You may be wondering…
…where’s Tara?
Or you may not be. Let’s be real, everyone has a lot going on.
But…
Well, as fine as someone with PPMS can be! I’ve had many health challenges lately, including extreme exhaustion, and I’m not looking for sympathy, just letting you know that it’s slow going over here. But I have managed to start the long-overdue daily Storystorm prizes!
Day 1 Winner: MONA PEASE
Day 2 Winners: GREENGIRLBLUEPLANET (MORGAN LAU), LYNN BALDWIN, CAROLYNSCOMBS
Day 3 Winner: JAN MILUSICH
Day 4 Winner: HELEN WATERS
Day 5 Winners: GWENDOLYN HOLBROW, JACQUELINE ADAMS, MARLENE ROHR
CONGRATULATIONS! Everyone will be contacted via email.
More winners to come this week!
Phew! It’s about time!
Writing for Kids (While Raising Them) 
40 comments
Comments feed for this article
July 16, 2025 at 5:35 pm
Carol Gordon Ekster
So sorry you haven’t been feeling great. Hoping you get a burst of feel good energy soon! Best, Carol
July 16, 2025 at 5:44 pm
Mary A Zychowicz
Sorry to hear you’ve been feeling poorly. I hope you’re resting and taking care of yourself. Thank you for all you do. It truly is appreciated. Take your time with the prize reveals. Suspense is fun!
July 16, 2025 at 5:45 pm
Stephen S. Martin
No Worries. All in Good Time.
July 16, 2025 at 5:47 pm
Stephen S. Martin
Good things come to those who wait (I hope)
July 16, 2025 at 5:47 pm
mornagersho
Tara,I’m so sorry to hear about your illness. Thank you for running this contest and graciously providing this incredib
July 16, 2025 at 5:47 pm
Linda Evans Hofke
Sorry about your health challenges. 😕
Congrats to the winners of day 1 to 5.
July 16, 2025 at 5:47 pm
Joyce Frank
I’m so sorry, Tara. Saving a little space in my heart for you and sending good vibes.
July 16, 2025 at 5:52 pm
Jessica Milo
Hope you feel better, Tara!! Sending you well wishes!! ❤️
July 16, 2025 at 5:53 pm
roundswrite
Take care of you first. The rest of the world can wait!
HA! Love the sweatshirt!!
July 16, 2025 at 5:59 pm
Kathy Doherty
Tara, you and your health come first. The rest of us can wait.
July 16, 2025 at 6:00 pm
Wendy Greenley
The people who are wondering have better memories than I do, lol. Take care of yourself, Tara!
July 16, 2025 at 6:09 pm
Tracy Abell
Very sorry to hear about the health challenges, Tara. Take good care and rest as needed.
July 16, 2025 at 6:18 pm
cindyjohnson2013
I’m so sorry you’re having some challenges, Tara! Take care of yourself – you know we do Storystorm for the ideas, not the prizes. Thank you for all you do for the kidlit community!
July 16, 2025 at 6:30 pm
sue macartney
Tara, thinking of you. Take care🤗
July 16, 2025 at 6:43 pm
anakellyinla
Tara. Prayers for strength…and like others have said, StoryStorm IS THE PRIZE. Take care of you!
July 16, 2025 at 7:29 pm
elise304
My thoughts and hopes for sunnier days are with you. I’ve so appreciated your work and wisdom. Sincerely, Elise, from Bay Ridge NYC
July 16, 2025 at 7:32 pm
Shirley fadden
The most important thing is for “our Tara” to take care of herself. Grateful for all you have done to help us generate ideas and improve our craft.
July 16, 2025 at 7:35 pm
Maria Marshall
So glad you are doing okay! Take care of yourself!!! We can all wait. Also hope you have a better rest of your summer.
July 16, 2025 at 8:08 pm
shubamohan
Appreciate you taking the time to do this, especially since you haven’t been feeling great.
July 16, 2025 at 8:38 pm
Tina Hoggatt
Take your time, Wonder Woman. Hugs to you – and thanks for everything you do to make life on this earth so much better.
