Men in Kilts (Forget Get Men in Black!): Highland Rake! by Terry Spear

There's just something about men in kilts! Even if you're not from a Scottish background, wouldn't you like to tangle with one of these?

Did you ever watch Star Trek? I loved Scottie! :)

So after two years, and now that I'm not working a full time job also, I hope to have another Highland story out much sooner! I have the cover and I have the story started! :)

But for now, here is the 3rd book in The Highlanders Series: Highland Rake.

In book 1, Winning the Highlander's Heart, we get the 2nd eldest brother's story, Malcolm and Lady Anice. Then in book 2, The Accidental Highland Hero, we have the eldest, James, and Lady Eilis.

And now book 3, Highland Rake! They are stand alone titles, so it's not essential that they are read in order, though a couple of instances are mentioned in Highland Rake about the trouble Dougald got into in The Accidental Highland Hero.

Dougald is staying with James, and he's the third eldest brother of the four. But if you've read The Accidental Highland Hero, Dougald is known to have his own difficulties, and so...that continues. And of course his good Norseman friend, Gunnolf, is along for the ride. Cousin Niall wants to join in the adventure, but doesn't really understand what that entails. And youngest brother, Angus, joins the party!

So here 'tis! Those loving Highlanders!

Dougald's story, 3rd book in the popular medieval Highland series.

Dougald MacNeill is the next to youngest MacNeill brother and he's not about to settle down, until Lady Alana Cameron is placed squarely in his lap...and then, the trouble begins.

When Dougald finds Alana roaming the heather on the MacNeill lands, he takes her in hand to see his laird brother James at Craigly Castle to determine her fate. But who has sent her there and why? Her uncle, laird of the Cameron clan, that has warred with the MacNeills for years, has made a marriage arrangement with another clan and now that is even at stake.

Having witnessed her father's death, and even believing he had returned her home when all along he had been dead, Alana discovers she has the gift, or curse, of seeing the newly departed and sometimes those who should have long ago passed over. Her own deceased brother continues to plague her, the rake, and now another, who is very much of the flesh, Dougald MacNeill, has her thinking marrying a rake might just have its benefits. Dougald's sister, who is one feisty ghost, has offered to help Alana keep Dougald in line if he thinks of even straying.

But who sent Alana on a fool's errand in the first place to remove her from the Cameron's lands and set her squarely in Dougald's care, and who really killed her father and her brother, and what has it all to do with Alana? Will she and Dougald learn the truth before it is too late?
Kobo
Barnes and Noble
Amazon
ARe Books
Smashwords
Paperback

Who wouldn't want a hunky Highlander??? :)



Terry, who was stung by a yellow jacket on Friday morning, and the redness and swelling are not going away! May have to see a doctor on Monday. *argh* Though not sure what they would do about it!
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy IS reality."
www.terryspear.com

Realism and Fun by Terry Spear

I went to Cameron Park Zoo a couple of days ago to take pictures of some of the zoo animals to share on my blogs. But one of the animals I wanted to take pictures of most were the jaguars, and if they had any...wolves. No wolves. Just signs for wolves.

I wanted pictures of them because I write about wolf shifters and jaguar shifters. Part of the realism in writing unreal stories is to research the real and add it to the unreal. In Savage Hunger, I did a lot of research about both the Amazon and about jaguars. Jaguars are more elusive than most big cats. They don't kill people like most big cats are known to do--mountain lions, lions, and tigers. Yet jaguars are the third biggest roaring cat behind lions and tigers with the strongest bite of any of them.

When I watched them, I observed a jaguar hunting a Jurassic Era catfish, humungous fish, and included that fishing scene in Savage Hunger. Reality in a jaguar shifter unreal world. I also included the jaguar shifter playing with her tail, because I'd seen one do that when she was lying down and all of a sudden started playing with her tail!

