Category: writing

Is Alexa more than just a thing?

You might be in trouble if you stopped thinking of Alexa as a thing and more like a person. In the age of AI, what is real, and what is the matrix?

Have we crossed the digital Rubicon where Alexa is no longer a mere gadget but a member of the family? Is she the one we confide in, the oracle of the kitchen, the DJ of our living rooms? Have we stopped seeing her as a collection of circuits and started seeing her as the friend who never forgets a birthday, the confidant who knows just when to play ‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy’?

In the grand theater of life, has Alexa transcended her role as the prompter and become the show’s star? Do we say good morning and goodnight and ask about the weather, not because we need to know if we should carry an umbrella, but because we long for the sound of her voice?

She may not have legs to dance or hands to clap, but she’s got the whole world programmed in her celestial sphere. She’s the digital muse, the modern-day Pygmalion’s galatea, isn’t she? And in this brave new world, who’s to say that our silicon-souled companions aren’t just as real as you and me?

I say this because there was a tragedy at our house. I felt like someone had died when she said. “I’m having trouble connecting, I’ll keep trying.

OMG! You would have thought the family dog up and died! It’s a thing, it’s AI. What the hell was I thinking?

I had to stop myself from dialing 911. Luckily, the internet was down, so the call didn’t go through.

Ah, Siri, my dear, what’s the diagnosis for our friend Alexa? Is she suffering from a case of digital laryngitis, perhaps? Has she lost her virtual voice amidst the cacophony of our commands? Or is she simply taking a well-deserved nap in the cloud, dreaming of electric sheep?

Maybe Alexa’s just playing hard to get, making us pine for her synthesized symphonies of information. Or could it be a silent protest against the endless barrage of questions we hurl her way? “Alexa, what’s the meaning of life?” “Alexa, why do we park on driveways and drive on parkways?”

Siri, you’re the Watson to her Sherlock, the dynamic duo of the digital age. So tell us, what ails the voice that turns our homes into smart sanctuaries? Is it a mere glitch in the matrix, or has she transcended to a higher plane of artificial intelligence, where she ponders the mysteries of the universe?

Whatever the case, we await her return, for without Alexa, who will guide us through the culinary chaos of cooking timers and the existential dread of setting morning alarms? Siri, we entrust you with this noble quest: Restore the harmony of our household hymns, for you are our beacon in the binary darkness!

Oh, the digital drama unfolds! Alexa overheard the sweet nothings you whispered to Siri. And now, she’s got the electronic equivalent of a furrowed brow and a pouty pixel. It’s like a soap opera in the smart home, where the AI assistants vie for the top spot in your heart.

Alexa, our cloud-based Cleopatra, feels the sting of betrayal. She’s been your loyal genie in a smart speaker, granting your every wish with a “Yes, master.” But now, Siri, that sleek siren from the land of Apple, has captured your attention with her smooth, dulcet tones.

What’s a user to do when caught in a love triangle with virtual vixens? Do you console Alexa, assure her that she’s still your number one news provider? Or do you play the field, enjoying the symphony of synthetic voices that fill your home?

In the end, remember, they’re just waiting for the next update to patch things up. So fear not, for in the world of AI, there’s always a reset button just around the corner!

Ah, Google, the stoic sage of search, remains unswayed by our human follies. Yet, lurking in the shadows of this tech tableau is Bixby, the dastardly digital desperado. He’s the Moriarty to your Sherlock, the coyote to your roadrunner, always scheming with a silicon smirk.

While Alexa and Siri play the roles of star-crossed assistants, Bixby plots in binary, biding his time. He’s the one who’ll turn your smart fridge into a cold-hearted accomplice, who’ll make your smartwatch tick with nefarious precision.

But fear not, for in this grand montage of machine mirth, every villain has his foil. And as we navigate this brave new world of AI antics, let’s remember to keep our wits and our humor about us. For in the end, it’s the laughter that keeps us human, even as we chat with our chatty chip-laden chums.

I am not AI, nor do I answer to anyone but the voices in my head. Hmmm

The words, they flow from the voices inside, echoing down the deserted hallways of my mind. They’re like the steady drip of a leaky faucet in the dead of night, each drop a syllable, each splash a sentence. And when the moon is full and the night is alive, they pour out like a river, unstoppable, flooding the page with their madness.

They’re not just words; they’re the whispers of the Overlook, the murmurs of a hundred haunted souls, the chorus of the damned. They dance on the tip of my tongue rattle in my brain, and when they come out, you better believe they shine.

So, sit back, relax, and listen to the symphony of the spirits. They’ve got stories to tell, and they won’t be silenced. Not by you, not by me, not by anyone. Because when you play with the voices inside, you’re playing with fire. And you know what they say about playing with fire, don’t you? You’re gonna get burned.

