Tara Lazar is a children’s book author, mother, foodie and boogeyman assassin (currently booked at 3am nightly).
Her debut picture book, THE MONSTORE, will be opening in your town June 2013 from Aladdin/Simon & Schuster. I THOUGHT THIS WAS A BEAR BOOK follows from Aladdin in 2014, with LITTLE RED GLIDING HOOD skating your way via Random House Children’s in Fall 2015.
Tara is represented by Ammi-Joan Paquette of the Erin Murphy Literary Agency.
Her last name rhymes with “bazaar”—you can listen to Tara pronounce her name on TeachingBooks.net. She’s not Tara Laser-beam (although that would be awesome).
5 Unusual Facts About Tara:
And the not so unusual stuff…
Tara at 3 years old
Tara loves children’s books. Her goal is to create books that children love.
She writes picture books and middle grade novels. She’s written short stories for Abe’s Peanut and will be featured in the upcoming book of essays for teens, Break These Rules, edited by author Luke Reynolds.
Tara created PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Idea Month) as the picture book writer’s answer to NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). PiBoIdMo is held on this blog every November. In 2012, PiBoIdMo featured 750 participants and over 50,000 web hits.
At EMU’s Debuts, Tara blogs with debut authors represented by the Erin Murphy Literary Agency.
Tara was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2010 and has an inspirational story to share about overcoming a devastating diagnosis to achieve your goals and dreams. She can speak to groups big and small, young and old—just contact her for more information.
She’s a member of SCBWI and a teacher for The Writer’s Circle Workshops.
Tara is a life-long New Jersey resident. She lives in Somerset County with her husband and two young daughters. If they had a dog, it would be a small white fluffy thing named Schluffy.
You can email her at tarawrites (at) yahoo (dot) com, or follow her on Twitter for fun kidlit stuff that doesn’t fit on the blog. She’s pin-happy, too. And who could forget Facebook?
hold
Currently Reading: Doug Unplugged by Dan Yaccarino
Currently Eating: Chicken Caprese
Currently Dreaming: About flying
Currently Playing: Candy Crush Saga
As a children's book author and mother of two, I'm pushing a stroller along the road to publication. I collect shiny doodads on the journey and share them here. You've found a kidlit treasure box.
37 comments
Comments feed for this article
July 7, 2008 at 5:47 pm
dramaquill
I subscribed to your feed – thoroughly enjoyed your blogsite.
Dumb question but how did you put that subscribe notification on your webpage. I’ve been trying to figure it out.
Thanks
Jaclyn
March 25, 2009 at 12:07 am
candi
cute blog Tara!!!
May 31, 2009 at 11:14 am
texasheartland
I wanted to let you know that you have won the Literary Blogger Award from Texas Banter Book Reviews!
http://texasbanterbooks.wordpress.com/2009/05/31/tbbrs-first-award/
July 27, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Hallee Adelman
Tara,
Did you really win the Literary Blogger Award?? If so, KUDOS to you!!! Can’t wait to hear how that spit girl is coming!!!
August 27, 2009 at 10:45 am
LORENZO
Found you via twitter. I am a Rutgers College Alum as well. I am a teacher and writer living in NJ. Come visit my website for a read. All the best. LL
November 2, 2009 at 11:17 am
Kimberly Davis
Great blog, Tara. I often have students in my workshops who are working on kidlit, and I will let them know about this resource. Best, Kimberly Davis, Kim’s Craft Blog.
December 1, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Dan Yaccarino
Thanks for helping make my name a common expression!
December 10, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Kelly Burstow
Hey! Nice to come across your blog. I’m also an aspiring children’s book writer. Tough market. I’ll stop by often to check out how you are doing.
Keep on keeping on
Kelly
beafunmum.com
December 18, 2009 at 10:01 am
Beth Coulton
Thank you thank you thank you! I received my signed copy of Karma’s book yesterday- Love it! Beth
May 8, 2010 at 9:30 am
vcartier
Do you do any copy editing for juvelile sports books?
Vince Cartier
October 19, 2010 at 4:11 pm
tara
Sorry, Vince, I’m not a copy editor. Good luck with your project!
August 26, 2010 at 5:44 pm
George Shannon-Author
Tara,
What a gracious and informative site to visit. I’ll keep an eye peeled for your new book.
Best wishes,
George Shannon
http://www.georgeshannon.org
http://georgeshannon.wordpress.com
September 24, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Magda Aulls
What an inspiration you are! Such a treat to find you.
Magda
September 25, 2010 at 11:51 pm
ReadersHeaven
Hi, nice to meet you !
November 9, 2010 at 9:10 am
Jenn DesAutels
Thank you for creating PiBoIdMo. Just wanted to say I understand: my hubby hates chocolate too. I am pushing a stroller down the same road so I wanted to wave and say hi.
November 9, 2010 at 11:18 am
tara
Hi, Jenn. It’s nice to meet you! Thanks for stopping by and saying hello.
January 10, 2011 at 5:12 pm
Frans Vischer
hi tara,
your blog is teriffic! lots of fun & useful info.
i’m a disney animator getting my first picture book published thru s&s in may, entitled Fuddles. could i send you the f&g? i’d love to get your feedback.
thanks,
frans
January 31, 2011 at 7:52 pm
Trish Weeg
Hi Tara…love this site. Wish it was around when Jordan was little. We are looking forward to your book.
