Elizabeth Van Tassel

Happy ✨Cover Reveal ✨ day! Such a witty premise too! I’m excited to join in the #coverreveal for @ashleynmays’ debut YA novel THE GREAT DATE EXPERIMENT releasing June 15! When Callie Christianson’s ex-best-friend shows up on her front porch and asks her to go on 21 dates with him for a publicity stunt that could make her dreams come true, she has to decide if his great date experiment is worth the risk of another betrayal at his hands. To learn more or sign up to preorder, check out www.ashleynmays.com/great-date-experiment #TheGreatDateExperiment #21Days21Dates #ashleymays #yalit #bookish #booklover #booklovers #booklove #newbook #romancebooks #bookish #newreads https://www.instagram.com/p/CdvmZl5LPzg/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Taking you to ✨🦋 another world ✨🦋 filled with music 🎶 and joy alighting on a gentle breeze in todays reels. I’ve been saving this visit to @butterflywonderlandaz to share in this difficult season. At least in our home, kids are finishing finals or heading into them, and there always seems to be a lot of stress and challenges that surface before summer officially arrives. But when I look at the glorious wings of the red and black one or the navy blue one which I’ve never seen before as they flutter around the exhibit, all my cares melt away like ice cream 🍨 in the sun. And in one golden second I am struck with wonder. Then I look down and one alights up on me and wants to walk around and share the moment. Somehow I feel so very special to have these little creatures close by. It must be like an angel’s breath or a hello from someone already in heaven. Sending you that moment today and sharing in simple joys. #butterflywonderland #butterflywonderlandaz #arizona #phoenix #bookishgirl #authorlife #simpledelights #simplejoys #flyaway #butterflyphotography #butterflypavilion #butterflygarden #beautiful #wonder #hugfromheaven https://www.instagram.com/p/CdiwDLHLb-C/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

What’s to be done when it ❄️snows ❄️ in May? A trip to #barnesandnoble passed the time perfectly. 📚❤️ It was delightful watching young kids play on the Winnie the Pooh stage and families reading together. ❤️ I was thrilled to find the new #scandar book 📕 by @afsteadmanauthor which looks so exciting! And right here in #boise #thebookshopofdustanddreams by local author @mindythompson_ so excited to read it! @stuartgibbs1 #spyschool and @amandafoody #wilderlore caught my eye as well! This bookstore had a very large #mglit section which was amazing to see! What are you reading? Back to the pages now…and the editing cave. ❤️ #kidlit #bookstack #bookishglee #bookish #bookstore #booksbooksbooks #booksofinstagram #authorlife #amreading #boiseauthor #middlegradebooks https://www.instagram.com/p/CdYM2UxL6eN/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

"The desert, when the sun comes up. I couldn't tell where heaven stopped and the Earth began." - Tom Hanks Before I leave my time in the desert, I had to share this moment. One of my favorite things to do when I travel is to rise early and experience dawn. I couldn't resist being this close to the desert. Sharing a bit more of this moment in today's reels, and some additional photos here (scroll). The birds are fascinating the way they nest in these ancient cacti and also rabbits surprised me being everywhere. Finally, the bright yellow blossoms on the trees (watch the spines though!) and dark purple contrast of some cacti close to the ground. When the sun cracks through, the cacti look like they are fingers pointing toward heaven. Diving into edits today. Wishing you a sense of wonder and unexpected beauty in those desert moments of life. #phoenixarizona #sunrise #morninghasbroken #creativelife #bookish #earlyam #morningvibes #desertlife #cactus #traveldeeper #wandering #authorlife https://www.instagram.com/p/CdQdr17rNXi/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Happy #maythe4thbewithyou day! Do you have anything fun planned? I have my nose deep in #savethecat edits to my book 📚 and spring goals before the end of school for the kids. Eeek! I’ve been taking an informal survey of how authors in several genres use this super tool to shape their stories. Some swear by it, outlining in great detail before laying down words. Others write a rough draft and then the cat 🐈 comes to visit. Still others use a thin version to shape key points then rewrite after 🔨 hammering it together. Learning a lot. But one thing I consistently see among great authors: they keep learning and growing. They never “arrive” but, instead, know there’s fun in remaining the student 👩‍🎓 in #writerslife . Me too.❤️📚❤️📚❤️ #authorlife #authorsofig #coffeeandbooks #booklover #booklove #kidlit #mglit #amediting #editingskills #booknerd #booknerdigans https://www.instagram.com/p/CdI46Y7rjeP/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

