Bah Humbug or Deck the Halls ~ and... I won’t slow down.

How much ripping shredding fun could Sable, as her black cat self, have with that tree and all that wrapping paper?

Bah Humbug or Deck the Halls ~ Do Your ShapeShifters Enjoy the Holidays?

Hmmm... I’m damn well certain my stallion shifter, Trail, will be enjoying Christmas and the holidays on Earth. Yep, he’ll be snorting and running wild with his Seneca. Plus, he’s planning to make good use of mistletoe. He likes teasing his human mare with lots of kisses.
Oh, yeah, he’ll also make certain there’s a crock pot of mulled cider brewing, cinnamon and spices scenting the air. Several apples a day, or several mugs of cider, not only keeps the doctor away, it keeps Trail extra frisky as a stud.

My black cat girl, Sable Kiki, has never seen a trimmed Christmas tree that didn’t make her claws curve and itch for a good feline time. Why waste time tamely batting at the ornaments? Climb, seek and destroy every glittery ball and bauble, that’s her cat motto. Maaoowww and yowl... ride that pine down to the ground.

Given my red lioness woman, Sun Rocket, and my stallion shifter, Prince Zio, live in the far future and another galaxy, respectively, the holiday season as we know it, doesn’t exist.

So, are your shifters getting ready for the holidays, or heading the opposite direction?
~~~~~~

For now, Darius, my bull shifter, has decided to voice his thoughts.

Yowza butting-powza, the Bull is back... a hero with a real set of horns and the bold balls to match.
~~~~~~

For the beginning of this bullie woolie tail see my prior blogs ~
~~~

X-Serial Flash

New Bull in Town ~ Darius Speaks

THIRTY-FIVE
Once I see Shelley’s simple adobe home, I slow somewhat. Running over one of her barn cats or her freely roaming chickens wouldn’t endear her to me. I hit the brake firmly as I pass through the open gate about a quarter mile from her house. The pickup creeps along. Mentally, I tug on a nose ring to keep myself under control. Pulling into her parking area, I slam the brake hard. In seconds I’m outside, the door banging behind me. Yep, there’s her friend’s pink truck sitting beneath the spindly shade of a pinon tree. I charge the door.

THIRTY-SIX
Snorting silently, I leap over the three steps onto her shaded porch, my boots thudding on the old wooden planks. “Who is it?” I hear Shelly call to her friend. “You’re not going to believe this, Shelley honey, it’s Darius, that yummy cowboy that asked you to dance Saturday night.” I pause, my fist raised to the door. Silence. No response from my Shelley. Before I’ve knock three times, her friend jerks open the door. Leaning against the door’s edge, she gazes at me coyly, then smiles. Her piled on red lipstick is so shiny I stare, mesmerized for an instant.
~~~~~~

Shapeshifter lovers, check out CAT NIP. It’s a free read by erotic romance author, Gem Sivad ~ http://gemsivad.wordpress.com ~ also, for the ongoing story, subscribe at ~ http://textnovel.com ~
~~~
Plus, take a peek at COYOTE MOON by Pat Cunningham at ~ http://bookstrand.com/product-coyotemoon-14959-330.html ~ Pat’s book has received several top reviews.
~~~~~~

