Short week and New Story

I'm going to be brief. It's late on Friday night as I write this. I took a class from a local published author on making the undead believable. Got some good tid bits. Reaffirmed things I already knew. Looking forward to taking another class with this person in two weeks. Here's the opening on a new story I'm scribbling on the side. Working title is Wings of The Heart.

Enjoy!
Solara
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“Look lizard breath! Stop being so stingy!” Tina Nichols folded her arms tight across her chest. “I need a scale to finish my flying incantation.”

Derek Stanson pushed his sunglasses up on top his head. “What makes you think I’m being stingy?”

Tina kicked at the loose pebbles covering one part of the cliff’s edge. “You gave Cindy two scales and Mary Jane another. What’s one more going to hurt?”

Derek sighed, leaning back against the huge oak tree standing half way back on the hill’s peak. Summer time and heat combined with dragon hormones was bad enough. A temper mental witch was something he’d rather not deal with. “Tina, those scales were two molts ago. You know several months old and not the least bit powerful in any form.”

Tina shot him a scoff and stomped past him, working her way down the trail running in between the tall pines and older elms and oaks. Her ass wiggled every step she took. Her anger emphasized her strut the more she stomped. Her shoulder length blonde hair flared out behind her with each step. Her five-foot-four height hid a temper that could curdle clotted milk. While he’d loved to watch her petite bums work their way back down the hill sans clothing---yeah, he’d been fantasizing about her again---he knew better than to ignore her out burst. Silent or verbal, when Tina got pissed, look out. Her magic could run amuck if he didn’t keep an eye on her.

“Tina, wait up.” He pulled his sunglasses down and jogged after her.

Tina didn’t want to slow down. Damn Derek and his generosity with the camp kids. He’d give his last molted scale to them and listen to their oohs and ahs like a hummingbird going after sugar nectar. Let her ask for one and---well she’d even said please and explained why she needed it. Hearing his heavy breathing and trot behind her, Tina sped up her gait. Blast him! She needed space to cool down. Her thinking wasn’t running in sequence, much less being logical. She needed to go over the spell again to see if anything else would work.

Two weeks prior, she’d stumbled upon her great aunt’s spell book going through a box of old books she’d found in the attic. Great aunt Elspeth, the one who believed in her despite her less than stellar heritage, saw nothing wrong with Tina’s mortal half. So she didn’t hex and spell cast as well as the rest of her of family. She hid her real power from them, moonlight prating. With the light of the stars and a full moon, she could create faux diamonds and gems that fooled even some world-class jewelers.

Tina shook her head, as tempting as that was she couldn’t show up at her university reunion and not be able to cast a simple flying spell. Faux dragon scales didn’t work. Her antique broom levitated two feet off the floor before it fell like a heavy rock back to her feet. If she practiced hard enough, she could call her forks to her along with other utensils. Who was she trying to fool? Her Wiccan U classmates would probably snub her and laugh just like they had ten years earlier.

Two thirds of the way down the hill, she stopped. Derek’s shuffle and heavy breathing weren’t following her. Had he given up? He kept saying everyone needed a keeper and they were each others.

Would You Look Here...

Lately, while I've had an overflow of story ideas and snippets, my blogging ideas have gone south.  So as I cruised the internet, looking for inspiration, I came across this site http://community.livejournal.com/thefridayfive/  and it's filled with Five Friday questions.  Paging through the list of questions, there were many that were interesting and funny, but none as unique as the five below...

Talk about your creative, story inspiring questions.  How would you answer some of these babies?

1) You are on your way to work, when suddenly a wormhole to the far side of the galaxy opens in the middle of the road. You are thus the first to meet the alien being that emerges. Despite your protestations, you are now Earth’s unofficial First Contact ambassador. What will you say to the visitor?


2) A wandering trading caravan emerges from the wormhole. They plan to stay on Earth for a few weeks, and then will move on to the next planet and the next. Whatever you said must have really impressed them, because they offer to let you and a few other humans come along with them. The only catch is that the caravan probably won’t be back to Earth. Would you go? Why or why not?

