Taryn Bashford

Author of The Harper Effect, published by Pan Macmillan December 2017. Lover of words, music, sport. Adrenaline rush junkie. Ravenclaw.

[tarynbashford]

This time last year we nearly lost our home to bush fires! We were evacuated and it was a weird feeling being somewhere else and not knowing what we’d come back to. We were one of the lucky ones! Maybe there’s a book in there! Anyhow, on running to the car, the kids each had a bag of what they most wanted to take with them. I had the thumb drives of all our home videos and the dog. My daughter said to me - ‘have you got your novel’? So sweet. I hadn’t remembered my thumb drive and ran back in to get it. Nowadays I use dropbox! But do make your own list in case you’re evacuated for fire or hurricane/twister or flood reasons. I’m grateful all we’ve had happen this year is a lightning strike take out our air con. 😊 . . . #theharpereffect #tarynbashford #bookquotes #bookishfeatures

[tarynbashford]

I had a fab time with the folks over at Riverbend Books last week. I’ll never tire of meeting book lovers and signing books! Can’t wait for the big book event with Riverbend Books at Mt Alvernia on International Women’s Day, 8th March. I’ll be talking all things Harper, literature giving teens new female role models, and writing. Watch this space for more details. . . . . #theharpereffect #tarynbashford #bookshops #loveozya

[tarynbashford]

This is an actual ball that was used during a game at the Australian Open. When I was there recently to promote The Harper Effect, I only had to donate to charity to take one of these home with me 🎾🎾🎾 I wonder who held it! A fiery Junior one day set to become a world champ? Venus Williams or Roger Federer? I can only imagine 😍📚😍 Being there brought so much of the climax of Harper’s story back to me - it was inspiring to watch these players chasing their dreams, and interesting to wonder what had happened in the changing room that day or at dinner the night before. Getting inside an elite athletes head is an awesome thing. . . . . #theharpereffect #tarynbashford #loveozya

[tarynbashford]

The Harper Effect is dedicated to my brother who ‘continues to hurl fireballs’. He lives in the USA and I miss him every day. At least with the publication of my novel I’ve got to see him once a year rather than the usual every six years! Miss you bro’ ‼️ Keep hitting those 🔥🎾 . . . . #theharpereffect #tarynbashford #bookquotes #bookquote

[tarynbashford]

Due to the continued threat of my TBR pile toppling, I rarely have the luxury of reading a book more than once. But when it comes to Jandy Nelson I’ve made an exception with both books. Time to get stuck into #illgiveyouthesun again. Which book/s do you love enough to read again? . . . . #jandynelson #lovethisbook

[tarynbashford]

It’s funny how publishing works. The Harper Effect just came out at the same time as I submitted the second book to my publisher at the same time as I started writing the third book. One big cycle! It was so cool to set up my files and margins and settings for the next novel having not started a new novel in over a year. I love the first draft. I love figuring out the basics of names and setting and researching around the subject until the story materialises and deepens and then you can’t pull me away from the keyboard. If I’m not here as often as usual you’ll now know why! . . . . . . #theharpereffect #tarynbashford #authorslife #newbook #bookquotes #bookquote

[tarynbashford]

Bye Melbourne! It’s been a treat! If you’d like a signed copy of The Harper Effect you can head over to @marymartinau bookstore. I left a little message in each book for each reader to de-code too 😊📚🤸‍♂️ . . . #tarynbashford #theharpereffect #booksigning

[tarynbashford]

More book signing magic in Melbourne with @robinsonsbooks If you head down there soon there should be some author signed copies left 😊📚🤸‍♂️ . . . #theharpereffect #tarynbashford #yalovin #yaloving #bookcommunity #youngadultfiction #booklover #booknerd #bookworm #yareads #yabooks #bookaholic #bookshelf #youngadults #bookaddict #teenfiction #bookstagrammer #yalit #bookgeek #ireadya #youngadultbooks #youngadult #youngadultlit #yanerd #yareader #epicreads #yaliterature

[tarynbashford]

📚📚 When I first signed books, my hand shook terribly. Getting used to it now 😊 Thanks to the lovely staff @dymocks234 and the avid readers who stopped by to chat. And especially thanks to George 🙏 I left with an aching right hand from signing and an aching mouth from smiling! . . . . #tarynbashford #theharpereffect #booksigning

