by Tara | Dec 1, 2016 | Uncategorized
If there was ever a song for Jasmine and Sean, this would be it. Once you read their “astronerd” scene together, you’ll understand why.
Whenever Jasmine is alone, she belts the hell out of this song.
Jasmine and Veta love this band – it makes them want to do a side project together.
Bryn had this album on repeat to keep himself awake while driving.
Whenever Jasmine thinks about Sean… Or maybe it’s whenever Sean thinks of Jasmine. Any guesses?
This is the mood C-Side creates when they’re at their best… Keep Shelly in Athens is in big rotation on Jasmine’s playlist.
Veta has this song and album on repeat throughout the tour – it’s feel good music to her.
Felix is a huge The New Division fan – and he’s super excited about the new album.
Jasmine listened to this a lot post-Jeremy.
This one got a lot of plays on Sean’s tour playlist.
About halfway through the tour, they were playing this song a LOT in the van.
Ah, Skinny Puppy. The one band everyone in C-Side loves.
by Tara | Nov 16, 2016 | Uncategorized
Just in time for the holidays, ENCORE, the long-awaited companion novel to AMPLIFIED will be available as an ebook on December 5th! I’m so excited for you all to read this!
Click here to find out more info and read the first chapter!
by Tara | Aug 18, 2016 | Uncategorized
I’ve been getting a lot of email and questions about ENCORE. Some of you are downright mad about the delay. I completely understand and I apologize….it has been a LONG time. I went through a lot of personal life turmoil and it took me forever to finish the book. But here’s the good news: ENCORE is finished (and I’m so happy with how it turned out) and it’s waiting to be released by my publisher. My publisher tells me the plan is for it to be released this fall! This is a digital only release, but once it’s out I WILL SCREAM IT FROM THE MOUNTAIN TOPS. Seriously, I will!
In other news, I’m working on a book that is very near and dear to my heart. It’s my special snowflake book, what can I say. I’ve talked about it before. But it’s set in Vegas. It’s he said, she said. It’s gritty, raw, and complicated. It’s about so many things – being poor, not being poor, being bi and dealing with the stereotypes others put on you, being a girl, being a boy, struggling with liking your body, keeping everything inside, and letting the “monster” out. And, of course, it involves music. I’ll share the title with you – SIN CITY REJECTS.
Thank you to everyone who writes me and is still patiently waiting for more books. I’m still writing them – I promise 🙂
Lastly, I have a new website for my branding, design, video, and photography services. If you’re in need of those services, check out my portfolio!
by Tara | Sep 3, 2015 | Uncategorized
Hey all,
Here’s the playlist for The Foxglove Killings. Soon I’ll be posting the song I wrote for the book—so excited to share it with you. Stay tuned 🙂
1. Skinny Puppy – CullorblindÂ
2. The Gutter Twins – The Stations
3. Catherine Wheel – Crank
4. Meg Myers – Sorry
5. Celldweller – Gift for You
6. Daughter – TomorrowÂ
7. IAMX – I Come with Knives
8. Chapterhouse – Autosleeper
9. Puscifer – Dear Brother
10. South – Motiveless Crime
by Tara | Aug 16, 2015 | Uncategorized
As you may or may not have noticed, I’m a musician (I’m super subtle about it, I know). I’ve always wanted to write a few songs to go with my books, but life got in the way…or I was knee deep in my next book….or something kept me from doing it.
Well, that’s going to change, because I need to write music as much as I need to write books. It’s a huge outlet for me (one I very much need after the year I’ve had), and I’ve been feeling pretty empty without it.
So, you’re getting original music to go with The Foxglove Killings…starting with this teaser. This is the music in The Foxglove Killings trailer—which will be coming out very soon! Can’t wait to share that with you.
This is actually a short version of a longer song I plan to release on Sept 1st (release date for The Foxglove Killings). So, if you like what you hear, stay tuned….
Until then—free download!
by Tara | Jan 2, 2015 | Uncategorized
Every January 1st, like many people, I feel like I have a fresh start. I’m going to throw away all the crap from last year and get twice as much done this year. I’m going to be more positive, eat less chocolate (yeah right), save up for that epic trip somewhere far and inspiring, and—most importantly—start living today and stop worrying about tomorrow. And of course I’m going to write, like, three books and sell them all.
But if 2014 taught me anything, it’s that this THING we hear all the time is very true. Your life can change very quickly. And when it does, you’re forced to take a good look at yourself and what really matters. Everything I had a year ago—all of my future plans, my life in Oregon, my comfort—I no longer have today. I thought I’d have Encore finished by March (ha). I was going to grad school, trying to get my M.Ed. I’d planned on rewriting this story I’m dying to get out to you all and FINISHING it.
