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Judy M. Taylor

Judy M. TaylorJudy M. TaylorJudy M. Taylor

Writer and Reader

Writer and ReaderWriter and Reader

Debut Novel Coming VERY Soon!

In the company of whales


Her small town had no idea who she was until she gave herself away.


Washed-up punk rocker Carla Peterson went from performing for rowdy drunks in dive bars to living paycheck to paycheck in a tiny town in the Pacific Northwest, serving coffee and homemade pies to people who side-eye her leather stompers and heavy eyeliner. She can barely keep her head above water, let alone afford a bus ticket to anywhere else.


In a town where nothing happens, a pod of orcas disrupts all that by becoming trapped in the inlet near the coffee shop. The most Carla has helped any animal is moving a spider out of harm’s way and caring for an elderly lady’s sweet dog. This is way out of her league, but she just can’t let go of it. Carla risks her job—and her life—protecting the whales from unruly tourists swarming in for a closer look.


With the orcas running out of time, Carla must find her voice and fight the local authorities who couldn’t care less. She’s used to going it alone, but with the support of the community, she’s finding a strength she didn’t know she had.


If she can save the whales, she might also save herself.

Milestone achieved. Goal reached . Mountain climbed.

BIG NEWS!!

In the Company of Whales is almost ready to emerge from its cocoon! If you're looking forward to an exciting book to bring along on a trip next summer or one to enjoy on your own front porch, then you're in luck. Stay tuned for the big announcement when it goes live! 

Advance Praise for In the Company of Whales

from the prairies book review

from sharon wishnow, author of the pelican tide

from sharon wishnow, author of the pelican tide

 "A quietly powerful tale that blends environmental urgency with intimate character study.


"In Taylor’s latest novel, a washed-up punk rocker living on the margins of a Pacific Northwest coastal town is forced out of survival mode when nineteen killer whales become trapped in a nearby inlet. Marked by childhood trauma and more comfortable with animals than people, Carla reluctantly teams up with a marine biologist and an unlikely ally. As the salmon dwindle and the whales weaken, Carla must confront old wounds—before time runs out for the orcas and for herself.


"Rooted in working-class realism, the novel captures the texture of Carla’s daily life, with all its frustrations, defenses, and small vulnerabilities. Emotion builds through accumulation rather than overt drama. The orcas act as a catalyst rather than a metaphor, pulling together a small, unlikely group and nudging Carla toward connection she would rather avoid. Taylor writes with restraint and confidence, particularly in her handling of landscape and moral hesitation. The steady pacing reflects the shrinking window of survival for the whales and Carla alike.


"A thoughtful, humane novel about responsibility, healing, and the nerve it takes to step in—an absolute stunner."

from sharon wishnow, author of the pelican tide

from sharon wishnow, author of the pelican tide

from sharon wishnow, author of the pelican tide

 "In In the Company of Whales, Judy Taylor delivers a stunning debut of one woman's transformation, hidden desires, and sacrifice to protect what she loves. Set against the quiet pull of a small coastal town and a stranded pod of whales, the novel embraces women across generations, the power of connecting to the natural world, and belief in second chances. This story will stay with you long after the final heart-stopping pages."

stay tuned for a review from diane donovan

from sharon wishnow, author of the pelican tide

stay tuned for a review from diane donovan

Coming in March 2026

New Short Story

the vigil

The editors of the Carolina Piedmont Writers Guild have accepted my short story "The Vigil" for publication in their 2026 issue of County Lines, A Literary Journal. As soon as I have information about how and where to read my story, I will post it here.


In the meantime, I offer the opening lines:

  

        It was fear that held her at the window. In the dark kitchen Anna looked out at the snow-covered fields, like barren tundra, that stretched in frozen solitude to the black edge of night.

        Anna’s trembling fingertips came to rest on the cold sill, and her gaze slid to the west. Past the barn, past the windbreak where spires of Norway spruce and skeletons of river birch stood guard. Past the faint silhouette of the Padewskis’ silo, black against black. Beyond it, the town of Berger Lake was a glowing hump on the horizon. No streetlights marked the long stretch of gravel road leading to the farm, and no passing cars defined it.



Short Stories

The Lindenwood Review

Running Wild Anthology of Stories

Running Wild Anthology of Stories

My story "Funeral Pie" appears in the final print version of this publication. The Lindenwood Review: A Journal of Literary Prose continues to appear online. You can read it here for free.

Running Wild Anthology of Stories

Running Wild Anthology of Stories

Running Wild Anthology of Stories

Running Wild Press publishes novels, anthologies of novellas, and anthologies of short stories. My story "Black Ice" is included in volume 5 which is available for purchase through their website.

Bright Flash Literary Review

Running Wild Anthology of Stories

County lines: a literary journal

This online journal publishes short and flash fiction. A new issue is posted monthly. My flash fiction story "Moonlit Man" can be found and read for free in the August 2024 edition.

County lines: a literary journal

Running Wild Anthology of Stories

County lines: a literary journal

This beautiful volume is published annually by the Carolina Piedmont Writers Guild. They selected my short story "The Vigil" for this year's edition. Volume 13 and past issues are available through their website.


Copyright © 2025 Judy Taylor - Writer – All rights reserved


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