bad feeling. Sure enough, there were so many events happening that weekend, that EVERY hotel in Missoula was full. EVERY hotel. Now, if you have driven through Missoula, you will know that there are a ton of hotels. A surprising amount of them given the population. They were all full. Not only that, but every hotel the next couple of stops West were full, too. Okay ... next stop? St Regis. Well, the Super 8 was full (yikes), and the only other establishment in town was called the Rivers edge, or something like that. Luck would have it, they had ONE cabin left for $65. Although quite fearful, we didn't have much of a choice. We took it. It was now ten pm, and I had been driving for seventeen hours. I was ready to stop. My car was ready to stop .. but first, to clean the bugs off, get gas, and add some wiper fluid.

In true fashion of our counterparts, Sam and Ally, we chose to laugh and have fun.
Another hours drive over a very dark pass got us to Regis. Following the very kind keepers directions, we turned down the first road after taking the exit. As we came around the curve of this dead-end road, we saw a hotel sign, tilted to the right, sitting in the dark and half covered by tall grass. I stopped for a bit, letting my headlights shine on it, until we looked at each other and laughed. This is the part in the story when everyone starts yelling, "No! Don't do it! What are you thinking? Turn around and go back, before it's too late!" We kept going.
The cabin
I could spin some fun tale about this, but it's getting late. ;) It turned out to be just fine! Although dark, and yes, a little scary, there was absolutely nothing wrong with it. In fact, after we got settled in, we made the most of what was left of the evening and celebrated the fact that our story didn't end with something involving a chainsaw.


THE END

#99cent sale for the 2nd book in the Samantha Wolf Mysteries!

The Secret of Camp Whispering Pines
.99 cent SALE!!!


What could be better than hiking, swimming, and horseback riding? Having a mystery to solve, of course!When Sam and Ally embark on their next quest together, they have no idea what secrets hide in the shadows at Camp Whispering Pines. Set in the beautiful, rugged mountains of the Pacific Northwest, the clues are slowly revealed, and it's up to the two girls to figure it out.New friendships are formed, while at the same time enemies lurk nearby. The closer they get to uncovering the truth behind the camp, the further they are pushed into danger and deceit. Can Sam and Alley put all of the pieces together before it's too late? Follow them on another thrilling tale filled with excitement and adventure, along misty, high mountain trails and deep ravines, where the answers wait to be found!

The Secret of Camp Whispering Pines is book #2 in the Amazon best selling series, The Samantha Wolf Mysteries


Get your copy now at this great price!!!!!only .99!

#.99cent #YA #scifi box set!!

LAST DAY!!




Today is your last chance to snatch up this great deal! Get all three, full length novels in The Forgotten Origins Trilogy.
An Amazon Best Seller!!!


An alien plague. A sixteen-year-old girl. A fight to save the world. 

The Forgotten Origins Trilogy is a fast-paced, young adult sci-fi story, centered around sixteen-year-old Alex. What starts as a rare meteor shower ends up unleashing a viral plague that changes everything. Led into the mountains of the Pacific Northwest by cryptic clues left from her deceased father, Alex discovers that the past is not what she learned in school. When the human race balances on the brink of extinction, the fate of the world rests on the truth being exposed. To unravel the ancient secrets, Alex must rely on her friends, family and few allies. The Forgotten Origins is an epic saga, drawing the reader into a fascinating, frightening world where the unfolding drama will keep you riveted until the last page is turned. 

The Forgotten Origins crosses many genres, including; science fiction, dystopian, fantasy, and supernatural. It is also a clean read!


What readers are saying:
"...One aspect of the story that sets this series apart from others is that there are beautiful connections made throughout the books." -SirAnthony, Amazon Reviewer*****-Five Stars!"... I'm going to say that Forgoten Origins is my favorite YA/SCI-FI series of the year!! I really love how the author derived the premise of the series from the Ancient Alien Theory then made the rest her own. I found it it to be extraordinary. It made me, the reader, think. Even after I read the book. I'll probably still think about this book for months to come because to me, it's not too crazy to think, that this might not be far from an actual reality." - MissezMathis, Amazon reviewer*****-Five Stars!"...I still stick with my original story, this is a great series. I am not really one for aliens stuff most of the time. I don't watch these types of movies or read many books with aliens or alien theories. But I enjoyed this book! This series took me in and kept me looking for more. I love it! Thank you Tara for sharing this series with me!" - Aly, Amazon reviewer

The series has a combined 83 reviews, with a 4.6 average!

#Amazon #BestSelling Box Set for .99!

For a limited time, you can have the box set for under a dollar!July 15th - 22nd



Now an Amazon Best Selling trilogy in THREE genres!





An alien plague. A sixteen-year-old girl. A fight to save the world.


The Forgotten Origins Trilogy is a fast-paced young adult sci-fi story, centered around sixteen-year-old Alex. What starts as a rare meteor shower ends up unleashing a viral plague that changes everything. Led into the mountains of the Pacific Northwest by cryptic clues left from her deceased father, Alex discovers that the past is not what she learned in school. When the human race balances on the brink of extinction, the fate of the world rests on the truth being exposed. To unravel the ancient secrets, Alex must rely on her friends, family and few allies. The Forgotten Origins is an epic saga, drawing the reader into a fascinating, frightening world where the unfolding drama will keep you riveted until the last page is turned.


