Author Guest Post
What Does My Office Look Like?
I like to have a designated ‘writing spot,’ my own special place where I can imagine to my heart’s content. It helps me to stay focused and concentrated. Hence, I prefer a desktop. When I use my laptop and can plop myself anywhere I desire, I’m too easily distracted—and much too comfortable. Drifting off to sleep is not conducive to writing a novel!
That being said, I LOVE my office! It’s painted in a soft relaxing blue that helps me feel peaceful. It’s a small room, designed specifically to be an office nook. There are no windows, but I like it that way—otherwise, I’d stare out the window and daydream all the time. (It’s what writers are good at, after all!)
All of my framed book covers grace one wall of my office. Having the ability to glance at the wall and see my book covers gives me a sense of accomplishment. They are a constant reminder that ‘I can do this’ when I’m struggling with a scene or a paragraph.
One of my favorite things about my office is a little trivet that says, “Romance Writers Have Heart.” It was given to me by my sister-in-law for Christmas one year, long before I’d ever published my novels. It was such a thoughtful gift, chosen with me—and my interests—in mind. My sister-in-law has since passed on, very unexpectedly at a young age, making the gift even more meaningful. I glance at it and am reminded that she believed in me.
I also keep framed pictures of my grandchildren close by. They are a reminder to me that, in the end, my family is the most important thing to me in the world. As long as I have them, a bad review doesn’t matter, now does it? They put everything in perspective.
My hubby convinced me that I needed TWO computer screens. I didn’t think I did. Now that I have them, I can’t live without them! I can keep my email up on one screen, and write on the other. OR I can have a manuscript up on one screen and edits on the other. I LOVE it! It makes life so much easier. When my grandson is visiting, I can have Elmo videos on one screen, and work on the other while he sits happily on my lap! Life just doesn’t get better than that! (Have you seen the Elmo videos? What a riot!)
For me, writing is an escape from everyday life. Hence, my little office is one of my favorite places to be!
About The Author
Taylor Dean lives in Texas and is the mother of four grown children. Upon finding herself with an empty nest, she began to write the stories that were always wandering around in her head, quickly finding that she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it’s paranormal, contemporary, or suspense—you’ll find all sub-genres of romance in her line-up.
AUTHOR WEBSITE
GOODREADS
Taylor Dean ~ I Have People ~ Virtual Book Tour Page ~ Reading Addiction Blog Tours
Virtual Book Tour Contest Giveaway
Win An eBook Copy of I Have People
Contest Dates: Nov 29 - Dec 27, 2012
Book Review
I Have People by Taylor Dean
Publisher: Create Space Independent Publishing
Publication Date: September 20, 2012
Format: Paperback - 366 pages / Kindle - 497 KB
ISBN: 1475221398
ASIN: B009O0NSWE
Genre: Contemporary Romance
BUY THE BOOK: I Have People
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Reading Addiction Blog Tours.
Book Description:
Holly Sinclair is happily married to the love of her life, Gabriel. Young and in love, Holly hopes to have their first child soon. Of course, Gabriel wants to wait till Holly’s health is restored, much to Holly’s dismay. She feels perfectly fine. So what if she just woke up from an eight-month coma? So what if some of her memories are missing? She remembers Gabe and that’s all that matters, right?
That is, until HE enters her life again . . . she forgot about HIM.
Book Excerpt:
Sneak Peek of the Prologue:
A knock on the door startled Holly. He was early. She smiled to herself, then ran to the door as the knocking became insistent. Maybe he couldn’t wait to see her, maybe he was just as excited about tonight as she was. Maybe. She opened the door eagerly, a mid-October chill meeting her skin.
Her smile died on her face. It wasn’t who she was expecting. In her excitement, she’d let her guard down.
“Hello, Holly Noel.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Aw, c’mon, I just want to see you, baby.”
“It’s over and you know it. Please leave.” Fear trickled down her spine. How far would he go this time? Holly began to slam the door shut, to close him out of her life, to remove him from sight, to push him into non-existence. If only it could be so. The edge of the door bounced against his foot and slammed backwards, hitting her directly in the face. She felt her lip swell as blood trickled down her chin.
Oddly, she thought about the mess it would make on the carpet.