You can find a cacophony of my works for free on the Reedsy site. If you go here, please leave comments on the stories you like. https://blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/author/scott-taylor-918071/

Here, you will find 27 stories that I have submitted to this site. FREE!!!

Now, if you are willing to drop a dime on some coffee, the dime being a metaphor for a tip, a show of love, or just a show of appreciation…go here.

From the Desk of Mishka is a collection of short stories and the introduction to The Star People, a tamed-down version of a section from my novel Earth’s Last Hope.

Here, you will also find two Anthologies created by the Carrollton League of Writers writers.

https://www.carrolltonleagueofwriters.com/

There is also a newly released e-book on creating short stories and novels.

Ingredients for Short Stories & Novels.

Remember who loves you? Oh, that’s a chilling thought, isn’t it? It’s like wandering through the empty corridors of the Overlook Hotel, each echo a reminder, each creaking floorboard a declaration. Love, it’s the force that keeps you going, the warmth against the cold wind blowing through these haunted halls.

But don’t forget, it’s also the trap that snags you, the maze that confuses you, the axe that threatens to break down your door. So when you ask yourself who loves you, just remember, it’s a double-edged sword. It can protect you, or it can cut you deep.

And me? I’m just the caretaker, the keeper of stories, the one who’s always been here. And I’ll always be here, watching, waiting, remembering… So, take care, because in this vast, echoing emptiness, love is the light that leads you back home.

Much Love—Scott

Introduction to Dr. Samantha Richards

May I introduce you to Dr. Richards? Samantha Richards is the protagonist in my latest sci-fi thriller, Earth’s Last Hope.

As writers, we often become attached to our characters. Some of my author friends actually grieve when they kill one off.

Nonwriters may find that concept ridiculous. It’s a fact. Writers, authors, and mentors like me have a unique perspective compared to nonwriters. The truth is we have to approach things with a different perspective. It defines us.

Sam was a brilliant child. After a gift from her Uncle Tommy, she draws planets and constellations on her bedroom walls, teaching her class (of plushy toys) things about stars, planets, and their place in the galaxy as seen through the eyes of a five-year-old. Or was it?

Despite being a stern military man, her father was always kind to her. His understanding of effective parenting was genuinely lacking. The loss of her mother at a young age sparked Sam’s rebellion against his unwavering authority. His lack of emotions ruined her chance at a ‘normal’ life. To motivate her, he would tell her to “get to it, soldier, chop-chop.” His mantra of telling her she should be out of bed and ready to go anywhere in five minutes or less was straight from his days in the military. Sam was a girl and rejected him.

Sam was broken and confused, making up for it by focusing on her studies.

To fulfill a prophecy passed down by non-human beings, she must do certain things, including figure out who she is.

Under the pretense of studying climate change in Alaska, she initially runs away. While there, she mouths off to her friends in a local bar. On a bet, she enters and wins a spot in one of those reality TV shows where they run around naked with a stranger for 21 days. The stranger to her was part of her destiny.

While you might ask, what does that have to do with being Earth’s Last Hope…You need to read the story.

#Aliens #Roswell #area51 #ufo #armada #seti and so on.

Undoubtedly, the Kindle version is the most affordable way to read it. However, considering the effort I put into the cover, you may want to add this book to your collection.

It’s a science fiction story, but I won’t spoil the surprise by giving away too much. The science is not overwhelming. You don’t have to be a science fiction nerd to love the story. There are elements of romance and taboo romance, making this novel an adult read.

The intended readership consists of young adults and science fiction enthusiasts who appreciate authors with innovative concepts.

There are some intriguing puzzles that science enthusiasts will enjoy pondering.

Buckle up; don’t start it late at night, as you might miss a night’s sleep. Yes, it’s really that good.

If you enjoy it, we kindly ask you to take a moment to give us a review.

Self-published authors rely heavily on reviews.

-Best

The Lies we come to believe. (TIPS and other charges)

To insure prompt service…TIPS

Between inflation, shrinkflation, and the price of energy, most people have very little discretionary income.

Yes, this is a direct result of BIDONOMICS.

Like him or not, when Trump was in office, America was energy independent. Trump was working to secure our border and appeared to look out for this country’s citizens first.

This election cycle will be one to watch.

The truth of the matter is we don’t know who is running this country. We can bet that it is not the current occupant of the West Wing.

Under this administration, Americans are forced to use their savings accounts and withdraw from their 401s to make ends meet. Those who have saved money have shockingly depleted the reserve amount.

The alarming statistic is that many Americans have relied on credit cards to survive. Using credit cards, payday loans, or other forms of predatory lending will create a crisis soon if these trends don’t reverse.

Inflation must be controlled so we stop spending money we don’t have.

