In 140 words or less, tell readers about Beverly Taylor.
 

Thank you, Yasmin, for the invitation.  I am very happy to be here.  I was brought up in a Christian-family environment and received the baptism of the Holy Spirit at the age of 16.  I didn’t know Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior until my early 30s.  I have two wonderful children and two adorable grandbambinas.  I live in metro Atlanta.  I am a licensed counselor/therapist and the founder of Chastity House, a residential facility for disadvantaged teen girls.  Our goal is that they are positioned and equipped to one day have a successful career, spiritual enrichment, healthy marriage and family relationships.    

In 140 words or less, tell readers why Desires of the Heart would make a great addition to our personal library. 

Marriage is work.  Sometimes hard work.  Occasionally, we just want to tell someone about our marital problems without receiving a judgmental reaction.  The main character, Carson O’Connor, didn’t want to have pastoral counseling so instead he shares his unhappiness with a cunning female co-worker of sort, Cindy Lomax.  Carson was unhappy with his wife, Katharine’s, appearance.  She didn’t seem to care how she looked when he was around anymore.  As a result, he innocently puts his confidence in the sinister Cindy who, in return, uses the information to place his family in life-threatening situations. Cindy wanted nothing more than to become the new Mrs. Carson O’Conner.  Desires of the Heart is a story of lost and found faith, learning to love yourself, how one man’s selfish decisions affect and endanger those around him, and a stunning glimpse into how man looks at outward appearance but God looks at the heart.

How did you come up with the plot for Desires of the Heart?
 

A while back, I spoke at a church’s women’s function in which the theme was “Improving Your Image.”  The ethnic composition consisted of substantially white, black and a few Latinos.  Nearly one-third of the attendees had some sort of cosmetic surgery, whether breast or buttocks enlargements, nose reduction, facelift, Botox, collagen injections, liposuction, gastro bypass, tummy tuck, chin lift, permanent eyebrow stencils, permanent eye-liner stencils, bleached skin, etc.  You name it, they had it done.  These were Christian women, some were even Evangelists, Ministers, Pastors and Deaconnesses.  Some gave their testimonies that they had their appearance enhanced to appease their husbands, some did it for themselves to improve their self-esteem, and some teased and stated they did it to get a man (preferably a young one).

Are you working on another book and, if so, can you share a brief summary with us?
 I am working on a three-in-one book.  It’s entitled “Sweetest Day Ever.”  All three stories are based around the Midwestern Holiday, Sweetest Day.  It is a holiday primarily celebrated in the states of Ohio, Illinois and Michigan, and to these Midwesterners, it is more sacred than Saint Valentine’s Day itself.  This romantic holiday is celebrated on the third Saturday in the month of October.

Thus far, what has been your favorite 2010 moment?
 When my daughter’s first bambina was born.

What are your most overused words or phrases?
 When I read something or someone tells me something that seems farfetched, unbelievable or unacceptable, I would respond with, “get out of Dodge,” (as in Dodge City, the fictitious town of the situation western drama, Gunsmoke). 

What is your biggest pet peeve?
I dislike having loose change left on countertops (especially just tossed in a purse); I loathe having dishes left in the kitchen sink; and instead of shaking hands, I’d rather great one another with a pleasant head nod or a bow, the way it’s done in the Orient.  [Don’t want to spread germs, you know].

What is your most surprising talent or interest – the one that makes people say “I didn’t know you (did/liked/knew)…”?

I absolutely LOVE watching the NBA playoffs!!!!!!!

What’s one song that people would be surprised to know is on your IPod (or in your music collection)?
 David Garrett.  I love the fiddle and banjo instruments.

Name five things that make your world go round. 

(1)   God the Father;

(2)   Jesus the Son;

(3)   The Holy Spirit, my Comforter;

(4)    My children; and,

(5)    My grandchildren

Thank you Yasmin and the APOOO family for keeping readers informed.   Congratulations on many years of great book reviews and author profiling.

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