“See what you made me do? If you wouldn’t be so unreasonable, these things wouldn’t happen.”
“Please leave. You’re violating the restraining order. I’ll call the police.”
“You and I both know you won’t do that. You love me, I know you do.” He pushed his way into the apartment. She didn’t follow. “I don’t want to fight with you, baby. Why do you always have to make things difficult?”
Holly knew she was in trouble. She’d known it since the moment she’d stupidly opened the door without checking to see who it was. It wasn’t a luxury she could afford. Ever.
“Don’t do this, it will only make things worse. If you leave now, I won’t press charges. Just leave, peacefully and quietly . . . please,” she begged.
His lips formed a wicked leer as he scoffed. “You’ll always be mine, Holly. Why can’t you see that?”
Holly stepped outside the apartment door and he followed, standing too close. If she made a mad dash for the stairs, could she escape him? She wasn’t sure, but she doubted it.
“Stay back! It’s over. I want nothing to do with you. Just let it go.” Where is he? He should be here now.
The expression on his face turned stricken. “How can you say that? After all we meant to each other. I know you don’t mean it.”
“I mean it. I hate you. I want you out of my life,” she told him with steely determination.
“Don’t say that.”
“I hate you! Leave me alone!” she said, this time louder, hoping to attract attention.
He walked closer and shoved her, making her stumble. “Stop it,” she warned. They were making a scene on the landing of her second story apartment and she knew he was very aware of the neighbors opening their doors and peeking out with curiosity.
A mask of twisted rage contorted his features. She knew that look all too well.
“I can’t believe you would say that,” he said through gritted teeth, his face red with anger.
He shoved her again, but she maintained her footing. “It’s over,” she reiterated bravely. “Leave me alone.”
Another shove, this time hard. Her back hit the railing with surprising force. Holly knew in that moment he’d finally done it.
He’d finally killed her.
She felt the railing give way and knew she was going down and there was nothing to stop her fall. Even though a blood curdling scream rent the air, even though her hands flailed wildly in an attempt to grab hold of anything that might save her from this outcome, a strange feeling of peace washed over her. In that moment, time stood still. She seemed to fall in slow motion as her life passed before her eyes.
This wasn’t her fate. It couldn’t be. Where is he?
“Holly!” he screamed when he realized what was happening. His remorse over his actions always came too late. The damage was done. And this time it was irreparable. Really, it always had been. He attempted to catch her, desperately groping the air for any piece of her that might stop her descent.
It was too late.
He didn’t mean to do it.
He never meant to do it.
A knock on the door startled Holly. He was early. She smiled to herself, then ran to the door as the knocking became insistent. Maybe he couldn’t wait to see her, maybe he was just as excited about tonight as she was. Maybe. She opened the door eagerly, a mid-October chill meeting her skin.
Her smile died on her face. It wasn’t who she was expecting. In her excitement, she’d let her guard down.
“Hello, Holly Noel.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Aw, c’mon, I just want to see you, baby.”
“It’s over and you know it. Please leave.” Fear trickled down her spine. How far would he go this time? Holly began to slam the door shut, to close him out of her life, to remove him from sight, to push him into non-existence. If only it could be so. The edge of the door bounced against his foot and slammed backwards, hitting her directly in the face. She felt her lip swell as blood trickled down her chin.
Oddly, she thought about the mess it would make on the carpet.
“See what you made me do? If you wouldn’t be so unreasonable, these things wouldn’t happen.”
“Please leave. You’re violating the restraining order. I’ll call the police.”
“You and I both know you won’t do that. You love me, I know you do.” He pushed his way into the apartment. She didn’t follow. “I don’t want to fight with you, baby. Why do you always have to make things difficult?”
Holly knew she was in trouble. She’d known it since the moment she’d stupidly opened the door without checking to see who it was. It wasn’t a luxury she could afford. Ever.
“Don’t do this, it will only make things worse. If you leave now, I won’t press charges. Just leave, peacefully and quietly . . . please,” she begged.
His lips formed a wicked leer as he scoffed. “You’ll always be mine, Holly. Why can’t you see that?”
Holly stepped outside the apartment door and he followed, standing too close. If she made a mad dash for the stairs, could she escape him? She wasn’t sure, but she doubted it.
