Michael's Flight - Descendants of Earth Book 2

My publisher, eXtasy Books (www.eXtasybooks.com) told me this past week Michael's Flight will be released on July 15! Ack!!!!!! I should have my cover shortly and with my edits in hand on Friday afternoon I've been spending the weekend going through them.

What is fun about this book is that Michael not only has a role in Jason's Accord, he is also one of the characters Austin Quinn played in Amazons in Lust in America's Hero! His "friend" Stavin has a part in Michael's Flight and will soon have his own story.

The Spell and His Eyes have a home!

I recently signed The Spell, a romantic suspense with paranormal overtones and His Eyes, a time travel with Siren-Bookstrand. Both books are tentatively scheduled for release later this year!

I blogged about them today at Vivacious Vixens at
www.vivaciousvixensofromance.com where we are also holding an inaguaral contest!

Excellent News -- America's Hero is now available in print!

I popped on to the Champagne site yesterday and saw that America's Hero is now available in print. I love reading ebooks for their convenience, but there is nothing like the feel of your book in your hot little hands.

America's Hero is on Fictionwise and now available for Kindle!

Exciting news this week when America's Hero took off on Fictionwise and within two days moved to 193 out of 9973 books in the romance category. I'm totally thrilled with that piece of news. It is also now available as a Kindle download from Amazon.

Amazonia -- Book 2 of Descendants of Earth has a home!

A two hour commute each day has me with not much time at home, however, I am writing at least one way and through part of lunch 3-4 days a week. That said, I finished Amazonia a week ago, sent it off to my publisher (eXtasy Books) where Descendants of Earth is housed and the next morning there was a contract in my in-box!

Amazonia is Michael LaRosa's story and the book was a stretch for me into areas I haven't gone before!

America's Hero has been nominated book of the week at Long and Short Reviews!

America's Hero is up for best book of the week at Long and Short Reviews and I would most certainly appreciate your votes.http://www.longandshortreviews.com/LASR/recentrev.htm

Orchid had this to say about America's Hero:

This wasn’t time travel, it was action adventure. Wrong! Once Austin and Cassie started leapfrogging through time I had to read on to find out what happened. Each time period captured me completely and ended with a jolt when Cassie and Austin slipped into the next era. The love scenes were beautifully written and as I read them I experienced the emotions of both hero and heroine. The historical events appeared to be specifically crafted to bring Cassie and Austin together.This book is a must read! It has everything. Strong hero and heroine; time travel; romantic interludes and a bit of history thrown in. Ms Taylor has crafted a well rounded and beautifully written story which has something for everyone. Even the cover is fabulous!Read the entire review at: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2009/03/americas-hero-by-regan-taylor.html

America's Hero has taken flight!

Available today at Champagne Books! (http://www.champagnebooks.com/) Pick it up for the ride of your life!

Australian Animal Rescue

Amidst the fires and now some flooding in Australia I'm sure most of us have seen the video of Sam the koala and how his life was saved. There are many more animals in Australia that need help and two fellow authors have provided me with some information and some opportunities to help them.

The animal rescue/assistance site where we can send a donation to help the animals left homeless and injured by the fires is www.theanimalrescuesite.comHeloz had this to share with us: At the site you can read how the IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) has come to Australia to help with injured animals. See the picture of Dave Tree, CFA volunteer who found a wild Koala with burnt paws and gave it a drink. The female Koala, which has been named Sam, consumed 3 whole bottles of water and held onto Dave's hand as if she didn't want him to desert her or leave her thirsty. Over one million native, domestic and livestock animals are estimated to have perished. Many survive with horrific burns. Suburbs fringing the burnt out areas are seeing an influx of bird life, because the birds have all lost their homes and food sources.

Astrid is holding a raffle - many of the eXtasy authors have donated books, readings and other items towards raising money for the animal care. Details to follow.

Valentine's Day 2009 Kick Off!

I don't know what's up with Myspace these days -- but I'll try again. In preparation for Valentine's Day I'm going to be on TV!
A few months ago the new owner of KOFY TV 20 was on the radio and the former owner, Jim Gabbard was on with him talking about the station. When Jim was the owner it was a very community based station. They were known as the "dog station" because they had dogs sitting on a comfy chair, looking out at you and at just the right moment they'd turn and look at a TV. It was very cool. On Saturday nights Jim also had a dance party where people could go and hang out and talk about the movie that was on and regular goings on. It had a very strong community feel and along with just about all my friends it was a favorite station.
Well, along the way he sold it, it became something else and then about a year ago it got bought again by someone who loved the old format and reinstituted it. Hearing this and remembering all the great things that were done on the station I sent a letter -- how would they like to have a few romance authors talking about romance on Valentine's day?
Well! They decided instead of just having a couple of us hang out on Valentine's day they wanted us to do a week with them! So this week Allison Brennan, Karin Tabke, Brenda Novak and I are going to be on KOFY talking about our books and romance. If you are in the area, check us out on Cable 13 and, if you are so inclined, check out the KOFY Club where we are giving away a number of our titles!