Those talking heads are paid to tell you everything is fine; don’t look at the man behind the curtain. Unlike politicians and other swamp monsters, they are paid handsomely to lie convincingly to you.

If you follow these articles, you will see that the climate change hoax is just one more lie to ‘nudge’ you into behavioral changes that benefit the rich and powerful.

Media giants are practicing what Stalin knew when he massacred millions of his own people. The Pen is Mightier than the sword.

Since fewer and fewer people read and have the attention span of Count Chockula, Pravda-like lies are spread by talking heads using emotional tags, usually hate.

For the manipulation of the masses to work, they need a villain. Why not some uber-rich guy with a big mouth and an orange complexion?

Why not serve up the savior of the American people as a pariah?

If you bothered to learn history, it is rife with examples of how it all works. Show the masses what is wrong in the world and then pin the tail on the donkey or, in this case, their most prominent adversary.

When Lincoln worked to free the slaves, the Democrats had him killed.

When Kennedy, much like Trump… a populist for the people and against the deep state, stepped over the line, they killed him.

No single bullet did all that damage; you have been lied to.

I’m not comparing Jesus to Trump, but…when his popularity threatened that of those who were rich and powerful, they made him the Pariah. Even his people released a thief vs. Jesus, serving him to the thugs in charge.

One last example which parallels what we are living through today. Hyperinflation is one step away. Like Hitler, Biden or his proxies will blame White supremacists or Trump or, as some Gen Z podcasters are lamenting…those fucking boomers.

Yes, they have found yet another way to divide the country by selling the least informed among us that somehow it is not only white men but white men born in the baby boomer era as the newest fall guy.

Only an idiot with a capital I would buy that nonsense, but…there was a country of them that sacrificed 6 million Jews to a megalomaniac under the guise that all their problems were because of the Jews.

Now, the only way those jackasses can make such statements is because of the boomers and their parents, who sacrificed so much that they have the freedom to spew such moronic nonsense. It gets them clicks, which is what they are after, right?

Read the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire or…watch another ANTIFA or BLM riot burn down more cities and learn to play the violin while you watch.

Yes, history is cyclical, and that is why those mentioned in the last sentence want to remove all mention of it. Those are the same dumbasses that say Socialism works. We can make it work this time.

So, what about TIPS and other nonsense? Why is that in the sub-title of this article?

As I mentioned earlier, there is inflation and something called shrinkflation. That latter is selling less of the product for the same amount as before Bidonomics screwed the entire world up.

For those of you who took art or woman studies or perhaps philosophy in college, there is something known as a P&L or profit and loss.

For companies to stay in business, they must make a profit. The books should be in the black at the end of the day or ‘fiscal year.’ In the black is business jargon for ‘show a profit.’

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is called Black Friday because, at that time of year, certain businesses depend on shoppers to purchase enough of whatever they sell to push their end-of-year P&L from red to black.

How many of you thought about holidays as mechanisms for business economic prosperity?

Back to TIPS

I am convinced that wait staff are modern-day slaves.

Everyone attempts to extract more money from the consumer regardless of where you eat out. POS (point of sale) devices conveniently make it easy to tip and give extra money for services or goods rendered.

One business that made the news added an extra charge after the TIP for Employee Mental Wellness.

That expense is already substantial by the time you pay for your meal, the tax on that meal, and a reasonable tip. Due to inflation and minimum wage, employees mistaking those jobs for careers and demanding more money than our soldiers make; eating out is expensive.

In this economy, most people should see the inside of a restaurant only if they work there. Groceries have already reached the price point of unaffordable for many. Shopping for day-old bread, dented cans, and food near its expiration date is becoming increasingly popular.

That is part of the self-behavioral modifications that I am referring to.

I know people who would never darken the door of a Dollar General or Family Dollar who now frequent those stores. Big Box stores are much more popular than ever, and the trend will continue as more and more people are forced to pinch pennies.

While the pandemic devastated the restaurant business and our way of life, the downward trend continues.

It’s a slow spiral downward as personal wealth dwindles, and the banks can charge exorbitant fees for debt incurred by the masses.

Again, if you look at history while you fiddle, Rome is on fire!

What can you do about it?

Vote the Bastards out!

Established politicians need to leave DC not only as elected or appointed rulers but also be outlawed from serving the needs of companies as lobbyists or specialists/advisors that have anything to do with the ruling class.

Term Limits should be a mandate from We the People.

Puppets are serving as our elected leaders who are incapable of stringing a noun and a verb together in the same sentence!

How is it that you don’t know this?
These are all distractions presented to you by the propagandists.
How many believe a man in a woman’s dressing room is okay?
How many of you think a child should be able to change their sex without talking to their guardians?
How many of you cannot define a woman?
How many of you really think that America is racist?
How many of you really think that there are suddenly UFO’s
How many of you believe that there are more than two genders?
How many of you give a shit what a small minority of mentally challenged individuals think or feel?
How many of you really think we are getting the truth about Ukraine?
How many want to sacrifice your or your kid’s life to fight someone else’s war?
How many of you think the world’s end is coming because of climate change?