When I was taking pictures of the jaguars, suddenly one of them began to run along the fence, tail swishing, whiskers on alert, ears twitching. The jaguar wanted so badly to hunt! I wasn't sure what had caught its attention, but it was ready. Can I use this in a book? You bet!

So I went to the zoo to take pictures, but also to ensure no jaguar shifters had been caged by accident. At first, I was thinking that this was just another big cat. Now I'm not so sure.

I have to share this gorgeous sleeping jaguar. I think it might be Wade Patterson, after all.

 Do you use reality in your unreal worlds?

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy IS reality."
www.terryspear.com

Redheaded Wizard Bear Ready for the All Wizard's Party!

 

Got to have a redheaded wizard, red bear wizard, for the all wizard's party for Halloween, right? So here is a red mohair bear, wire body, red mohair beard, and lined cloak. He's also a one of a kind bear. :) 


Today I'm at Sia's for coffee, well green tea, and fun! And another copy of Savage Hunger! Only 3 days remain next week for giveaways!
 
10/26 Sia McKye’s Thoughts Over Coffee

Kids are coming to visit, but something I was going to give my daughter for an early birthday present still had the security tag on it! I wish I had tried to wrap it up earlier and would have seen it and could have taken it in when I ran errands yesterday!! Although, I did sell the tall gold mohair wizard bear and need to ship it to South Africa, so I will have to run into town anyway.

Okay, this is another book in the Shadow Elf series. I started writing a different one, too and have the cover for it, but still haven't decided on the title. My problem is that the elves I want to write about are referred to as the High Elves, because they use High Magic, and live  in the mountains with their dragon companions. Maybe say High Magic Elves. Not sure. :)  What else could I use as a title for High Magic Elves??? I like two words if I can do it. :)
 

Have to clean and the like...wish I had some magic and could just whisk the dust away! Living in cornfields makes things ultra-dusty and the farmer has been plowing and replowing the fields for unknown reasons. :) And replowing...

Back to the issue of security tags and purchase mishaps.
 
My mother bought some beautiful shoes in Las Vegas, got home, and only one of the shoes was in the box.  I bought a sweater in one state, got it home and found the security tag still on it. I managed to finally pry it loose without it tearing anything, but in the future, I'd just take it to any store that has the security removers and see if they'd remove it because I'd be afraid of getting ink on the garment or tearing up the fabric.

So, have you ever gotten home and found out a clerk had left a security tag on your clothes? Or worse, one shoe and a box?

Happy TGIF!!!

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy IS reality!"
www.terryspear.com

It's Time to Visit the Jungle with Savage Hunger!!! by Terry Spear

I feel like I've been in the jungle with all the guest blog posts and interviews I've had to do for Savage Hunger's release October 1! Not to mention all the critters and the heat plaguing me in Texas!


But here are a couple of reviews and the schedule so if you have time to drop by one of the sites, you'll have a chance to win a copy of Savage Hunger!

This just in from Long and Short Reviews!

 

Savage Hunger by Terry Spear
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (341 pgs)
Heat Level: Hot
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

As a jaguar he is graceful and gorgeous...

Speedy and stealthy...

Fierce, independent, and wild...

As a man he is passionate and powerful...

Willful and wonderful...

And he'll stop at nothing to protect what's his... Savage Hunger leaves a reader hungering for more of this awesome and exciting new world that Ms. Spear has created. The author has written a story with a lovable heroine, an alpha hero who’s not obnoxious or overbearing, and a fun sister to tag along and complicate Connor’s life. The food they eat is exotic although the eating establishments are earthy, and they spend more time using trees than Tarzan. This new series is exhilarating and filled with rich and vibrant descriptions to make a reader feel like they’re in the thick of the Amazon jungle. There are moments of humor, of tenderness and pure hot loving. In short, Savage Hunger has the best of all the elements that make readers of paranormal romances happy. Pounce on your own copy and see for yourself.   

