Sunday, June 30, 2013

Sunday Shenanigans...

When I first decided to have a blog, I wasn't sure what - exactly - I wanted it to be. And to be honest, I'm still not. I've tried a couple of different things though, over the months I've had this up and running and so far, nothing has really "taken off".

But, I've said it before about my writing, I realistically didn't expect it to. I thought - read: hoped - I'd get a modicum of steady followers/commenters that might come to enjoy the occasional peek into the weirdness that is me and my Universe.

And, so far, I have. I check this place at least once a day and do see a steady influx of page views. So, thank you! But, as I said in Changing Things Up A Bit earlier this week, this place needs some livening up.

So, being the different, weird person that I am, I now present you with the first installment of Sunday Shenanigans.

On today's episode let's talk about men, shall we?

Now, I know you ladies out there love the hot man. You see one on a cover and go absolutely ga-ga over it! I don't blame you, I do the exact same! I'm the first to admit to those little flutters in the belly, the little pitter pat of my heart when I see the hard cut of a defined chest, or the rippling wave of a set of six-pack abs!

Yes, yes, I'm a chest girl. I always have been and I always will be! Don't judge!

But, I know it's not just the picture on the cover that brings you back to a particular Author again and again. It helps, don't get me wrong, I know, but it's the inside, the meat of the man - HA! See what I did there...*giggles* - that will keep you turning the pages.

Am I right?

Come on, you know I am...

So, with this in mind, let's talk about it a bit more in depth.

What makes for the perfect man!

Ok, ok, I know they don't exist in real life. They don't all have hot bods, winning smiles, sparkling eyes and the soul of a poet. In real life, they watch too much sports, hog the covers, snore unbearably (before you even have a chance to fall asleep!), forget to take out the trash, get caulk up their nose attempting to replace faucets (I'm lookin' at you Angela! *grins*) and generally have one track minds.

And before you jump down my throat, there are exceptions! I know there are. Many of you mention how wonderful your significant other is almost daily on FB and Twitter. And I applaud you - read: am jealous of you *chuckles* - for having the patience to find such a man! I hope that you never take him for granted. (I know you don't, I'm just sayin'...)

But what makes him perfect in your eyes.

Is it his looks alone? Most likely not, just about everyoneknow isn't that shallow. I'm sure the looks play a part, don't get me wrong, but it's the whole package.

So, what's in that package ladies? Dish for me. Tell me what makes your man perfect for you.

Now, I have an ulterior motive in this, I really do. As I've mentioned, I have a lot of books coming out over the next two years. I did a rough count not too long ago and if I stick to my plan - yes, I have a spreadsheet - I'll release somewhere in the neighborhood of 25-30 books between now and the end of 2015.

Is that overwhelming? Sometimes. I'll admit there are moments when I look at my virtual shelves and go, "Holy Fudge on a Stick! I've got a lot of work to do."

Is it daunting? Not really. Most of those books are already written or well on their way, so it's just a matter of taking them one or two at a time and shining them up to make them all pretty.

But, what I'm finding as I sort through them all, is that I'm writing the same overall "type" of leading man again and again. Yes, yes, I know we all have our favored types - Some of us go for nothing but Cowboys and those are the leading males of our works, for others it's Firefighters or Law Enforcement types or Military Types.

So, I'm not talking about the job of your lead characters.

I'm talking about the overall package.

Do you like the broken bad-boy who needs to be fixed? Or do you go for the soft-at-heart when it comes to his girl, but willing to kick the a$$ of anyone who looks at her funny sort? Or is it the tortured hero with commitment phobia that draws you in...

Beyond that, do you like tall, short, built, not-so-built, unusual colored eyes or just plain colored eyes? Or, is it the fact that hero is appropriate to the heroine kind that trips your trigger...

Tell me, I really want to know. With so many hero's in the wings of my world, it's becoming increasingly harder to make them different.

So, ladies, I leave this to you. Tell me, what makes a man, or your own Alpha Man, the perfect Hero!

Thanks, as always for stopping by.

Until next time.

Margaret Taylor



Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Changing things up a bit...

So my poor little blog has been neglected of late, as has my writing. I don't have any excuse other than to add in the factor of loss and feeling a bit out of sorts with missing Eric. I know that may seem strange to anyone who hasn't had a long-time pet-friend, but I've had animals in my life, all my life, so...yeah.

Anyhoo...

In an effort to get myself back on track, I decided to change things up a bit around here.

First off, I'm going to post to the blog more frequently. At least once a week, sometimes twice. *gasp, shock, horror.* Yeah, yeah I know.

Don't get me wrong, I truly appreciate all you faithful followers and clickers who come and visit me daily, so I'd like to give you something more to look at than the same post over and over for more than a week! Yay me right?

It'll be easier, especially now that I have two books out with many more to come. But, I'll get that here shortly, I promise.

For now, though I'm going to give you a taste of what I have planned for the old blog-space in the coming weeks and months.

I'm part of several events in July. I'll have two blog hops running through here along with a couple of guests and such like that.