April 7, 2011 at 7:43 am
Carol Sullivan (your Aunt !!)
Tara, What fun your site is ! Better than dull, old government. Keep it going….
April 28, 2011 at 3:00 pm
Amanda
Hi Tara – We’re in the UK writing kids’ books for publication later this year and also writing for animation. Love the blog. Our publisher sent us the link to explain the page layout he’d like. He’s in Malaysia, so your words are globetrotting! Best of luck with The Monstore, and look out for The Adventures of Red, Yellow and Blue…
May 16, 2011 at 5:35 pm
Pete the Pen
Hello Tara,
I have just published my first children’s picture books and I am trying to get into the routine of ‘blogging’, ‘tweeting’ and keeping Facebook up to speed so I came to learn from you. How do you do it? Amazing! Do you have a routine or just check for messages now and then?
Any advice?
Pete
June 11, 2011 at 7:08 pm
Andy's Procratinating Pencil
Hi Tara
I’m a children’s illustrator over here in the UK, and I’m just dabbling my toes in the world of blogging. I’ve trawled through numerous illustrator blogs and I have to say that yours is one of the most informative and constructive I’ve seen. My blog is more a stream of consciousness and the daft thoughts that come into my head, so it’s really satisfying to see that some of my fellow professionals are doing “proper” and enlightening stuff
It also takes some of the heat off me to do something similar
Keep up the great blog and the great art.
Very best wishes
Andy
August 22, 2011 at 3:47 am
Phyllis
Tara, how kind of you to share all this information. This is is a great blog. I am writing not as a writer but as reader.
September 20, 2011 at 2:38 pm
Amanda
What a nice site. I’m just stopping by to say hi as I dip my toes in and see how the water feels. Looking forward to PiBoIdMo.
November 1, 2011 at 6:28 am
Sign up for PiBoldMo – Picture Book Idea Month | Helen Ross writes
[...] Tara’s site at: http://taralazar.wordpress.com/about/ [...]
November 1, 2011 at 8:58 am
The FWA, self-promotion & PiBoIdMo
[...] the kid sibling of NaNoWriMo held by Tara Lazar, and the second bout of serendipity I’ve had in as many weeks. With my new goals focus, [...]
November 2, 2011 at 6:29 pm
Linda Grigg
I vote you create merchandise with just that adorable “light”ning bug! He’s so iconic! And could be a motivator on those chilly, idea free mornings sitting on a cup of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate!
November 7, 2011 at 12:33 am
viviankirkfield
So glad I “discovered” you through another SCBWI member, Stacy Jensen. I follow her blog and happened to read a post today
from several days ago that mentioned the November Picture Book Challenge…sorry I was lax in reading my emails…sounds intriguing.
I wrote several picture books…over 30 years ago…but never followed through with trying to get them published. I do intend to. In September 2010, my book for parents and teachers of preschoolers was published…and I entered the sometimes overwhelming world of social media with blogging, Twitter and more.
Your site is engaging and so very informative. Thank you for sharing your expertise…it is much appreciated. I’m subscribing to your blog and plan to visit again soon.
November 14, 2011 at 11:27 pm
Lauri Day
Hi Tara… I enjoyed your blog. Do you do your own illustrations? I don’t like chocolate either… I won’t eat anything brown (or anything yellow for that matter!)
Feel free to check out my website, I will be looking for literary representation after the holidays.
November 22, 2011 at 4:08 am
John Shelley
Hi Tara
A picture book idea every day for a month? What a great concept, it’s a shame I didn’t hear about this earlier, I’d certainly have spread the word. Now, alas, we’re already half way through the month.
Do let me know if you intend to repeat next year.
December 1, 2011 at 11:27 am
Meghan
Hey Tara,
Thanks for an amazing and inspiring month! Do we submit our story ideas to you or are they only seen by ourselves?
March 19, 2012 at 5:38 pm
ziggyshortcrust
Hello Tara, thank you for stopping by my blog. As requested, there is a little Tara elf waiting for you. Hope you like her.
March 21, 2012 at 5:21 pm
arihoma
Thank you for sharing your wonderful work with all of us.
Here is an award for you! http://arihoma.wordpress.com/2012/03/21/sunshine-award/
March 27, 2012 at 11:08 pm
Tara Lazar
Thanks so much!
October 26, 2012 at 12:09 am
*Clearing my throat…* « WordWranglerNC
[...] to be a guest blogger for the Pre-PiBo posts by the talented, and head honcho of PiBoIdMo, Tara Lazar! [...]
November 1, 2012 at 8:25 am
Let's Celebrate Picture Book Month - Jump Into A Book
[...] * Jackie French (Australia) * Brett Helquist * Uma Krishnaswami * Tara Lazar [...]
November 30, 2012 at 7:23 pm
mvwriter888
Hi Tara,
I did it! I have my 30 PB ideas in 30 days! Thank you so much for this creative exercise. Just when I thought I had exhausted my ideas, 30 more popped up. Every guest you had was so inspirational and I am going to take one of their ideas – I’m printing out their posts and putting them in a binder for future inspiration. In the meantime, this being my first time, what do we do with our ideas to “win” or “validate” that we did it? (Forgive the choice of words – I just completed Nanowrimo today, too). I’m psyched!
Deb