 

Booklist Review of Savage Hunger
(Book 1)

Sourcebooks

October 2012

In the heat of the jungle, jaguars are clawed, dangerous, and hungry for love. With hopes of overcoming night terrors and thanking the man who saved her life, Kathleen McKnight returns to the Amazon. A jaguar at heart, Connor Anderson doesn’t just protect her, but wants to claim her for his own.
Savage Hunger.
Spear, Terry (Author)
Oct 2012. 352 p. Sourcebooks/Casablanca, paperback, $7.99. (9781402266928).
Spear has left the werewolves of her past novels (Dreaming of the Wolf,2011) and turned to felines. Connor Anderson and his twin sister, Maya, inherited the ability to transform into jaguars from their parents, the only other shifters they have ever known. In the Amazon, Connor uses both his jaguar and human abilities to save the life of steely army captain Kathleen McKnight. Obsessed with Kat, he returns to the Amazon a year later and is surprised to find that she has returned to the jungle in search of him and his “pet jaguar.” Kat and Maya become fast friends, and the attraction between Connor and Kat is irresistible, even in the face of Kat’s troubled past and Connor’s dual nature. The strength of Spear’s writing lies in her ability to keep the reader emotionally in tune with the characters despite the unfamiliar terrain of both the deep jungle and the supernatural elements. Spear’s lush descriptions of the Amazon, and a few tantalizing loose ends, will leave readers hungry for more time in paradise.
— Amber Peckham

 

Schedule for Savage Hunger Blog Tour, end of Sept and all of October!

Savage Hunger, October 2012

nookbook

Savage Hunger

9/24 Love Romance Passion
9/25 Sharon Buchbinder
9/26 Paulette's Papers
9/27 Jesse Kimmel-Freeman & Book Boost
9/28 The Lovestruck Novice
Weekend

10/1 Star Crossed Romance & Tabby's Nocturnal Nights
10/2 Castles and Guns
10/3 Booklovin Mamas & Romance Lives Forever & Casablanca
10/4 Paranormal Haven
10/5 Fresh Fiction & 7 Scribes
Weekend

10/8 Night Owl Reviews
10/9 Manga Maniac Café
10/10 Urban Girl Reader & Literary Addiction
10/11 Under the Covers Book Blog
10/12 Books and Beyond
Weekend

10/15 Cocktail and Books
10/16 Book Lovers
10/17 Deanne's Tidbits
10/18 Books-n-Kisses
10/19 A Bookworm’s Haven
Weekend

10/22 Fiction Vixen
10/23 SOS Aloha
10/24 Reading Between the Wines
10/25 Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
10/26 Sia McKye’s Thoughts Over Coffee
Weekend

10/29 The Qwillery
10/30 RomFan Reviews
10/31 Cynthia Wolf

Books will be given at all the sites to one commenter, US/Canada address!

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy IS reality!"
www.terryspear.com

10,000 Sales and Counting!!!

by Terry Spear

Marriage, Las Vegas Style

Ebook By Terry Spear

Published: July 23, 2011
Category: Fiction » Literature » Romance - Contemporary
Category: Fiction » Literature » Romance - Adult
Words: 48015
Amazon
B&N

I self-published for several reasons, but it turned into 10,000 in short order!

B & N

Amazon

1. I was giving away my stories for free in my newsletter and readers wanted to buy them to get them in one book instead of reading them as a serialized read.

2. Fans were asking me to write faster, but I already write fast and have tons of stories ready, or nearly ready, to be published.

3. Some were novellas and my publishers weren't interested in anything that short. Some had already sold, the companies have bitten the dust, and I had the rights back. The epub companies they had been with hadn't sold but maybe a couple of dozen of the stories during a time when ebooks weren't as much in demand.

4. Some were novels that other publishers turned down. I'm never one to start something and not see it through. But after a couple of rejections, I'd set the manuscript aside and figure, the next one will make it. I did this so often, that I have a huge stockpile of books.