[tarynbashford]

Went to see Bobby Darin’s Dream Lover last night. 🎵 🎶 What a life story - stranger than any fiction. He was told he wouldn’t live past 16 and used that death sentence to live fuller than anyone around him to become a singing sensation. 🎤 He lost his first love and agent because his dad was a gangster. Turns out that wasn’t even his dad. His mum wasn’t his mum. His sister was! 😮 He died onstage just how he prophesied. 😲 And what a talent! The whole way through I was thinking of my next book. 📚Inspiring! What a way to live despite a doctor telling him when he was eight that he was half way through his life. I LOVE an inspiring story. 📚📚💕 . . . #inspiringstories #theharpereffect #tarynbashford #bookquotes #bookquote

[tarynbashford]

I’m having such a good time at the Australian Open. Imagine being a teen and playing to a crowd of thousands in one of these spaceship like stadiums. That’s what Harper has to do in The Harper Effect #yanovels She’s so amazing at her sport, yet she’s still a teenager with the usual teenage issues and making the usual teen mistakes. It’s an interesting contrast to explore when watching teens who achieve above and beyond the norm. . . . #australianopen #tennisbooks #theharpereffect #tarynbashford

[tarynbashford]

This is such a great TBR. Have you read any of them? I have two favourites because they involved such unusual plots - Caraval and The Edge Of Everything. Thanks to @a.bookdragon for posting this book shot to #nosybook 📚 For a chance to appear here simply use the hashtag #nosybook when you post. Permission received from account. . . #caraval #taheramafi #bloodofwonderland #theedgeofeverything

[tarynbashford]

Heading down to Melbourne today and I’m spending some time at the very place that the climax in The Harper Effect happens - the Australian Open. So excited! 🎾🤸‍♂️ I hope I get time to explore a shop or two as well, in between book signings 📚 and visiting my book trailer sponsor, Tennis Warehouse Australia. Couldn’t resist The Globe pop up theatre either! I’m going to be very busy! And given the temperatures, I might just melt‼️ . . . #australianopen #ilovemelbourne #theharpereffect #tarynbashford #bookquotes #bookquote

[tarynbashford]

Thank you so much to everyone who came along to the launch party for The Harper Effect last night. Annie of Annie’s books in Peregian was amazing and funny as compere, the panel of elite athletes impressed and inspired, and everyone who came certainly gave my signature hand a 💪 workout. Thanks so much for your support and for being such a fantastic audience for this first time author. You made it a forever memory for me. I hope that you love my book as much as I loved writing it for you 💕📚💕 . . . . #theharpereffect #tarynbashford #loveozya #booklaunch

[tarynbashford]

In celebration of today’s official launch of The Harper Effect, the book fairies 🧚‍♀️ have wrapped and gifted some copies of the novel in various places around the coast. If you find a copy, I hope you enjoy reading it! 🧚‍♂️ 🧚‍♀️ Otherwise, for anyone near the Sunshine Coast, myself and four of the coast’s elite athletes will be chatting about all things books and sport over strawberries and cream 🍓 and a glass of bubbly. This is a free event and everyone is welcome to come to Annie’s books in Peregian at 6pm. . . . #theharpereffect #tarynbashford #booklaunch #booklaunchparty #bookfairiesaustralia

[tarynbashford]

Facts about The Harper Effect. 1. First written when I was 14 2. Been through 4 name changes since then 3. In the original draft Aria and Harper were twins 4. Inspired by watching my brother become a pro tennis player then the coach for a teen Amelie Mauresmo 5. Research included being in the player’s lounge at Wimbledon sat opposite Agassi It’s been a really fun book to write and the climax takes place at the Australian Open. Got any more questions for me about the book? . . . #theharpereffect #tarynbashford #tennisgirl #tennisfan

[tarynbashford]

View this post on Instagram

Time to feel inspired. The music on the video always makes me want to get up and go do something - or go training‼️Thanks to @tenniswarehouseaustralia for making the book trailer for The Harper Effect possible. You guys rock! Full trailer on bio link and then video tab. . . . #theharpereffect #tarynbashford #tennisfan #tennisplayer