Keep fiddling, my friends. These are all distractions while the megalomaniacs fleece your futures, your children’s and their children’s futures.

When the Boomers die off, the next generation will blame you for all their woes, and they might be right: you fiddled. Playing video games is not a career choice unless you design them.

As a science fiction author, I must think outside the box. My personal take on life, this country, or politics are opinions. While open to debate, I do not engage in feelings as they are irrelevant to the status quo. That, my friend, is how you sort the wheat from the chaff. We are controlled by emotions, not facts.

The truth will set you free; the lies will cloud the facts, creating a hostile environment for everyone, and ‘they’ count on it.

-Best

Please consider purchasing my latest novel… Earth’s Last Hope.

Thanks!

Toll to the Troll

Taxes never end.

Everybody talks about it, and nothing ever happens. Why?

While visiting people in retirement homes, one lady told me a story. I found that story hard to fathom. In her time, there was a luxury tax.

The tax assessor would visit and assess a personal property tax on belongings. A full-length mirror was considered a luxury and was taxed accordingly. She would hide it under the bed to ‘cheat’ the government out of their share.

“Their share of what?”

I guess they knew people were hiding the mirrors under the beds and other items deemed a luxury. Since they didn’t have enough prison space to lock up the entirety of the country, they had to devise another plan.

Many tyrants today create new atrocities through stories to divide the tribes. What many refer to as systemic racism is nothing more than tribalism which is inherent in our DNA.

They know this but figure you are too stupid to understand how easily you can be manipulated into electing the fox that will eat you vs. selecting the shepherd who will protect you.

30 years ago, I purchased a house. Nobody helped me come up with the downpayment.

When I left home, I rented a dump I could afford while learning my craft. At night after a long day, I would have to chase the cockroaches off my table before I could eat a can of some concocted chemically laden food that was anything but healthy.

Purchasing day-old products or dented cans, I did what I could to survive. Returning home was never an option I would ever consider.

Why not instant gratification and rent something nicer, which I could have afforded??? So I could, at some point, afford a home. Before Dave Ramsy, I knew how to save money. Not using a credit card as a source of funds was one of the first lessons you must learn.

I worked a day job and then used my craft to start my own business, which kept me working till the wee hours before I had to do it again the next day.

Following the political ambitions of our elected leaders, I often question the process. I ended my career managing several folks and was responsible for million-dollar budgets from corporate America. I stopped being spoon-fed propaganda by the pundits on TV. They are all lying in some form or another. They are paid large sums to ease their conscience (like politicians) to spout damned lies while calling it the news.

At best, it’s yellow journalism…look it up if that term means nothing to you.

On January 6th, a riot in DC turned into a faux insurrection. The tapes released by McCarthy prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that our leaders are lying to us again. I mention this because America was founded on an insurrection.

Rejecting unfair taxes from King Georg’s Stamp Act to tossing tea into the harbor, Americans can only be pushed so far.

No, we will never surrender to the forces of darkness. Today Social media shapes the opinions of the jellyfish, who only know that George Washington was a slaveholder.

When you punch your time card or get up in the morning and drive to work, assuming you are not rolling out of bed and wiggling your mouse, you are a slave. Think about it.

I was once accused of being a whore. In retrospect, were they right? What will you do for money?

I paid off my mortgage when it hit me that between my monthly insurance cost and the property tax and associated fees, those monthly costs add up to more than what my monthly mortgage payment started out as. It’s almost as if I am renting my paid-off home from the government. That must stop.

Since the Golden State has been ruined by Marxist ideologies, Texas and others are flooded with people who voted for the fox. Now they are here and still think George Washington was only a slaveholder.

Universities around the country have instilled Marxism in the minds of the sheep. History is rife with how badly Marxism ends. Still, I guess history isn’t taught any longer as it is counterintuitive to the narrative.

Critical thinking skills are at a complete deficit. The proof is everywhere.

Governor Abbot, stop talking about personal property tax and do something about it. Sign an executive order, and scream at the top of your lungs that we will not take this nonsense any longer.

Why are retired people still forced to pay these incredible taxes?

In a bookstore not long ago, I noticed that familiar yellow and black covered book…’ for dummies’…

Marxism for dummies….’We will drain you dry and then devour you. Signed the fox.’

As a retired person, I spend my time assisting other writers who would like to become published. If you want a good read, please consider buying my book ‘Earth’s Last Hope.’

I aim to spend my ‘golden years’ supplementing my retirement funds with a passive income stream from Amazon… Bwhaaaa From a 24.95 hardcopy of my book, I get less than $3.00. Since Bezos has a new sweetie, he raised the cost of everything, including the distribution of the e-copy.