But then life happened. And now I have a new reality. I live in Las Vegas again, a place I ran from screaming 10 years ago, because my mom, who is dealing with a lot of serious health issues, needs my love and help. I’ve also resumed my career in the multimedia field. So between uprooting my life, taking care of my mom, and starting a new job…2014 pretty much gave me no time to write. I honestly didn’t have any mental energy left to make ENCORE the book I want it to be. And I apologize, because I know how many of you have been waiting eagerly for ENCORE. I’ve gotten your frustrated emails and Tweets—believe me, I want this book to come out as badly as you want to read it. Probably more so 🙂
The good news? I’m starting 2015 settled. I’m moved in. I’ve fallen into the groove with my job. My mom will soon be getting a surgery that we’re hoping will change a lot and allow her to function again. And…I’m wrapping up ENCORE. I’d hoped to get it done as a goodbye to 2014, but I didn’t quite make that goal. So, while the release date is up to my publisher and I can’t promise anything, my hope is that Jasmine and crew will be in your hands very soon! Thank you so much for your patience, and I’m so sorry for making you all wait an extra year. I’ve put a lot of HEART into this book, so I hope it’ll be worth the wait for you 🙂
Even though this last year has been hell—I did learn some important things about myself.
1. I need to stop setting all these goals on Jan 1st and stick to one simple thing. One thing I KNOW I can accomplish. This year that one thing is getting up, brushing myself off, and continuing to be a writer. Because, being a writer is, you know, who I am. So, I’m going to write—and, most importantly, I’m going to stop editing myself so much because I no longer have the TIME to do that.
2. To be the writer I want to be, I need to give some things up. So, I’ve decided to take a hiatus from editing and other freelance work. And, you know, Netflix will still be there when I finish my next book.
3. My day job has shown me how much I miss video editing/production, making music, graphic design, photography—and all the things I used to do. Taking a break from writing actually makes me a better, more productive writer. So, I’m going to do my multimedia thing by day, write by night, and go to sleep feeling accomplished (as long as my characters don’t start talking to me—I hate it when they do that)
4. I will always eat too much chocolate. So, I’ll just do a few more jumping jacks.
Happy New Year, all! May you hear from me more often 🙂
by Tara | Oct 24, 2014 | Uncategorized
For those of you who are waiting for Encore…here are some lyrics Jasmine was inspired to write while on the road. It has not been an easy journey for anyone in C-Side…
 We Were Stars
Â
There’s a burned out Barracuda on the way to Lake Mojave
Rusty bones and a crumpled hood
She was something else, back in the day
Cherry red with glossy black seats
She didn’t back down, even when you pushed her
She sang until the end
And she didn’t go quietly
She was still breathing when the last flame went out
Live in the moment
Sink or swim
It’s all you can do
by Tara | Oct 1, 2014 | Uncategorized
Hi all,
My newest book, FOXGLOVE (a Twin Peaks-esque murder mystery), has sold to the lovely Stacy Abrams and Alycia Tornetta at Entangled Teen! No release date yet, but we’re thinking Fall 2015 🙂
The Publisher’s Marketplace Announcement:
Tara Kelly’s FOXGLOVE, in which a townie girl works to uncover the true killer behind a series of murders involving rich summer residents when evidence points to her best friend and secret crush, all while tensions in town start to turn explosive, to Stacy Abrams and Alycia Tornetta at Entangled Teen, by Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency.
I’ve never worked so hard on a book, and I’m so happy that it’s found a home with two super enthusiastic editors!
by Tara | Jul 2, 2014 | Uncategorized
It’s been a really tough year for me, guys. I won’t go into all the setbacks. I’ll just say they’ve been significant and have seriously impacted how much time I’ve had for writing. This is why ENCORE has been delayed, and–for that–I apologize. Please know I’m doing everything I can to get it out to you and it WILL be coming out.
I also have written another book called Foxglove. You can read more about it here: http://thetaratracks.com/books/foxglove/
I am incredibly proud of this book. It’s the product of almost 3 years of sweat, tears, all nighters, and times when I had to fight not to give up. And I think it’s my best work yet. I can’t wait to share it with all of you, whether it’s later this year or a couple years from now (if a publisher picks it up).
That’s all for now. May my next update be sharing release dates!
by Tara | Mar 29, 2014 | Uncategorized
Â
Okay, I have an idea. This is serious business. Really SERIOUS.
I’m trying it out. Digging it. I think?Â
Oh, God. This sucks!
Wait, I have a new idea! This is totally going to work!
…this isn’t going to work.
Grr. I really NEED this to work.Â
I’m getting tired…
That’s it. I’m done. Goodnight.Â
