In the spotlight...When writing Heart of the Wolf, I did a lot of research on wolf pack dynamics and individual wolf behaviors. And in fact, in each of the subsequent books, Don’t Cry Wolf and Betrayal of the Wolf, I’ve incorporated even more details about wolf behaviors. So in every book, readers will find out something new. I’ve just started Allure of the Wolf, and again, intend to include new wolf details and already have some in mind.
When I set out to write Heart of the Wolf, I wanted to create a story that was as realistic as possible for a werewolf story to be, except I wanted to make it a romance, and the main characters live happily ever after.
Werewolves have been legends in many countries all over the world. So I wanted to incorporate a bit of those into the story, along with real wolf behaviors, and real wolf species. Therefore, red and gray werewolves were born. Conflict makes a story so by creating two different werewolf species, conflict is inherent.
What aspects of my wolf research surprised me? That wolves nuzzle others and objects to show possession. So the next time your dog nuzzles you, he is claiming you for his own.
Did I learn anything about humans through this process? I enjoyed making the wolf and the man one in this werewolf series. When they’re wolves, they still have their human sensibilities. And when they’re humans, they still have their wolf instincts. It’s like taking humans back many years before we lost our more sensitive abilities to hear and see and smell, yet having the brainpower we do now. So the best of both worlds–the animal instincts needed for self preservation in the wild, and the intelligence we have now.
A retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, Terry Spear has an MBA from Monmouth University. As an eclectic writer, she dabbles in paranormal, historical and true life stories for both teen and adult audiences. She is also the author of Winning the Highlander’s Heart and The Vampire…In My Dreams. Sourcebooks Casablanca will release Don’t Cry Wolf, Spring ’09. Spear lives in the heart of Texas. She can be reached through her website: http://terryspear.com
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