T.A. Moore's Blog, page 5

State of the TAM - 6th March

What’s Up

Two new covers today! I’m really proud of both :D I think they really came out nice.

Just another day at the office.

For some people that means spreadsheets, and for others it’s stitching endless hems. For Jacob Archer a day at the office is stealing proprietary information from a bioengineering firm f or a paranoid software billionaire. He’s a liar and a thief, parlaying a glib tongue and a facile conscience into a lucrative career. He just has one rule—never get involved with a mark.

Well, had one rule. To be fair, though, Simon Ramsey is dark, dangerous, and has shoulders like a Greek statue. Besides, it’s not as though Jacob’s even really stealing from Simon… just his boss and his brother-in-law. Simon didn’t buy that excuse either after he caught Jacob breaking into the company’s computer network.

That would have been that—one messy breakup, one ticket to Bali booked—but it turns out that the stolen information is worth more than Jacob thought. With his life—and his ribs—threatened, Jacob needs Simon to help him out. Or maybe he just needs Simon.

Check it Out

ANNNNNNNNDDDDD….

His mother. His best friend. The barmaid at the local pub. Everyone is determined to find Nathan Moffatt a boyfriend. It’s the last thing Nathan wants. After spending every day making sure his clients experience nothing but romantic magic, the Granshire Hotel’s wedding organizer just wants to go home, binge-watch crime dramas, and eat pizza in his underwear.

Unfortunately no one believes him, and he’s stuck with lectures about dying alone. Then inspiration strikes. He needs the people in his life to want him to stay single as much as he does. He needs a bad boyfriend.

There’s only one man for the job.

Flynn Delaney is used to people on the island of Ceremony thinking the worst of him. But he isn’t sure he wants the dubious honor of worst boyfriend on the entire island. On the other hand, if he plays along, he gets to hang out with the gorgeous Nathan and piss off the owners of the Granshire Hotel. It’s a win-win.

There’s only one problem—Flynn’s actually quite a good boyfriend, and now Nathan’s wondering if getting off the sofa occasionally is really the worst thing in the world.

Check it Out

Let me know what you think!

Pupdate of the Week

In other news….Jax and Izzy both had their gotcha day this week :D

@tamoorewritesIzzy is the food thief, but since we taught her mat she is INTENSELY GOOD when she knows there is food about. Jax, however, sings to it (it is their egg, just waiting for it to cool). #staffiesoftiktok #chattystaffy #rescuedog [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser @tamoorewritesThese steps are the best things in the world. It has made a huge difference for Jax, made his life much easier.[image error]Tiktok failed to load.

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They can’t jump! It’s so cute. Like little drunks!

See the world's tiniest frogs - and why being so small is so hard

Brachycephalus pulex might be the title holders for world's smallest vertebrate. But it's not easy being green – or tiny.

Scientists believe they may know what the world's smallest vertebrate is. A tiny, pea-sized Brazilian frog called Brachycephalus pulex (or, Brazilian flea toad, even though it is a frog) has the tiniest measurements, according to new research.

Back in 2011, Mirco Solé, a researcher at the State University of Santa Cruz in Brazil, was the first to investigate this species' size compared to that of other similar frogs. The sample wasn't large enough at the time to be conclusive, but the most recent research, in which Solé and his team measured the body lengths of 46 flea toads and confirmed the frogs’ maturity and sex by examining their gonads and checking for the presence of vocal slits in their throats (which only males have), was more expansive. It found that male B. pulex frogs measured in at just over 7mm (.28in). Females were slightly larger at just over 8mm (.31in). 

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STATE OF THE TAM - 28 FEB

What’s Up?

The new cover for TAKE THE EDGE OFF, by yours truly, is live now! I always loved the original one, but this looks pretty cool, whaddyathink?

@tamoorewritesA new cover for Take the Edge Off by TA Moore! Check it and others out on tamoorewrites.com #romance #tamoore #mmromance #books #contemporaryromance #taketheedgeoff [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

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I also think the paperback wrap looks CONSIDERABLY awesome.

Pupdate of the Week

Covers aside, I know what you are all here for!

@tamoorewritesHow cute are these two? I have a bed for them in my office, but turns out they would rather lie on MY bed and stare at me down the hall *lol* #staffies #sleepydogs #staffiesoftiktok [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser @kalinabrand_plYou can order it on Instagram🧡[image error]Tiktok failed to load.

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I could definitely rock one of those!