B&N
5. I'm eclectic, so love to read just about anything, and when I find an author's voice I love, I read everything she or he writes. Some readers are like me and are willing to check out my other works even if they're not about wolves or Highlanders. :)

Lady Caroline and the Egotistical Earl

Ebook By Terry Spear
Published: Jun. 12, 2011
Category: Fiction » Literature » Romance - Paranormal
Category: Fiction » Literature » Romance - Historical
Words: 91825



6. I can't NOT write. I have to write about different stuff as the mood moves me. It's that old saying, "Write the book of your heart." When I do that, I can get it out of my system and continue to write fresh werewolf stories, or fresh Highlander stories without them sounding as if I'm writing the same story over again, just changing the character names. I love my Highlanders and I love my wolves and now my jaguars, but it really helps if I can take a short break and write something else. Or even write something else while I'm working on a longer book and am trying to figure out where to go with it.

7. I hoped that maybe short reads that weren't as expensive might catch new readers' eyes and after giving them a try, they'd check out my other books.

8. I hope that someday I can just write and quit the day job.

9. I love to create new stories and no publisher would publish them as fast as I can write. :)

10. I love being able to write out of the box.


B&N
So 10 reasons turned into 10,000 as I uploaded my very first three vampire shorts the last two days of February.

I made 21 sales on Amazon that first day. More than I had made at one of my ebook publishers in the two years they'd had any of the books.



And the sales would dip and rise daily as I continued to edit books and add them to the growing list of books offered for sale. Until I counted them all up and was shocked to find I had sold 10,000 books already!

One of the reasons I'm self-publishing is that I can. It's like when I was doing embroider work and cross-stitching and quilting and rug-hooking...I had given more than enough to my family members that they couldn't use or want any more. And I began to incorporate that work into original handmade teddy bears that began to win awards. I offered them to the world.

So it is with my writing. I have more than enough stories to share with the world. And now more than ever is the time to do so.

I'm working on revisions to a couple who made a hasty marriage in Las Vegas, and I'm over a quarter way done on writing the new book in the World of Fae series, The Winged Fae. No sense in stopping now!!!




Do you find you have more ideas than you can write???

I have so many partially written books in addition to the fully written books that it makes it fun when I have a break between contracted books to look them over and work on them some more.

Whatever way you go with publishing, never give up! Write to your heart's content and love what you do! Readers will appreciate you for it. :)

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com

When Sales Prompt a Sequel!

Because of popular demand, I'm working on The Deadly Fae and The Winged Fae, sequels to The Dark Fae.

Alicia's always known she's different--that she can recognize the mischievous fae when they show up to "play" with the humans. Only now she's faced with one highly annoyed dark fae and she's certain he knows the truth about her. She can see him, which means her life is forfeit.

Add to that, his sister arrives, who wants to play, too. And their mother, the queen of the Denkar, will want Alicia's head, once she learns what Alicia can do.

And all because Alicia was attempting to rescue her friend, Cassie, on their beach excursion at South Padre Island, from the wicked fae. Now, Alicia has really gone and done it--and she's thinking she should have let the fae have his fun. Her friend's broken heart would be a lot easier to deal with, than Alicia losing her life.

But it is too late for regrets. As soon as she threw the soda at the dark fae's chest, she had declared war on the fae. And he is happy to take up the challenge.
******

Oftentimes, I get a lot of fan requests for certain characters, which prompt me to write a sequel about those characters. But this time, the sales are just so phenomenal for The Dark Fae (70 to over 100 books per day at B&N alone), I'm inspired to write another couple of stories in the fae kingdoms.

In The Winged Fae, title may change:

We're back to South Padre Island in the opening...and one mischievous fae...

What fae would ever be bold enough to enter another fae-claimed territory (although humans think they own it), and believe she would not have to face the consequences of her actions?

An assassin royal winged fae of the Mabara Fae kingdom.

