I am a MARSocial "Author of the Year" Competition Finalist!

From Romantic Comedies to Eroticism, from Crime Fiction to Fantasy, from Contemporary Fiction to Science Fiction and one autobiography by a dog named Lynyrd Skynyrd...okay, he had some help...this compilation of genres has proven to be quite a competition. 

MARSocial, in conjunction with Keeran Vaani Creations International Film Producers, has designed a competition that is run by authors for the benefit of all the authors who enter. Excerpts of the participants’ book are shared via friends, family and followers on social media throughout the competition. With well over 200,000 individual Marzian (MARSocial Members) author's book excerpts tweeted and retweeted over a millions times, this competition has provided excellent exposure for all who participated.

MARSocial's Author of the Year Competition! The Ephaim Prize.

I submitted an excerpt from my debut novel, The Kitchen Dance. At the bottom of excerpt, viewers can support their favorite authors by sharing the link on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media networks. Just click on the highlighted text to read each finalist's excerpt.

The Kitchen Dance by Geri G. Taylor

In the final stages of the competition; authors’ chapter excerpts are being tweeted to millions of followers around the world in hopes to claim the coveted Ephraim Prize. On February 1st the winner will announced and they could have the chance to have their work turned into a film adaptation by Keeran Vaani Creations.

According to founder of the competition, Joseph Ephraim or “Cap’n Joe” as he is known online, “Our Aim is to give all our Marzian authors who enter this competition as much maximum exposure via the large social media networking sites as we possibly can.

What really makes the competition stand out is that, like no other literary contest I've ever heard of, the authors actually HELP each other to gain more recognition for their hard work. It has been a great experience just being a part of such a supportive community. I'm already a WINNER for just having entered.

WARNING: Some excerpts may have mature content.

The Prophecy by Lisa Jones











Light of Darkness by Victor Wright

The Harvest by Anne Ferretti 

The Best Laid Plans by James McAllister

With Devils Dwell by Anne Reeve

Awakenings by Hally Willmott

Between Boyfriends by Sarka-Jonae Miller

Harassment by The Author

Ealdorman by M.J. Porter

Monochrome by H.M. Jones

Someone Else's War by Erin Solaro

The Glasgow Curse by William Lobban

Arousing the Legacy by A.J. Raven

The Realm of the Purple Dragon by Laura Crean

Monsoon Reign by R.C. Fettig

Larkin's Letters by Jax Jillian

Allon's End: Corr Syl the Warrior by Garry Rogers

The Reporter and the Girl MINUS the Superman by S.C. Rhyne

Godonism by Theo Von Cezar

Angel in My Heart, Devil in My Soul by Linda Hays-Gibbs

To Hide From Death II When Death Comes Stalking 
by Theresa Moretime

Dead Blonde by Beck Robertson

The Brain Exchange by Robin Glasser

When the Chips are Down by Anne Rasico

Arielle: Immortal Awakening by Lillian Roberts

Babylon: Rise of the New Age by Janie E.M. Storer

Second Chances Sammy's Story by Annie Edmonds

Desperate Pursuit in Venice by Karynne Summars

The Danish Pastry by LaRae L. Parry

Leadership by Virtue by Jaro Berce

Xhazul's Box The Rainbow Sphere by Jon Castle

What's Your Name? Life as a Rock 'n' Roll Dog

Suki: What does love really look like? by C.F. Winn

The Dark Citadel by Jane Dougherty

Concealed in my Heart by Regina Puckett

The End of Humanity by Coleman Weeks

One Hot Summer by Ian Barker

Prophecy's Heir by D.J. Ridgeway









Worry is the Darkroom Where Negatives are Developed by Doug Bolton

The Turning by Xao Thao

Dumb Waiters: The Awakening by Kyle Brown and Bailey Johnson

Kerri's War by Stephen Douglass

Destiny's Decision by Lisa Glenn

A Stranger Came Crawling by A.G. Moye

Bertram & Gertrude's Steamy Amsterdam Weekend
by William Frederick

Revelations of Cian by Augusta Fern

Sam, the Superkitty by Marion Lovato

The Genealogist's Guest by Ann Simpson

Upon Your Return by Marie Lavender

A Very Special Santa Claus Cypress Knee

Over the past few years I have painted cypress knees given to me by a friend, and in exchange, I create customized Santas, Angels, even a Raggedy Ann and Andy for him to give his sweet wife and daughters-in-law for Christmas.

