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.

What I'm thinking will come next...

Ok, I have three ideas running through my head for my next book.  Let me know what you think...

1.  Rewrite my fantasy story about a boy who finds out he's the oldest living being in existence.  In the rough I have now, he fights the Dead, Ephemerals, Exiles, etc., the list goes on and on.  His reason for his extended life is due to an incantation he cast during a war that took place hundreds of centuries ago.

2.  A disease sweeps across the world affecting different climates in different ways.  In some a heatwave, others, drought, hurricanes, tornadoes, cold, etc.  The disease kills off adults, but will eventually affect everyone, no matter who they are.  The story would basically be about how to beat the disease and how to handle right and wrong.  (already started the rough)

3.  The nations schools are falling apart and have closed.  The government re-opens them with a plan.  To handle the kids who are trouble, they are removed from their school and sent to a camp.  At this camp the kids are required to get from one safe house to the next within a day (there are a total of 25 safe houses).  They must do this on their own, but they are followed by people who hunt them.  And reaching a safe house isn't safe at all.  (already started the rough)

Let me know what you think.

What scares me.

In my own little world there are many things that scare me.  Right now, the biggest fear is thinking that my books will go nowhere. 

I sit and create and create and create and honestly, I do it for myself.  I guess that's what a writer should do if they really love their craft.  But, once that book is out to the masses, a new fear takes over.  I wonder who reads my book.  I wonder what they're thinking about it.

I've finished the second book in the SOTF series and have started working on the third.  I think it's very good, but what will others think?  That's what really scares me.  I guess it scares me because I want to create a reading experience that people will and enjoy.  I want them to finish the last page and feel an overwhelming need to tell others.

Does anyone else think like me?

Question...

What makes a character one you love?

SOTF - The Battle for Earth

I've just started writing this book within the last four days, and I'm incredibly excited about the direction it's heading.  I don't know if this will be the last in the series, but time will tell.  Here's a snippet of the Prologue:

            The question had been echoed over a million times, “How much longer?”  As the days ticked by, and time drew closer and closer to the Quar return, everyone fell into a feeling of despair.  The thought of having to go to war to save Earth wasn’t something hundreds of thousands of Theta DNA teens around the world even wanted to consider.  All of them knew, and all of them understood, this war would have a clear winner, and the loser, well, that was the one thing no teen wanted to think about.

            The teens faced a harsh winter following the exit of the Quar.  They found themselves trapped in skyscrapers that had already begun to decay.  There were nights when the winds howled outside.  The teens in New York City faced a blizzard, one greater than any had ever seen.  During that, there were those who thought they all would starve to death.  But in that group, there were some, who were determined to ensure the group wouldn’t go hungry, ever.

            Ricardo, Cain, and Matt, led the battle to find food.  They braved snow drifts that buried buildings up to the second story.  They fought the freezing temperatures while others made certain there was a warm place to call home.  The arctic blast lasted nearly three weeks, and only one didn’t survive.

SOTF - The Closest Enemy is completed

The second book of the Survival of the Fittest series is complete.  Right now it's going through some of my toughest critics.  They will advise me what needs to be changed or added or deleted.

You might be asking, "Who are his toughest critics?"

The people who the book is for - young adults.  There are about five kids who have asked to read my second book because they loved the first.  They are and always will be the toughest critics.  To be a great YA author, I feel I need to hear their thoughts in order to write something that will be successful.


I feel very fortunate to have them reading my book.

SOTF - The Last Hope for the Human Race

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

Is available on Amazon.com in paperback, hardcover, and Kindle. 

Is available on BarnesandNoble.com in paperback, hardcover, and Nook.

Is also available around the world.

Take a chance and get your copy today!