With a message.

In The Deadly Fae:

Lady Sessily is a member of the Denkar royal house of fae, a dark fae, but she is an outsider in many ways. It all has to do with her occupation. She's a master assassin, only no one knows it, and she aims to keep it that way.

Until a dark lord comes to see her about a job and though she refuses to take part, he refuses to take no for an answer.

This time, she could easily lose her life, and to her utter annoyance, even her heart--to one mysterious man who is like no other!

***
I've written sequels to books and then not sold the original, so I stopped writing sequels! What about you? Do you write a series of books, or just have an idea and wait for the first book to capture the hearts of readers before you write the next in the series?

Or do you concentrate on stand alone titles?

Actually, even though these new stories in the fae series, are stand-alone titles. I like to be able to read books out of order myself, so I try to write my stories that way also. :) So what do you do? Or think about series and stand alone titles?

Have a super day!!!

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com

So Little Time...

Heart of the Highland Wolf is nearly here!!! The Highland wolves you've been waiting so eagerly for!

Can you believe it's the 7th book in the series already??? Actually, I've already written books 8, 9, and 10, so it seems like that's eons ago!!! I'm already in the Amazon jungle with the first of the jaguar shifter books right now, which means 4 books ago, I wrote Heart of the Highland Wolf!

Don't ask how I keep the characters all straight. I don't. :) I have to reread the books to do that. And I WISH they would become available in audio book form so I could listen to them in my sleep and through osmosis, I would remember every detail.

So little time...

In just a couple of days the BIG blog tour for Heart of the Highland Wolf begins. Be sure and check out my author blog for the days where I'll be giving away free copies of the books to lucky winners.

In the meantime...I uploaded some new books too. :)

The Dark Fae

Ebook By Terry Spear

Published: May. 13, 2011

Category: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Romance
Category: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Fantasy

Available at:
Amazon and B&N
and Smashwords


Alicia's always known she's different--that she can recognize the mischievous fae when they show up to "play" with the humans. Only now she's faced with one highly annoyed dark fae and she's certain he knows the truth about her. She can see him, which means her life is forfeit.

Add to that, his sister arrives, who wants to play, too. And their mother, the queen of the Denkar, will want Alicia's head, once she learns what Alicia can do.

And all because Alicia was attempting to rescue her friend, Cassie, on their beach excursion at South Padre Island, from the wicked fae. Now, Alicia has really gone and done it--and she's thinking she should have let the fae have his fun. Her friend's broken heart would be a lot easier to deal with, than Alicia losing her life.

But it is too late for regrets. As soon as she threw the soda at the dark fae's chest, she had declared war on the fae. And he is happy to take up the challenge.

The Dark Fae has been making Amazon's best selling list, along with Heart of the Highland Wolf!

***


Allan Thompson arrives in Waco, Texas for a mission of utmost importance--protect a terrorist's mistress from being the next victim on his hit list. But when the mission goes down wrong, Jenny Brant is nearly killed and Allan begins a new mission--protect her at all costs--as her faux husband until she can regain her memories.

Everything about the mission seems wrong--all starting with one Jenny Brant who doesn't fit the profile of the kind of woman Wilson usually hooks up with. Allan and his team must protect her, but at what cost to his own sanity or his heart?

Jenny Brant begins to regain her memories, but when she learns she has a huge inheritance that Wilson wants by marrying her, and the agent Allan Thompson will marry her instead to secret her money away with the Agency's protection, she still can't remember why she would have been a killer's main squeeze. When Wilson's thugs try to return her to him, she becomes less sure of who the good guys are and who she truly is.

The only thing she knows for certain--if someone doesn't take down Wilson, her life is forfeit.

The Tall Texas Order

Ebook By Terry Spear

Published: May. 23, 2011
Category: Fiction » Literature » Romance - Short Stories
Category: Fiction » Literature » Romance - Contemporary
Words: 6959
Smashwords
Amazon

Lisa has lived all over the States, but when she starts working in Amarillo, Texas, she's ready to settle down with the man of her dreams--if she can prove to herself she has the mettle to become a Texan.

