Interviews

Apparently, if I were a space alien, I would look like this--good to know!

I have been fortunate enough to be interviewed by a few kind, lovely, and oh so generous book bloggers.

Here:

Chrissi Reads gets me to admit who my favorite fictional character is and why writing can be so damn hard.

And Amanda over at My Nose Stuck In A Book has me talking about what I believe every writer must do.

Go check them out and please follow these wonderful, bookish ladies! Also, if any other book bloggers are interested in interviews, guest posts, anything really (well...almost anything)--just shoot me an email: rebecca@rrtaylor.com

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I Read: The Ocean at The End of The Lane by Neil Gaiman

From Goodreads: It began for our narrator forty years ago when the family lodger stole their car and committed suicide in it, stirring up ancient powers best left undisturbed. Dark creatures from beyond the world are on the loose, and it will take everything our narrator has just to stay alive: there is primal horror here, and menace unleashed - within his family and from the forces that have gathered to destroy it. His only defense is three women, on a farm at the end of the lane. The youngest of them claims that her duckpond is an ocean. The oldest can remember the Big Bang.
 
I bought this book yesterday morning at The Tattered Cover and finished it before I went to bed. It was hard to put down and I probably would not have excepting for the annoyances of life that inevitably come between a reader and a great book. I loved it.

This is true story telling that is neither predictable or dependent on adhering to the thin veils of reality. A modern day myth, tale, and all around wonderful read that reminds us of the terrifying powerlessness of childhood, and the magic of finding your source. 

Highly recommend.  

Also, I get to stand in an enormous line on the 25th here in Denver at The Tattered Cover to have my copy signed--I can't wait!  

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Winner, Reviews, and News

Express Monorail / Travel Photos / CC BY-NC-ND

First off, the winner of the $25.00 Amazon gift card is....


Eveline V!

Eveline, I will send you the card immediately. Let's all hope she spends this money wisely, like on new books!

Next off, I have to thank everyone who has purchased ASCENDANT or offered to review it, or offered to let me blab all over their blog sites--there are so many crazy amazing books out there, thank you for taking a moment with mine!


Finally, this weekend I'm going to be teaching a writing workshop here in the Denver area for Zenith Writers. Here is the link to their site www.zenithwriters.com The class in on June 22nd from 3:00-4:30. We'll be discussing character motivation and (pulling heavily from my background as a psychologist) some of the driving forces behind behavior in humans.

Basically the hope is to help us all develop stronger characters from the ground up by pinpointing WHAT they want and WHY they want it. Books and psychology--seriously what could be more fun than that?

If you're around I hope you'll consider coming--if for no other reason than I love talking with other writers! 

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Giveaway!! $25.00 Amazon Gift Card

EricGjerde / Money Photos / CC BY-NC

In honor of ASCENDANT officially releasing on the 15th, I'm giving away a $25.00 Amazon gift card!

Rules (because there must always be rules)

1. Follow my blog by clicking that Follow button in the right sidebar---->>>
2. Leave a comment on this post that says: I'm a follower (and) I want the gift card

Giveaway Ends: 6/17/2013

That's it!

If your a blogger and want to help me plug this thing--you would have my undying gratitude.
If your a tweeter and want to help me plug this thing--you would have my undying gratitude.

(also, I'll throw in a couple extra entries for your efforts)

Thank you for helping a girl out!

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Win a Signed Copy of ASCENDANT on Goodreads

Please enter to win! I'm giving away 3 signed copies of ASCENDANT on Goodreads (International)

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Ascendant

by Rebecca Taylor

Giveaway ends June 30, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

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Choosing Writing

Denis Collette...!!! / Art Photos / CC BY-NC-ND

Before my post, I wanted to announce a little surprise I had yesterday:

Amazon: ASCENDANT is now up on Amazon and available for Kindle purchase! The print book still comes out June 15th. (click the link)

Goodreads: If you have a Goodreads account, and are interested in reading ASCENDANT, here is the Goodreads page so you can add it to your shelf--Thanks!

Now, these (surprising) events are actually what made me think of today's post. I have a wonderful friend on Facebook who was kind enough to mention my book and that the Kindle version was available, etc, etc, and in her post she commented on the fact that I work full time and have two kids and still found the time to write a book.

Actually I've found the time to write four now (but let's not split hairs.)

This being my everyday life, I don't really take much time to think about what it looks like from the outside, but I realize these milestones may cause some (usually non writers because I know tons of writers who are in the exact same boat as me) to wonder HOW does a person with a career, family, home, LIFE, find the time to pursue something idealistic like WRITING?

And the only answer I can give is--I choose writing (mostly--sometime I choose Netflix)

The choice looks like this:

It's 4am: Get up and write vs Stay in bed
The tv is on: Sit down and write vs Watch 2 hours of tv
Facebook: Write vs Facebook
Twitter: Write vs Tweet
Pinterest, Blogs, Goodreads, Netflix, you get the idea.

Now please don't think I NEVER choose those things, because obviously I do--hopefully after writing. But we, all of us, have more time than we think we do. We just have to pay attention to where those minutes hide and realize they may be scattered throughout our day instead of sitting like a lump in the middle of it. It is hard to find two solid hours together, but pretty easy to find a multitude of 20 minute intervals to accomplish whatever it is you want to get done.

What are you working on?  

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The Incidental Benefits: Your Day Job and Writing

shapeshift / Art Photos / CC BY-NC-SA

On June 22nd I'm teaching a class on character motivation at a library here in the Denver area. I love this topic, one because it's one of my biggest pet peeves as a reader when I don't think it's handled well and two, because my background is in psychology.

I spend a lot of time, tons actually, working out the whys of human behavior.

It fascinates me and I happen to think that this helps me tremendously with my own writing. Lots of writers work in fields, or have other backgrounds, that inform their craft and I'm wondering--what's yours?

Psychology seems an obvious benefit to me, but I know there are many others and I would like to use some of your examples as part of my class discussion. Please share, I'll be sure to credit you!

If you are in the Denver area, and would like to attend the class, here's the info on the time and location.

Library: Smoky Hill Public Library 5430 S Biscay Cir, Centennial, CO 80015; Room A
Date: Saturday, June 22, 2013
Time: 3:00PM - 4:30PM
Phone: (303) 542-7279

Contact the library directly if you would like to attend--I'd love to meet you and hear about what you're working on!

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