So the release date for THE MONSTORE finally arrived!
Dude, I was bustin’ out!

OK, I wasn’t that hot to trot. After all, I had been waiting for three years. So my excitement was more, um, subdued.

But inside, I was like this.

And this.

And this.

But I soon found out Barnes & Noble wouldn’t be carrying THE MONSTORE.
At first, I thought it was no biggie.

I would overcome!

But then, I slept on it.

Somehow, I didn’t break down.

With a little help, I kept it together.

In fact, I had something to say to that brick-and-mortar behemoth.

So I rallied the troops.

And people went to bat for me. For me?!

They’ve even told me funny stories about how B&N has been ‘splainin’ the book’s absence. (Yeah, they got a lotta ‘splainin’ to do.)

They said: “It’s with a small publisher.”

“It has to be reviewed first.”

“It’s a Halloween title.”

So, maybe this means it will be there in October?

Doesn’t matter, though. My peeps got my back.

These peeps, too.

Yeah, the response to THE MONSTORE has been pretty insane.

Oops, not Bynes insane. Stone insane.

And the fun has only just begun.

Because, remember…


Ryan and I would like to say “thank you” for visiting my blog this year. Now go rock the Auld Lang Syne.
In 2008, I had the most nerve-wracking 20-minute drive of my life. My knuckles paled, my stomach gurgled, and my thoughts raced faster than the 35 MPH I could manage to clock on the highway. I was on my way to my first kidlit conference ever: the Rutgers University Council on Children’s Literature One-on-One Conference. AHHHH! Somebody help me!

Thanks, Ryan. I know you would have, honey. But I digress…
I knew practically nada about writing for kids. I had slipped the first three pages of my middle grade novel into an envelope earlier that summer and waited patiently for the response. Thankfully, I was on vacation for two weeks of the final countdown. It made my vacation go by much more slowly. I recommend this tactic to anyone who needs to wait—go to a beach, plop a lounge chair in the sand, facing the ocean. Or facing Ryan Gosling in surfing trunks.
But when the vacation was over and the car hit our driveway, I jumped out and dashed to the post office. Awaiting me was a thick envelope, and remembering the drill from college admissions, I knew this meant a “yes”!
So off I went. I was so green. (Although I wore a cute purple top.) But when the event was done, I blogged all about it. Hopefully my notes help prepare you for this year’s conference. You can review them all here: RUCCL 2008.
But Tara, what does this all mean?
It means that the RUCCL 2012 Application is now available!
And guess who’s your morning “Success Story” speaker?
As Miss Piggy would say, “MOI!”
Yeah, I was pretty floored they asked me. Trinka Hakes Noble sent me an email saying, “I hope you don’t mind, but I put your name forward as our Inspiration Speaker for the mentee breakfast. Would you be interested?”
Would I be interested? Are you kidding? Of course I am! Wow! Whoopee! Holy macaroni! Keeno Yaccarino!
Wait a second, what did I just agree to…? Pale knuckles and gurgling stomach again?
Well, I am hoping many of my blog readers will be accepted to the conference this year. Because not only do I want to see you succeed, I’ll need your help during my presentation. (Details to come. No, you won’t need to hold a barf bucket. Well, maybe. OK, don’t quote me on that.)
So polish up those manuscripts! You’ve got until July 2 to postmark them.
And if you have any questions about the conference, please ask away in the comments!
10 Comments on Rutgers University Council on Children’s Literature One-on-One Conference 2012, last added: 4/9/2012
HA! Thanks for the laugh this morning. Hang in there and good luck!
You go girl! I read the blog and went back to the beginning and re-read it again. Just like the reader will do with your book.
You’re awesome, Tara!
Tara, This ROCKS!!! Just like you do, and your books. You are a great inspiration to all. And you always make me smile and laugh.
Whoa, someone’s been busy surfin’
Loved your fun post and hope that your sales really take off.
That is so funny! Way to keep everyone’s spirits up. (And your GIF range is incredible.)
Are all the GIFs working for everyone? Some of them are not working for me, although they worked yesterday during the preview.
What a wonderful message to wake up to this morning Tara
hang in and keep being Tara, the positive voice in children’s literature. You influence more people/writers and children than “the mega company that shall not be named” influences them and you do that by just being you!
All the gifs are working for me, Tara. What a drama! Glad you didn’t let it get you too far down. Really, I think they’ll be knocking on your door soon, *begging* you to come into the Mon(ster book)store and appease the fan crowd. (Maybe that’s when you door the bustin’ out, door #swag thing.
)
Most of them worked for me, a couple didn’t. How hilarious! I loved it!
So glad you’re overcoming the disappointments and making it to the mountaintop. Monstore is great and so are you!