Wolfish Highland Hunks!

by Terry Spear



This was one of the castles I saw when I went to Scotland. Note the green moss from the cool moisture and the way the steps curve? The stone stairs were extremely narrow and gave the advantage to the defender of the castle who could fight with his right sword arm, while the attacker would not be able to fight back as vigorously what with the way the stairs curved. Castles were built not with luxury in mind, but with defense as their priority.

It seems like years ago since I wrote Heart of the Highland Wolf, when it was only just last year. But three books later, I had even written the sequel to Heart of the Highland Wolf, featuring Ian MacNeill's youngest brother in The Highland Wolf in Paradise. It felt odd writing a sequel without first hearing back from fans if they even liked the first of the Highland wolf books!!

I've always loved Highland stories and writing about them, partly because of my own Highland and Irish roots, but the challenge was in writing a contemporary Highland story that involved a wolf pack that still included my favorite things in the Highlands, the sword fighting and the wearing of the kilts.



Even in The Highland Wolf in Paradise, I managed to write a couple of sword-fighting scenes that fit the story, and was finally able to ensure Duncan MacNeill was wearing a kilt too.

So how did I come up with the idea for the first of the Highland stories? One of my coworkers at the library accused me of never writing about a poor werewolf. Yep. All my werewolves live a long time and accumulate a lot of wealth because of it.

I couldn't imagine a down-on-his-luck, out-of-work werewolf as being very appealing, and I was determined to write my next book as a Highland wolf book, so how could I merge the two ideas?

About that time, Madoff made off with tons of money, and I began to think: what if the hero was not only a pack member, but a Scottish laird whose brother has invested in some scheme run by a big time crook and the pack is close to losing their ancestral home?

Further, what if Ian reluctantly agrees to allow an American film company to produce a Highland historical film at the castle so they can have enough funds to live off for a while longer? And what if a little red wolf who writes werewolf romances sneaks into the production to: get rid of her writer's block while writing about Ian's clan, and retrieve something that belonged to her ancestors that's hidden in the castle walls?

And there you have it. One poor werewolf, Highland born, a castle, sword fighting, clan disputes, wolves wearing kilts, and a mysterious heroine who is up to something that the Highland pack is trying to investigate.



One of my critique partners asked why Ian would be so adamant about not having anyone film at his castle. Can you imagine what would happen if one of his clansmen or women accidentally shifted in front of the American film crew?

It would go viral.

:)

So are you ready to find out what a wolfish kind of Highlander wears under his kilt?

It's time to find out with Heart of the Highland Wolf's release, 7th book in the series!


Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com