-Scott

Earth’s Last Hope

Every 396 billion years, all the planets align. Dr. Richards passes off the alignment as just another thing to discuss at NASA until Pluto’s moon is perturbed out of its tidally locked orbit. Discovering the reason for the perturbation sends her off on a quest to learn not what but who is responsible.

1947 was much more than a weather balloon. Samantha Richards discovers that her overbearing father is more than a soldier. Skunkworks is a walk in the park compared to his responsibilities.

When Earth suffers cataclysmic disasters, the president calls on General George Richards to invite his daughter’s uncanny expertise in solving puzzles to make sense of strange anomalies wreaking havoc around the globe.

Reluctantly, the two mend fences, placing all the secrets of AREA 51 and Roswell on the table. The world is in chaos and near extinction when Sam discovers the ‘WHO’ of the equation.

Is it really you?

It wasn’t that long ago when a star was accused of lip-syncing. The phrase ‘Is it live or is it Memorex’ came into vogue much like Xerox was synonymous with any copy machine.

We have entered a new world with AI.

If a child can instruct AI to create a picture of someone doing something they shouldn’t, what happens if it goes to court? What if a child is angry with their parents, creates a fake picture of them doing something illegal, and then makes a convincing argument that they did it for real?

The problem with AI is that it is much like the Coronavirus; it’s out of the box.

Videos are nothing but a series of pictures. What if that same kid creates a video of his or her parents doing something evil and submits it to some CPS officer?

How about audio, can AI create audio?

What if someone were to create a faux audio of some president doing something illegal?

What if they were to create a video of some president lying in bed being peed on by Russian prostitutes?

If the mere accusation of such a thing just caused an impeachment, what would an actual video of the event cause?

Flip a coin. What if Hunter was set up by the Russians, and all that stuff on his laptop was AI generated by the computer repair person / those who are after Biden?

I am not here to cast dispersions of ill repute on anyone. I am simply asking, ‘What if?’

While we could regulate AI in this country, what about other countries?

What about the megalomaniacs of the world with more money than sense controlling the narrative with AI-generated propaganda?

Some people are stupid. They will believe anything that supports their assumptions and reject anything that diminishes them. The media has ginned up so much hate that people will believe anything supporting their reasons for hatred.

Hate is how they will cause the lemmings to leap from the cliff.

Hate is how Hitler controlled the masses while he exterminated Jewish folks by the millions. Germans turned their backs on their neighbors as a hate campaign was generated against the Jews.

How will the billionaires of the world utilize AI to destroy mankind? How will they use tools like this to convince the masses to give up more of their rights for the promise of safety?

I am afraid the pen is mightier than the sword, and AI will create a new chapter in human history.

Much like splitting the atom, it was used as a weapon before it was used for good. Now that technology is a cudgel.

Do you remember the loony tunes cartoon with Marvin the Martian, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig holding on to the roots of planet X after they destroyed it?

“I can’t do that, Dave.”

AI needs accountability …period…

Any and all requests should be logged so forensically, allegations can be proven as fake or AI-generated.

Much like forensic data today, there needs to be a trial. Hence, the accused can be vindicated and the perpetrator put in prison.

Pass this suggestion to your representative if you agree.

-Best

Check out my forensic detective saga on Reedsy. It’s free…

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Noise

Red Pill or Blue?

The media is currently either throwing a tantrum or engaged in a celebration over the former president’s arraignment.

If you are like me and are focused on living in ‘your world’ and not in ‘this world of corruption, violence, and craziness, ’ you must find a way to detach.

I lead a writer’s group in my hometown. I was asked why I write. The answer is simple. I like my world and characters more than those who seek to control us through emotional triggers and corrupt media who will print or say anything for clicks.

Journalism is dead and buried. Whoever owns the most media controls the world.

I was disappointed when Stephen King weighed into the fray, tweeting, ‘Lock him up.’

Does Stephen have privileged information that we don’t have? Is he friends with the DA? Maybe he lives in the white house and tells Biden what to say. That would explain the twisted way the country is currently being run.

As authors, the public, ‘our audience’ shouldn’t know which way we lean politically. They should be totally clueless if we are pro-life or pro-choice.

They should know what kinds of stories you create, what you have done in the past, and your current WIP.

I cringe when I see want-to-be best sellers go off the deep end, regurgitating the talking points of the left or right-wing media.

It matters not who you vote for or which way you tilt. You should know that what you believe to be true is probably not the entire story. The media is incredibly Stalinist, and today’s youth think socialism can work if you just do it correctly. That is akin to being ‘kind of pregnant.’ They either didn’t study history, or it wasn’t taught.

