People like to ask me all the time why I write paranormal and shifter books, especially erotic romance paranormal and shifter books. The easy answer is: I write what I read. I love paranormal, science fiction, suspense… anything that can grab my attention and keep it. But that is the easy answer. The more involved answer lies in my adventures throughout my teen years and the subsequent things I’ve experienced as an adult.
When I was in high school a man, who was involved in environmental education and animal rescue, approached the science teachers. He asked for students that would be willing to work with animals and do grunt work around his compound. My then boyfriend, now husband, and I jumped at the chance. Our first job, and something we did for the three years we were involved with the organization, was butchering roadkill to feed to the animals. Now, for those squeamish folks reading this I won’t go into details, but let me just tell you that there are things I saw and smelled that I will NEVER forget.
You can ask me, because most people do, WHY stay working for someone if all you are doing is cutting up dead things?! I’ll tell you why in two words: wolves and cougars. He not only had predatory birds like hawks and eagles, he had two rescued cougars. Shortly after we started working for him, he acquired a small pair of female wolves. They were pups when they were first brought to his compound. My boyfriend and I were two of the first humans introduced as pack.
Let me tell you, if you have never experienced the power and absolute majestic qualities of wolves you are surly missing something. Even as pups they were strong and dominant. We were constantly being challenged. It was awesome.
I learned many things working with those animals. Many more tales than I could even put into words let alone in an interview, but the interactions with those animals molded my life and my understanding of nature far more than anything else I’ve ever done.
Now, how does that lead into what, and why, I write? Watching the animal body language, their power and ability to take on anything, really flavored my thoughts of what paranormal books should entail. I always wanted to put into words the sensual movements of the animals, how they communicated their needs without a single verbal cue. That is what I try to bring to my writing when I am writing about shifters.
Anyway, you’ll see some of that knowledge in Willie’s character and in subsequent characters in the other paranormal/shifter books I have written or will be writing.
When her inner kitty starts sniffing around at the male she's helping, she knows Fate's evil sense of humor is in full swing. Being a shifter-vampire hybrid is hard enough, but having a male vampire as her fated mate is just too much.
Nickola, the vampire she assists, finds her breathtaking and does all he can to push Fate's agenda.
Stephen is the male vampire Nickola is investigating for the Council. He takes aim at the couple, intent on pulling Nick to his side or killing him. Between Stephen's scheming and the Council's interest in Willie, can they survive the chaos long enough to test the depths of their passions?
Excerpt:
The heat and pain from the shift were muted by the pain already coursing through her body. The change came quickly because her mountain lion had been so close to her skin for days. She felt her bones shifting, changing. Her skin felt hot and tight. In a few heartbeats she changed from the slight human form to her larger, heavier tawny cat. The tatters that had been her clothes fell to the ground like confetti.
The surprised vampire loosened his hold on her long enough for Willie to get her back claws into his stomach and tear his gut open from navel to groin. He released her completely as the pain registered in his head. Panic flashed across his face as the large cat that he now faced growled low in her chest.
She stalked her prey, loving the feel of the ground under her paws. Her body moved with feline grace, silently flowing across the ground. The vampire was trying to hold his intestines inside his body so he could heal the gaping hole she’d ripped in his gut. He fell backward a few steps, yelling something incoherent at her. She grinned a toothy smile at him and pounced. She sunk her teeth into his shoulder and dragged him to the ground. Her front claws dug into his chest and back, sinking easily through his clothes and skin. She crushed the bones in his shoulder when she bit down. Blood ran down her face. The shrill screams echoing through the night made her want to laugh. This was so exhilarating. She had only hunted small game in her cat form, but to take down prey as large as herself was almost fun. The fear that rolled off the male in thick waves made her want to cause him more pain.
Half in Love releases today- May 10th from Siren BookStrand. This title is offered at a 10% discount. Offer ends midnight CST, May 17th.
Find out more about Lea here:
Website: www.leabarrymire.com
Email: leabarrymire@gmail.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lea.barrymire
Twitter: @leabarrymire
Dawn, Thank you so much for having me on your blog! I'm so excited about this book. Lea
ReplyDeleteLea, Thank you for sharing your background! Soooo Cool :) Your story looks very interesting.
ReplyDeleteI will have to check it out.
(((hugs))) Kat
PS. Thanks Dawn!
Geez, I just saw this... sorry! Thanks for the comment. Hope you like Half in Love if you've grabbed it. I loved writing these characters. Lea
DeleteThanks for stopping by Lea!! It was great having you here and I can't wait to read Half in Love!! :D
ReplyDelete