My cover for America's Hero

Well there it is! Isn't it gorgeous?

He plays America's Hero
She IS America's Hero

Her Eyes has been nominated!

Jennifer Cloud and I have been thrilled with the news that Her Eyes has been nominated as a Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award for 2008 and as best contemporary at the Love Romances Cafe!

The Discussion for Indentured Bride has begun!

The online discussion for Brett and Jenna's story has begun at http://blog.elceepublishing.com/2008/09/16/prepare-for-novembers-book-discussion.aspx?ref=rss and there's still time to join in the chat.

A western romance, set in 1860, running for her life after killing her uncle, Jenna Matthews finds herself in the arms of a very sexy deputy sheriff named Brett Parker. Determined to marry and protect the woman who has landed in his life, Brett knows she harbors a secret. That secret could be their ultimate undoing.

I'm running a contest to go along with the discussion so come on by and check us out!

Indentured Bride - Has been selected as a Book Club Selection!

The discussion startes next Saturday -- in case you plan to join, here's the link!

http://blog.elceepublishing.com/2008/09/16/november-book-selection-1.aspx?results=1#SurveyResultsChart

Come by and join in the discussion!

Book Signing next week on the 27th and I'm so excited to be meeting Alan Jacobson!

So who's Alan Jacobson? I'm going to be finding out more when I sign with him at Walden's books in San Rafael at Northgate Mall on Saturday from 4-6, but here's what I know so far.

I'm not much of a TV fan -- although I have been watching Murder She Wrote DVDs the past few weeks. Light entertainment even tough there is a murder in each segment. Mostly I listen to talk radio and one morning recently I was listening to Ronn Owens on KGO and every once in awhile he does this segment where listeners pick who they want to hear talk. Folks call in with blurbs on who they are and what they want to talk about and then listeners vote on who they think will be the most interesting. Alan Jacobson phoned in about his latest book The Seventh Victim. He was a fabulous speaker and the book sounded really good and since he's local I sent him an email and asked him to sign with Eva Gordon and I next week. He agreed.

The 7th Victim is about a female FBI profiler and Alan did extensive research back at the Behavioral Sciences branch of the FBI as part of his research. He sounds fascinating.

On a similar note, I'm thinking of going back to school.....friends of mine are now ducking and covering. I go to school like normal people go to movies. I love the process and learning. Okay, law school was a bit of a struggle, but I was working 50-60 hours a week and carrying 9 units a semester. It was brutal. By time I got to my third year I did force myself to cut back to a 35 hour week and carried only 6 units, but I finally saw that while I liked the challenge of the learning process, I didn't want to be an attorney. When I did my masters in counseling I did, fortunately, learn from the prior foray into post-grad education and focused on school and taking only part time jobs around it. I don't have an active therapy practice. However....

I found a distance learning program, one that IS APA (American Psychological Association) accredited in Forensic Psychology. It's a 20 month program, they guestimate 10 hours a week and since I already have masters, I can probably challenge some of the classes. It'll be....fun. So what does this have to do with my booksigning....profiling.

Indentured Bride - Has been selected as a Book Club Selection!

I'm totally thrilled that Indentured Bride will be a Book Club selection at Writers and Readers of Distinctive Fiction for a November read and discussion! This is the story of Brett and Jenna Parker -- unfortunately Austin and Cass from America's Hero don't stop in to see them on their travels -- but if they did, they'd like Brett and Jenna immensely.

I'll be running a contest -- details to follow -- with a fun prize for a discussion participant.

Check out where to find this exciting discussion and to buy your own hot copy at: http://blog.elceepublishing.com/2008/09/11/october-book-selections.aspx?ref=rss

Only 5 days left to find Austin Quinn

We're looking for Austin Quinn, America's Hero -- as a Hollywood actor he could be anyone -- blond, brunette, redhead, bald, short, tall, fast, thin -- cause he can act any part. To nominate your American Hero check out the contest on my website at www.ReganTaylor.com under the contest link!

Speaking of Heroes

While Austin Quinn is the Hero of America's Hero, he's got a link to the hero of Jason's Accord because Austin played the part of Michael, Jason's best friend in Amazonia. Follow? Hmmm, we'll you'd need to read Jason's Accord to find out who Michael is and then, sorry, but Austin won't be seeing the light of the publishing day until March 2009, when you will learn about how he played Michael in a movie.

