Possible dialogue? Humor? Silly?

I thought these were some funny things I've heard.  You can decide for yourself.  You might think, "this guy has the lamest sense of humor in the world!"

Book Chat - Survival of the Fittest - The Last Hope for the Human Race

Some info about the first book and the second and third books.  I hope you enjoy.  Any questions?  Write them and I will respond.  Let's make the questions about the books please.

Editing my second book in the SOTF series - The Closest Enemy

I've started editing the second in the SOTF series, and I'm quite pleased with what I'm reading. Of course there are over 3million typos, the story tends to stray, the characters are not consistent, and a few times I've shifted dialogue so fast I don't even know who's saying what...but other than that, I really did a good job. LOL

At least I laugh and don't break into sobbing.

Survival of the Fittest - Book Trailer

My self-created rough version using Windows Movie Maker.

Survival of the Fittest - Book Trailer

Book trailer created by Roy Mauritsen

Author of Shards of the Glass Slipper

Dark Place Entry 1

I'm currently in one of the most depressed moods I've ever been in.  I feel alone and friendless.  I sit home day after day.  It's getting to the point where I don't even want to go to the places I used to enjoy.  My world consists of home and school, and I know that's not how life is supposed to be.

I see pictures of happy people on Facebook and it just brings me further down.  I wish I had the words to capture this feeling, but they elude me.  Sad, anxious, scared, lonely, etc.  Bland words that can describe just about anyone's feelings at one point in their lives.  But how do I capture that for a person who lives with it on a daily basis?

I'm getting help, but who knows where that will lead.  It could make things better or worse, who knows? 

I guess I'm trapped with the friends I create, my characters.  But they have a better life than I do.

Book trailers on Youtube

I created 2 book trailers for my books.  The first is for Survival of the Fittest - The Last Hope for the Human Race:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycVIZx6AxK0

The second is the sneak peek for Survival of the Fittest - The Closest Enemy (currently editing):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se2SqHIbpKI&feature=youtu.be

Let me know what you think.  Criticisms are fine too.  I'm a tough person, I can take it.  :)

The cover of my first book.  I'm sooo proud of what I've accomplished.  I realized a dream I never thought I would.

Article on my book published in Frederick News-Post

Local teacher/author uses student input to craft his work

Originally published March 03, 2012

By Blair Ames

News-Post Staff

Author Mike Taylor chats with members of Monocacy Middle School's book club Wednesday afternoon. Taylor fielded questions on his recent young adult novel, "Survival of of the Fittest: The Last Hope for the Human Race." He is a seventh- and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Monocacy. At right is seventh-grader Kieran Hosier.    

Members of Monocacy Middle School's book club had a unique opportunity Wednesday of spending time with the author of their assigned book for the month.

Mike Taylor fielded questions on his recent young adult novel, "Survival of the Fittest: The Last Hope for the Human Race." Some students said how much they enjoyed the book, while others thought it was just plain boring.

Taylor, who is also a seventh- and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Monocacy, said he expected both praise and criticism.

He is open to the criticism, he said, because it improves his writing while demonstrating to his students that no one's work is perfect, and that's OK.

"I think I learn and the kids also learn that being criticized isn't meant to hurt their feelings," he said.

"Survival of the Fittest" is Taylor's first published work; he has written 20 to 25 novels that were not accepted by publishers, he said.

"Survival" follows seven teenagers who wake completely alone one night, the sole survivors of an alien attack. They are now the last hope for humanity, but first must fight off the aliens.

Taylor described himself a doomsday scenario fan, which led him to write a science-fiction novel.

His second book, "Survival of the Fittest: The Closest Enemy," is finished and now under review by Monocacy students.

Feedback has been good, but slow to come in because the students are still reading it, Taylor said.

Taylor is in his second year teaching at Monocacy after working as a teacher in Florida and Pennsylvania. He holds bachelor and master's degrees from Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania.

"Survival of the Fittest: The Last Hope for the Human Race" is available in middle school libraries across the county and at the C. Burr Artz Public Library in Frederick. It is the most requested book at the Monocacy Middle School library.

Taylor does not know how many copies of the book have been sold since its release in November. His Facebook page has fans from 24 different countries, with the most coming from Japan.

Having a book published is "one of the most difficult things in the world," Taylor said. He estimated his previous novels have been rejected at least 100 times.

"If you can't win (publishers) over in the initial email, they're not even going to bother looking at your manuscript," he said.

Taylor plans to keep writing young adult novels because that is the group of readers who must be reached to keep a literate society, he said.

"I think staying in this profession, staying where I'm at and reading, I'm actually going to create those kids who are going to go forth and keep society moving where it needs to go," he said.