GIRL OF MINE IS FREE FOR THREE DAYS!!

Grab your copy HERE.

Available on Amazon Kindle.

Merry Christmas!

MONDAY MUSINGS--RELEASE DAY FOR GIRL OF MINE!

My newest book is now available!

GIRLOFMINE

GOODREADS     AMAZON    AMAZON UK

GIRL OF MINE includes a story about a soldier going off to war, therefore it seems fitting to release it on MEMORIAL DAY, in honor of our fallen soldiers.

Image courtesy of [Stuart Miles] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

To all of our military, thank you for your service.

The book trailer:

            

The song that inspired me while writing GIRL OF MINE: 

(Watch until the end. There's a surprise!)

            

A interesting tidbit about GIRL OF MINE:

My dad always worried about the cost of the electricity bill. If he walked past my bedroom and noticed that my light had been left on, he would turn it off and holler,

"That's okay, Taylor, I got your light." 

It became a bit of a joke in our household. My siblings and I loved to try and catch my dad leaving on a light, just so we could say,

"That's okay, Dad, I got your light."

Now that I'm an adult with my own family, the term takes on new meaning. 

The message behind it has worked its way into my new novel, Girl of Mine.

My father brought me into this world, he cared for me, and he taught me well. He gave me my "light," my life.

He nourished my "light" and helped me become the person I am today.

So, Dad, thanks for getting my light.

I'll always be grateful.

In honor of our men and women in uniform, I'll close this post with this song.  

           

                            

ALWAYS REMEMBER

MONDAY MUSINGS: A TRUE SCARY STORY IN GIRL OF MINE

GIRL OF MINE is now available for pre-order.

Get your copy here:

AMAZON    AMAZON UK

RELEASE DATE:

5-25-15

Holding the final finished product in my hands!

A few years ago, on a business trip with my hubby, we were traveling home and made a pit stop for the night. My hubby had made reservations in a very nice hotel. This made the trip into a bit of a vacation rather than a drudgery-filled business trip.

Wonderful, right?

Wrong.

Instead, my overactive imagination took over.

The hotel was beautiful, but practically deserted. I turned into Stephen King for the night. I creeped myself out and scared myself to death.

The next morning, when we made it out of the hotel alive, I told my husband what had been in my thoughts the entire night. He was shocked by my dark thoughts. I feel like I could easily write horror novels. My mind goes there--and it's a frightening place. I seriously don't know how Stephen King sleeps at night. 

At any rate, I'm not going to write horror novels, because I'd scare myself to death.

Image courtesy of [Stuart Miles] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

But I couldn't help adding my imaginary experience into GIRL OF MINE. 

Obviously it didn't really happen and, of course, no one died. But the story tells what my mind conjured up while staying at a creepy hotel.

And when we left the hotel, I felt sooooooo relieved. . . . and so grateful my husband could come with me . . . 

A writer's mind can be a scary place.

Needless to say, I will NEVER stay in that hotel again.
Seriously, if it was the only place available and there was a huge snow storm outside . . . I'd sleep in the car.

Curious? Read on.

Here's the excerpt:

(Background: Troy, having been through a traumatic experience as a child, writes horror novels as an adult. He's sharing a short story he wrote with his friends, Luke and Jill.)

  “There’s this middle-aged couple, deeply in love with each other. They decide to treat themselves to a night at a fancy hotel for their anniversary. They arrive and the wife sees that the hotel is this huge high rise in a somewhat rundown area of downtown. She doesn’t really know why, but she feels uncomfortable. The hotel is beautiful, with lots of charm. It’s an older building that has recently been renovated and refurbished. But the area feels weird and kinda eerie. There are lots of cars in the parking lot, so she figures it’s a popular place and she’s just being silly.

  “They go inside and there’s a wedding reception going on in the hotel’s party room. People are arriving in their finest clothing, bearing brightly wrapped gift bags. The atmosphere is happy and festive. The wife feels a little more comfortable. They take the elevator up to their tenth floor room. The floor is deserted and the wife feels a chill up and down her spine. For the sake of her husband, she squelches her fear, feeling silly. Their room is immaculate and superbly decorated. They relax for awhile and flip through the TV channels. They get amorous with each other, but we’ll leave that part out for now.”

  “Where’s the fun in that?” Luke says under his breath, making Jill grin.

  “Get your mind out of the gutter, Graham.”

  “Too late.” Luke winked at her and Jill felt herself blush.

  Troy ignored him. “They dress and decide to head down to the hotel’s restaurant for dinner. They find everything is closed downstairs: the main restaurant, the snack kiosk, the salon, and the gift shop. Every single thing is closed for the evening, even though the posted hours say they should be open. Other than the party room, the place is deserted. There is a distinct lack of hotel patrons and employees, which the wife finds odd. The lone man at the front desk informs them that the hotel is catering their usual fare for the wedding reception and a limited menu for room service is available. The wife is feeling creeped out and really wants to pack up and leave, but she stays for her husband’s sake. This was her anniversary gift and she doesn’t want to ruin it.