Storytime! I used to work over in Newcastle (Upon-Tyne, not the one down the road…which is what my whole family thought.) I used to go on long walks at lunchtime around the city and natter to my friend on the phone. I was writing Labyrinth of Stone at the time and as it turns out talking about murder, sex, creepy things, and ‘…so what you’re saying is that it’s one blow job short of a literary masterpiece’ absolutely WILL get you followed around Fenwicks by a security guard.

I love these articles. Usually it’s about food photography, but this is obviously a bit more dangerous.

That said… AI is going to do some disturbing things to this sort of advertising isn’t it? Like, probably not for the mass market approach where personalization would be too time consuming for the payout — for now — but imagine going to the doctor and they don’t just point out what’s wrong…

They point out what you’d look like if it was RIGHT. Like, they could just ‘show’ you the perfect face…like the bold glamor filter with cut lines.

(That filter messed with me! I suit lips!)

Inside Plastic Surgery’s Epidemic of Shady Before-and-After Photography

Surgeons get real about the rise in misleading post-op pictures — and reveal how to spot fakery.

Matthew Donaldson / Trunk Archive

Over the past six months, I’ve been receiving provocative DMs from a famous plastic surgeon. Most mornings, I open my phone to find images of perky breasts and taut tummies, straight noses, sharp jawlines, and the occasional rear end of enviable proportions, all surgically manufactured. The doctor sends each photo with an uncensored critique — not only of the work that’s been done, but how it is portrayed — and a clear aim: to expose the subterfuge that is rampant among aesthetics accounts on social media. It’s as if he’s building a case, with Instagram as his richest source of discovery.

Much of what this surgeon shares are unreliable before-and-after images, engineered to elevate the results they’re promoting. “Beware the surgeon who isn’t fastidious enough to take consistent photos,” he warns. “It shows they are lazy, not careful, or intending to manipulate you.” The tactics run the gamut, he points out, from sneakily irregular poses (“He compares standing to supine?!”) to more egregious offenses, like presenting intraoperative “on-the-table” shots as actual outcomes when, in fact, real results take months to develop (“That’s not an ‘after!’ It’s a ‘during.’ It is during the first minute of the healing process”).

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@howie.stevieBad Habits - Ed Sheeran #independentartist #cover #acapella #badhabits [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

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I love his voice.

@abby_nyc_purse pigeon: now with a bow #petpigeon #pigeon #pursepigeon #pigeonpropaganda #nyc #coquette #coquetteaesthetic [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

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State of the TAM - 21 Feb

What’s Up?

So for most of the last two months I have been nose to the grindstone on new covers for my books, which I will be releasing over the next few weeks. Just as soon as I know I did it right the first time…

I’ve also written a new novella :D So I’ll keep you updated on when you can expect that too :D

Without further ado…behold! The new Dead Man Stalking cover!

AMAZON

I think it’s pretty cool!

It currently has no reviews since it takes a while to port over :D I will let you know next week how that has gone.

Pupdate of the Week

@tamoorewritesIt was a very MUDDY walk at #stormont today. The #writingstaffies had a great time though! #staffiesoftiktok #stormontwalks #muddypups [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

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@tamoorewritesWhen you have one short dog. #writingstaffies #dogs #muckydogs[image error]Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser @tamoorewritesJax has had walks, zoomied, and lunch. All he needs now is loved on for a bit before he can go for a snooze #writingstaffies #staffiesoftiktok #rescuedogsoftiktok #lovebug [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

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I love the swagger. I also love Theo James. It’s two great tastes that go great together :D

BUT can it live up to Rock n’ Rolla, possibly my favorite film of all time? Only time will tell.

State of the TAM - Feb 14th

What’s Up?

Happy Valentines/Palentines/Galentines to you all!

And yes, I know I have been missing in action. HOWEVER, I have been eyeball-deep in The Project!!!! Which is now all finished except for checking over the bits and bobs so I’ll be rolling it out next, fingers crossed and if the creek don’t rise and touch wood.

Basically I’ve re-covered almost all of my older books! They look extraordinarily sharp and I’m really looking forward to doing the reveals with you guys :D

Cover Reveal coming soon!!!

Actually, reveals!

I have also just finished a novella and am in the editing process with it. So I’ll update you all about that as we go on! It’s my ONE AND ONLY new project this year, because I have otherwise promised my editor to only work on ongoing series this year.

She is a harsh and fearsome overseer! And apparently sick of waiting to find out what is going to happen in things!

So ONE new world this year. Or I get disapprovals. Terrifying! :D

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Pupdate of the Week

No zoomies this week, only snoozies.

