Samhain Publishing Ltd. Weblog

Puma

I’m very excited that today is the release of my first cat-shifter book, Puma. It’s set in the same world as my Strength books.

Only in each other will they discover how to be truly free.

Callie, a cat-shifter, is a loner by virtue of the puma that lives inside her. After a job gone bad, her very human need for contact sends her in search of the only family she has. Callie finds her foster sister in a disturbing living arrangement. Something is seriously wrong in a place where people “belong” to one man and silence is enforced to the point a seven-year-old girl pretends to be autistic.

Dev Malik thinks it’s odd to see a strange woman in the tall grass behind his house, but he doesn’t have the time to ponder why. He’s too busy trying to shelter the child and woman in his household from Scott, the control freak who lives with them.

The truth is more dangerous than Callie imagines. Scott’s control is powerfully real. And Dev’s need to protect the vulnerable is as strong as Callie’s own. Their desire is as inevitable as it is frightening, for only by looking deep within each other will they find the strength to free them all from an unspeakable evil.

Warning: This title contains explicit sex.

The Druid Peak Pack

Quite a long time ago, I realized I wanted to write a shapeshifter story. In particular, a story about werewolves. This was before the paranormal wave hit, though the beginnings were starting.

To prepare for writing, I decided to research actual wolves. As a kid, I’d always loved reading about animals. I tore through Born Free, Living Free, Forever Free by Joy Adamson, then went on to read about the cheetah she raised. I read books by wildlife biologists (and I wanted to be a wildlife biologist) who studied wolf packs and named the individual wolves, studied coyote packs, hyenas, even dingoes. I read about the big apes and their complex lives. Anyway, point is, I’ve always been fascinated by animals and their dynamics. This was fun research for me.

The Strength of the Wolf in print!

My second werewolf story, The Strength of the Wolf, will be released in print on July 29. This is my first series and it’s exciting to see the books out in print. The Strength of the Pack, was Seth’s story (released in April in print) and Wolf is his sister’s book.

Blurb:

For longer than she can remember, Veronica has been wolf. Dreams give her a name and the image of a brother. Memory gives her nothing and no one.

Book Two of the Strength series.

One late winter day, David Hardway saves a malnourished wolf from a trap and takes her in. During her time with David, the wolf finds in herself the desire to be human again.

David loves the wolf he saved, but dislikes the strange woman who asks for his help. Still, he is incapable of turning away someone in need and despite himself, David becomes intrigued. As Veronica strives to remember why she abandoned humanity for wolfdom, David becomes determined to save her from her violent past.

But others are in danger and Veronica will have to act to protect her newfound pack.

Rescues

A long time ago (almost seven years) on a planet far, far away (actually Martha’s Vineyard) a I read a short story in a science fiction and fantasy anthology. It was no romance. The ending was bitter and sad. But I found the story quite powerful.

So powerful that the main character stayed with me. And then, after a while, I wanted to “rescue” her.

What this actually means is that the story inspired me to such an extent that I wanted to write another, much longer story, where my she-werewolf had a happy ending. I like my HEAs but I also like to venture outside those kind of endings from time to time while reading. And occasionally I wish some character I’ve read about got their happy ending when they didn’t.

Of course, by the time I rewrite, I have a different character, a different world, and different rules in that world.

Process

I’m closing in on finishing a book. Now each book has its own unique process. But nevertheless I do think a writer often develops recognizable patterns in their writing of a book.

New-to-me authors

I read 38 books last year. Not a huge number. Other years I’ve read significantly more. But still not as bad as I thought, given that I feel I haven’t been reading much at all.

DVD TV

We don’t watch TV per se. That is, we don’t have channels. But we do watch dvds. It used to be mostly movie watching, but lately we are getting hooked on a lot of good shows.

My first love was the now cancelled Firefly. Sigh. So much love, so few episodes.

Then I moved on to Alias. I used to love watching Jennifer Garner march into a completely new situation, speak the language, talk the culture and generally kick-ass. Then things got too convoluted and I lost interest. It was fun while it lasted though.

The Strength of the Wolf

My second werewolf story, The Strength of the Wolf, was released today. This is my first series and it’s exciting to see the books come out. The Strength of the Pack, was Seth’s story (released in June) and Wolf is his sister’s book.

Available here.

Blurb:

For longer than she can remember, Veronica has been wolf. Dreams give her a name and the image of a brother. Memory gives her nothing and no one.

Book Two of the Strength series.

One late winter day, David Hardway saves a malnourished wolf from a trap and takes her in. During her time with David, the wolf finds in herself the desire to be human again.

David loves the wolf he saved, but dislikes the strange woman who asks for his help. Still, he is incapable of turning away someone in need and despite himself, David becomes intrigued. As Veronica strives to remember why she abandoned humanity for wolfdom, David becomes determined to save her from her violent past.

But others are in danger and Veronica will have to act to protect her newfound pack.

The Strength of the Pack

I am thrilled that the first of my werewolf series, The Strength of the Pack, is now on sale at My Bookstore and More. Buy here.

Blurb
Seth Kolski, a werewolf, hides his heritage and passes for normal. Until he meets Jamie.

Book One of the Strength series.

Romantic Times blogging

It seems quiet this week, with everyone—well, not everyone, but quite a few people—away at the Romantic Times Convention.

So I decided to make a list of RT-related blogs.

1. Maya Banks is off to RT and will be blogging.

2. Sasha White blogged from RT.

3. Monica Burns will try to post some pictures from RT.

4. Jordan Summers will report back on Monday about what she’s learned at RT.

5. Angela James is having a Left Behind contest.

6. Jaci Burton is having a Right Behind contest.

7. Beth Williamson is at RT but running a stay at home contest.

8. Rene Lyons is also running contests.

9. Tawny Taylor will be posting from Houston.

There must be more. Let me know about them in the comments!