  “They go back to their room and decide to order room service. The husband makes a quick run to the ice machine and when he returns, he places a bottle of sparkling cider on ice to chill. The wife is touched by his thoughtfulness. They eat dinner in bed, watching a movie they chose on pay-per-view. Overall they have a romantic evening, filled with tender moments. In rare form, her husband constantly professes his love and how happy he is with her. He’s doting and speaks of some of their most treasured memories, things she hasn’t thought about for years. She’s thrilled, pleased with the state of her marriage, but the eerie feeling never leaves the wife and she has a hard time relaxing.

  “She sleeps clinging to her husband and has several nightmares during the course of the evening. She awakens a few times to find her husband awake and simply staring at her. He tells her he loves her and to go back to sleep. She does, knowing she is safe. The husband works long hours and had been looking forward to sleeping in, but they both arise early and are eager to get on the road at first light. By unspoken agreement, a leisurely morning is nixed.

  “The wife wonders if he is as creeped out by the hotel as she is, but doesn’t broach the subject. It’s almost as if speaking of the eerie feeling will make it real and bring it to life. They pack up and leave the room and the wife breathes a sigh of relief. She can’t get out of the hotel fast enough. As they walk down the hall toward the elevator, they pass the alcove where the ice machine is located. The wife glances inside and nearly trips on her own feet. The husband wraps his arm around her shoulder and whispers in her ear, ‘Just keep walking. Keep your eyes forward.’ The wife gulps in air, her breathing labored, but she does as he says, even though tears are now pouring down her face.”

  “Wait. What did she see in the alcove?” Jill asked, absorbed in the story.

  “Her husband’s dead body, lying in a pool of blood.”

  Jill let out a shaky breath. “So . . . he’s . . .”

  “A ghost,” Troy confirmed. “He walks her to the elevator in silence. Several people are in the elevator already. Her husband whispers in her ear, ‘Look no one in the eye.’ She does as he says, her hands shaking and her knees wobbling. When the elevator opens, the lobby is filled with nameless, expressionless people, staring blankly and wandering around aimlessly. ‘Just walk forward,’ her husband says and she obeys. He walks her to the glass door at the front of the hotel and pushes the door open. ‘Go,’ he says. ‘Don’t ever come back. Don’t even look back.’ The glass door closes, but the husband stays inside the hotel. Panicked, the wife turns back and tries to open the door. It’s locked. The husband stands there, his hand on the glass, a last farewell. ‘No!’ the wife screams. ‘Come with me.’ He shakes his head in the negative and mouths the words, ‘I love you.’ Suddenly the expressionless people come forward and the husband is engulfed by the masses, disappearing in the crowd. The wife turns and runs to her car.”

  Troy didn’t say anything more as he looked between them with a sly grin.

  “And?” Luke asked.

  “And that’s the end,” Troy finished with a satisfied air.

GIRL OF MINE GIVEAWAY ON GOODREADS!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Girl of Mine

by Taylor Dean

Giveaway ends June 05, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to Win

MONDAY MUSINGS: SOLDIERS COMING HOME

Soldiers coming home is a moving and touching sight to see. 

I found this video on You Tube and bawled like a baby while watching it.

TAKE THE CHALLENGE AND TRY NOT TO CRY HAPPY TEARS!

          

My hubby was in the Army and has been gone twice for long periods of time. Once he was gone for three months in Korea. We would've been separated for a year, but he was able to make arrangements for us to join him in Korea.

The second time he was gone for 14 months to Iraq.

In Girl of Mine, Luke comes home while traveling with other soldiers. A news crew is there to record the precious moment. While the news crew is filming and interviewing the other soldiers and their families, Luke and Jill sneak away and avoid being interviewed by the news. 

In the broadcast that evening, the other soldiers and their families are featured in a touching segment. As the screen goes black, the newscaster says, "And Lucas Graham came home too."

Awkward at best, right?

This is a TRUE story. This happened when my hubby came home from Iraq. We grabbed our chance to sneak away, not wanting to be on public display during a very emotional moment.

Later, some friends told us about the newscast. As the screen went black, they announced my hubby's name.

It always gives us a good giggle and I couldn't help including this story in GIRL OF MINE.

Although this story is not specifically about the war, I give special thanks to my hubby for his invaluable knowledge of the war in Iraq and the enlightening stories he was able to come home and share with me. And now you have the privilege of hearing a few of those stories in GIRL OF MINE.

Just a few though, because, well, that would be another entire book altogether—and this is a romance novel.

