Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Taylor Newport!

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Taylor Newport!

I'm always on the lookout for a new-to-me author, so I was thrilled when Taylor signed up to visit. Grab your favorite beverage, pull up a chair, and get to know this interesting lady and learn more about her debut novel!

What was your inspiration for the story? A lot of different things to be honest. Books. Movies. The Bourne and Reacher movies, among others, inspired me quite a bit. I’ve always been a fan of action thriller books and movies, but the language and inappropriate scenes always bothered me. I wanted to create a series where people had the same suspense and tension without any of that. That led me to create one version of the bookI.

What sort of research did you do for your story, and was there an exceptionally interesting tidbit you knew you had to include? I did so much research. This book, while fictional, has as many factual things as I could find and pack into it. The characters are as realistic as I could get them. I did extensive research on Australian slang to make sure the MMC sounded authentic. I also had to figure out all of the weapons. But the gambling scenes in the book may have been the hardest to learn. It’s hard to write something that you can’t do. It took me several days of research to figure out the basics to poker.

If your book is part of a series: Did you set out to write a series? Why did you decide to write a series? I always planned on having a series, but the number of books has expanded quite a bit. My plan has always been to create loveable and authentic characters that people would miss when the series ended. Only I’d miss them too. I have roughly planned out a 12 book series so people can hang out with the same characters for a while. ;)

How has your book changed since your first draft? Um…well it’s completely different. The characters have mostly stayed the same (personality and looks-wise) but the plot has drastically changed. I completely rewrote Line of Fire four times to get it where it is now. The original version will never see the light of day. LOL.

If you were to write a spin-off book about one of your secondary characters, which one would you

Pixabay/Jacques Tiberi

choose and why? Yes, I actually am planning on writing a trilogy for one of the side characters, NY Patrol Officer Edmond “Ed” Lennox. He’s a fun character who comes off quite comical in Line of Fire, although he’s a pretty laid back guy. He’s got an interesting past that I want to explore and also wanted to give him room to grow…and maybe a HEA.

Why do you write in your particular genre? I just love this genre. I’ll admit I have watched more action thriller movies than I’ve read books. I love the high-stakes, the edge-of-your seat tension. I’ve never been a huge fan of romance, although that is also included in my books in a small amount.

How do you celebrate when you finish a manuscript? I honestly don’t know. My ideal celebration would be eating three containers of ice cream with a cup of hot chocolate on the side. Probably won’t happen though. What is your advice to fledgling writers? Just write. Pray, then write. You may think that your manuscript is terrible, but practice will only improve. Your first book may never be published, but the experience that you gain from writing that first book will help you with the next book. Just persevere. But also let God guide you. If it’s His will, He will help you. Although Satan may place some setbacks, just push through them. It’s so worth it to be able to hold your finished book in your hand.

What writers or books have influenced you? Only one author really, Ronie Kendig. I enjoy reading, but don’t do it that often. But her books always hook me. Her writing style really inspired mine. She’s such a great author!

What is your next project? Currently I am working on Book 2 of the Dauntless Defenders Series. It’s coming along nicely. I hope to release it in 2025.

LINE OF FIRE

The enemy is relentless, but they made one fatal mistake: they underestimated him.

Australian mercenary Tyler Reid, known as "The Ghost of OZ," has a talent for evading detection, a skill that has caught the eye of multiple government agencies. When a shadowy group targets a CIA asset and her revolutionary drug ND1, the Deputy Director calls in Tyler. Eager for action, Tyler takes the job. He soon realizes that the enemy is not only after the drug, but also out for his blood. Then the mission goes south, and he is forced to seek an unlikely ally.

For covert foreign operative Alexandra Romanova, freedom is a distant dream. Escaping one prison only led her to a more dangerous one. Her deadly skills are at her boss's disposal, but she’ll use them only to escape. Her final chance hinges on retrieving ND1, but the elusive Ghost of Oz complicates things. Tyler Reid isn’t an easy mark, and the better she gets to know him, the more she questions the mission she's tasked with. Soon she faces a dire choice: kill a man she is convinced is good, or pay with her own life.

As Tyler and Alex venture beyond their orders, the line between enemy and ally blurs. On the edge of failure, trust becomes a dangerous gamble with every decision dragging them deeper into the line of fire. As enemies close in and alliances shift, they are ensnared in a ruthless battle where survival depends on split-second choices. In this high-stakes fight, time is running out, and the margin for error is zero.

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4f1uKen

Connect with Taylor:
Website: https://www.taylorsnewport.com/
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/taylorsnewport/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taylor.newport.94
X: https://x.com/TaylorSNewport
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/taylorsnewport/
Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Taylor-Newport/author/B0DHLKKL51?ref
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/taylor-s-newport
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/52045265.Taylor_S_Newport