Meanwhile, to celebrate the release of Jason's Accord, I'm holding a contest!

The prize is The Body Book - Recipies forNatural Body Care by Anne Akers Johnson along with a box of oils and spa "tools" to work with. It looks like a fun kit!To enter, all you need to do is, in a comment, on Jason's Blog tell me what it is that Jason is always offering to Miranda. You don't need to have read the book to know -- I think it's pretty easy to figure out...Jason is smart, brave, a warrior and leader. He's got his act together until he meets Miranda. The little Eadroni turns thisMartan leader's world upside down and whenever Miranda manages to flamox Jason, he offers her something - what is it?

Hint - what is it we do (or at least I hope we do!) every day, at least once a day that involves water and our entire body? To enter, go to Jason's blog http://descendantsofearth.blogspot.com/

Have you ever found a hero while you were on vacation?

Growing up we didn't go on family vacations. I'm guessing it was because my parents didn't have a lot of money although I did go to summer camp almost every year. My sister didn't. I think she went once. I think she preferred being around her friends. Me, for as long as I could remember I wanted to leave the town I grew up in and the people there. I wanted to get away from my mother constantly trying to find me friends. I really have always preferred my own company and reading a good book to being around people. At one summer camp my co-campers apparently worried because I spent so much time alone reading and went to elaborate details to concoct a ghost for me. Uh yeah. Growing up in a family where I had an aunt who read tarot and used a crystal ball and a grandmother who read tea leaves, a made up ghost isn't going to scare me. Fortunately they didn't know what DID scare me - the dentist and one other thing. And the mere appearance of a dentist at a campground was no way a scary thing because he or she would have been the parent of one of the kids. I did ask a third thing when I got older....imagine having a mamogram during an earthquake. Now that is scary!

Anyway, I had a decent imagination and big hopes for my future which included my own version of prince charming. Steve Morgan from Sweet Savage Love was one of the first I hoped had a real life counter part. Not because of what he did to Ginny but because of how much he loved her. He's still an icon for how deeply a man can love a woman.

So when I'd go away there was the hope of meeting my own prince charming or a hero. That continued on as I got older, only it wasn't about meeting my prince as much as meeting a decent guy who I connected with on all levels. The good news is he DOES exist! He's an average guy, smart, good common sense (which I often lack) and loves to read.

Still, there's always that wondering in the back of my mind, is there a "hero" on the next bus, train or plane? Is there a knight in shining armor who will come through a mysterious portal and alter my life in unimaginably wonderful ways? Or is he an average guy with average looks who is so very special because of what he does to make the world a better place.

That's who my American Hero is -- your basic every day guy who does the right thing for the right reasons and leaves a quiet positive influence on the people he touches.

Meeting Austin Quinn

When I decided to do my "Finding Austin Quinn" contest I put together some flyers to hand out to prospective contestants. I've met a few likely candidates and these guys are so sweet! They kind of blush and don't get it that they have exactly the kind of look a real Austin Quinnn would have. He's your basic guy next door kind of guy -- he wasn't the most popular guy in high school and got into the drama club, he got into exercise and headed out to Hollywood and ended up becoming a big star. BUT - he's still the nice guy from next door. A lot of his being a hunk is his warm and friendly personality. You know the kind of guy I mean -- he's just a good guy with a big heart.

So I've given a few of these guys the info -- I do hope they will enter because they would look outstanding on a cover and are the kind of person who could be your hero too.

Meanwhile -- do YOU know someone who would make a great Austin Quinn?

NOMINATING YOUR EVERY DAY HERO

To nominate your every day hero simply post a reply to this entry -- be sure to include who they are, what they have done that makes them a hero, when they did or, in the case of someone who does something on a regular basis, when it started and why you think they should be voted as our every day hero.

Any questions, write "Austin" at Austinquinnhero (at) gmail (dot) com.

Finding Austin Quinn

I'm looking for the real life Austin Quinn. The guy who epitomizes my hero from America's Hero due out in March 2009.

From the walls of Troy to Sherwood Forrest.....huh?

America's Hero? Okay, from the civil war to the space shuttle he plays America's Hero. But what does he look like?

Starting on July 4, 2008, go to my website at www.ReganTaylor.com and click on the contest page for directions on how you can nominate -- or be -- Austin Quinn. Nominations will be posted here from July 4 through September 1, 2008. Everyone will then be able to vote for Austin from September 1 through November 10 -- the Marine Corps Birthday.

