Friday, September 2, 2016

Celebrating Baby Moo & Tara Tyler's Cradle Rock


This week's Celebrate the Small Things hop was an easy one for me as I am celebrating that my first ever children's book, Baby Moo's Great Escape, will be out in less than a week now! September 8 is the day. Thanks again to all who have volunteered to help me spread the word by giving the book a shout-out this month.

I'm also celebrating that I actually visited with Baby Moo himself last week when I took a trip to Sunrise Sanctuary. I had such a great time with all the animals! But of course Baby Moo got special attention and he is as sweet as can be. He was gracious enough to take a picture with me while he was hanging out in his barn in order to get out of the hot sun.


I'm glad Baby Moo and I got to be friends!







The Celebrate hop is hosted by Lexa Cain and co-hosted by L.G Keltner at Writing Off the Edge and Tonja Drecker at Kidbits. Visit Lexa's blog here to find out how join in the hop yourself and to see the list of participants.



I'm also super excited to welcome my bookfest buddy Tara Tyler to the blog and share the excellent cover for her new book Cradle Rock. Welcome, Tara!!



Thanks, for helping me with my cover reveal, Julie! I'm excited to see your MG book!

CRADLE ROCK is book two in my Beast World series. In it, there are many beast species. Each fantasy writer adds their own tweaks to traditional fantasy creatures, and today I'm going to tell you about one of mine.

GOBLINS

In Beast World, goblins, pixies, elves, and ogres are the closest to humans. They don't morph into other creatures or have animal appendages. Goblins and pixies are the most intelligent of that bunch, but goblins like rules and order, where pixies are the opposite.



Goblin Origins - from my research, goblins started in European stories during the Middle Ages and most stories depict them as evil or mischievous and dwarf-like with various abilities and dispositions.


Tolkien's goblins - evil, ugly, and wicked creatures!



Rowling's goblins - highly intelligent creatures entrusted to run Gringotts, the wizard bank.


Beast World Goblins - I like the Harry Potter version of goblins. Though my goblins are highly intelligent, they aren't perfect. They're small, green smarties with sass. They like to be in control. They aren't strong, so must use their cunning to provide order to the lesser intelligent masses - very similar to humans in that respect.

How do you picture goblins? What's your favorite fantasy creature?


CRADLE ROCK
by Tara Tyler
Publication Date: December 1, 2016

Welcome to the forest.
Gabe and his girlfriend Ona are headed in opposite directions for Spring Break. After finding out humans might be a real part of their history, Ona is determined to dig up evidence of them in the mysterious mountains at Camp Cradle Rock. Being a logical goblin, Gabe tries to talk her out of it, but there's just no reasoning with a stubborn ogress.

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

Add to your Reading List on Goodreads!
 ADD CRADLE ROCK TO YOUR TO READ LIST!



Tara Tyler is a math teacher and writer who loves to help and inspire others. Her problem solving skills mesh with her vivid imagination to teach math in new ways and overflows into her productions of exciting action-adventure stories in a variety of media. Pop Travel is the techno-thriller series that started it all and Beast World invites a younger audience to join the fun!

58 comments:

  1. Baby Moo is big for a baby! One week until release - get excited, Julie.
    Small, green smarties with sass. Yes, that does describe your goblins, Tara.

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    1. Thanks, Alex! Yes, biggest baby I've ever been around LOL.

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  2. Congrats! The book looks fun and how nice that you're friends with its star. Congrats to Tara also. I think goblins can get a bad rep. Looking forward to meeting yours!

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  3. So much awesome book news! Congratulations to both of you!

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  4. Yeh for Baby Moo - the real one and the book! :)

    Congrats to Tara!

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  5. Congratulations, Julie! Congratulations, Tara! Baby Moo looks like a fun read. Great title; adorable cover art!

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  6. Baby Moo must have grown coz he's looking pretty big to me! LOL I love the cover of your book and of Tara's. Have a lovely weekend! :)

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    1. LOL yeah, he's a big guy LOL. But I guess he will always be Baby Moo now. Thanks!!

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  7. Baby Moo looks pretty darn big to me. I'm glad he has a good place to live. Congrats on the upcoming book. The cover is great.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. Thanks!! Yeah, I'm so glad he ended up at the Sanctuary. It's an amazing place.