3) Suppose you decided to go. The master of the caravan will allow you to bring along whatever trinkets and baubles you think will sell on alien worlds, and will also allow you to bring exactly five other items that you may always keep. Clearly, he does not mean practical items like shoes or a toothbrush. What would you bring?

4) Suppose you decided to stay home after all. The caravan master offers you a parting gift. You may choose among super-brain pills, a flying car, a robot butler, or an invisibility belt. Which would you choose and why?

5) Suppose you ended up taking the super-brain pills. You now have a head the size, shape, and color of a watermelon. But you also now have the most fantastic mind the world has ever seen. What would be the first task you set it to?

~What would I say to the visitor? "Okay dude tell me, shapeshifters...myth or reality in your world?"


~What parting gift would I choose? Simple. An invisibility belt, of course...wouldn't that be a kick in the pants! LOL

Have a fabulous weekend!

More news from the shifter world!

Hi and welcome to your Wednesday fix of Shapeshifter Seductions! Rebecca here with your news of shape shifters in the real world. Today, we have a story of a woman who admits to being a cobra, a ranch in Utah that claims to be the skinwalker trail, and a remake of an old werewolf movie!

It’s been a busy week! I gave up on trying to make my website both functional and attractive on my one and have been checking out a few website design people. I also ended up expanding a story I though was just about ready to be submitted. One of the secondary characters decided he wanted a bigger part. I was hesitant at first- why mess with a good thing?- but caved. I kind of like the direction he wants to take it. The third story of my short story trilogy is not going to be a short story, or not as short as the first two, at least. Fun, fun, fun!

So on to the snake woman! In the tiny African nation of Ghana, a snake did appear in front of a village church. The parishioners, fearful of their safety, chased the snake off. When the snake disappeared down a drainage tunnel, the frightened villagers poured boiling water down it. What should appear? A woman who had just been burned by boiling water!

When asked, the woman admitted she was the snake. The pastor’s wife called the police because she was afraid the woman would be killed by her husband’s flock and they took her into custody, not that it stopped an angry mob from forming outside the jail, though. The police declared that the woman was insane, a claim some doubt because no snake could be found, boiled or otherwise. I can’t say as I blame them, but considering how many people have been turning up dead in Africa lately that can be tied to black magic, I can’t really blame the cops for trying to defuse the situation, either.

So you’d like to meet a shape shifter yourself, up close and personal? No need to go traipsing all the way to Africa, my loyal readers! In Uintah County, Utah, there is just such a place. The Skinwalker Ranch is a well-known hotbed for the super- and preternatural. You name it, someone has seen it there. Supposedly, the Utes of that area say that Navajo skinwalkers have made the area a cross roads of supernatural evil. There has even been a quasi-scientific study done on the place. You can pick up your own copy of the book, if actually traveling to BFE Utah doesn’t sound like your cup of tea. Or you and read this… interesting… article by the authors of the book.

Why do I even care, you may ask? Because I grew up not more than 100 miles away from Uintah County, Utah. I, in fact, grew up in Uinta County, Wyoming, and I absolutely saw things as a kid that made me think there was something out there in the night. If you need a little help luring your significant other into a trip the the wilds of the Rocky Mountains, you can always try billing it a ski vacation, one that even a bookworm could love!

If you’d like a break from reading interesting paranormal stuff (not that you would, but if you did) Nickelodeon is releasing a remake of an old 1973 horror, The Boy Who Cried Werewolf. In the original, a young boy goes on a camping trip with his father. The father gets attacked by a werewolf, and the kid spends the rest of the film trying to convince people that his father is now a werewolf. I have never seen this flick, but it does sound very interesting.

The new version is appropriately kid friendly, as one would expect from Nickelodeon, but probably won’t be as warm and fuzzy as a Disney made-for-TV movie. Other than the name, this one looks like it’s almost totally new. I’m still going to be tuning in, though, because it’s got a grieving widower who just inherited a mansion in Romania and whose kids turn into werewolves. ‘Nuff said for me. It’s airing Saturday, October 23^rd at 8/7 central.