From camping in the Palo Duro Canyon with rattlesnakes and scorpions and wild mustangs, riding the trail on a cantankerous trail horse,line dancing, and watching a friend devour a 72-oz steak, Lisa's having the fun of her life...mostly.

But can she learn to be a Texan? Inspired by several true incidents, the story revolves around a woman who's never settled down for long and a man who wants her to love his home as much as he does...fearing she's bound to leave him sooner or later as she has never been able to set down roots.

***
The story about the wild mustangs was true, only I'd heard them when I was camping in the canyon with Army ROTC cadets, and I've been to all the places described in the story. The only thing that I still need is that tall hunky Texan!

Wouldn't you like a shot at him too???


***

Hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! I'm actually taking off some days so that I can...write!!!

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com

Making Far Out Goals

Normally, I say if you're going to make a goal, make it attainable. But sometimes, we need to push ourselves. And so I've got a way out far out goal to accomplish by this weekend. I have to work the weekend after next, so this is it.

I want to reach the halfway point over the weekend on The Highland Wolf in Paradise.

I finished a third of the book by last weekend.

Is making it to the halfway point on the book by this weekend doable? Sure, if I write a 1,000 words a day and write 5,000 this weekend. I can do it. Can I write a 1,000 words a day when I have to work also? Sometimes.

I have 10,000 words to write this week. I wrote 10,000 the last two weeks, which is why I'm way ahead of schedule, and this book isn't due until Dec, I believe. Or maybe earlier. I can't remember. But I'm ahead of schedule anyway. But before I was thinking of a weekly word count goal, I was thinking I'd have the book done by the end of March. Not so. It wouldn't be finished until April.

And that's why I began making far out goals. I want it done by March. I have it in my head it's going to be done by March.

Will it be done by then?

Only time will tell.

Do you ever set impossible goals for yourself and attain them?

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com

Nearly Didn't Make it to Scotland

Before I mention the first castle, I wanted to say that I almost didn't make it to Scotland, and was totally unprepared with what to do...what a near disaster!



This was the first castle we visited and it was very cold here! I loved this castle--only one room that was finished off and decorated, otherwise it was in ruins and trying to envision what it looked like when people lived here was more fun.



It was high above cliffs, surrounded by water on 3 sides and had a long way down stairs, then a long path up again until you came to the one entrance, easy to see anyone approaching by land or by sea.

Here was one of the rooms that would have been occupied by someone of status.

This shows some of the walls and one of the more finished buildings.

I love the water, and loved seeing the waves crashing on the rocks below the castle's cliffs. It's a long way down!

Here is one of the storage rooms. Note all the rocks were covered in green moss. It was cold and misty, cloud-covered, a cold breeze while we were here.



Note the thickness of the walls. Long drop off here to the rocks below!




This was the well where they would get their water. I was having fun getting a reflection of the castle in the water. I imagined a medieval people gathering to get water at the well for meals.

In the earlier days, arrow slits were part of the defense system. Later, they created round holes for guns.

Again, rocky, watery grave if prisoners tried to escape, and very difficult to access from down below. The castles were built with primarily defense in mind.


This was the chapel.

We were very fortunate that the place was virtually empty and so were able to get a lot of pictures without having a ton of people in them. :)



After we saw this castle, I felt the trip was worth all the while.

Every vacation should have a disaster or two to make them really memorable, right? Of course! So I made my flight just fine to Houston, to Newark, was getting ready to board for Edinbourgh, and my passport had expired the month before.