“There should be a place where only the things you want to happen, happen.” - Where The Wild Things Are So delightful sharing #writerslife and exploring stories and amazing cacti 🌵 with my dear friend @saraellawrites ❤️❤️🌵🌵😎 I’m excited for her next book #thewonderlandtrials 🐇👗She’s an amazing editor too! Really, she is a gem 💎 inside and out. The true treasure of being a writer and creative person is the people who share that joy, and inspire you which Sara always has. So glad that we had a Wild Things catch-up where time slowed if only for a while. ❤️❤️🍄🍄✨✨🕶🙏 #forevergrateful #saraella #writingfriends #authorsofinstagram #authorlife #bookgirl #bookmagic #bookish #bookishglee #kidlitnet #kidlit #creatives #creativewriting #phoenixwriters https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc29MBVL4o6/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

What’s better than cherry 🍒 blossoms and books 📚?? My favorite outing, a new tradition for our family here in #idaho I love ❤️ ambling through these beautiful flowers. If you check my reels I take you with us, my favorite spring date too! I’ve been super deep in edits and appreciate my sprinting authors and #mglit teal on #mgpies so fun world building together. Having a #writingcommunity is critical in the journey and make it joyful. Wishing you a sense of wonder and beauty today! #cherryblossom #writerslife #bookish #bookgirl #booklover #booklove @cherryhillfarms.idaho #cherryhillfarms #amreading #booksinthewild #idaholove #caldwell #kidkit #authorlife (at Cherry Hill Farms) https://www.instagram.com/p/CcvGOgwrWpa/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Happy #bookbirthday to my dear friend @nova_mcbee_author !!! Being made into a movie 🎥 🍿 too! A truly compelling series! ♾ From Young-Adult author Nova McBee comes ACTIVATED, the third book in the gritty, action-filled Calculated series. Set in Seattle and the perilous Arctic of Finland, ACTIVATED follows teen genius Jo Rivers as she and her band of prodigies team up with unlikely allies from Jo’s past to stop a catastrophic satellite breakdown. Global chaos is at stake and so is the boy she loves. ♾ ♾ Calculated is in development to become a major motion picture, with The Chronicles of Narnia’s Emmy Award winning screenwriter, Ann Peacock, to adapt the novel for screen. If you haven’t jumped into Jo River’s journey yet, why not give it a shot! ♾ #actvatedbook #novamcbee #wisewolfbooks #bookstofilm #booklove #bookstagram #bookgirl #writergirl #calculatedseries #yalit https://www.instagram.com/p/CcoCeuMvxaS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

❤️Post: I received the sweetest compliment last week. I was seated at a lunch with friends from all different seasons of my life and one of the friends said, tell us how you know Elizabeth. Well, they each pointed out that I love to build communities. You know, connect people with things they might need, or with friends they might enjoy. I think it started in college when I learned about Southern hospitality and I was extended so much tender, loving care by many at Baylor. So throughout my life, in all of our greatly unexpected crazy amount of 18 moves (6 of which were during wildfire recovery timeframe) in 20 years of marriage (now almost 24 years) wherever I went, whatever I did - either in business for Ernst & Young or in the jewelry industry, or when I had little babies or in book clubs or in the kids' schools, or in Bible Studies - these ladies who really KNOW me pointed out I love to build community. Now I just do it out of reflex. I see someone with a need - and I LOVE being the connector with a resource to help, or I love to participate in starting something that brings encouragement - whether with our Baylor parents group in Idaho, or charity volunteer work, or in the writing community (LOTS there) - one of my goals in life is to be a bridge builder. Not a divider. To help build each other up along the way. Thanks for being on this path with me friends. I've been recovering from an ankle injury and it tends to hone your priorities when you have hours of PT and still hope to make every moment, every day count for what's important in life. It was poignant to slow down and cherish what's important. Like each of you are to me. Bless you today! #friendship #friendsforlife #truefriendship #kindredspirits #writingcommunity #writingcommunityofinstagram #simplejoys https://www.instagram.com/p/CbtCeHtP5lU/?utm_medium=tumblr