That’s about it for this week’s shape shifter news. Have a safe and festive rest-of-the week!

Rebecca

RebeccaLGillan.com

Going into the darkness...

Pic from ~ 123nonstop.com ~

Mist-howling hello, shapeshifter lovers... ghosts, ghouls and goblins... don’t forget ALL the creatures of the night. They certainly won’t forget you during this time of the year... when portals open and the veil parts... when the Earth becomes their trick-or-treat playground... or as some would have you believe... their feeding ground.

Admittedly spooky tales were never my thing growing up, even though I’ve always felt a calling for all things *living* in the paranormal realm. One terribly nasty nightmare was enough for me after watching the Twilight Zone as a kid. Besides, I’ve always been squeamish around blood.

So, it’s somewhat of a surprise to me, how much I’ve embraced the shadow these past several years. As an author I’ve entered the creepy deep shadows of Halloween more and more. One reason is because Werewolves, Vampires and other Beasties have entered romance-landia as alpha heroes and as powerful heroines.

Another reason is because I feel and sense the subtle energies of Samhain as I never have before. This is happening for many of us as we move further into the Age of Aquarius. IMO, this brings about a ‘soul need’, a ‘deep yearning’ for all the paranormal romance subgenres ~ with more to arrive hydra-style.

Often, *those* supposedly in the know, within the romance novel industry, predict the end of the paranormal genres, the end of the things-that-go-bump-in-the-night trend. They say that it’s back to contemporary romance ‘without’ all the woo-woo elements.

Maybe so. But, I haven’t seen evidence of it. That’s not to say there aren’t a lot of readers who prefer those romances, but there’s sure a heck of a lot who want ‘paranormals’. From what I’m observing currently, as far as comments from readers, they want their sexy alpha Werewolves and their hot seductive Vampires. And every spin-off breed of human/creature the imagination can conjure and create as romantic, passionate and/or erotic.

This is a good thing for me. As a writer I’ve been *going into the darkness* this past week. Into the darkness and isolation of my writing cave and into the Halloween magickal darkness of my current WIP.

Yep, happily and ‘knock on wood’ my penning will continue on a relatively smooth track, since my witchy erotic romance, Kandy Apple and Her Hellhounds, has reached a crescendo. With her most dangerous enemies defeated and now claimed by the Underworld, my heroine is about to be faced with a heart-wrenching choice. But then, the fate of Earth depends on it. Hey, no surprise, as Buffy, the vampire slayer knows, evil has been a relentless force.
~~~~~~

To get you in even more of a Halloween mood and because I adore my black cat girl, Sable Kiki, here’s a bad-witch excerpt from Halloween erotic romance, BLACK CAT BEAUTY.

Warning ~ x-rated language

...the woman suddenly appeared, stepping in front of her.

Halting instead of gliding around the woman, Sable ran her gaze up from the stiletto black heels she wore, to the woman’s gaunt face, decorated like an Egyptian cat statue. Unblinking eyes that reminded her of dirty pool water analyzed her face.

“What black arts’ technique did you use?” The woman’s tone spiraled around her, cast from a cauldron spell.

“And why would I share anything with you?” Sable didn’t bother disguising her utter disregard. When she moved to walk away, the woman stepped in front of her again.

“He’s mine.” The sinister woman’s voice coiled like a serpent in Sable’s belly.

Placing her fist on one hip, she faced the woman fully. “Is that so?” Sable seized the attacking energy, then twined it around the woman’s throat.

Sinister woman blanched for a moment, her eyes dilating mummy-style before she dispelled the energy, and scowled ruthlessly at Sable.

“I knew it.” She growled, her voice like an inner-world gargoyle.

“Knew what?” Sable envisioned batting her head around like a play toy, but didn’t throw the energy at her.

Narrowing her eyes, then pointing a bony finger with a dagger nail that could slice open many a sardine can, sinister woman intoned, “I’m not done, if you’re smart you’ll get out of my way. Everyone gets out of my way...eventually.”

Sable idly slid her gaze over the woman’s scarecrow features, her enraged glints for eyes. “If Devon was interested in fucking a woman with a body designed by Skeletor, I would be more than thrilled to send you in his direction.” Casually, she regarded her own nails, popping out one claw. “As it is, I would advise you to express your sorcery talents elsewhere.”

“Everyone in Hollywood bows before me. I’ve ruined countless careers, and decreed countless others into existence. You’re no match for my sorcery talents, you fat ugly toad.” A sparking black cloud emanated from the center of sinister woman’s forehead.

Creating a gale-force wind in her third eye, Sable blew it, dissipating the nasty soupy stuff before it could cause a second’s harm. “Since I have no wish for a career in Hollywood, your dire threat is just so much jibber jabber to my ears.” Sable remembered not to flick her ear. Or her tail in haughty satisfaction.

“Do you think your amateurish use of magick can stop me from getting what I want? I can enslave you to my will as easily as crooking my little finger.” Demonstrating, sinister woman thrust her Grim Reaper hand in front of Sable’s eyes.

“A big ole’ oops, witchie poo, but you’re too late.” Sable languidly tossed her waves of hair. “I’ve already been enslaved. Any advise for removing this collar?”

For an instant, mean ole’ witchie poo gleamed her gaze directly on the collar, then stared at the matching bracelet.

“Want to give it a magickal try?” Sable held up her wrist twisting it in front of the woman’s eyes. To further taunt sinister woman, she glittered the bracelet in the spooky illumination of the neon disco lights. “Maybe a tiny bolt of lightning. Want to try?”

Silent long enough for Sable to hear the lyrics ‘love to love you, baby’ of the sensual disco chant behind her, witchie poo finally looked up from the bracelet. “You’ll regret angering me, you cunt stupid bitch,” she snarled, her eyes gleaming greenish streaks of demonic hatred.

Sable smiled widely, her most I’m-going-to-make-you-prey grin. “Spells at dawn? Since I’m the challenger you can choose your favorite weapon from your black arts’ bag of tricks.”
~~~~~~

