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J Taylor

@jtayauthor

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📖 Bestselling author & comedy screenwriter
🎬 A MOMENT ON THE LIPS, soon to be a TV series
⌨️ @falmouthuni MA Comedy Writing

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Thank FU*K, it’s the weekend!

Although I am not even sure why I’m so relieved that it’s rolled around again.

Because Saturday for me means carting my little people to horse-riding lessons, putting away the big food shop - ”Ugh, why did I order so much freezer stuff, the door won't close! F**k!” And being the household cleaner and snack b*tch. 🥴😂

Still, at least all the above gives me plenty of reasons to stay away from my desk.

And currently, I'll take any excuse not to look at the disgustingly dirty first draft I am struggling with. (Not that kind of dirty, @hampshirebooklover, before you get excited.) 😂

On Sunday, I will be sending a newsletter. There are no ungrateful gerbils this month, but there is a police report and an author with a weird obsession.

I hope you have a lovely Saturday, whether you're reading, working, or being a snack b*tch.

J x

Oh, and please buy my books! 🙌#gavinandstacey #gavinandstaceychristmasspecial by @jtayauthor

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3 years ago

I’m asked a lot where I write. The truth is when I was writing my first book, I didn't even have a desk.

I started writing in late December and would get up every morning at 5 a.m. I’d light the wood burner, turn on the kitchen under cupboard lights, make myself a coffee and then type away at the kitchen table in the picture.

I would write for a few hours each morning or until a little person appeared demanding breakfast.

That WIP later became A Moment on the Lips. I have such fond memories of that time.

We have since moved to a new house. The neighbours had nicknamed it “The Conjuring House.’ Due to its spooky, overgrown gardens and general Stephen King vibes.

Our move graduated me from a table in the kitchen to a cupboard under the stairs. Although my tiny understairs cubbyhole does allow for a child-sized IKEA desk. Progress! 🙌🤣

So, if you're a writer and don’t have a fancy office to show off, know you're not alone. I mean, I am laughed at daily and called Harry Potter by my kids. But as long as I get my word count done. I really couldn't care less. 🤣♥️ by @jtayauthor

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3 years ago

I always love to read comparison titles for books. A good X meets Y will always get me pressing the buy button.

If you love Gavin and Stacey and The Holiday, I think you’d also love A Moment on the Lips at Christmas.

J x #gavinandstacey #gavinandstaceychristmasspecial by @jtayauthor

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3 years ago

👋 Thought I should post a little update after realising my last post was seven months ago. 🙈

There’s been a lot going on behind the scenes. Not going to lie it has been A LOT! Chaotic and overwhelming at times, but also brilliant.

🎬 I’m also lucky enough to be being mentored by the wonderful Lucy Lumsden-former Head of Comedy at the BBC and Sky, and now the powerhouse behind Yellow Door Productions. Lucy’s produced some incredible shows, including one of my favourites, The Cockfields (if you haven’t watched it, go stream it on BBC iPlayer-you’ll thank me). Lucy is working with me to whip the A Moment on the Lips TV scripts into shape.

✍️ Meanwhile, in the background, I’ve been providing publishing and editorial support to the ever-lovely @sarahwattswrites and editing my latest novel.

📚 Reading-wise, I haven’t had heaps of time (shocking, I know), but I did squeeze in an ARC of @sophieflynnauthor The Other Miss Jones and @markedwardsauthor The Wasp Trap both absolutely brilliant.

💻 For those asking about The Next Chapter (Book 3 in the A Moment on the Lips series)

With so much happening behind the screenwriting curtain, I made the tough decision to hold back a little longer.

I know many of you are eagerly waiting (I get emails almost daily!), and with the series nearing 36 million KDP page reads, (truly incredible), I promise it will be out soon.

❤️ Still here. Still writing. Just slightly buried under deadlines and future plans.

Hope you’re all good and 2025 is treating you well.

J x by @jtayauthor

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a year ago

Being no stranger to @jessica_reading_writing work, I was eager to get my hands on this latest offering.

To say I read it in two sittings is no exaggeration. The punchy opening grabbed my attention right from the first page. This together with the dual timeline and multiple POVs ensured I was provided with a gripping and page-turning reading experience right until the end.

I loved the decision to set the story in an English village and found the descriptions strangely comforting. The location also offered the perfect balance of unnerving meets familiar, which I always welcome when reading this genre.

Without giving too much away, the plot is well-structured and perfectly executed. There’s no lull that some thrillers seem to have on the home straight. I think this is largely to do with the characters, all of which intrigued me and are well-developed- special mention for Vera who I found brilliantly and utterly weird.

Is Don’t Tell a Soul what I was expecting from Jessica Huntley? Honestly, no. It was better.

I always expect really dark themes when I think of Jessica’s plotting and storytelling. And although there are some darker moments in this standalone, I wouldn’t classify Don’t Tell a Soul as overly dark. I’m squeamish and there was no part where I was even straddling the “I need to skip this part” feeling that I sometimes get when reading thrillers.

Overall this book is a triumph and Jessica has more than proved with this traditional debut published by @inkubatorbooks that she’s as adaptable as she is skilled.

So, who would love this book? Well, honestly anyone who has enjoyed titles by Mark Edwards, John Marrs and Charlotte Duckworth (DTAS gave me lots of What Lies Between Us and The Wrong Mother vibes) - needs to request this one immediately.

And, just any reader who enjoys a pacy well-written domestic thriller with some killer twists.

No pun intended.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Congrats Jess, I hope it does great things.

Gifted copy, opinions my own.

Publishing in August - available on @netgalley now. by @jtayauthor

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2 years ago

by @jtayauthor

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2 years ago

As soon as I saw this quirky little gem, I knew it was the place my next FMC would call home.

Now, after a year’s worth of thoughts, questions, and scribbled notes, it’s finally time to tell Margot’s story.

He Loves Me: Draft one (of probably many🙈) has commenced! by @jtayauthor

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2 years ago

The Next Chapter ❤️ by @jtayauthor

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2 years ago

by @jtayauthor

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2 years ago

Favourite candle ✔️
Favourite mug ✔️

I've spent my morning editing a funny middle-grade title. And page proofing some changes to another book in my AMOTL series.

Hope you are all having a lovely bank holiday weekend, whatever you're doing. J x ❤️ by @jtayauthor

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2 years ago

My view 🪟writing ✍️ my debut

I spent so many hours looking out over our garden and pond when I was writing my debut. And even more outside in the fields with my horses and dogs thinking about characters and plots.

One scorching August weekend I ventured outside by our pond and attempted to storyboard my scenes with post-it notes on the back of a bench.

It didn’t last long, because one of my dogs, a mastiff weighing in at nearly 14 stone, decided today was the perfect day to stage her wild swimming debut.

There was panic all around as after her admittedly bold start, it quickly dawned on her and us that she couldn’t swim after all.

There was initially a lot of frantic splashing followed by a moment where she seemed to resign to her fate and just started to slowly sink, like some kind of bad comedy sketch.

Just as thought I would have to go in and try and drag her out, she decided she would in fact just use the floating duck house as her own personal life raft.

Clearly, her view being F**k the ducks. This is an emergency. Absolute scenes.
😂

We have since moved, but this was the home that influenced so many aspects of A Moment on the Lips.

It was also where my children learned to ride, fish, climb trees and be free. It is my special place. by @jtayauthor

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3 years ago

Some early quotes for The Next Chapter 📚

Coming 14.7.24

Not long now. 🥰 by @jtayauthor

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3 years ago