HAPPY SHAPESHIFTING HOLIDAYS

~ MAY ALL YOUR READING DREAMS COME TRUE ~

Savanna Kougar

~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~

Author of ~

All Shades of Blue Paradise
Red Lioness Tamed
When a Good Angel Falls
Tangerine Carnal Dreams
Murder by Hair Spray in Gardenia, New Atlantis
Black Cat Beauty
Her Insatiable Dark Heroes
Stallion of Ash and Flame ~
~~~~~~

Linear vs. nonlinear story telling

As writers most of us know the difference between pantsers and plotters. I'm a pantser...hands down. I have some vague notions of a beginning middle and end but then I sit at my computer and let my characters go and they tell me their story. I merely take dictation (most of the time).

You'd think the plotters would be the linear types. The ones that need to start at the beginning and proceed to the end following the threads of the plot(s) to their logical conclusions. Then you'd think the pantsers are all over the place. Able to write an early scene that grabs them here, a scene from late in the book there...and so on.

Well, it ain't necessarily so. I'm a total pantser, but I'm a linear story teller. I have to start at the beginning and keep going. I might make notes if I have an idea for a great scene later on in the book, but I usually need to get there first and then I write the scene. My later scenes build on the early scenes.

At least that's the way it always used to work. I'm writing a short story right now where I'm having real trouble getting the sex scenes to move...and trust me...you want the sex scenes to move! You know? But in order to get to "the end" I have had to skip the sex scenes. I'm still writing in a linear fashion, but now I'll have to go back in to the story to add scenes later, but at least the story is moving along at this point. This is the first time I've really done any sort of "skipping around." And even so, it's not really skipping around. I'm still moving in a straight line.

So does anyone have any tips as I travel uncharted waters? What's your process? Are you a linear plotter? A nonlinear plotter? A nonlinear pantser? Or like me are you a linear pantser? How do you get to "the end"?

And...I want to do a blatant promotion. Tomorrow on my blog (Francesca's Mindstream), I will be hosting author Jeanne St. James. She interviews Mace Walker, the hero of one of her new books, Banged Up. After you visit the Shapeshifter crew, stop by and say hi to Jeanne.

Five Benefits To Being A Shapeshifter On Black Friday

Yep, I'm coming at you with another Friday Five, but I do so enjoy them and today being Black Friday and all, I thought it appropriate. :)

So on with the show...


Five benefits to being a shapeshifter on Black Friday

5. Being nocturnal, I'll be wide-eyed and bushy-tailed at 3:00am.
4. If I'm a shapeshifter who can take other human forms, I could change into someone famous and get my stuff for freebie.
3. My fur will keep me extra warm when I'm camping outside my favorite electronics store overnight.
2. My fearsome appearance will assure me a place in the front of the line.
1. Should any of the above fail to allow me to be first to my desired purchases, I can nip the heals of those in the lead... hehee watch out ;)

Good Luck out there to all our readers making the rounds for early bird specials, keep an eye open for any Jags or Wolves who cross your path.

Happy Thanksgiving from Crystal

In honor of the holidays I’m going to share with you a sweet treat that’s been a tradition in my family since I was grown and married and making the decisions for myself : )


My mother always made a sweet potato mash at Thanksgiving and... I always hated it.

When I got older and was doing the cooking for myself, I looked for ways to make this very healthy tuber into a more appetizing dish. I originally saw Tyler Florence make this on Food Network channel, and yes, the fact that he’s hunky delicious influenced my desire to try it. I have to admit, that gorgeous man knows his way around the kitchen. Is he the perfect guy or what?

Cinnamon Streusel Sweet Potatoes

   * 12 large sweet potatoes
   * 3/4 cup (11/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
   * 3/4 cup light brown sugar
   * 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
   * 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
   * 1/4 teaspoon salt
   * 1 cup toasted pecan pieces
   * 1 cup miniature marshmallows

 Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Wash the sweet potatoes, scrubbing them well to remove any dirt. With a fork, prick the sweet potatoes in a couple of spots and place them on a sheet pan. Bake for about 45 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center goes in easily.

In a large bowl, mix the butter, brown sugar, and flour together until it's crumbly-looking. Add the cinnamon, salt, pecans, and marshmallows; fold the streusel topping together to combine.

Slice the sweet potatoes lengthwise down the center and push the ends towards the middle so it opens up. Stuff the sweet potatoes generously with the streusel topping and return to the oven. Bake for another 20 minutes, or until the topping is bubbly and brown.

Five Angels Worth of Gratitude & ...Here I come, Shelley.

One thing about this business of being an author... it has it’s surprises! Good and bad. This surprise was one of those gifts that made me bounce with unbounded joy inside... while thinking to myself ‘you’re overreacting’.
Hey, I hate to admit it, but tears actually came to my eyes. I think I know why. To get to this point as an author, has been one very long, terrifically difficult struggle.
So, to see those five gleaming glittery-red angels, well, I just went on happy overwhelm.
And, you darn betcha, I am grateful. What a lovely Thanksgiving present.
Thank you to MerryLee, to everyone who helped make Stallion a success... and on and on (think awards shows here)... and thanks to the Divine.
~~~~~~

FIVE ANGELS for Stallion of Ash and Flame

Yep, it’s true. Fallen Angel Reviews has given STALLION OF ASH AND FLAME *5* Angels. Whinny... buck... trumpet the news and rear!