~ HAPPY AUTUMN SHAPESHIFTING ~

Savanna Kougar

~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~

Now What?

Now that my latest WIP is finished and no longer IP, I find myself wondering what I should work on next. At this point in the process I usually go through my notebooks and plot lists or haul abandoned pages out of the closet to see if anything hits.

Or, when I have to post a blog, I run an opinion poll. Which of the following would entice you, as a reader skimming back-cover blurbs, to give the story a try?

• The sequel to the vampire story. Right now this is the front runner. I’ve been scribbling random scenes to satisfy my daily writing requirement. In this installment the vampire and his male human lover become involved with a woman who’s not as human as she thinks. A ménage ensues, along with fight scenes, evil vampires and a decades-old secret. Think “The Boys From Brazil” with fangs.

• A discussion of virginity over on another loop inspired me to create a virginal male. Werewolves lend themselves nicely to this concept, since only the alpha pair breeds and they’d discourage carnal relations among the lower ranks. What’s a horny gamma wolf to do? He goes to a been there, done it all pixie for advice on how to court the ladies. Of course they fall in love. It’s a romance.

• Remember that post about which actors could play what kind of shifter in a movie? I was playing that game with a TV show and came up with horses. This led to a vague idea about a woman torn between two werehorse half-brothers, one sired by a Thoroughbred, the other by a mustang. It was going to be a ménage until I remembered mares only follow one stallion at a time, and stallions don’t share. I already know which one she ends up with and why, so I’d have to do a follow-up and rustle up a filly for the other one. Sequelitis is a pain in the butt.

• Back before the vampires distracted me, I was fiddling around with a fairy tale-based Western, “Jack and Jill” as filtered through Louis L’Amour. Maybe I should go back to it. No shapeshifters, but a lot of bad puns. The opening scene is posted over on the Title Magic blog, www.titlemagic.blogspot.com. If you think it has merit, let me know.

• I have no plans to write about Gil the weresquirrel, unless there’s overwhelming public demand.

All of this is subject to change, of course. I could see a call for anthology stories and the theme could inspire me, or wake up tomorrow with a whole new idea in my head. Until then, I’ll see what I can do with any or all of the above. The race is on!