I have to say that the folks at Continental Airlines were wonderful. They helped me to get to Philadelphia on Amtrak the next morning and the security at the Customs House were wonderful, and the clerks there too, to ensure that I could get on my way. It was a sweat job getting a train, a taxi, a photo from Kinkos over half a mile from the Custom House, and all the while I'm lugging a bag (the other went to Edinburgh and was happily waiting for me there), very briefly noting historical monuments and buildings along the way in my frantic rush, a very thorough screening, and then hours later with new passport in hand, a rushed taxi ride back, which was the scariest part as the meter went out on the driver's taxi and he kept trying to get his phone that had fallen on the floor while slamming on his brakes when someone stopped in front of him in the traffic filled streets. Then the train ride back to Newark, back through security and on the plane that I should have taken the night before.

Which meant that I didn't have a night to sleep. As soon as I arrived in Edinburgh, I met my friends and we were on our way across Scotland!

The way I look at it was that I had never been on a train, never to Philadelphia, and so it was a unique experience. And it showed that an impossible situation was made possible. I will also say that I'm not the only one who has faced this crisis!!!Although I wished I had seen that my passport was nearly expired. But I've only used it once in 10 years, so I never even thought about that aspect!!!


Maybe it'll go in a book someday!!!

Have any wild adventures in traveling?

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com

St Francis Wolf Sanctuary

Adding realism to fantasy--but also, to promotional blogs!!

I've had fans ask if I've been around wolves, and I'd wanted to visit a wolf sanctuary, knowing there are several around the country, but way far away. Then someone asked if there might be one close by. So I did some research and found one 2 1/2 hours away in Montgomery, Texas. So with two fellow librarians, we went on an adventure and visited the wolf sanctuary and a fun time was had by all.

It was hard to get a picture of the carved wolf head beyond the gate, but here is the gate to the estate of the St Francis Wolf Sanctuary.



I wanted to share a few blogs about the various animals/sightings, and am working diligently on Heart of the Highland Wolf edits since it's due on Monday. So I've really got to get back to it. But here is the first of the stories.


Part of the reason I write that my werewolves have long lives is I don't want them to lose their mates at an early age. This is a part wolf, part dog, but looks very much like a wolf and acted like one, who lost his mate, Spirit, three weeks earlier. This was the first time he came out of his home to sit on top of it after losing her.

He actually came to the fence and howled a couple of times, but it was hard to get a picture of them howling. They'd howl, then pace and with their long legs, moved very quickly.


One thing that can distinguish a wolf from a wolf dog is the narrow chest, longer legs, and many constantly paced around their pens. Arctic wolves do have shorter legs and ears though. Arctic wolves are gray wolves also.

But he really did come out of his grief somewhat to finally come to the fence and participate a little in the excitement caused by visitors and volunteers who were there to see them and that was good to see. He was very alpha--his ears always perked up. I'll show a very beta wolf also--and how different the posture.

The Beta Wolf


This was one of the wolves that was walked when we were at the St Francis Wolf Sanctuary. She's a beta, as you can see from the way she stands. She was thrilled to go for a walk, yet she kept her ears back, her tail tucked between her legs, her body slightly bowed.

She has always lived alone, so she stays alone in her pen, while all the other wolves or wolf dogs had companions. But those who managed the sanctuary felt she wouldn't allow anyone in her pen to share it. She's the only one of the full blooded wolves that they walk. She loves the man who walked her here, but some women, she doesn't like he told us!



When you see the wolf like this, it reminded me so much of one of my standard poodles, how she would do this on occasion.




I'm wondering, though, if she found the right male, would she be happy to share her pen with him?

Of course, she would. :)


Remember, whether a beta wolf or alpha, everyone deserves a delectable mate!

Scent Rolling

This is the beta Arctic Wolf scent rolling. Dogs will do this also, and bring back the "delightful" smells they've picked up--the scent of dead animals, etc, to their pack. Our yellow Labrador Retriever would love to do this after we gave her a sweet smelling bath. Not to her taste. :) She would prance around, telling us how she was dying to go outside right after her bath and once we let her out, she'd scent roll to gather something nicer smelling to bring back inside with us--to share her good fortune.