@tamoorewritesPost walk snoozies! #writingstaffies #staffiesoftiktok #rescuedogsoftiktok [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

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I cannot get this out of my head. It’s on repeat. Most of the time I prefer Helluva Boss, but the songs in Hazbin! Even Adam, who’s an asshole, gets a banger.

| #hazbinhotel #hazbin #hotel #lucifer #lucifermorningstar #fyp #fypシ #fypシ゚viral #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #helluvaboss #fizzarolli #fizzarlolihelluvaboss #asmodeus #asmodeushelluvaboss #ozzies #radiodemon #radiodemonhazbinhotel #radiodemonalastor #alastor #alastorhazbinhotel ","thumbnail_url":"https://substack-post-media.s3.amazon...~ 🐥","embed_url":"https://cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?medi...}" data-component-name="TikTokCreateTikTokEmbed"> @_luci_f3r_I didn’t like how Mimzy interrupted their song but it was a smoothe way to stop Lucifer and Alastor from arguing :> | #hazbinhotel #hazbin #hotel #lucifer #lucifermorningstar #fyp #fypシ #fypシ゚viral #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #helluvaboss #fizzarolli #fizzarlolihelluvaboss #asmodeus #asmodeushelluvaboss #ozzies #radiodemon #radiodemonhazbinhotel #radiodemonalastor #alastor #alastorhazbinhotel [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

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Oh, and I’ve watched all of Domino Day. It’s really good, and gave me the yen to rewatch Lost Girl. So that start’s next week, expect lots of fanvids :D

Apparently the most amazing BBQ place just opened in Comber, which is like…ten minutes from here if there’s no traffic. I could go for some ribs.

@food_featuredProper BBQ food in Northern Ireland: Smoke BBQ (Comber)[image error]Tiktok failed to load.

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State of the TAM

What’s Up

Port in a Storm! The new Sinners Gin novel by Rhys Ford is out now! Check it out!

San Francisco SWAT Lieutenant Connor Morgan and Crossroads Gin drummer Forest Ackerman make an odd couple. Connor, an Irish-born cop from a tight-knit family, never imagined he’d find his happily-ever-after with a raised-on-the-streets musician, but Forest had the gentlest soul he’d ever met. After a long, hard road of heartbreak, murder, and trouble, they fell hard in love and married.

Then Fate intervenes and throws their lives into a chaos neither one of them is prepared for.

During a brutal SWAT raid, Connor stumbles on Tate, an abused, vulnerable little boy caught in a shoot-out with his father’s drug-running gang. As heavy fire riddles the walls, an injured Connor rescues Tate from the fray… only to be struck numb when a caseworker pries a sobbing Tate from his arms.

Scarred from his own childhood experiences, Forest doubts he can be a good enough father, but Connor assures him they can give Tate what he needs and more. Soon they are on an insane ride where trust and affection are hard-earned, especially when coming from a little boy raised in society’s filthiest gutters. Facing down every challenge thrown their way, they battle to give Tate what Connor treasures and Forest never had—a family to call his own.

BUY NOW

In other news, I am still nose down with PROJECTS that will I will you guys in on next month :D

Until then, enjoy a glimpse into what TikTok thinks is my mind!

Oh, but don’t think I have forgotten!

Pupdate of the Week! @tamoorewrites @tamoorewrites ♬ original sound - tamoorewrites [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser @tamoorewritesThe frost is apparently VERY EXCITING. I am glad I found a couple of nice coats for them, not that Jax wants to wear his. #frostydogwalks #staffiesoftiktok #rescuedogsoftiktok [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

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Izzy, she likes to help.

@tamoorewritesIzzy helping me make the bed! #staffiesoftiktok [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser @davidkushnerSkin and Bones OUT NOW!![image error]Tiktok failed to load.

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I have never had any of these hot chocolates and I can ASSURE YOU that I am now obsessed. Not sure how I would drink one without getting marshmallow in my hair. But OBSESSED!

@food_featuredFinding NI’s best hot chocolate: Ramore in Portrush [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

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@tylerbradenmusicReplying to @Wader Tater 🥔 working on a release plan now!! Thank yall for listening and yall make sure to grab your tix to the Real Friends Tour this spring!! Link in bio! Use code: TBFRIENDS #rockmusic #countrymusic #DevilYouKnow #tour @Graham Barham [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

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The attempts to get me to play Baldur’s Gate continue, but they won’t prevail. I’m not a reasonable game player. I just play every hour god sends until I sicken myself of the game and ruin my life.

…much my approach to ‘favorite foods’

State of the TAM - 17th Jan

What’s Up

I, my friends, am up to my eye-teeth in work.

And frost. It’s cold here!