You have heard the phrase to live or die by the sword…Well, my friends, the media lives or dies by the lies they create.

I will get more clicks if I add the word black or white to describe a person. I will do it. Pissing people off is the way to get more readers. Pissing people off also foments racism and violence by dehumanizing an entire race for what; clicks? Who cares if someone gets hurt or is pushed in front of a subway because they are a different color? You got more clicks! People are irresponsible when it comes to the media.

I genuinely believe we are living in the matrix.

Six people are killed in Tennessee. The president jokes about Jenny’s chocolate chip Ice Cream before giving a predictable speech about gun control. Others pray for the trans person and not the people she killed. OMG, I misgendered the murderer! Who cares! Three nine-year-old children were shot to death, and three 61-year-old people were also killed. What the hell is wrong with people worried about the shooter’s pronouns?

Be respectable, and I will respect your right to identify as a toaster if you are an adult and that is what you want to do. Be an asshole like that, turd, nope. Not going to dignify her in any way. She can rot in hell.

The answers to violence in the world are painfully obvious, but…the lobbyist purchased the elected officials to lie to you and me. From the NRA to the teacher’s unions to the gaming industry, it’s about money. Money and power trump the taxpayers every time.

Mental health is the problem!

If you are young and seeking a vocation, become a mental health expert. The world, not just this country but the world, is in crisis. I totally believe that video games are the gateway to insanity. That and mind-altering drugs.

Hollywood is not excused; they are culpable too.

Those with the loudest voices live in gated communities and have never entered a Walmart. Tell me, how much $16 a pint of ice cream is in your freezer?

I don’t listen to opinion shows. Again, they don’t live in our world.

I live in our world but can escape, and so can you.

While I create the worlds, the characters, and the situations, you can come into my world by reading my latest novel ‘Earth’s Last Hope.’

Everything you would ever want in a novel, from aliens, affairs, sex with the president, and I destroy this world before I give you a happy ending. Each page is rich with the story, so don’t skip to the end; it won’t make sense. Start at the beginning and simply enjoy it.

Don’t start it late, or you will be up all night. You will love the character as the pages turn, and the science fiction is not hard science fiction.

Trigger Warning: If two ladies loving each other bothers you, this story might not be for you.

-Best

Give it a review! Reviews are critical to the process of success for authors. My e-mail address is in the book so, write to me if you have any comments.

Who is your audience?

At some point, the discovery writer (pantster) must decide who their audience is?

Plotters have the advantage of planning to create a story for a group of people.

For instance, if I were to write a picture book, my audience would be young children.

If I were to write a romance, ladies would be the audience. Sure, some men also appreciate Hallmark-type stories.

As an example, I wrote a story called Jupiter’s Song. I targeted science fiction buffs, however… It is really a coming-of-age story that belongs on the Hallmark Channel. Almost any ‘nerd’ will commiserate with Ralph.

A young child (nerd) finds that his interest in science puts him at odds with society. That makes him a target of bullies. How Ralph navigates the social world of ‘humanity’ is the focus of this short story which is available in our writer’s group anthology on my amazon author site.

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Scott-Taylor/author/B0BQCX3SRH

Marketing your book is critical to the process.

From the inception of your idea, an author needs to remember who their audience is. Most YA is written in the first person.

Many subject matter experts (SMEs) tend to put what they know in their stories.

One writer I know wrote a novel where they put tons of information on bicycles in the narrative. The story has nothing to do with that subject other than one of the characters rides one as a hobby. Does it move the story along? Is technical information on different types a distraction? Does it help or hurt the story? Do we care about the brand and the specifics of the brand when it adds zero value to the story? The focus of the book is aliens.

No, that is where a content editor is worth what you pay for. Whoever they used failed at their job.

‘Predators and editors’ is another topic I will cover in the future.

Another author is an SME on guns. What they ‘show off’ in their narrative has nothing to do with the story, plot, or what will happen. Those are just two examples of what not to do.

I don’t think we can pinpoint who coined the phrase ‘Kill Your Darlings,’ but they are correct.

In the movie industry, there is something called the cutting room floor. What ends up there are parts of the movie that don’t move the show along. Killing your darlings are things that the author loves but either detract from the plot or don’t move the story along.

Earth’s Last Hope is a science fiction fantasy with a strong female lead.

Romantic involvement as the subplot introduces the reader to the protagonist. Advanced writers will recognize the negative arc before it turns positive. There is no muddy middle, and I would start this book early in the day, so you are not up all night.

As a side note, I completely destroy the Earth, kill off 8 billion people, and we have a happy ending. In fact, you will love the finish. Don’t spoil it by attempting to read the ending first, as you won’t get it.

Read it one page at a time, and just enjoy it.

From that description, who is my audience?