As a thank you for your opinions, here’s one for you guys. There’s an old historic tavern in Philadelphia called “A Man Full of Trouble.” Is that a neat title or what? First person to come up with a plot gets to keep it. Just keep me informed.

Changes. . .from light to dark.....and somewhere in between

The change is upon us. Time will revert back in a few weeks. How prepared are we for the seasons to come? Up to 80 here today and down to 40's tonight. Perhaps one last hurrah before the burst of nature's festival of color begins.


"One last glimpse before I go to bed, please?" Nathan wiggled closer to his mother, pointing at the largest star overhead. "There she is. Tell me about the Lady and her wolf."

Mary Stardance smiled as her young son tipped back his head, turning left and right. Living in the city, they didn't get many clear nights. Too many street lights and car headlights to see more than a few here and there. Gazing around the cracking fire, she counted fifteen other participants. Their eyes eagerly watching her as they waited.

"I'm going to tell you a story. One our ancestors handed down by word of mouth. Many versions have come and gone. This is the one my grandmother taught me."

"The lady wished for a handsome warrior to come courting. Someone to end her loneliness." Mary wrapped her arm around her daughter sitting on her other side, snuggling her tight against her.

"All the eligible young men in the tribe gathered round her tepee serenading her with flute songs and stories of their bravery. Yet no young brave caught her eye."

"Why is that Medicine Woman?" A small high pitched voice dared to ask the question many wanted to know the answer too.

"Her mother set her eyes on the stars. Look to the heavens and see your mate there amongst the greatest gift the Maker has given us." Ohs and ahs cut through the fire's crackling. Several of the mothers present smiled and nodded.

"One brave from a distant camp rode many days to reach Stargazer's tribe. Upon his arrival, he asked her father for his bride price. Being his only daughter, Stargazer's father asked for many trinkets and animal skins to fatten his daughter's worth."

"Oh, I know what comes next." One small pudgy hand shot up, waving. "Can I tell it?"

Mary nodded. "Go on Tasha. What happened next?"

"The father asked for a wolf's skin to line his moccasins for the coming winter. Little did the father know the brave's totem was wolf." Tasha smiled, proud of her part in telling the story.

"Yes, Stalking Wolf's heart chilled at the thought of hunting and harming his brother and totem. He sought out Stargazer wanting to be sure she understood the error of her father's request."

Across the fire, a small boy jumped up. "My turn. I know what goes here. Stalking Wolf asked Stargazer to speak with her father and ask him to change his mind."

Another youngster stood, calling out. "Stargazer went to her father and pleaded with him to change his request. He vowed no daughter told her father what to do."

"Correct. So in the still of the night the young couple now deeply in love stole away hoping to reach Stalking Wolf's camp without issue. Three days into their journey, Stargazer's father and brothers came upon the young couple making love."

One young woman, rose moving around the camp fire until she stood near Mary. "The father and brothers rained arrows into the couple's campsite wanting to frighten them apart. Instead one arrow hit Stargazer piercing her heart."

"Who will bring the story to a close?" Mary glanced round the circle, looking to see who would finish the tale.

An older woman stood, dusting dirt from her buckskin dress. Beads and feathers adorned portions of it. One child reached out to touch her as she passed. Her mother grabbed her hand pulling it back.

"I finish the tale." A lone wolf cry sounded. Then another and another. "Stalking Wolf cried out for his animal brothers to come and avenge the wrong done. Before the brothers and father's eyes, he changed into a wolf. Lunging at them, he snapped and snarled. "

Murmurs rose and fell. Three sets of golden eyes appeared outside the light of the fire. "Come my love and finish our tale so our children may rest this night."

A large gray wolf padded into view settling next to the older woman. His form changed and in his place a young brave stood. "Sorrowful I killed my mate's family. I turned from her ready to run. Instead she called me to her, wanting with her last breath to pledge her eternal love. With my pack mates help, we brought her with us to our camp amongst the stars."

Hope you enjoyed this tale. Have a great weekend!

Enjoy a good book!

SOLARA