Most of all, hubby, thank you for coming home.

MONDAY MUSINGS: TO LOVE ANOTHER PERSON

This quote, from Les Miserable, inspired me while writing
GIRL OF MINE.

So much so, that I quoted it at the beginning of the book.

GIRL OF MINE is about sacrifice and love.
It's about being truly selfless.

Please enjoy this excerpt from Les Miserables, in which the above quote is highlighted.

                            

My newest book, GIRL OF MINE, coming your way very soon.

Release date: TBA

MONDAY MUSINGS: DREAM CAST FOR GIRL OF MINE

Girl of Mine is now in the beta-read stage.

Can't wait for the valuable feedback I will soon receive from my beta readers.

In the meantime, it's fun to imagine my book as a movie and cast it accordingly.

Just last night we were watching a movie and I said to my hubby, "Hey, that guy would make a perfect Luke." 

(I do this all the time with all the characters from my books.)

Below is pretty darn close to how I imagine the characters from Girl of Mine.

Jill
(Brown eyes, blond hair, and only 4'11")

                             

Katherine Heigl

Luke
(Muscles and sinew, ruggedly attractive, masculinity at its finest.)

                           

Chris Pine

Troy
(Slight of frame, beautifully handsome.)

                                              

This is a pic of a model. Don't know his name, but he's perfect for Troy.

MONDAY MUSINGS: THE TREE HOUSE IN GIRL OF MINE

The tree house featured in my newest upcoming book, GIRL OF MINE, is inspired by an actual tree house that my father built on his property. It is AMAZING!

On occasion my parents let friends use their property for a wedding reception. The bride climbs to the top and throws her bouquet from the highest level.

Even as an adult, the tree house calls to me and brings out my inner child. I want to spend hours wandering the many levels while imagining grand adventures in my head.

When my siblings and I were young, my Dad promised to build us a play house. He had impressive plans for making it into a storybook cottage, similar to what Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs lived in.

Time passed, life interfered, and the play house was never built.

Then the play house was going to make an appearance for my children, his grandchildren.

But, alas, it wasn't meant to be.

Now my children have children. My father is retired and lives on property. He still has plans to build the play house.

The tree house took precedence, however, and was created by my father and one of his grandchildren.

I think he has more than redeemed himself over the play house promise, wouldn't you agree?

Now my grandchildren have an AMAZING place to play when they visit.
(And my adult children . . . and me! Let's face it, you're never too old to enjoy an amazing tree house!)

Good job, Dad. Good job!

And now, the tree house has made its way into one of my books.

It has made an impression on me, no doubt!

You might even say Jill and Luke fall in love in the tree house.

It's a great place for a budding romance.

GIRL OF MINE . . . COMING SOON

MONDAY MUSINGS: GIRL OF MINE BOOK TRAILER

The official front and back cover for GIRL OF MINE  are now complete!

AND NOW FOR AN EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEEK OF

THE BOOK TRAILER for GIRL OF MINE

(Only available here!!)

ENJOY!

                                     

I will be announcing a release date soon.

Perhaps you'd be interested to hear about the process the book will go through before it's ready to be published.

First, my hubby will be the very first person in the world to read the book.

(He's reading it this week.)

He gives me advice, suggestions, and edits.

Then I edit, revise, and rewrite.

Next, proof copies are sent to my beta readers.

Beta readers are very different from ARC (advanced review copy) readers.

A beta reader reads the book in its unedited early stages. They share their advice, thoughts, and feelings with the author. They do not write a review based on reading this early version of the book. 

Readers who read Advanced Review Copies of a book are reading the final, edited, and polished product, the actual book that will be published. They receive the book for free before publication in exchange for an honest review.

That being said, when I receive all of the thoughts and feelings back from my beta readers, I usually spend a few more weeks editing and revising.

Then the book is done and is ready to be sent to my editor.

Then, you guessed it, I make even more revisions based on the edits I receive from my editor.

THEN the book is finally complete and ready to be published!

But, wait, now I have to send it off to the ebook formatter. It's usually a ten day turn around.

You'd think, that's it, right? Ready to publish?

Nope. First I send the .mobi file to my kindle and read it one last time, checking for any edits and ensuring the formatting is correct.

By this time, I practically have the book memorized! This is why I must be meticulous. At this stage it is very easy to overlook mistakes. I'm much too familiar with the book and sometimes I just don't see blaring errors. However, at this point, all mistakes should have been caught by both beta readers, myself, and, of course, my all important editor. But it's always a good idea to check one last time.

Next it's time to celebrate! The book is ready to be published!!!! Yay!!!

Sit back and relax!

Oh, wait, now I have to market my book.

Sigh.

The  hard work has only just begun.

Wish me luck!