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  8. Congrats, Julie, on your upcoming release! It's great that you got to meet Baby Moo, though I have to say he doesn't look very babyish anymore. :) Congrats to Tara, as well! Love both covers!
    I usually picture goblins like those in LOTR. And my favorite fantasy creatures? Dragons!

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    1. LOL he really doesn't, does he? I hope he isn't offended by the name now that he's a big boy. Thanks!!

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  9. Hi Julie - congratulatons on Baby Moo ... he is certainly largish! But what fun to be able to hang out with him for a photo shoot - he looks in pretty good order ...

    Well done to you and to Tara ... extra special time for you both ... cheers Hilary

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    1. It was such fun to hang out at the farm! Even though I was all hot and sweaty and gross I was happy as a clam. :D
      Thanks, Hilary!

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  10. Congratulations on Baby Moo! I love the photo of you two hanging out! Congratulations to Tara too.

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  11. Congratulations on the book! That is one big baby moo :)

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    1. Isn't he? LOL he's actually more of an adult now but I guess he'll always be a baby. :)

      Thanks!

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  12. The first goblin I ever met was in Lord of the Rings. Over time I've opened my mind a smidge. hehehe

    Anna from elements of emaginette

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  13. Congratulations on the book! Moo is a big baby!

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  14. You and Baby Boo look very comfortable together. He must know you're about to make him famous. :) (Good luck with it!!!)

    Best wishes to Tara, too. That is a very cool cover. (What kid could resist a book that includes riding on a dragon's back?!)

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  15. Aww, Baby Moo is beautiful and pretty big for a baby! When I think of Goblins, the ones from Harry Potter come to mind.

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    1. Yeah, I think he's about three years old now but I guess he'll always be a baby. <3

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  16. Okay, so we got to see a photo of Julie and the inspiration for her story, Baby Moo, together. Now we need a photo of Tara and her real live Goblin. What? You mean they're not...
    (I'm so disillusioned.)

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    1. LOL I didn't think of this but you're right - where's the pic, Tara???

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  17. Congrats Julie & Tara. Wahoo, wishing you both lost of success and readers galore.

    Juneta @ Writer's Gambit

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  18. Yay for Julie! And what a big baby - how fun to spend some time with her! Congrats Julie. And thanks so much for having me today - I loved reading all the comments. Thanks, you guys! Really happy to hear your sweet words!

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  19. How cool that you got to meet Baby Moo, Julie! He's so precious.

    And congrats to Tara on her cover reveal! Goblins with sass sound like such fun characters to read about--and are no doubt fun to write about, too!

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  20. Ah, Baby Moo looks so cute in person! How neat that you got to cuddle with him.
    Congrats to Tara! I'm looking forward to reading it.

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    1. He really is a doll. I've never cuddled a cow before! :)

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  21. Julie, I adored the pic on FB with you kissing Baby Moo!!!

    Great Cover, Tara!

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  22. Te envio mi blog de poesia por si quieres criticar.
    Gracias
    http://anna-historias.blogspot.com.es/2016/09/vacaciones.html?m=1

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  23. Love the photo of you and Baby Moo! And congrats to Tara!

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  24. Loved seeing the "real" Baby Moo. What a treat. Congrats on the book and I look forward to posting about it on my blog soon.

    Congrats to Tara! You two are writing and publishing up a storm.

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  25. Wonderful picture of you and Baby Moo! :) Yay for Tara! I like the goblins in your world, the band geeks. Hehehe!

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  26. Congrats Julie and Tara on both having books coming out in the fall.

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  27. My view of goblins came from LOTR and playing Dungeons and Dragons. It's hard to change stereotypes once they've been burned into your brain.

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  28. Hi, Julie, Hi, Tara...

    Congrats ladies!!!!! Looks like you had a very productive summer!!!! ALL the best with your books!

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  29. Best wishes to you and Tara with your new books! Baby Moo is getting to be a big guy :)

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  30. Congrats Julie and Tara. Your books look great. Julie I have an Author Spotlight if you ever want to take advantage--give me a shout out. Love the picture of you with the cow. When I was a kid I raised a bull cafe by bottle. I loved that bull. Miss him.
    Juneta @ Writer's Gambit

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  31. Baby Moo isn't looking too gangsta in the photo. :) But he's awesome. I'm glad he has a sanctuary. Congrats to you, Julie! And to Tara! Two awesome releases.

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  32. Wow! What a response!
    Thanks again Julie and thanks for all the sweet comments!
    Can't wait to read about little Moo! ha!

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