Guest post by Tiger’s Tale author Colleen Houck
Colleen Houck is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tiger’s Curse series and the Reawakened series. Her books have appeared on the USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Walmart bestseller lists, among many others. She has been a Parents’ Choice Award winner and has been reviewed and featured on MTV.com and in the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Girls’ Life magazine, and Romantic Times, which called Tiger’s Curse “one of the best books I have ever read.” Colleen lives in Salem, Oregon, with her husband and a huge assortment of plush tigers.
About Tiger’s Tale: From New York Times bestselling author Colleen Houck, Tiger’s Tale begins a new series which reimagines the epic fantasy Tiger’s Curse and delights readers with more romance, danger, and magic, leaving them breathless and yearning for more.
Fall is a time of remarkable transformation, making it my favorite season. The enticing aroma of pumpkin spice dominates coffee shops, leaves put on a breathtaking display of changing colors, and a refreshing chill fills the air, reminding us that Christmas is just around the corner.
It’s also the season to bid farewell to summer attire and welcome the cozy embrace of sweaters, scarves, and long-sleeved shirts. It’s the perfect time to declutter our wardrobes, let go of items that no longer serve us, and revitalize our fall collection with exciting new additions.
Most of us are familiar with the concept of change.
When my agent first suggested rebooting the Tiger series, I couldn’t believe it. I’d heard of the concept with movies, but never with books. As I wracked my brain, trying to figure out a plot, my younger brother suggested we take in a film. We watched, “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.” That night, an idea came, and Tiger’s Tale was born.
Now that I’ve reinvented a book series, I’m here to help all of you who might be looking for something to read while organizing that closet, getting your back-to-school supplies in order, or sitting at the cafe sipping that pumpkin-spiced laced beverage of choice. I’ll start with an easy one.
1. A New Haircut
The 2024 trends in haircuts are blunt ends, bangs, and bobs according to SouthernLiving.com. Be careful though. You don’t want to end up with a cut that isn’t flattering. Tresemme has a virtual styler that lets you “try on” different styles before you head to your salon. Handy.
This book recommendation is tried and true, an oldie but a goodie. Who doesn’t remember the hair transformation Tris went through after joining Dauntless? That short haircut was everything. The tats were nothing by comparison. So my first book recommendation to go with a new fall haircut is, Divergent, by Veronica Roth.
2. Try Something New
Matt Cutts gave a TED Talk in 2013. In it, he said, “A few years ago…I decided to try something new for 30 days. [I took] a picture every day for a month. I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing that day. I also noticed that as I started to do more and harder 30-day challenges, my self-confidence grew. I went from a desk-dwelling computer nerd to the kind of guy who bikes to work –for fun. Last year, I ended up hiking up Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa.”
In my case, I never set out to be a writer. I set a New Year’s goal in 2008 to write a book and here I am today. You never know what talents you might have until you try something new. Since I’ve always wanted to take dancing lessons with my husband and haven’t made time for it yet, my second book recommendation is about dancing. It’s called, The Midnight Dance, written by Nikki Katz.
3. Make a Friend
Building a social network in real life is an important skill. Not only do social skills help you grow personally and professionally, but they help foster relationships that add meaning and memories that will last. Studies performed by the Centers for Disease Control, show that those who develop strong social bonds also experience less anxiety, are healthier and more resilient, and even live longer.
Find new friends this fall at school by seeking out someone new, volunteering, joining a book club or a team, or attending social events. When you smile, ask questions, listen, and are courteous and friendly, you’ll soon discover you have more friends than you expected.
A great read about friendship is a book by Ann Brashares called, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. I’d also recommend watching the movie. As a bonus, you could pass this read along to your new best friend. Sharing books is one of my favorite things.
4. Have an Adventure
There are many ways to have an adventure right in your hometown or in your backyard. They don’t have to break the bank either. How often do we recommend a local restaurant or a ghost tour to visitors and never go ourselves? This fall, make plans to do something you wouldn’t normally take the time to do.
Whether it’s heading out for a day at the zoo, a trip to the local rose gardens or a farmer’s market, or going antiquing with a friend, stepping off the curb in front of your own house is the way to make the most of life and create memories with those you love.
One of my favorite stories about a homebody who stepped outside for a great adventure is The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. Bilbo does not want to leave his comfortable life but when called, he heads out on a quest that changes not only the course of his own life, but impacts the future of all those residing in Middle Earth.
5. Take a Class
Whether you are headed back to school or, like me, you are a life-long learner, you might like to try signing up for, or even teaching, a class. Reading and writing were my favorite subjects in school. I loved everything from Shakespeare to Steinbeck and Chaucer to Carroll.
When I was in high school, my favorite book was Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell. Since that one might be required reading, I’ll recommend one I like that’s set in high school. It’s called, Stargirl, written by Jerry Spinelli. I like this one because it shows that being true to yourself is more important than being liked. That’s a hard position when you are standing alone. It requires a person to be extremely self-aware and confident. This is why I suggest taking a class you might not usually gravitate toward. It’s a way to meet new people and shows you that you can do difficult or new things.
6. Update your Fall Wardrobe
This doesn’t have to be expensive. Sometimes you find great things in your closet. The first step is to declutter. If you haven’t worn something in two years, donate it. Store summer clothing away to give yourself more space for fall and winter clothes. I use soft zipper storage bags I can store under beds.
Thrifting and vintage stores are great ways to add special pieces. Sometimes all you need are the right accessories. Set a budget before you shop, and you’ll be good to go. If you need inspiration for fun wardrobe fittings, try reading The Selection, by Kiera Cass. In this book series, young women are given a chance to compete for the heart of a prince and join the echelon of the noble class. Did I mention fancy dresses?
7. Hit Refresh on Your Work
Sometimes when work feels stale or you don’t know what to do, take a break and come back later. When I feel pressure or am uncertain about what to do with a scene or a chapter, I walk away and spend time with my birds or dogs or bake something. By the time I return, the answer usually comes.
A while ago, I decided I’d give myself up to three days to be upset, stressed, or stumped about something. After that, I’d force myself to sit down and go to work. I figured three days was plenty of time for most things. That getaway or break from life and the stress that weighs on you can invigorate your mind and refocus those mental muscles. I often hit refresh, by reading. In Spin the Dawn, by Elizabeth Lim, the main character, Maia was told she couldn’t compete for the role of an imperial tailor, so she came up with a new plan, dress like a boy. Every obstacle that came her way, she figured out a way to beat. This book works for number six as well since there are some fabulous dresses in this one.
And now we’ve circled back to the beginning. When I didn’t know how on earth I was going to rewrite my tigers into a brand new series and put them in Russia. I gave myself three days and then an answer appeared. Want to know how I did it? Then check out Tiger’s Tale, the first book in the new series releasing on September 10, 2024.
There you have it, my seven ways to reinvent yourself for the fall and some book recommendations to go with it. Happy reading!
