Friday, September 4, 2009

Guest Blog: Terry Spear

Terry Spear Guest Blog, author of To Tempt the Wolf
Horror and Fantasy Book Reviews; September 4, 2009


Join Me on the Dark Side—or Wolf Side, Rather

Thanks so much to Horror and Fantasy Book Reviews for having me!

The first time Heart of the Wolf finaled in a contest, the final judge, a NY editor, said it was a unique twist on a horror story. I understand what she meant—werewolves = horror.

But no way do I think of horror stories when I’m writing about my werewolves, who, when they are in their wolf forms, are like wolves, except, maybe a little bigger. They’re not monster-like wolf kind-of creatures.

Ever see pictures of two wolves playing when they look like they are ready to kill each other? Ever see one bare its very big, very sharp canines at you? The way it narrows its eyes? It wrinkles its nose? It growls deep and low?

To me, the wolf is majestic in part. Yet, it can look really scary without any of the monster effects thrown in.

But no longer is the werewolf just the bad guy, someone who kills during the full moon, but doesn’t remember having shapeshifted to do so during the night. No longer does the werewolf hate who or what he is.

No clinical psychology couches for my werewolves. They’re very well-adjusted. Born to the role, they’re content to live in secrecy and survive among the rest of mankind. For those who are not so fortunate to have been born to the role and suddenly become one of their kind through folly or choice, reactions will differ based on the personality of the individual. But no one mopes about being a werewolf. Not when being one has so many advantages.

In the old werewolf stories, a single werewolf often ran around in the woods attacking people. But in my stories, a big part of the world is showing the pack dynamics within a pack and with other packs.

And although there are lots of bad guys and murder and mayhem, suspense and mystery and adventure in my wolf tales, humor and romance are a big part of the stories, too. So I emphatically say my werewolves are not horrific in the least. Well, the bad guys can be pretty bad. But the good guys can be downright loveable. If man’s best friend is the dog, then a girl’s best friend is a werewolf.

So join me on the Wolf Side and learn about a new age of werewolves.

And thanks again for having me! If you want to join me, here are a few places you can find me:


www.terryspear.com
http://twitter.com/TerrySpear
http://www.facebook.com/terry.spear
http://www.myspace.com/terryspear
http://www.terry-spear.blogspot.com
http://casablancaauthors.blogspot.com
http://www.wickedlyromantic.blogspot.com http://shapeshifterromance.wordpress.com


Terry Spear
“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male.”

To Tempt the Wolf—In Stores September 1
In this third in the series, wildlife photographer Tessa Anderson must prove her brother innocent of murder charges. But when she discovers a gorgeous naked man barely alive on her beach, she's got a new world of troubles to deal with, not least of which is how he affects her with just a look, a touch, or a whispered word.
Hunter Greymore is a lupus garou, a grey werewolf. Hoping to keep a low profile at Tessa's cabin on the coast, he's drawn into her life—and into her bed. His animal instincts war with his human half, but in the end, the only thing he can do about this fascinating, adorable woman is to leave her forever —unless she becomes one of them.


About the Author

A retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, award-winning author Terry Spear has an MBA from Monmouth College. An eclectic writer, she dabbles in the paranormal as well as writing historical and true life stories for both teen and adult audiences. Spear lives in Crawford, Texas. Her 2008 Sourcebooks Casablanca release, Heart of the Wolf was named a Best Book of the Year by Publishers Weekly. Destiny of the Wolf and To Tempt the Wolf are in stores now, and more are on the way: The Legend of the White Wolf (February 2010) and Seduction of the Wolf (August 2010). For more information please visit www.terryspear.com

11 comments:

  1. So what do you think? Werewolves are only suitable for horror stories? Or can a werewolf be a romantic?

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  2. Yes, I think the idea of a Shapeshifter is very exciting. And to have a Big Hunky Guy who has that Secret Wild Side is thrilling, and a little scary at the same time. It gets my pheromones working overtime. A wolf is such a strong beautiful animal. They're so protective of their mates. They would risk anything to protect what's theirs. That's romantic and downright sexy. And Dangerous.
    Woohoo!!! I'm there.

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  3. I agree as well. I think that werewolves, and really their entire society structure, make better heros than monsters. Even wild wolves demonstrate a very advanced society and pack hierarchy that leads people to think that they are far more advanced and evolved than mere killing machines. And werewolf guys tend to be hot and masculine and the perfect partner for the kinds of strong heroines that so many paranormal romance and urban fantasy books represent :)

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  4. Love the descriptions of the wolves at play, made them all seem so much friendly.

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  5. These werewolves are definitely romance and family and all the comfort of the pack that we humans miss out on. I love them.

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  6. Thanks, Neas! I don't know what happened to the comment I made before?? But yeah, they remind me of when my standard poodles would play with each other, snarling and tackling and wrestling, all in good fun. :)

    Thanks so much, Sheila! I love the way you put that! :)

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  7. Mary D
    zenrei57 (at) hotmail (dot) com

    I love this spin on werewolves!! This was a very good interview, I enjoyed it so much - thanks for the chance to learn more about my favorite genre :)

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  8. Thanks, Mary Ann! I love writing them!

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  9. I enjoyed this guest post. I have just started liking werewolves in my paranormal fantasy reads. I do not like the horror version at all.

    I have always admired wolves as they are beautiful animals. I like that they are pack animals with hierarchy. They protect and they are fierce. I am seeing these wonderful qualities in books with werewolves and I am really liking it.


    ibeeeg(at)gmail(dot)com

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