Writing The Wolf by Steffanie Holmes
Give a warm welcome to USA Today’s Best Selling Author Steffanie Holmes with her latest release Writing The Wolf!
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Steffanie and Writing The Wolf. OH… don’t forget to enter the rafflecopter below for a chance to win Writing the Wolf.
Tell us a little about Writing The Wolf.
What inspired this particular story, Steffanie?
Writing the Wolf came about because I wanted to write more books with diverse characters. I think that’s a really important issue that isn’t being addressed as much as it should be in modern genre fiction. But I didn’t just want to stick a “token” person-of-colour in and call that “diverse”. I wanted a story that really hinged on how the character identified herself, and how others identified her.
I am not a person-of-colour, but when I talked to friends who are about their experiences, I realised I shared similar experiences as a person who was bullied for a disability. I knew what it was like to walk into a room and feel different from everyone else. I pulled up all those feelings and tried to use them to bring reality to Rosa’s character.
Writing the Wolf is all about escape, in both a literal and physical sense. Rosa runs away to Crookshollow Forest to escape the horrible people in her town, and she also writes to escape from the reality of all the abuse she’s endured. Caleb escaped from his horrible family, and now’s he’s trying to help Rosa escape from the situation he’s placed her in by declaring her his mate. Sometimes, escape is the right solution. Rosa absolutely should have left her town. But in the end, you can’t escape from yourself. You have to turn around and face your demons, and thats what both Rosa and Caleb do, together.
Sounds like an interesting read and something most people could relate to one way or the other.
Did you tell friends and family that you were writing a book? Or did it take a while to come out and tell friends and family you were a writer?
This is actually kind of a funny story. I write and publish dark dystopian fantasy under the name S C Green. My friends all knew about that. One day I was at a party and we were talking about 50 Shades of Grey. I’d read the first chapter but couldn’t continue because the writing was … not great, in my opinion. So I was spouting off about this to a friend, and she was rightly getting a bit annoyed with me acting all superior. So she said, “it’s not as if you could write a romance book, Steff.”
And I thought. “You know what? Challenge accepted.”
So I wrote my book Witch Hunter. And then I wrote the Crookshollow foxes and published all those. Then, and only then, did I tell my friends about my romance books. They couldn’t believe it!
I guess you showed them. LOL! Why do you write what you write? Contemporary, paranormal, suspense, etc.
I write paranormal, because I love how you can use supernatural creatures and forces to play with different themes that have a direct impact on the real, tangible world. Often, you can say more when you’re not talking about something “real”. In Writing the Wolf, Caleb has to hide who he is from the world. How many of us feel as though that’s something we do every day?
Also, it’s just damn fun.
I couldn’t agree with you more. It’s great fun! So…what do you like to do when you are not writing?
All sorts of things! My husband and I live on a lifestyle block (homestead) in New Zealand, so there is always a ton of work to do on the house or in the gardens. We built this crazy house that’s inspired by medieval castle architecture, and we host these ridiculous medieval banquets and parties for our friends. I love to cook and brew my own alcohol, and we love to travel and explore the world together. We’re both into music (mainly heavy metal, but lots of other things, too) so we always go off to see bands or overseas to festivals.
Sounds like we have a lot in common. Love medieval castle architecture and those Medieval banquest and parties would be blast! New Zealand is on our travel plans one day too.
Do you have a snippet for us?
Rosa
Rosa just wants to be left alone to write her book, but when werewolves attempt to kidnap her, she realizes her neighbor Caleb is the only one who can protect her. But Caleb is hiding a secret of his own … fur and sparks fly in this hot paranormal romance.
I need to escape.
After those racist bastards destroyed my home, I can’t face the world again.
I’ve rented a cabin in the heart of the Crookshollow forest. I’m going to lock myself away and work on my book. I’m going to write my story.
And I absolutely, positively WILL NOT think about Caleb, the hunky labourer who’s fixing up my cabin.
No way.
I won’t think about the way his eyes melt my heart, and his smile melts my panties.
I’m too emotionally raw right now. I can’t handle a fling, especially not with a white guy.
Especially not a guy like him. A guy who shags and leaves. I can’t handle any more heartache.
Caleb
Rosa Parker – clever writer, black woman, total hottie.
The connection between us sizzles – there’s no denying it: this woman is my mate.
When I’m near her, all I want to do is claim her.
If only I wasn’t the biggest threat to her life right now.
With a rogue wolf pack after my hide, I can’t afford a distraction. Even a distraction as alluring as her.
I need to keep my wolfish instincts in check.
But I can’t help myself.
Rosa Parker has got under my skin.
And I won’t stop until I’ve made her mine.
****
Writing the Wolf is a standalone novel with an HEA. It’s the second book in the hot new paranormal romance series by USA Today bestselling author Steffanie Holmes. Read on if you love spunky heroines, pack politics, and a hero so hot he’ll have you howling for more.
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About the Author:
Steffanie Holmes is a USA Today bestselling author of dark and steamy paranormal romance. Her books feature clever, witty heroines, wild shifters, cunning witches and alpha males who get what they want.
Before becoming a writer, Steffanie worked as an archaeologist and museum curator. She loves to explore historical settings and ancient conceptions of love and possession. From Dark Age Europe to crumbling gothic estates, Steffanie is fascinated with how love can blossom between the most unlikely characters.
Steffanie lives in New Zealand with her husband and a horde of cantankerous cats. Learn more about Steffanie at her website: www.steffanieholmes.com. She also writes dark science fiction under the name S C Green.
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It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Writing The Wolf.
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Paranormal Romance, Shapeshifters, Steffanie Holmes, Writing the Wolf by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.
Your new release, ‘Writing the Wolf’ sounds intriguing, Steffani. Good luck with your release.
Hey CB! Thanks for stopping by you have a great memorial day weekend. Stay safe!