Interview with Terry Spear, author of Seduced by the Wolf

Today, I have a great interview with Terry Spear. Her new book Seduced by the Wolf is available in stores this month. I have 2 copies of her book to give away to 2 commenters. Enjoy!

As the author of some pretty sexy paranormal romance, can you share a few secrets for creating a scene that’s hot and heavy?

Thanks!!!  Well, let’s see: Get a really good coach? J Find a werewolf hunk? Truly! Yes, that would help. Have a great imagination? Look at hunky pictures…all those sexy muscles, and that virile smile… Fantasize a bit? All these things help to set the tone and stage for the setting of a hot and sexy scene. But sometimes it’s the little things that touch readers’ hearts the most. One said she loved how the hero dried the heroine’s hair. The action is intimate without being overtly sexual. It’s caring and tender. So sometimes something little like that can stimulate the imagination so much more.

Speaking of paranormal and urban fantasy, how do you set your stories apart in a genre that has become fairly crowded? What make your werewolves/shapeshifters different?

They’re real. J Oh, I know, werewolves aren’t real. At least they’re only myths and legends—as far as we can verify. But, I base the wolf part of the werewolf equation on real wolves, so in that aspect, they’re more real. And because of basing them on real wolves, they have red wolves and gray, just like in the wild. And there are Arctic wolves (Legend of the White Wolf, Book 4), and I even mention an Iberian wolf in Heart of the Highland Wolf (Book 7, coming Jun 2011). Notice how I constantly call them wolves instead of werewolves? They’re as much part wolf as human. I love researching about wolves and in Seduced by the Wolf, the story is in part inspired by a true wolf tale. But also, I don’t include other fantastical creatures or paranormal elements, except that one of the characters has glimpses of the future. But no gargoyles, or fairies, or vampires—references to them in a book or two, strictly in a mention that states they don’t truly exist. So I try to keep my world as real as possible.

You’ve written several books at this point in your career, would you say there are fresh challenges with each book?

Creating characters that are unique and plots that are too, yet keeping the same world and not deviating from it in areas that would be difficult to explain to fans, lol, yes, it creates a challenge! It’s okay to show deviations—the adage—there are exceptions to most every rule comes to mind, but when I do this, I still try to base it on real wolf stories that show this unusual exception to the rule. Such as wolves mate for life to one mate, unless the mate dies. Yet in one true life case, a male was mated to two females at the same time! So I have fun “testing” the rules, but keeping true to wolf behavior as much as possible.

The thing is though, they are werewolves, so the human equation is just as important. And it makes them different from both being fully human or fully wolf.

Another fun aspect is taking a character like Leidolf (some fans really would if they could in real life!)—and seeing him and how he deals with different scenarios. All of us will handle a situation differently depending on the company we’re in and the goals we’re trying to meet. If we’re with our peers, we’ll handle a situation one way. Striving to be in charge, another. When someone encroaches on our territory and threatens those we care about, another. And yet when someone we are interested in strictly in a man-to-woman scenario enters the picture—often we’ll be someone entirely different. J
This is Fumbling with Fiction, so I have to ask, in your writing career have you ever had a big “Oops!” moment?

Well, luckily, nothing that went into print. But I was talking to my daughter about a werewolf dying, and she said, “But when they die as a wolf, aren’t they supposed to turn into a human?” Oh, yeah. Of course they are. I don’t know how I could have overlooked that! So when we write, we have to remember the details of the world we create. Some of my fans reread the books several times, and they’ll catch them if I make a mistake!!

Readers are always interested in the process of publication. Can you tell us a little about the revision process with your editor for this book?

First, my editor reads it and tells me if there are any areas she wants additional information on, inconsistencies in the story, or wants to reduce information on. Then I revise, resubmit, and if it works, the assistant editor goes through with a fine tooth comb and gives it to me to fix or comment. Then we have final line edits which is the final pass to make sure there are no mistakes after having made all the changes. And then it’s off!

What was the toughest fix in Seducing the Wolf?

In Seducing the Wolf, I was thinking it was warmer than it was in Oregon in the spring. So I had to revise the comments and some of the things they did out in the wilderness. I used to live in the Tigard/Portland/Beaverton area. But with living in Texas where it’s already warm/hottish in spring, I was thinking it was warmer in Oregon during that time of year.

Through your website you give aspiring writers tons of great advice. In your opinion, what’s the key to a great first line?

Something that hooks the reader, promises conflict, questions unanswered, makes the reader care about the situation/characters presented from the outset!

Finally, if you could have written one book previously published by another author, which book would it be?

Harry Potter, I mean, because wow, wouldn’t it be incredible to have the kind of fan base the series does, where readers will stand in lines to get the first peep of the latest release? But I do love the way she created her world, the uniqueness and all. Even though I love tons of other stories, because of her success, I’d want to have published her series!!! J Hey, money and fandom and fame are important! Plus, I’d love to own a castle!!! Then when I write my Highlander stories—werewolf and otherwise, I’d have firsthand knowledge. I wouldn’t want the heating bill though…

Thanks so much for having me here at Fumbling with Fiction! Hope readers take a chance to check out my werewolf world filled with adventure, mystery, romance and the paranormal!

SEDUCED BY THE WOLF BY TERRY SPEAR – IN STORES AUGUST 2010

His first priority is to protect his pack…
Werewolf pack leader Leidolf Wildhaven has just taken over a demoralized pack. With rogue wolves on the loose causing havoc and the authorities from the zoo suddenly zeroing in on the local wolf population, the last thing he needs in his territory is a do-gooder female, no matter how beautiful and enticing she is…

She’ll do anything to help wolves…
Biologist Cassie Roux has dedicated her life to protecting wolves in the wild. On a desperate mission to help a she-wolf with newborn pups, the last thing Cassie needs right now is a nosy and entirely too attractive werewolf pack leader trying to track her down…

With rogue wolves and hunters threatening at every turn, Cassie and Leidolf may find their attraction the most dangerous force of all…

About the Author

A retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, Terry Spear has an MBA from Monmouth University. An eclectic writer, she dabbles in the paranormal as well as writing historical and true life stories for both teen and adult audiences. Spear lives in Crawford, Texas. For more information, please visit Terry at these various places on the web:

www.terryspear.com
http://www.wickedlyromantic.blogspot.com/
http://casablancaauthors.blogspot.com/
http://fierceromance.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/terry.spear
http://shapeshifterromance.wordpress.com/
http://terry-spear.blogspot.com/

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