Review Snippet ~

Trail... can shift into a flesh and blood stallion and then into a stallion of fire or ash. He can psi-read minds, read vibrations, astral project, brain-scramble his enemies, suck up fire, fry electronics, start vehicles without keys and on and on and on... Savanna Kougar fans will find it a wonderfully scorching hot read that definitely rates 5 Angels. In typical Kougar form, the plot is rich in detail, original and imaginative. The main characters are well developed, often amusing and very likeable. All you Kougar fans are in for a treat with this one...

Reviewed by: Merrylee

~ http://fallenangelreviews.com/2009/October/merrylee-stallionofashandflame.htm ~
~~~~~~
Trail and Seneca invite you to read their love story ~
STALLION OF ASH AND FLAME ~ Available from Siren-BookStrand ~ A man-stallion of ash and flame on a mission to save his world’s Earth portal must save his Mate, a human woman forbidden to him ~ *5* Angels from Fallen Angel Reviews ~ http://bookstrand.com/product-stallionofashandflame-15601-192.html ~ ISBN: 1606015931
~~~~~~

For now, Darius, my bull shifter, has decided to voice his thoughts.

Yowza butting-powza, the Bull is back... a hero with a real set of horns and the bold balls to match.
~~~~~~

For the beginning of this bullie woolie tail see my prior blogs ~
~~~

X-Serial Flash

New Bull in Town ~ Darius Speaks

THIRTY-THREE
The low roar of the pickup as I peel out onto the highway offers a few seconds of satisfaction. That is, until the demanding state of my cock intrudes. My jeans have never fit this tight. If I unzip some trucker is likely to call 911 and report a cowboy pervert. Or, figure I’m advertising for good times at the nearest truck stop.
Nope, the ‘raging bull’ will have to remain corralled. A long mental bellow vibrates through me as I charge around the traffic.
When I decided Shelley was my ideal woman, beyond my rampaging lust, I’m not certain.

THIRTY-FOUR
I whip the steering wheel around, half-sliding onto the winding road that leads to my Shelley’s ranch. I have not one bull crap idea what I’m going to say or do.
Century upon century of experiences suddenly mean nothing.
Despite my non-human abilities, I remain as moonstruck and bewildered as any man who wants a woman beyond all reason.
Somehow, I must make her understand our destiny together.
I sharply turn onto the ranch’s hard dirt drive, dust billowing around me.
Shelley, my Shelley. The pickup bounces like a bucking twisting bull over the deep ruts. I won’t slow down.
~~~~~~

Shapeshifter lovers, check out CAT NIP. It’s a free read by erotic romance author, Gem Sivad ~ http://gemsivad.wordpress.com ~ also, for the ongoing story, subscribe at ~ http://textnovel.com ~
~~~
Plus, take a peek at COYOTE MOON by Pat Cunningham at ~ http://bookstrand.com/product-coyotemoon-14959-330.html ~ Pat’s book has received several top reviews.
~~~~~~

HAPPY SHAPESHIFTING THANKSGIVING

~ MAY ALL YOUR READING DREAMS COME TRUE ~

Savanna Kougar

~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~

Author of ~

All Shades of Blue Paradise
Red Lioness Tamed
When a Good Angel Falls
Tangerine Carnal Dreams
Murder by Hair Spray in Gardenia, New Atlantis
Black Cat Beauty
Her Insatiable Dark Heroes
Stallion of Ash and Flame ~
~~~~~~

Rules...or no rules?

I've been watching the discussions lately on the value of social networking and after Serena's blog about dining with a werewolf, I started wondering about the social aspects of being a shifter.

Are there strict rules of conduct? Arranged marriages for the hierarchy? Do they date outside their species, heck do they bother with dating and move right to mating?

Have you set up an entire culture or do they base their socializing on the typical rules of society that we've come to expect? In my first jaguar shifter novel, Assassin's Kiss, the consequences of taking a forbidden mate was the same as theirs, death. Do your shifters suffer any consequences?

How do you handle the dating/mating rituals of your shifter society? Inquiring minds want to know;-)

Hugs,
Paris