Texas and Werewolves and Vamps, Oh My!
The title of this blog was inspired by a line in the movie, The Wizard of Oz. Wonderful characters and imaginary animals filled the screen during the movie. We haven’t lost our love for imaginary characters and animals, have we? The movies prove that every year, and werewolves have hit the screen in a big way. Popular movies feature both the villain and the hero as werewolves.
Fortunately, our entertainment doesn’t have to stop with movies. Werewolf fans can find plenty of exciting fiction books featuring werewolves. As a romance writer, I find werewolves make for both tragic and heroic characters. I can let my imagination run wild.
I can envision the story with things I’ve seen and experienced in my own life. I’ll always remember following the narrow dirt road from the family cabin to the fishing hole, and the tree root which formed a menacing claw at the edge of the thick woods I had to walk through to reach the stream. When I was young I imagined the claw shaped roots to be a warning of danger which lurked in the trees’ shadows.
I remember a trip with my family across Texas, trees covered with moss at the shadowed edge of a river at dusk. We drove through the darkness of night and saw a flock of huge birds which flew in front of our car as we crossed a bridge over a river. I’d never seen anything
like those giant birds before and had no idea what they were or why they were flying at night. I know they weren’t owls. They’ve become an important part of one of my romance stories about shape shifters which includes werewolves.Adding romance to a shape shifter story heightens the stakes for the characters. A hero with an emotionally monumental past to overcome is perfect for a werewolf, a larger than life alpha male. He must not only overcome the evil villain, but he must face sacrificing everything, putting his life on the line to protect the woman he loves. Such actions endear him forever to a romance readers heart.
Guardian of Her Heart, an erotic contemporary werewolf romance, under my writing name for the genre, Claire Adele, will be out soon. More information and a photo will be posted here as they become available. Guardian of Her Heart is part of my new series titled Wolves of West Texas, and will be available at Siren-BookStrand.
Following is a story blurb for Guardian of Her Heart:
Tormented private investigator Mike Wolfson has a killer to catch. Hiding family secrets, including his shape shifter side, alienate him from the one woman he‘s always wanted. Child crisis center director, the stunning Melissa Haven, is threatened by the evil underworld of his greatest enemy. Mike must protect her from kidnappers without revealing his dark reality.
Melissa’s always believed Mike’s wealth and her middle class status kept them apart. Finally together, they can no longer deny their feelings. Daring and determined, she welcomes his tempting caresses as hidden passions ignite. She never expected to share such pleasures with Mike.
As Mike protects the woman he’s always loved from mortal danger, can he reveal his heart-wrenching secret, or will the truth lose her love forever?
I hope you'll enjoy this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. You might also like Moonlight Desperado, out now at Siren-BookStrand, if you like werewolf romances. Check out my other books and novellas on my web site. http://www.JeanmarieHamilton.com
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Wishing you a happy new year and lots of great reads!
Jeanmarie Hamilton/Claire Adele
Hi Jeanmarie, isn't that true that there's something about werewolves and vampires, even before the Twilight series made them popular again? Simply put, to me they're misfits in need of love. Very simply put.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, there's a new TV show, I think on the ScyFy channel, a contemp about 3 roommates - a ghost, a vamp, and a werewolf. It sounds interesting and fun but we don't get ScyFy, darn it.
Congratulations on your upcoming book!
Jane
Jeanmarie, I remember reading part of this story and loved it. That was before you heated it up, LOL, but I remember it's a good story and I like both the hero and heroine. Best of luck with it.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Jeanmarie! I don't think those vampire and werewolf legends will ever die and for romance, all you need is a sympathic character to make readers swoon. Remember Barnabas Collins on the old daytime soap 'Dark Shadows'?
ReplyDeleteAnd I saw that show advertised too, Jane. I figured it was the popularity of the Twilight series with young people that spawned that.
Good luck with your story, Jeanmarie!
Jane,
ReplyDeleteExactly. They're definitely misfits and afraid to love even though they need it. I think I have to check out that new show you mentioned. We get that channel. I'll let you know how the show is. Thanks for the congrats and for stopping by!
*Hugs*
Jeanmarie
Caroline,
ReplyDeleteYes, you've read it. And yes before it was quite finished. :-) Thanks so much for your support. I'm so glad you liked the story and the characters. :-)
*Hugs*
Jeanmarie
Hi Susan!
ReplyDeleteYes! I remember Barnabas Collins! Of course I was very young when I watched Dark Shadows. ;-) But it definitely appealed to me. I think it would really be popular now. Yep, those sympathetic heroes get us every time. I know you like to write them too.
Great to see you here!
Jeanmarie
Maybe werewolves intrigue us because they are so mysterious and frightening. I remember a movie where Jack Nicholson turned into one and it has stuck with me over the years. It's just plain scary to think your body can be taken over by a beast.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with lots and lots of sales, Jeanmarie. :)
Paisley, thanks!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen that movie with Jack. ;-) That would be horrifying.
Yes, the werewolves have a hard time dealing with their wolfyness. ;-)
*Hugs*
Jeanmarie
Jeanmarie--your Wolves of the West series sounds very intriguing! I take it all the books are set in Western states? Guardian of her heart sounds like a winner and I agree that werewolf shapeshifters make great alpha/tortured heroes!
ReplyDeleteJane and everyone, the show you're talking about is Being Human, and it's absolutely fabulous. It's done by BBC and you can rent it on Netflicks, but I bought Season I. It's about 3 friends sharing a house, and helping each other Being Human. Not just an angst-ridden vampire or were show.
ReplyDeleteDark Shadows - now that takes me back a ways, but yes, I even remember the blurb: Can an 800 year old vampire find love and happiness in a typical New England town?
Great post today. I'm newly following you. I write angels and vamps, in California. That's still the wild west, right?
Marin,
ReplyDeleteGreat to see you! :-)
This series will have stories that take place in Texas. Maybe the next series will feature werewolves in other states in the southwest. We'll see what happens. ;-)
*Hugs*
Jeanmarie
Hi Sharon!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for following us! Yep, California is definitely a huge part of the wild west. Angels and vamps? Great combination. :-)
I'm so glad you enjoyed my post. We look forward to seeing you again.
Wishing you a Happy New Year and many happy readers!
Jeanmarie
Great blog, Jeanmarie, I love the vivid way you described the trees and the root sticking up and the birds--what a great imagination you had even as a child!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great story. I can't wait to read it.