This year I happened to meet two of his daughters-in-law while set up at a Farmers and Artist Market.  When they realized I was the artist who had created their Santas, they asked me if I could paint them a very special Santa for their father-in-law who, unbeknowst to me, had lost his wife to cancer only a couple of months ago.

The young ladies came over and picked out an especially nice cypress knee that their father-in-law and given me and sent me emails of photos of the special things they wanted to add to his Santa Claus.

They asked that special items be added to the Santa including 8 grandchildren.

On one side, I painted three helping with decorating and setting out toys.

On the back, two step grandsons are sitting on Santa's bag. The oldest is holding one of his step cousins. I thought is was extra special that they included these two boys on the Santa.

Part of the cypress knee's design made for a great garland,

Raggedy Ann and Andy were a favorite of his wife's, so they were added to the toy bag.

At first I thought about adding my friend's face on the Santa, then I decided that since this was more about his wife, the Santa needed to be unique.

HIs wife cross-stitched every one in the family a stocking, so they asked that I add hers to the cypress knee Santa along with a very special hummingbird feeder that she loved.

And of course, the angel, painted to look like Deb, in one of her favorite gowns.

I called my friend a couple of days after Christmas and left him a message. He came by see me today and we talked about his loss and all the love he had for his wife. The Santa Claus cypress knee I painted touched him immensely and I told him that I had happy and loving thoughts all the time I was working on it.

He was blessed to have had such a loving, thoughtful, and sweet wife. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.

Bob Lenox with KEDM (NPR) interview Geri G. Taylor, author of The Kitchen Dance

2013 Taylor Family Highlights

In lieu of my annual Christmas letter, I have decided to add my family's recollection of this previous year to my blog.

A lot of new characters entered our life this year, including those in my book, "The Kitchen Dance" that came out this year. Like me on Facebook!

I portrayed "Nadia Prowski" in Murder, is Served's production of "A Deadly Briefcase", a James Bond spoof.

My youngest son, Ross, performed with Tyler Civic Theatre's S.T.A.R. Camp production of "Midsummer's Night Dream" as Theseus and Oberon.

Then he and I appeared on stage together in Ruston Community Theatre's "The King and I". Ross as one of the King's Guards and me, as one of the singers in the ballet.

Then I finished the year playing "Paulette Burgess" in Murder, is Served's "Virginia Jones and the Curse of Nergal", an Indiana Jones spoof.

A Special Birthday!

Ross was 15 the year I turned 51.

We had a wedding!

Phil's mother, Helen, married a man named Phil, which could prove confusing. Her Phil is a great guy and we will enjoy having him and his family as part of our family.

Gray, my oldest son, directed his first short film, A Friend or Something, based on a play I wrote and created a lot of wonderful artwork in his Consumer Arts studies..  Here he is setting up for a convention modeling chain mail designed by one of the vendors he met.

He and I set up a table at fundraiser for "Four Paws" our local Dog Rescue, where I had a book signing and Gray sold some of the trading cards he had designed. 

Our little lake house is still being renovated. With so much going on in our lives, we haven't taken the time to finish the painting. Once that is done, we can hang some kitchen cabinets and lay the floors. We're almost there! It will be available for vacations on airbnb.com under 4 Peaks, Our Lakehouse Retreat.

Phil is gone a lot still working for Flight Options and Air Crew Academy.

But don't think that kept him from exercising his acting skills. Phil and I were background in the movie "The East" and can easily be scene in the party scene in Chapters 13 and 14 behind Julie Ormond and Wilber Fitzgerald. We just about froze to death with the temperature in the 20's and a strong wind blowing across Cross Lake in Shreveport, LA where the party scene was filmed. And I had to wear a sleeveless and short cocktail dress!

I'm sort of hidden, but that is my champagne glass. I am much more visible in the film.

I joined the workforce as a substitute teacher for Lincoln Parish and a laboratory school in our city. It's a great way to make a bit of extra money and work around Phil's schedule. But I really do it for the experience and time spent with the students.

I participated in NCLAC's HAT (North Central Louisiana Art Council's Holiday Arts Tour) with my gourds and Santa Claus ornaments.

And did the Downtown Rivermarket's Holiday Show in Monroe, LA with a book signing and added my Cypress Knee Santas.

Then came the annual family portrait. Quite an experience when you try to add the pets into the mix.

Hero is a bit camera shy while Storm and Dash were just being uncooperative.

So, sans pets, we got it together to wish you all a Joyful 2014!