So we’re on another Newsletter Diet for a bit, because my brain is melted! I will be back around February with LOTS OF NEWS and cool, new bits and pieces.

Until then sympathize with my frazzled wee self!

My TikTok FYP has been taken over my two things lately…

@mx.voanTHE WAY HE EXHALES AFTER!! #bg3 #baldursgate3 #bg3tav #baldursgate3tav #bg3astarion #baldursgate3astarion [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

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Baldur’s Gate 3 Astarion romances - various!

and…

@gymjimmReplying to @Deborah Smith9958 👕 or no 👕 #fyp #fypシ #alexa #addtocart #blackvelvet #fypage [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

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I don’t know how I got onto gymbro tok. I assume it’s because I watched Fast and Furious the other night. Not complaining though.

After the Flood on ITV is a lot of fun. I mean, I will watch almost anything with Jonas Armstrong in it.

@simmpvleHEAR ME OUT (i need help) | #foryou #foryoupage #fypシ #philmackie #philmackieedit #aftertheflood #afterthefloodedit #nicholasgleaves #nicholasgleavesedit #sophierundle #philipglenister #mattstokoe #thedemonheadmaster #scottandbailey #andyroper #ashestoashes #thecrown #bodyguard #fyp #edit #editaudio #audio #videostar #videostaredit [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

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OK, so it’s not as good as the old days when he was hanging out with Guy of Gisbourne in Sherwood. Still always good to see him!

I do not know what happened, but it must have been a wild night. Mind you, one time I was walking Jax around there and he found a McDonald’s cup in the hedgerow…with a poo in it. I can only assume it was human poo. So these are wild nights down the road, I guess!

@tamoorewrites @tamoorewrites ♬ original sound - tamoorewrites [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser @tamoorewritesLook at that #staffiesmile - and her dirty wee toes. She needs a bath! #CapCut [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

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Look at that wee smile!

@tamoorewrites#CapCut [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

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Since it has gotten cold they spend a lot of time like this.

@tamoorewritesPost walk snoozy staffies. #staffiesoftiktok #sleepypups [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser @bentlythegentlegiant @bentlythegentlegiant ♬ original sound - sharonhiggins147 [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

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Madam, he regrets NOWT.

State of the TAM - 3rd January

It was Izzy’s birthday yesterday! Both my dogs very seasonal :D

@raemoore72 @raemoore72 ♬ Happy Birthday - Stevie Wonder [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

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State of the TAM - 27th Dec

What’s Up

A little bit early, but get ready for…

There are many plans for 2024! :D

But we have a big event for today! Jax, the writing staffie, is four years old today! So I’m going to dedicate this newsletter to him!

@tamoorewritesHappy Birthday, Jax! He was born four years ago under the care of the #nisbtr! Hopefully his brothers and sister are having just as good a day! #staffordshirebullterrier #staffiesoftiktok #rescuedogsoftiktok [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

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This is a video of him on this day four years ago! He had three brothers and one sister who are all doing really well now! We sometimes see Frank around town :D

Happy birthday to the Writing Staffie! The best wee man in the land!

@tamoorewritesIt’s a very squeaky Christmas. #staffiesoftiktok #staffychristmas [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser @tamoorewritesGet someone that looks at you the way Jax looks at his physiotherapist! #rescuedogsoftiktok #hydrotherapydog #staffiesoftiktok #happystaffy [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser @tamoorewritesLook at these two cuddlebugs! #staffies #staffiesoftiktok #staffy #staffylove #christmascuddles [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

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State of the TAM - Holiday Edition

@tamoorewritesMerry Christmas! F[image error]Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser @tamoorewrites#christmas is coming! And the pups are getting walkies! #staffordshirebullterrier #staffiesoftiktok #christmasjumper [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser @max_randolph_studiosShare with someone who needs some peace this holiday season. Love you all! #blacksmith #handmade #craft #holiday #christmas #yule #art #peace [image error]Tiktok failed to load.

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State of the TAM - 21st December

What’s Up

Merry Christmas if you celebrate! Jeez, where did this year GO if you don’t!

True North by TA Moore is out now!

Buy Now!

I have also, after years of dithering!, but together some merch! So check it out

Pupdate of the Week

Christmas ready!

Must Read of the Week

Every year I read these articles about how to be a better, more productive me in the full knowledge I won’t do any of it. This year is no different. I will change nothing about myself, not even my shopworn resolution to eat better…which I also will not abide by! :D

5 Tech Habits to Quit for a Happier LifeFrom kicking the doomscroll habit to weaning yourself off social media.

I

Do you remember Nikita? I used to love this show.