“A good friend knows all your stories. A best friend helps you create them.” Although the author who wrote this quote is not known, I’ll just bet they crafted wonderful tales. I feel so blessed after a day of writing with these two wonderful #yalit authors @beckydeanwrites and @candace_kade_author ❤️❤️❤️📚📚📚📚📚📚📚💻💻💻💻 We got to brainstorm some of our story moments and it is so exciting to hear their news about both of their books coming out soon. Plus we found a quiet corner in the library near a fun sign about a restaurant called #stories at @hyattlostpines to dream up new worlds together. I really cannot wait for you to see all the stories they have in the works! Becky writes young adult romance and also science fiction/fantasy that’s so amazing! Candace also writes speculative young adult lit. ❤️📚 Thanks for a special day and sharing the writing journey together! Check out my stories for Candace’s wonderful baby, more fun, and Texas Longhorns! @enclavepublishing @delacortepress #loveandothergreatexpectations #writersofinstagram #authorlife #booklovers #booknerd #bookaddict #writingcommunity #amediting #bookfriends #authorsofig #readerlife #hyattlostpines https://www.instagram.com/p/CbORHBPLfUH/?utm_medium=tumblr

Excited to see our son in Texas this weekend, enjoying Baylor outings. I also am in Austin for a mini writing retreat with #authorlife friends. Nothing like a pretty Texas sunset! I’ll be working on edits for my WIP and brainstorming. It’s so nice to feel warm breezes after a chilly winter. ❤️📚📖📙📘📘📗📕💚💛🐻 Have you ever been on a writing retreat? What was your favorite part? Do you prefer time to exchange ideas or peace and quiet to get the words in? 💻 #writersofinstagram #writerscommunity #writerslife #amediting #austintexas #baylormom #baylorfamily #bayloralumni #texasgirl #yall #retreat #writingretreat #kidlitnet #kidlit #mglit https://www.instagram.com/p/CbMGRTlAnJR/?utm_medium=tumblr

Have you ever done an escape room? We did a gem 💎 mine themed one for my son’s 16th birthday 🎂 (complete with a themed cake 🍰- scroll for photos). Such fun! I loved watching them solve the really intricate clues and work together as a team. And putting clues 🕵️‍♀️ on the cake was really fun too. ❤️🎂❤️🎂❤️🎂❤️🎂 What are some of the most clever riddles you’ve seen in a book or movie? I have an idea for a book 📚 like this. Would love ❤️ to hear them! Happy birthday to our son, we are so very proud of you! #escaperoom #escaperooms #escaperoomprops #treasurevalley @escapetreasurevalley @pastry_perfection_boise #birthdayideas #happybirthday #motherofboys #mglit #kidlit #authorlife #teenmom #parenting https://www.instagram.com/p/CbAf0ejLTd0/?utm_medium=tumblr

“Once a king or queen of Narnia always a king or queen of Narnia.” CS Lewis . This is one of my favorite quotes that a dear friend gave me on this mug for Christmas. Do you ever listen to the audibles from the chronicles of Narnia? We have been recovering from Covid and it has been a delight to listen to these favorite tales once again. I never get tired of imagining talking to Aslan or the thrill of riding on his back through the woods. The truth is though that we’ve hardly left the house and hot tea has been my close friend! People have been so kind to bring dinners and take good care of us. And I love ❤️ the hat from @owlcratejr too! . What are your all-time favorite middle grade or young adult novels you go to when you’re under the weather? . #mglit #mgliterature #bookish #bookishlove #favoritebooks #booksandtea #booksandcandles #bookfriends #writingcommunity #narnia #kingsandqueens #covidrecovery #readerlife #readersofinsta #owlcratejr #amwritingfantasy #amreadingfantasy https://www.instagram.com/p/CZSTmM5PAWH/?utm_medium=tumblr