“Stay back! It’s over. I want nothing to do with you. Just let it go.” Where is he? He should be here now.
The expression on his face turned stricken. “How can you say that? After all we meant to each other. I know you don’t mean it.”
“I mean it. I hate you. I want you out of my life,” she told him with steely determination.
“Don’t say that.”
“I hate you! Leave me alone!” she said, this time louder, hoping to attract attention.
He walked closer and shoved her, making her stumble. “Stop it,” she warned. They were making a scene on the landing of her second story apartment and she knew he was very aware of the neighbors opening their doors and peeking out with curiosity.
A mask of twisted rage contorted his features. She knew that look all too well.
“I can’t believe you would say that,” he said through gritted teeth, his face red with anger.
He shoved her again, but she maintained her footing. “It’s over,” she reiterated bravely. “Leave me alone.”
Another shove, this time hard. Her back hit the railing with surprising force. Holly knew in that moment he’d finally done it.
He’d finally killed her.
She felt the railing give way and knew she was going down and there was nothing to stop her fall. Even though a blood curdling scream rent the air, even though her hands flailed wildly in an attempt to grab hold of anything that might save her from this outcome, a strange feeling of peace washed over her. In that moment, time stood still. She seemed to fall in slow motion as her life passed before her eyes.
This wasn’t her fate. It couldn’t be. Where is he?
“Holly!” he screamed when he realized what was happening. His remorse over his actions always came too late. The damage was done. And this time it was irreparable. Really, it always had been. He attempted to catch her, desperately groping the air for any piece of her that might stop her descent.
It was too late.
He didn’t mean to do it.
He never meant to do it.
My Book Review:
Every once in a while a book comes along that tugs at the heart strings, for me that book is I Have People.
Holly Sinclair has awaken from eight months in a coma after a traumatic accident that caused her extensive injuries, in fact the doctors considered her recovery a miracle of modern science. She has amnesia and the only memories she has is that of her loving husband Gabriel. Frustrated with the missing pieces of her memory and her inability to recall what happened to her, Gabe recreates their dates in an effort to make new memories and a fresh start for their relationship. But things aren't always what they seem: an attentive Gabe and best friend Angela are holding back information on the traumatic accident which causes Holly to become suspicious .... and when she does regain her memory of the accident, the shocking revelations changes everything.
I Have People is a poignant story of love, hope, domestic abuse and redemption. Author Taylor Dean weaves an emotionally charged tale about one woman's life story and how she recovers from a traumatic experience to discover the warmth of being loved and having people who really care about her. Written in the third person narrative, the author draws the reader into the life of Holly Sinclair as she recovers from a traumatic experience of domestic abuse. I was fascinated with the progression of Holly's growth: from her naivete when she awakens from the coma, to her frustration at her memory loss, to the recovery of her memory and strength to stand up for herself. You can't help but feel for Holly and what she's been through, her story will take you on a roller coaster ride leaving you emotionally spent.
Author Taylor Dean does a wonderful job of thoughtfully writing about a very serious and sensitive issue that unfortunately does occur in some domestic relationships. The storyline is told in the present day with a flashback to two years prior, and the intriguing twists and turns keeps the reader engaged as Holly's story unfolds. With realistic and complex characters; engaging dialogue and interactions; and various settings and a multi-layered storyline that is rich in detail and vivid descriptions, I Have People is a powerful and compelling read.
I Have People is an amazing story that will bring out all the emotions, and will stay with you long after the words have been read.
RATING: 5 STARS *****
Sounds like a great read! I'll have to check it out! Nice guest post too. I saw your post on the Book Blogs site and have followed you. I would love it if you visited and considered following me back!
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Hi Alise! Thank you for stopping by my blog. This is a great book, you'll enjoy it. I visited both your blogs and followed you. :)
DeleteThank you so much for the AMAZING, WONDERFUL, and PERFECT review, Kathleen! I love, love, love it! I'm thrilled that you loved I Have People. Thanks so much for reading and reviewing my book, and thanks for having me on your blog! Much appreciated!
ReplyDeleteHi Taylor! I Have People is an amazing story! Thank you for the opportunity to read, review and host your virtual book tour event. :)
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