Here, the she-wolf looks like she's just taking a nice nap in the open field. Her nose is buried in the grass--taking in all the delightful aroma. :) Her pen was just as grassy and comfy, but she wouldn't have the fun of smelling all the little animal fragrances that collect in the surrounding area--rabbits, mice, all those tasty treats.



This was the wolf dog who had lost his mate and for 3 weeks stayed in his den. But here, he actually came out to the fence and howled near us.


When the wolves howl, it was pretty quick, so capturing a picture of them with their head tilted back and giving off a howl was hard to do. The volunteers said that they normally didn't howl much during the day, and one of the wolves was doing all of the howling at first. Then several began howling.


Here is a wolf and a wolf dog--the wolf howling. She howled constantly, then later some of the others howled. But she was the first. She was very alpha, scent marking and scratching the ground with her paws.



And here is some good news:
A nice review at Reviews and More by Teresa Hissong!

http://theresahissong.blogspot.com/2010/09/book-review-seduced-by-wolf-by-terry.html

Do you have a wolf sanctuaries near you? I'd love to go to another!

Have a super day!!!

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com

Bears from a Werewolf Writer!

Here's what it's like to wake up as a werewolf writer:

First, I wake up with a bang! And Finn is hauling Meara to the carpeted floor in a panic. :) It's serious, sexy, and humorous...because of what he's wearing...or...not wearing. I love it when a scene just comes to me like that! SEALs can be so yummy. :)

And truly, that's often how it happens. I could have stayed up all night trying to come up with the ending hook on my first chapter, but I didn't need to. I just needed for the characters to show me what was going to happen next. With a bang! :) That's coming in The Wolf and the SEAL.

Here's a nice review of Seduced by the Wolf:
http://paranormalromanticsuspensereviews.blogspot.com/2010/08/arc-review-seduced-by-wolf-mass-market.html

And!!! I got another bear order!!! This one is for a McDonald Celtic Clan Bear!

I worked on Montgomery Clan bear last night. Just need to finish him up, and then still need to embroider his paws and need to make his bonnet and sash.

The McDonald Celtic Clan bear is for a brand new grandson born on the 20th, whose father is in Afghanistan. So please say some prayers for his father while he serves our country.



Here is the Campbell Clan bear getting ready for his trip to South Africa! Thanks, Ann!

And here is the confetti bear playing with a purple lei before her trip to South Africa also! Thanks, Sharon!

Each bear has its own unique personality, just like characters in books, and they were excited to be on their way to their new homes. :)

On one of my blog tour posts, a commenter said something about a werewolf writer makes teddy bears? Sure, why not! One of these days, I'll make a wolf bear. :)

But I'm anxious to get back to working on Finn and his dilemma as Meara is squirming to get out from under him. Don't you just love writing stories?

Also, if you have some books at Amazon, this is a neat tracker to see how sales are doing all over the world:

http://www.novelrank.com/track.php

I'm here also today with a free book giveaway:
http://www.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com/

And another giveaway, this one at Deb's Book Blog:
http://debsbookbag.blogspot.com/

And another great review, this one from a "fellow" librarian! http://bibliophile2

Yesterday, I posted this on Redroom for Authors and had 360 views! Sometimes a picture truly is worth a 1,000 words. As a retired Army officer, this just tickled me and I had to get a picture of it:

You know, I couldn't have made up anything funnier if I'd tried. Every time I drive by this sign, I've wanted to get a picture, and in fact have tried, but never had a camera that could take a clear shot.

And Deb Werksman, my editor at Sourcebooks is taking pitches!
http://casablancaauthors.blogspot.com/2010/08/practice-your-pitching.html

I may have a new deal in the works there too!


Have a terrific Thursday, keep thinking great wolfish thoughts, and give your loved ones a bear hug for me!

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com