Wishing my dear friend @laura_namey 🎂 happy birthday 🎁 and remembering cozy moments over tea ☕️ together sharing #writerslife 💕 . Have you read her wonderful #yalit yet? Perfect for a snowy ❄️ day like we have here. Laura is such a talented writer and gives so much to the community. Her characters and recipes are a delight! . #laurataylornamey #whenwewerethem #acubangirlsguidetoteaandtomorrow #thelibraryoflostthings #amreading #writingcommunity #youngadultbooks #friends❤️ #tbr https://www.instagram.com/p/CY94kL4vAAJ/?utm_medium=tumblr

🎩COVER REVEAL ♦️for The Wonderland Trials by my dear friend @saraellawrites releasing from Enclave Publishing in July 2022! Sara is an incredible author, so excited for this! This is the first book in a YA dystopian fantasy Alice in Wonderland retelling duology, The Curious Realities. The book is available to preorder in Limited Edition Hardcover. ***Link to preorder: https://amzn.to/3JRr5A The book: Solve the clues. Face your fears. Survive the Trials. All Alice Liddell wants is to escape her Normal life in Oxford and find the parents who abandoned her ten years ago. But she gets more than she bargained for when her older sister Charlotte is arrested for having the infamous Wonder Gene—the key to unlocking the curious Wonderland Reality. Soon, Alice receives a rather cryptic invitation to play for Team Heart in this year’s annual—and often deadly—Wonderland Trials. Now she has less than twenty-four hours to find her way into Wonderland where nothing is impossible... or what it seems. The stakes are raised when she discovers players go missing during the Trials each year. Will she and her team solve the clues and find the missing players? Or will betrayal and distrust win, leaving Alice alone in a world of her own? Follow the White Rabbit into this topsy-turvy fantasy where players become prey, a sip of the wrong tea might as well be poison, and a queen’s ways do not always lead one where they ought to go. #thewonderlandtrials #saraella #thecuriousrealities #coverlove #enclaveescape #enclavepublishing #yaretelling #aliceinwonderland #bookish #coverreveal https://www.instagram.com/p/CY4DxCelCW_/?utm_medium=tumblr

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson . When a dear friend offered their cabin by the lake and an opportunity with my college age son opened up to have an adventure in the mountains, I jumped. Especially knowing I won’t be seeing him for around five months, I wanted to slow time down just for a little bit. And we crossed off a long-time dream of learning how to snowshoe! . When I look back over the last year which has had recovery from appendicitis and an injury, I just sat there amazed that I was even able to do all of this in the winter wonderland! The sunrises and sunsets have been beautiful, and although we have to go down the mountain back to reality, pretty moments will stay wrapped up like a gift in my heart. There’s something about being up in the mountains that refreshes your spirit and refills your wanderlust, that endless hope for spice and adventure and wit. It reminds us all that while our experiences color who we are, they are not the core of what’s most important about us. I’m really looking forward to what aventures are ahead. And creating my own path perhaps. Thanks for being along for the journey! Have you been creating any new paths in your life? #winterwonderland #bucketlistadventures #mountaingirl #snowshoeing #idaholove #mccallidaho #creativelifehappylife #adventuretime #adventureawaits #mountainlake #shorelife https://www.instagram.com/p/CYrbmFtpWlW/?utm_medium=tumblr

Celebrating (here in Idaho) along with @bayloruniversity my alma mater and our son who got to play in @bugwb band at the Sugar Bowl tonight. Such a thrill watching @bufootball with a stellar win 🏈💚💛🏈 I am so inspired by these great, talented people. #sicembears #sicem Being a #bandmom has been a tremendous joy. My son always picks great music 🎶 in our home. Congratulations!!!🎉🎊🎈 to all! And what a great beginning for 2022!! #happynewyear2022 #baylorfamily #baylor #baylormom #bayloralumni #bugwb #baylorgoldenwaveband https://www.instagram.com/p/CYN5-MNLS_m/?utm_medium=tumblr