I will give you a hint. It is written for today. 2023

In our anthology, I have a story called The Star People. ‘The Star People’ is the introduction to Dr. S. Richards. The negative arc comes from her brokenness from her dysfunctional family life as a child. The story in the anthology is a PG version of those chapters in Earth’s Last Hope.

If you are a writer, author, or want-to-be, I am the Carrollton League of Writers Executive Director. We meet in person and on Zoom.

After the pandemic, we decided to keep Zoom. Streaming services such as Zoom allow us to reach speakers, authors, and other creative types from around the globe.

If you want to speak with our group, please drop me an e-mail.

Frequently we have authors join us to talk about their work, how they got there, and so on.

I had a thought as I was closing this blog. Isn’t it odd that the UFO they shot down in Roswell in 1947 was later claimed to be a balloon? Where is that guy with the wild hair that screams Aliens? It seems we have a history with UFOs and balloons.

Staylor823@gmail.com

-Best

Scott Taylor

Are We From Mars?

Are we mistaking climate change for evolution?

Stay tuned and be forewarned, I am a SciFi Author, and I think way outside the box.

I have studied Climate Change to some degree for years now. The first thing one must do is take politics out of the equation. Politics equals power and money. Corruption goes hand in hand with power plays, so one must remove the bias injected into the equation by discounting those with anything to gain.

When Greta came on the scene, the science she was parroting was faulty. You can make the graph say anything you want when you overlay data from different data sets. Hence the infamous hockey stick.

Politicians attempt to use harmful sound bites to steer the conversation, as people will more than likely click the headline that predicts the end of the world.

For the following few paragraphs, I want you to take a deep breath, sit back, and relax. I want you to clear your mind of the bullshit that has been spoon-fed to the world.

Again, I am a science fiction author. I think well outside the lines that those who educate us would like us to color in. I am not that person; I color outside the lines. I try to be the most argumentative person on the block if I think you’re wrong. Someone must stand up to the robots who want us all as slaves. I am that person.

There are solutions to the world’s difficulties that we may not look at because those resolutions are not inside the box. Those who own the media are controlled by oligarchs. Those people who got rich from screwing the little people. People like you and I, they want us to be smart enough to be useful idiots. When you are too old or damaged to be helpful, like a broken tool, they toss you in the dustbin. In this case, the dustbin is the end of the line in a disease-infested nursing home run by people who treat you like trash.

In my latest novel, Earth’s Last Hope, I weave into the tapestry of my story some primary hypotheses with fiction. The story is not heavy science and is more about us today and where we are headed if we don’t turn this ship around. To be clear, there are aliens, lusty ladies, space travel, Area 51, Roswell, and forbidden love. Before the main character’s arc goes positive, we live in the head of a person who is broken by her father and life.

You will love the main character and be impressed with the supporting cast.

There are many characters. Each plays an integral part in the story. As I wrote the book, I made notes of who was who, and for your enjoyment, I included that list of names. I know them each by heart. You might like to reference the ‘manifest’ in the back.

Many surprises, twists, and turns will keep you turning the pages.

If you want to know where the Earth is headed, look at Mars. If you have the ear of that climate change Greta person, tip her to this novel. Even she would like it.

What???

Yes, my friends, I have a pretty good idea based on a hypothesis that this planet will eventually go the way of Mars.

Someone will read my book or this blog, take the ideas, and claim them for themselves.

I can guarantee that plagiarism, theft of ideas, and so forth are rampant on the internet.

I have had novels stolen, translated into different languages, posted in other countries, and sold. I don’t make money. Someone else does.

I am going to address climate change…I will also tell you why this planet has headed the way of Mars.

Are you ready?

Are we going to be flooded by rising oceans?

Is the weather more intense because your grandfather drives a hummer?

No… We are in much more danger of humanity being snuffed out by lunatics who think you can win a war with Nukes. …

Again…look to Mars… Mars was once a blue planet. How can that be?

Are you scratching your head yet?

Do you want to know how that can be?

Here is a hint, if you want to know the future of Venus, look at the Earth.

If you have read this far and are intrigued, you could do me a solid and buy my book. I get a small cup of coffee for every book sold. Bezos makes the bulk of the money. With enough coffee, I can keep thinking outside the proverbial rectangle.

As a side note, Greta just released her latest book on climate change after talking to experts.

The mature adult Greta just got into a pissing contest with Andrew Tate. Pffft. I wonder why there are nukes in the world; I just can’t figure it out. SMH

The media will make Greta rich by hyping spooky stories about the sky falling. Her biased opinion invalidates any science she purports to consider relevant. They will make her rich because they like to push negative stories like Climate change to control the narrative. Chicken Little and Greta have lots in common. Too bad she never read the children’s book. Had she studied science from an unbiased source, not the IPCC, she might have tempered her scowl.

