I was absolutely thrilled to have my first chat with Tara back in July 2025, and getting to talk to her again on my podcast was such a joy! Every conversation with her is a delight. Tara has dedicated the last sixteen years to teaching junior high, spending her days surrounded by teens and observing how technology—especially social media—has shaped their experiences. She's passionate about writing and has exciting plans for her upcoming books. Tara resides on a lovely acreage in Sturgeon County, Alberta, along with her husband, two kids, and a playful bunch of cats and dogs. In her book, "Chasing Through Time", we follow Emma as she navigates the chaos of high school, facing a heartbreaking breakup, a damaging social media scandal that jeopardizes her reputation, and an all-consuming sense of loneliness. With distant parents and no true friends, Emma's despair grows by the day, until a chance encounter during a snowstorm leads her to Sarah, a girl who navigate tumultuous landscape of high school in 2001, two unlikely friends forge a connection through the digital world, offering each other support as they navigate challenges at the same school and within the same town, despite being separated by two decades. This blossoming friendship becomes a crucial lifeline for both girls. Their experiences share uncanny similarities, but their differences run deep. Sarah, untouched by the dangers of social media, starts to build her confidence and embark on a journey of self-discovery. Meanwhile, Tara is just getting started; her continued writing fuels her passion, culminating in her book, "At Least I'm Trying." When a volleyball bounces just out of reach of Reese’s hands, her aspirations of playing at the collegiate level come crashing down. After facing a string of setbacks both on the court and in her personal life, Reese decides she can no longer adhere to the image of the perfect daughter, student, and athlete. A change is on the horizon. Enter Cassie Brentwood—bold, daring, and unapologetically free. Cassie embodies everything Reese desires to become. They hit it off right away, and Cassie soon brings Reese into the orbit of Liam, a captivating figure from Snapchat. Overwhelmed by his intense affection and eager to break free from her flawless facade, Reese dives deep into their intriguing lifestyle. It's exhilarating at first... but that excitement soon fades. As girls start to vanish from surrounding towns, the eerily calm atmosphere of their own small town raises no alarms. Yet, as Liam's demeanor takes a darker turn, Reese's seemingly perfect new life begins to fall apart. Tara is trying to send a message to teens and parents to be wary of social media.

Want to learn more about Tara Hodgson? Visit her website at: http://www.tarahodgson.ca/ -Don’t forget to connect with her on social media as @tarahodgsonauthor!

If you would like to book Tara you can contact Mickey Mikkelson, Publicist

Creative Edge -Co-Owner: Top Shelf Magazine

403.464.6925

Thank you for listening to and supporting the podcast. If you want to be heard email mscaramellucas@gmail.com or follow me on Instagram @mscaramellucas - TikTok @caramellucas - Facebook - Caramel Lucas