Beyond that, I've got two new releases coming July 8th. Book 2 of the Spi-Corp Series, Saving His Love is on the way.



And Book 1 of my new Santa Series (which is 8 books in the coming months and gives you my take on the Mythos of Old Saint Nick himself) Chris St. Nick will also be out. (My lovely cover designer, Carey Abbott is putting the finishing touches on the cover as we speak and I'll get it up and posted ASAP!)

As for the rest of it. Well, I'm going to post to the blog - in some form - weekly going forward - maybe twice if I can manage it between everything else.

But, to start, it's going to be on Sundays and while everyone else does a "Sunday Sneak Peek", I'm going to be different - HA! Who'd have seen that one coming right? - and call it "Sunday Shenanigans"!

So, that's it from my side of the Universe!

Thanks, as always, for stopping by.

Until next time.

Margaret Taylor

PS: I almost forgot! Both my books, A First Love Never Dies and Wolf's Paradox are on sale this week. Get them for just .99 pennies before their respective book 2's hit the shelves!

Saturday, June 15, 2013

So, I need to share...

I wasn't sure I was ready to do this...not yet anyway, but I need to share what happened yesterday. It was a very sad day for me...

As most of you know, I'm a cat lover. I have, well, had six - up until yesterday.

Many years ago, 2003 to be exact, I was living with my cousin in Missouri. One day we decided to head into town for something to eat. We stopped at our favorite restaurant on a rainy, grungy day, not unlike it is outside right now.

As I pulled my poor little Geo Metro into a space, I noted there was a small, beleaguered and quite drenched kitten sitting by the door. He looked so pathetic, his fur dripping with water, his eyes pleading with me to pick him up...

Well, I did. I carried him into the little foyer between the outside and inside doors and stood there for a moment. He promptly crawled out of my arms and up onto my shoulders, stretching out across the back of my neck and under my hair...

I looked at my cousin, who promptly said, "No! Gerry will kill us both!"

I laughed and batted my big baby blues at her, but she stood firm. I patted the poor thing and said, "Sorry little one, but I'm sure you'll find a good home."

When we got inside, however, her tune changed. Our Uncle Mac was seated in his usual place at the counter and he gave us the look saying in a very calm voice, "You girls are taking that cat home with you, right?"

We both sighed, hung our heads and replied, "Yes Uncle Mac..."

We got our meal - salads - and headed back outside. In the back of my mind I was thinking, surely the little guy has run off, but no. He was sitting on the curb stop...directly in front of my car! He looked up and gave me a look that said, 'What took you so long?'

That, was ten years ago. I named him Eric - for specific reasons better left unsaid and he has traveled this country with me ever since.

We've moved from Kansas to Delaware, Delaware to Wyoming, Wyoming to Arkansas and finally Arkansas to Texas over the years and while I know he had a good life, it still pains my heart that I couldn't have longer with him.

Anyway, over the last six months he'd clearly not been feeling well - loosing weight, vomiting, not eating and so on. And yesterday, we finally figured out why. Eric had cancer and sadly the incurable kind. The vet, a wonderful lady, recommended we could try, but it would only buy him more time and wasn't a cure.

So, with great, big balling sobs, I held Eric, watched with gut wrenching slowness as the vet did her thing and could barely drive home in the aftermath...

I know he had a good life. He was fat and happy, never wanted for toys or nip, but still, he was my best-friend and will be missed for many years to come.

With a heavy heart, I bid him farewell today and dearly hope he's enjoying himself in Kitty Heaven...chasing mice and birds and has found his favored scratching post in the sky.

Goodbye my dear friend...you brought me much joy and happiness over the years.

Eric - 2003-2013


Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Two Great Giveaways...

So, I'm participating in two awesome Giveaways this week...

The first is from a super, duper cool group of ladies I met on Facebook not too long ago.  They call themselves Nerd Girl and they've gathered together a bunch of Authors to sponsor their 1,000 Likes Giveaway.

All the cool deets are here: http://www.kainas.com/?p=735

Oh, and if you're an Author, they're having a special 2nd contest for us where you can win a group of reviews for your book.  http://www.kainas.com/?p...=737

Not much to enter either, just click, click, click and viola, you've got a chance at some really cool swag, Gift Cards, eBooks and some signed paperbacks too!

The second Giveaway is also for another group called the Winding Stairs Book Blog and is in celebration of them reaching 2,000-2,500 Likes! Now, how cool is that!

Deets are here: https://www.facebook.com/WindingStairsBookBlog?sk=app_228910107186452&app_data

So, if you'd be so kind as to check them both out, I know my lonely little Facebook page would greatly appreciate it!

Also, don't forget, my June Fundraiser is still going strong! From 06/02 to 06/30, $1.00 from every book sold will go to the Red Cross to help the victims of the Oklahoma Tornado's!

So, pick up your copy of

 
 
 
Or
 
 
 
 
Thanks as always for stopping by.
 
Until next time.