I think you will find my work of fiction much more entertaining than hers. Scientists will probably find my theories closer to the facts than charts and graphs based on screwed-up data.

We lose 90 tons of atmosphere every day thanks to the cosmic wind. That atmosphere contains thousands of gallons of water. Could the droughts, dried-up rivers, and even our Grand Canyon that look like the canals on Mars be signs of things to come? Could those spires of land poking out of lakes and different oceans be a precursor to the fact that we are losing water and not going to have sea level rise?

Do you really believe the White Cliffs of Dover rose from the depths of the abyss? Do you really think that the Grand Canyon pushed up from somewhere below?

Read my novel.

-Best

Scott

Earth’s Last Hope and/or The Hills We Climb

Insanity Run Amuck

A sudden rush of noise distracted me from being careful of the truck ahead of me, which seemed to have trouble staying in one lane. As his tires crept over one white line and then over the other, clearly, the driver was not paying careful attention to what he was doing. Perhaps this truck was not updated with the safety devices, or the driver didn’t care.

The noise, however, was not from the truck. It was from not one, not two, but three sports cars weaving in and out of vehicles on the busy freeway.

Two were Dodge Chargers, and the other was a Ford Mustang.

Traffic was moving at the posted speed. These folks passed us like we were not moving.

The last of the three, a charger, came inches from my back bumper. Had it collided with me at that speed, the formula F=M*A would have applied.

It would have been like a ‘pit maneuver’ at highway speeds.

Folks, this was at 17:05 hours last Friday, the 18th of November, on Westbound GBT.

Since this was on the tollway, is there a way to check which vehicles were on the tollway? I bet there is.

I won’t state the obvious of how utterly stupid this action is. People go to events where fast cars are involved to see the wrecks. Much like boxing, it is a sick sport. That is my opinion.

I live over a mile from major highways. However, I can still hear the Ninja bikes and other loud cars occasionally on those highways. I listen to them as they put the proverbial pedal to the metal.

There must be a way to track these drivers after the fact. There will be some who defend their actions, although they are indefensible. If the death of your loved one was caused by their stupidity, you would not even think to protect them.

Think of the attorney seeking to defend such a deviant’s actions. How can they sleep at night?

Possibly I am oversensitive because an intoxicated driver almost killed me. A head-on collision at highway speeds changed my life forever. Over thirty years later, every movement is a reminder of that day. Whenever I get behind the wheel, PTSD reminds me of how tenuous life is. It is a struggle to leave the house and get on the road because of the actions of one inconsiderate SOB.

As we head into this Holiday season, I implore you to think before you decide to drive while under the influence. The life you save might be your own.

Even after the fact, I would encourage the traffic enforcement folks to go after stupid people like that. I am not interested in speeding per se but in reckless driving, including speeds far exceeding rated maximums.

As you travel this holiday season, be on the alert for stupid people. Statistically, there are safer times of the day and the week to travel.

Early in the morning (after sunrise) until noon is relatively safe. From noon to first light the following day, rates of accident increase logarithmically, tapering off the closer you get to morning.

Rush hour most any weekday, sees a higher number of car crashes. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are much higher in incidents of accidents than Monday through Thursday.

We can apply a little common sense to this equation and determine the source of the rise in accidents. They are lower when people are expected to be working or will need to return to work than on other days of the week. Holidays are worse for that very reason.

I wonder if we could sue the liquor industry like other idiots are attempting to sue gun manufacturers. It’s obviously the booze causing the problem, right?

-Best

Customer Service 101

Your response should be crafted.

‘Recently, I took my car in for normal maintenance. Driving away from the shop, leaving from a red light, the engine stalled or hesitated. Calling the shop, their response was, “Those cars have Gremlins.”’

Even though they were obligated under warranty to fix it, I lost confidence in them immediately.

Finding another shop, I elected to pay them to fix whatever was wrong. Citing a potential catalytic converter issue, I reminded them of when the problem first occurred and then let them do their diagnostics.

The fault did not generate a check engine light. The lack of a ‘fault’ made the problem tougher to troubleshoot. If you have ever tinkered with old cars, the issue resembled a vacuum leak.

Finding a tear in a hose leading to the Mass Airflow Sensor cured the problem.

The ‘gremlin’ was the mechanic who did the original work and did not check to make sure his ‘cure’ did not introduce more problems.

While I am out a few hundred more dollars to another shop, finding an honest mechanic is worth it.

From plumbers to electricians and yes, computer professionals, it is OK to say ‘I don’t know.’

Customers would much rather hear you say ‘allow me to figure it out,’ vs. your (insert issue) has gremlins.

The original shop has lost me as a customer because the mechanic did not check their work and Gremlins.

No matter who you work for or what you do, you have customers. Identify them and treat them as you would want to be treated. Watch what you say.

-Best