Guest Blogger: Author Kate Douglas

My thanks to Rob for the invitation to blog today. I'm celebrating the release of the fifteenth story in my Wolf Tales series: WOLF TALES VIII. To explain the discrepancy in numbers, it's because the novellas in the Sexy Beast anthologies are very much a part of the series-I write it like a soap opera in a linear fashion, so that the stories segue one into the other.

Confusing, yes, but it's the only way I can write, and so far it appears to be working. Kensington has asked for three more novels in the series, which will take me to WOLF TALES 12 (sigh...no more cool Roman numerals) in January 2011. I can't believe I'm still doing a series that started out selling on-line as an erotic romance serial from a brand new little e-publisher back in 2004: Changeling Press. The owner, Margaret Riley, asked me for something totally new and different-and very sexy-to help launch her new company. I had a little thousand word freebie story about a woman who was lost in a snowstorm and rescued by a man she never saw-even though they had mind-blowing sex all night long before he left her on the side of the road.

Readers wanted more, so I took that kernel of an idea and turned it into the first story in my serial (Dubbed WOLF TALES) and called it STEFAN, after the main character-who quickly evolved into a man who was more beast than human. It was the first chapter, a 12,000 word story that led to another, and another and so on as every six weeks I wrote a new one about a group of sexy shapeshifters who were rediscovering their Chanku heritage. What my readers didn't know at the time is that I was discovering it right along with them! I didn't even know they were shapeshifters at first, and I didn't have a clue about their genetic history. The storyline very literally evolved as I wrote each new chapter. I discovered their polyamorous relationships in the second chapter when Stefan and Anton finally opened up about their feelings for one another, and believe me, it was a complete shock. I had no idea that was even coming until it happened.

When Kensington Publishing launched their new Aphrodisia line of erotic romance with the release of WOLF TALES-a compilation of all the stories to date in my online serial-I had no idea I would still be writing the series so many years later! My "seat of the pants" style of writing means that my journey of discovery continues even now. Characters will say or do things and I'll stare at my computer screen wondering, "Now where in the hell did THAT come from?" The odd thing is, quite often something that happens in a story that is not entirely resolved in that particular book, will pop up later on in another book and finally make sense. I really don't plan ahead-I'm not that organized-so it's always a thrill when that sort of thing happens.

My newest release, WOLF TALES VIII, is a perfect example. Things that happened in books I wrote a couple of years ago are finally making sense to me-and hopefully to my readers as well. This book is essentially two separate stories that come together in some interesting ways at the end. The first half introduces a new character, a young woman named Daciana Lupei who is not at all what she seems. Her presence creates an entirely unexpected event and tests ongoing character Anton Cheval in ways that rock the foundations of his role as the pack's uber-alpha. The second half of the book looks at Millie West, my middle-aged heroine who is still discovering the sexual side of her Chanku nature. When her mate sets up a meeting between Millie and a young man who is more beta than alpha, the sparks fly and both of them learn they have more courage-and a stronger capacity for sexual adventure-than they ever imagined.

And, as disconnected as the two stories sound, they really do come together in the end, and lead directly to the next story, CHANKU CHALLENGE, which will come out in Sexy Beast VII next Fall. Trust me!

One of my readers, Mischa Parris, has created a wonderful Chanku Family Tree for the series. Below the chart is a short description of my shapeshifters for those of you not familiar with the characters and their history, and if you ever have any questions, please feel free to write to me directly. I answer all my mail and love the chance to chat one on one with my readers. I can be reached at kate@katedouglas.com, but if you've got questions now, I'm ready and willing to answer whatever I can! And thank you to RT Book Reviews for this terrific opportunity to chat about my favorite characters!

Kate Douglas
www.katedouglas.com



(Note: Guest blog posts reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy of RT Book Reviews.)