#WordWeavers 5.26 — What childhood similarities do your MC and antagonist share?
Both grew up in the South, both didn't come from a rich background.
Connor learned to enjoy the little things in life, like freedom, hunting, riding his bike, and the brothers of his pack.
Sam Beechcroft, however, uses everyone and everything he can lay his hands on to enrich himself, including his daughter Ashley. He is a mobster at heart.
#WordWeavers 5.28 — Did your MCs have comfort objects they carried as a child? Now?
Connor hasn't told me much about his childhood so I don't know.
Wolves do not collect a lot of stuff. It's impractical when they have to move den in a hurry. Most of them live with few material possessions.
Some of my Wolves carry family heirlooms. Connor has none, though. He does find comfort on long, rambling motorcycle rides, so his bike may come close.
#WordWeavers 5.19 — How did you settle on your MC’s appearance?
Connor was a side character at first, just a member of the motorcycle gang that helps Nessa when she's abducted by Hunters.
So I knew little about him other that he is a red-head (because of his name, more than anything). He faded into the background - until the moment he actually chose sides, which surprised me.
I can't visualize people easily, so... I leave that to the reader.
#WordWeavers 5.25 — How often do your characters think of death?
Connor doesn't.
He's young (early 30s), he's strong, and thanks to being a Wolf, he has better health than the average human.
Yes, there are the Hunters, but he thinks they'll never touch him. His pack is great, he loves roaming around on their motorcycles and until Reg showed what an ass he was, things were easy.
#PennedPossibilities 248 — If your MC has an accent, does it affect their word choice? Was their dialect adopted from their relatives, or from the locals where they grew up?
Sadly, none do.
However, my Wolves go to Germany in A Wolf's Christmas, and they do encounter Fred's relatives who don't speak English very well.
It was fun to create "bad English" with German phrases and grammar.
#WritersCoffeeClub 2/21: Would you ever use emojis in your writing? Why or why not?
Yes, but only when writing chat messages. I've done that already in my new Wolf manuscript:
[21:16:24] ShadowWolf: U OK?
[21:18:12] XxXJokerXxX: Yeah, fine.
[21:18:47] ShadowWolf: Liar.
[21:19:02] XxXJokerXxX: What? :P
[21:23:25] ShadowWolf: “Fine” must be the most abused word in the English language.
Probably not for the Winds and Pillars, can't imagine that.
But it happens often for the Wolves. I started a story for Shane (from A Wolf's Peril) with a redemption arc.
I also have vague ideas for a story with Felix (also from A Wolf's Peril) which would lead into another series I tentatively call Shifters of the North.
My Wolves believe in soulmates, except they call them "mates". And I gave them a sign that helps recognize them.
I don't necessarily think soulmates are real, but I needed to use at least some tropes from the shifter world, since my tales are neither spicy nor full of alpha posturing.
And well... I like the concept of soulmates deep in my own soul, so there's that.
#PennedPossibilities 162 —Do any of your characters celebrate /any/ holidays? If so, which ones, and how?
Well, my Wolves celebrate all of the holidays human culture celebrates around them.
So yes, they do Christmas and Thanksgiving and all the rest. I'm sure there are Jewish Wolves and Muslim Wolves (haven't met them yet, sorry), and there were Roman wolves.
I have a sweet Wolf short story, but don't read it until after Book 5.
#WritersCoffeeClub 12/9. How would you write an online chat or text message conversation?
I'm sharing a pic below because that's how I write it in the manuscript.
However, Atticus, the program I use to format my books, now actually has a setting to show chat or text messages. I will gleefully take advantage of that once "A Wolf's Hacker" is ready.
A Wolf's Hacker, Wolves of the South Book 8
(Coming sometime in spring, I hope. Still writing it.)
#WordWeavers 12/8: What is the most important change your MC undergoes during the story?
Well, both of my MCs discover that there is something beyond friendship between them.
That's the romance subplot, of course.
Outside of that, they are both still the same professional Wolves working in security and protecting their client. Even if that client is Fred's little cousin.
A Wolf's Christmas, Wolves of the South Book 7
(Available in all stores!)
@Firlefanz The things people put up with for reimbursed travel, free lodging and free food. 😃 And there's always what Fred's cousin learns about how the world works...
#PennedPossibilities 156 — Is your MC or SC deceptive, or willing to lie or deceive to achieve certain means? Why or why not?
Oof. I find it very difficult to write deceptive characters. I'm autistic, so deception is something my antagonists do.
My characters rarely lie, and then only in dire circumstances. They prefer to evade answers instead of lying outright. Of course, they also read body language very well.
Fred: "Well, Mark and I work in security, because that's what our pack does. I'm usually in the background, but I have played dog for Mark when he is guarding or investigating something.
"I'm also trained in fighting, our leaders want us to be able to hold our own."
Mark: "But at least once a year, we do photo shoots." laughs
A Wolf's Christmas, Wolves of the South Book 7
(out now!)
#WordWeavers 4/12: If your MC were looking for a place to live, what would be the most important factors?
My Wolves like rural areas where they can shift and run in the fur without being noticed much.
They love having forests to roam around, but they can make do with less dense woods. Actual hunting is part of their lives, so they avoid barren areas.
I've been waiting almost all day, but finally, A Wolf's Christmas is live on Amazon and all major stores (except Apple, sigh).
So I invite you to follow Fred and Mark to Germany to help a teenager in trouble. As they dig deeper, they also get to know Glühwein and other strange Christmas traditions.
Do you like adventure, sweet romance and a teen Wolf? Deal? Go for it!
#WordWeavers 2. Secondary character POV: how would you feel if you were a celebrity?
Maria: Well... I don't want to be one. I'm happy working at the school as a secretary, I just want my kids to grow up well.
Seriously, all the stuff that people want, like dressing up and appearing in public and... no. I don't want that. I want my peace and quiet, and I like my family. That's good enough for me.
A Wolf's Christmas, Wolves of the South Book 7
(Uploading now!)
Alex: "I can't remember. I'm feeling like a burden. Not good enough in school, not good enough for my Mom. And not good enough for being a Wolf, either."
Luka: "My uncle needs me. But I don't like what he makes me do. I wish I could somehow get out of it all, but I can't. My family would pay a high price."
A Wolf's Christmas, Wolves of the South 7
(Coming as soon as I have the cover.)