James D. Taylor Jr.

Mr. Taylor is a well-published independent research scholar specializing in the English Tudor era with numerous biographies reflecting that area of research. Furthermore, he has brought to light several individuals who provided the foundation for the famous and very popular cartoon character Betty Boop in addition to sharing for the first time the complete trial of Helen Kane and correcting incorrect information perpetuated about Betty Boop's origins. Mr. Taylor has had the privilege and honor of interacting with numerous popular actors such as Chevy Chase, Bob Newhart, Elliot Gould and Woody Allen in addition to members of English nobility and members of parliament.

Mr. Taylor's literary contributions have been spotlighted in various publications such as the Detroit Free Press, Livingston County Press, television interviews by WJRT, WANE and talk radio and numerous blog interviews. Furthermore, Mr. Taylor is an award winning sonnet composer, playwright and musician.

A Few Words from the Author:

It is wonderful to read your letters and comments, thank you everyone. It is the hope of an author that their material educates and entertains. It pleases me to know that my material has changed opinions and has educated. I am very pleased to see a few scholars have challenged my sources to find them correct and that they learned something. I have shared some of these letters on this website.

I still receive many questions about the term ‘armchair researcher’. With the availability of instant information, many seem to fall under this category. I was part of the global digitization by the University of Michigan during my first two books. With these databases, it still amazes me of the incomplete/inaccurate data we call complete information on many websites. Many authors publish and those who read their works, believe them to be true. Not surprisingly, some of these authors never cite their sources. Check their bibliographies, are they citing recent sources or original source information? Some have heard me rant at lectures about a popular author that their book cover photo was not the subject of the book; it was correctly identified almost a decade prior to their book release. If the author had done their ‘homework’ that individual would have known that.

Self-publishing is also fraught with problems like self-editing and proofreading (A writer should never proofread their own material). I have read some material that a 5th grader would find problematic. My books are eternal. They will be available as long as the written word exists, ergo, I will always try to produce the best quality, most accurate book I can. I am also blessed to have a wonderful publisher who ensures I also meet those guidelines. To find several of my books used in classrooms is very important to me that our future generations have accurate information available to them.

Please-be part of the solution, not the problem.

Veteran - United States Navy

Honorably discharged veteran of United States Navy. Served on the U.S.S. Wichita AOR-1, "B" Division-1977-1983.

Firefighter

Veteran - United States Navy

Served with Howell City Fire Department.

Antiquities Collector

Owner-Random Access Music Studios

Student of ancient European, Egyptian and Chinese antiquities. Pictured is a 1st century limestone ossuary from Eastern Mediterranean.

Owner-Random Access Music Studios

Random Access Music studios has been producing music since 1988.

Performances

On a Personal Note

Mr. Taylor was fortunate to have studied at the University of Michigan under the tutelage of Dr. Mason. This included a performance at Hill Auditorium.

On a Personal Note

Mr. Taylor is a cross-country runner. Appreciation of antique aircraft and flying single engine aircraft. Passionate about researching material for publication.

Perfomances

On a Personal Note

Perfomances

Additional performances on the Fisk organ at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

“Taylor succeeds in furnishing insights into the remarkable mind of this young, 16th-century Protestant noblewoman” & “serious students of English history will relish the new material offered here.” Publishers Weekly, Jan 2005. The Documents of Lady Jane Grey, Nine Days Queen of England, 1553.

“Mr. Taylor is an independent scholar who has not compromised traditional research values to provide his readers with thorough factual historical accounts instead of embellishing a few well-known facts as some modern authors do”. Detroit Free Press. 2008.

“James is a truly talented and gifted musician, author, poet and playwright. He is a respected independent scholar and his literary works have been openly accepted in academia and classrooms. It is refreshing to find an author who maintains traditional research values in this era of ‘armchair researchers.” Dr. Charlene Berry. Madonna University Library.

"James Taylor is a Renaissance man, delving into music, history, and writing in his decades long career. As a military veteran, composer, amateur astronomer, and historian, he brings a depth and breadth to his work that is priceless. His penchant for finding a good story in history and talent in finding true sources combine to create intelligent, engaging biographies that reveal his favorite aphorism: truth really is stranger than fiction." The Letterworks: Author Spotlight-2018

James D. Taylor Jr.

Welcome to my website

James D. Taylor Jr.

A Few Words from the Author:

Veteran - United States Navy

Veteran - United States Navy

Veteran - United States Navy

Firefighter

Veteran - United States Navy

Veteran - United States Navy

Antiquities Collector

Owner-Random Access Music Studios

Owner-Random Access Music Studios

Owner-Random Access Music Studios

Owner-Random Access Music Studios

Owner-Random Access Music Studios

Performances

On a Personal Note

On a Personal Note

On a Personal Note

On a Personal Note

On a Personal Note

Perfomances

On a Personal Note

Perfomances

Contact Me

Get in Touch!

James D. Taylor Jr.