The Forgotten Origins crosses many genres including science fiction, dystopian, fantasy, and supernatural. It is also a clean read! (PG-13)
[The series has a combined 78 reviews with a 4.6 average rating!]


















Author Tara Ellis lives in a small, rural town in Washington State, set in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She enjoys the quiet lifestyle with her husband, two teenage kids and several dogs. Tara was a firefighter/EMT, and worked in the medical field for many years, before committing herself to writing young adult and middle grade novels full-time. 

She grew up on sci-fi, was a devoted Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica fan, and has since found a love for conspiracy theories. This background, combined with a wild imagination has led to The Forgotten Origins Trilogy. The first book in the series, Infected, was a finalist in the IAN 2015 Book of the Year Awards, was awarded Honorable Mention in the 2015 Reader's Favorite Book Awards, named 'Indie Book of the Day in Oct, 2014' and voted as 'Top 50 Indie Books of 2014'. (readfreely.com)

Her on-going middle grade mystery series, The Samantha Wolf Mysteries, has hit the best seller status on Amazon in the children's detective story genre several times, and continues to grow in popularity. The engaging, fun stories herald back to the days of Nancy Drew and Trixie Beldon, and several readers have commented that the series is of the same caliber. These are clean reads that are suitable for the whole family to read together, and are also part of the Kindle Unlimited program.
Join Tara's newsletter to be notified of all new releases and sales events! Newsletter
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Visit her author page on Amazon to find all her books!:  Amazon page

Getting Out Alive; the One Year Anniversary of Autumn Veatch's Miraculous Survival

Yesterday, I had the privilege of spending the afternoon with Autumn Veatch, at Barnes & Noble in Bellingham, WA. On July 11th, 2015, Autumn was at the center of a news story that held not only local residents spellbound, but the nation. The small plane she and her grandparents were on went missing. It was presumed to have crashed in the rugged mountains of the Northern Cascade Mountains, and the outlook was grim. After first one, and then two nights went by without any sign of the wreckage, let alone survivors, friends and family never gave up hope.



When Autumn Veatch emerged from the woods, it didn't mark the end of her story, but the beginning of the next chapter. She is a survivor in many ways, but by sharing her story, she hopes to reach out to others that struggle with many of the same daily issues that she, too, faces.

I want to thank Barnes and Noble for hosting our book signing, and King 5 News for sharing the story. If you haven't already read Getting Out Alive, The Autumn Veatch Story, it's available both online and in the Barnes and Noble store. (also available in audiobook format)





See our interview on King5 news!

http://www.king5.com/news/local/crash-survivor-hopes-her-story-inspires-others/270417854

Author Spotlight

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHTStephanie Adams
Amazon author page


Link to book
A world exists beyond our sight, just within reach. Evelyn, one of a select few with special gifts, is recruited to live in a community of the gifted who use their powers for profit. Evelyn finds herself wrapped up in a secret threatening to destroy the new home she has come to love or it could destroy the country that she calls home. In the battle between good and evil not everything is black and white, so how will she decide which path is right or wrong? Evelyn must uncover the truth and decide her own fate before it is too late.



Link to book

A Sweet Western Romance Patience has all but given up on life after her husband's death until she finds a mysterious man, shot in the chest and unconscious. Gabriel, the handsome cowboy, shows her that life isn't over when you lose love; you just have to find it again. He ignites her passion for life, but will the dark secrets of his own past prevent them both from moving forward? 


Book reformatted after formatting errors during initial publication. If you received a copy of the novel with errors please contact author for another copy. The first edition did not have spaces between changes in point of view due to formatting issues.





Stephanie has loved reading and writing since she was very young. She wrote her first full length book by hand when she was 14 years old. When she was young, she didn’t get grounded from going places, she was grounded from reading.
A veteran of the armed forces, a licensed cosmetologist, biology and math teacher, and small business owner, she wears many hats. She has two beautiful children and a wonderful husband who support her when she just can’t get a story out of her head and has to sit down for many hours alone to write. Her goal is to continue sharing her heart with the world, through her books. Her greatest aspiration is to inspire young minds to create art of their own and inspire them to have the courage to share it with the world.


Follow stephanie on her Amazon author page, and find her on FB here: FB



Be sure to check out her well-received books, both part of the Kindle Unlimited program!!!

New Book Trailer

I finally had a chance to update my book trailer with the new covers from my trilogy, as well as some great music! Check it out! :)



Amazon link to ebooks

Paperback Giveaway!

Enter for your chance to win a signed paperback of The Mystery of Hollow Inn!

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Goodreads Book Giveaway The Mystery Of Hollow Inn by Tara Ellis Giveaway ends August 31, 2016.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter Giveaway


Free with Kindle Unlimited!Twelve-year-old Samantha Wolf, and her best friend Ally, are excited to spend part of their summer break in the mountains of Montana. But unbeknownst to them, Hollow Inn is bathed in mystery and legend. After arriving, they soon discover that things are not going well for Sam's Aunt and Uncle, who own the Inn. There's vandalism, ghostly sightings, and rumors of lost treasures. Determined to help, Sam and Ally embark on a challenging journey to discover the truth.
***
Book #1 - The Mystery of Hollow Inn 
Book #2 - The Secret of Camp Whispering Pines
Book #3 - The Beach House MysteryBook #4 - The Heiress of Covington RanchBook #5 - The Haunting of Eagle Creek Middle SchoolBook #6 - TBA (coming summer of 2016!)