What Makes a Hero?

Are they the larger than life men and women we see on the silver screen and television sets? Men in tights that show off some really nice packages and capes? Women who can out run even the most dastardly villian? Do they risk life and limb to keep something nasty from happening? Rescue a damsel in distress? Do they need magical powers?

Austin Quinn is America's Hero, or so that's what Hollywood has named him. He plays all the top heroes of our time and others. Is he up to the task when confronted with a real situation where a very alive damsel doesn't care to be saved by him?

When you get to know Austin, will he be your hero?

America's Hero - Prologue

Prologue

Somewhere in the Persian Gulf--2009

“Calvary 1 approaching LZ.” Over the whopp-whopp of the rotars the CH-46 rescue helicopter reported in to the aircraft carrier George Washington’s air controller.

“Copy your traffic, Calvary 1.” Came the response, calm and in control from the ship’s air controller. The voice of assurance coming over the air was heard clearly as the CH-46 approached what was designated the landing zone, a place that was as safe as could be given the circumstances. Dawg Jameson, the pilot, scanned the area where the F/A-18 they were searching for had been downed two days earlier. If the pilot and weapons systems officer were alive, at a minimum, they’d be badly injured. He spotted a moving cloud of dust and identified three battered trucks, all loaded with men who appeared to be carrying guns moving towards the barely visible, scattered debris. No doubt they were also headed towards the crash site. Most definitely not to effect a rescue but to take prisoners—if the crew were still alive.

“Calvary 1 base, looks like company en route, counting three trucks filled with tangos. Request fast mover cover ASAP.” Dawg radioed in, using his flight designator for this mission, asking for fighter jets to provide air cover.
“Base copies, fast movers en route.”
“You see anything?” Dawg asked his co-pilot and crew.
“Nothing yet, Captain.” The co-pilot’s voice crackled over the headset.
Hovering over the crash site of a downed F/A-18 the crew of the CH-46 scanned the area looking for the pilot and weapons system officer or WSO. Major Cass Winter, aka, Snow White, had been shot down with WSO Keith McDonald two days before and all the wingman could provide was a general location and that he had seen two chutes. One of the embedded reporters on a passing helicopter that had been sent out to check for survivors reported seeing what appeared to be one of the jet’s external tanks. Now, with tangos approaching from the east they either had to find the crewmen in the next few minutes or get out of Dodge fast. The thwuck of two COBRA attack helicopters initially sent as cover could be heard approaching, buying the rescue crew a few precious minutes more.

“Where the hell are those fast movers?” Jameson yelled in frustration as he set down the 46.
“There! I see something in that clump of whatever the heck that stuff is down there!” Lance Corporal Adamson called out.
* * * *
“Keith, Keith, the cavalry’s here. Can you move, man?” Cass asked, gently shaking the more severely injured, partially conscious WSO.

“Let’s do it, Snow. Let’s give it a shot. With any luck we’ll be drinking Ouzo and eating dolmas during that port call in Greece we’re due for in two weeks.” he grit out, seeming to struggle to focus, his head lolling on his shoulders. He drew in a shaky yet deep breath as if trying to get the strength to stand and run.

“Yeah, I’ve been looking forward to that break.” Major Winter assured him. Every member of the crew was looking forward to the port call on Greece after being in the Persian Gulf for over ten months, flying missions on a daily basis. “Ready?”

At the other man’s nod Cass shifted to help him up. Grabbing Keith, despite his injuries, both known and unknown, Cass started half running, half dragging him towards the rescue chopper. Feeling as if they were moving in slow motion, neither barely noticed the spray of the sand as their feet stomped with each step. The heat of the desert sun causing the area to shimmer before their eyes. Just as they cleared the clump of scrub, the roar of truck engines greeted them. Seeing the approaching enemy McDonald told Cass to move out without him. A Marine through and through, Cass refused, telling him they either went together or not at all.

The downed pilots caught sight of two of the rescue crew jumping out of the helicopter and heading towards them, M-16 rifles firing low towards the approaching trucks, scanning the area for any other enemy combatants approaching them.

The COBRAs fired off their first round of missiles towards the trucks at the same time one of the fast moving F/A-18’s screamed past, low to the ground. The proximity of the jet with afterburners lit flying so low to the ground made it shake as if an earthquake hit, almost knocking Cass and Keith off their already unsteady feet.

As all hell seemed to be breaking loose around them the 46’s crewman came within speaking distance to Cass and Keith. His gun pointed directly at Cass’ heart. “Hands up, get your hands up where we can see them. Now!” One of the Marines demanded, his voice barely heard over the combination of screaming jet engines and missiles being fired.