Margaret Taylor
 
 
 

Monday, June 10, 2013

Oh a Lovely Sneaky Peaky

As promised, here's a first look at the cover for Book 2 of The Spi-Corp Series!


Is this not gorgeous?!

*sighs*

I may be biased, but I think it is!

Thanks, as always to Carey Abbott! I triple <3's her, truly! She is so very patient with us Authors and does such wonderful work. I cannot recommend her enough. If you're Indie and in the market for very reasonably priced covers, check her out: http://ebookcoverdesignsbycarey.com/  She is well worth it!

Anywho, I just wanted to share this and remind everyone that A First Love Never Dies - Book 1 of the Spi-Corp Series and Wolf's Paradox - Book 1 of the Layren Series are available now and $1.00 from all sales during the month of June is being donated to the Red Cross to help the victims of the Oklahoma Tornado's. All the cool deets are here in Doing My Part

Now, I'm off to get to work on polishing up Book 2 and maybe, if you can come up with a sufficient bribe, I might be persuaded later on this week to post another sneaky peeky excerpt to go along with the cover...I'm just sayin'...

Until then.

Thanks as always for stopping by my little corner of the Blog-O-Sphere!

Margaret Taylor






Monday, June 3, 2013

Doing My Part


Amazon
Amazon
Yes, Ladies and Gents, both my opening books from two new series are now live and in living color on Amazon!

I can hardly believe it myself! Truly. This has been a long road, but it's only just beginning.

As you can see, both of these are Book 1's in two brand new series.




The first, The Spi-Corp Series is currently 17 books long. It's Sci-Fi Romance and with the exception of one or two, all of them are currently written and just awaiting clean up, covers, formatting and then release.

A FIRST LOVE NEVER DIES BLURB:

Janel Canton must be pregnant by the time Fleet Commander Pearson Acto catches up to her again and only one man will do for that. Her one true love, sexy Montana Sheriff Jake Reeves. But returning to Earth she finds he's still mourning his dead wife and has become very comfortable with small-town life. Will introducing him to reality of the Universe be enough for him to move on to a new life?

Sheriff Jake Reeves never thought the nerdy girl he and his cronies picked on in High School would someday become a star ship captain capable of holding her own in just about any situation. But when he meets up with Janel again at their 20 year reunion, that's exactly what he finds! Gone is the nerdy little mouse that never fought back. In it's place, is a rough and tumble, no holds barred, drop-dead gorgeous woman who he's going to have one hell of a time not falling in love with...

The second, The Layren Series, is planned for at least six books. It's Paranormal Romance and while I only have the first written, I've got time for the others.

WOLF'S PARADOX BLURB:

Kathy Granite is not your ordinary writer. She's a Weaver - a spinner of great tales and has the ability to write or rewrite the history of a world. Only one problem, she doesn't know it. She's spent the last six years telling the stories of people dragged to Earth from a variety of places by her Layren Protector, Ronon Wulfdrak.

Ronon has spent that same time keeping Kathy in the dark and only brought her people who simply want their story told. He's carefully chosen who would appear and even though she's become quite the sensation in our world, she's clueless as to her effect on any others. Ronon aims to keep it that way and hopes she's safely hidden from his own people. For, if anyone finds out what she really is, they will tear her apart to get at her power.


Anyway, that's not why I've asked you to stop by my blog today. No, really, it's not.

The real reason I wanted you to stop by was because I want to explain what I'm going to do with these two works. (Aside from dance around my chair today in gleeful joy that they're finally live!)

Many years ago, I drove an 18-wheeler. I went from coast-to-coast, hauling everything from ice-cream cones (I kid you not!) to toilet paper and everything in between. On one such trip, right around this time of year, I was passing through Oklahoma, dead center through Tornado Alley!

Anyway, on this particular trip, me and my poor 1979 International were chased by an F-1 Tornado. Yes, you heard that right, we were chased, not the other way around! I won't bore you with the details, I really won't because even today, it gives me the willies!

I survived, but it's always left an impression and a healthy respect for the undeniable power of nature! I have seen and felt, first hand, what these monsters can do and how helpless you are against them.

So, with that said, for the entire month of June, $1.00 from every sale of these books will be donated to the Red Cross to help the victims in Moore, OK and surrounding areas.

I ask that you spread the word. Tweet it, Blog it, Facebook it, send carrier pigeons and let everyone know about this. Let's help these people in the wake of this devastation.

If you don't feel like helping me do it, then please, donate a buck or two directly to the Red Cross!

But, if you're so inclined to go this route, you can pick up your copy of either work, here:

A First Love Never Dies - Book 1 of The Spi-Corp Series

Or

Wolf's Paradox - Book 1 of The Layren Series

Oh, and check back next week for an ultra-cool giveaway where these two are concerned. I'm going to have some awesomely sweet swag to share with you! So, pick up a copy today, of either work depending on your tastes in reading, enjoy it and we'll see you soon!

Thanks, as always, for stopping by my little corner of the Blog-O-Sphere!

Until next time,

Margaret Taylor