July 16, 2025 at 9:13 pm
seschipper
Sending hugs and prayers❣️ Thanks for all you do for the Kidlit community!
July 16, 2025 at 9:24 pm
writeremmcbride
Tara, we thank YOU for all you have done to create and maintain StoryStorm! I am so sorry to hear that you have had so many health challenges lately, and I pray that you will find relief and strengthening. Thank you so much for your generosity in sharing your wisdom, knowledge, and skills with us all. We certainly appreciate all of your efforts.
July 17, 2025 at 6:12 am
M.R.
Hope you are out of your low place, gaining energy, and rocking steady! Looking forward to more StoryStorm winner news, but in your own time.
July 17, 2025 at 6:17 am
Colleen Owen Murphy
The gift you gave us was the opportunity to come up with at least thirty story ideas. I am sure everyone would be absolutely fine with there being no prizes!!
Please take care of yourself and use your spare time to do whatever creative endeavor brings joy to your heart.
July 17, 2025 at 8:18 am
thedillard5
Tara, thank you so much for all you do! (Which is A LOT!!) No rush on the prizes. Take care of yourself and I hope you feel better soon! (Love the sweatshirt! 😊)
July 17, 2025 at 8:38 am
Cedar Pruitt
Tara, I love Storystorm….and appreciate you! No matter the time frame. Congrats to the winners and best wishes for your health!
July 17, 2025 at 8:41 am
Matt Forrest Esenwine
G;ad to hear you’re doing ok!
July 17, 2025 at 9:58 am
Cathy Ballou Mealey
The inspiring posts and upbeat community spirit are the prizes that we ALL win during Storystorm Tara!
Wishing you better days ahead!
July 17, 2025 at 10:25 am
marty bellis
Tara, take care of yourself and know we’re all thinking of you. As others have said, you yourself and Storystorm are the best gifts of all. Feel better soon.
July 17, 2025 at 11:47 am
Darcee A Freier
Sorry you haven’t been feeling well. Take care of yourself. We can wait. Congrats to the winners!
July 17, 2025 at 12:44 pm
karenleewyoming
Yikes! You have PPMS and you still give to us all so generously. Do you hide your halo under a hat? Thanks for all you do and have done. I know you don’t know me, but if I can help in any way, with sorting/writing e-mails or in any other way….helping with next year, if you’ll be doing it again? I’m here for you, ready to step up and help out.
July 17, 2025 at 2:08 pm
Sylvia Mary Grech
Hang in there Tara! Sending hugs.
July 17, 2025 at 2:10 pm
ransonpatti
Congrats to the the winners!
Sending big hugs and healthy wishes for you:)
July 17, 2025 at 6:53 pm
Karin Larson
Congrats, all. Sending healing vibes and thoughts your way, Tara. Take care!
July 18, 2025 at 12:59 am
rosihollinbeck
Congratulations to all. Sending healing thoughts.
July 18, 2025 at 6:08 pm
Jan Milusich
I hope you’re feeling better soon!
July 19, 2025 at 6:24 am
1marth1
I’m sorry to hear that you are suffering from PPMS. It’s important to take care of yourself first. We appreciate what you do, but your health is more important. Congratulations to the winners! I think that we have all won by introducing us to so many writers and artists, allowing us to learn from their experiences. Thank you.
July 20, 2025 at 8:31 am
andreesantini
Tara, I hope you feel better soon. Congrats to the winners!
August 10, 2025 at 1:43 pm
Dena Davis
Tara, please take care! How might we help?!
August 12, 2025 at 10:02 am
sharib427
Hi Tara,
I hope you are doing okay. I know you are dealing with health issues, so I apologize if I’m nudging you at a difficult time. I don’t think I ever saw my winner’s name, and because I run Whale Rock, and I am SO inundated with emails, I just want to be sure I didn’t miss my person. Did the rest of the names ever get sent? No worries if not. I’m only concerned that I have not dropped a ball…
Thanks so much, Shari