Thursday, June 2, 2011

Interview and Giveaway with Terry Spear!

Please join me in welcoming Terry Spear, author of the Heart of the Wolf series:

Book Addict: Thanks so much for taking the time to answer questions! I’m going to just jump right in: I loved that Julia, the heroine in Heart of the Highland Wolf, is a Romance Writer! Did you write any of yourself in her? Are the tricks she tried to get rid of writers’ block ones that you use?

Terry Spear: Thanks so much for interviewing me, Patti!

Do I switch from one kind of a story to another while I’m still writing one? Yes. Am I inspired by a place or person that I might use in a story? Absolutely. Do I use tales that others share with me in my stories? Yes. Will a picture of a hunky man give me ideas? Hmm-hmm! When she is in the forest, thinking of a scene she could write about her hero and heroine, I do the very same thing. Awhile back, I went on a hike through a park with friends. I don’t know what they were thinking, but I was imagining being in the woods while a Robin Hood like character and his merry men were nearby. We crossed a wooden bridge that made me think of “The Billy Goats Gruff” and trolls, which made me think of “Willow”, and more trolls. When I visit places like that, my imagination takes over.

Book Addict: Laird Ian was a very sexy hero. Did you base him on anyone (living or historical)?

Terry Spear: I’m thrilled you found him sexy! I based him on a MacNeill ancestor that stole the heart of the Duke of Argyle’s daughter. From oral history, the tale stated they eloped and her father told Malcolm he could have all the land he could cover on foot in a day, though he was furious with him for stealing his daughter’s heart. But Malcolm was too proud and paid for passage to the Carolinas for Elizabeth and their two small sons and infant daughter. The ship was diverted to Prince Edward Island, and Elizabeth, unable to withstand the hardships,died. Later, my great grandmother and grandmother were questioned by Scotland Yard about the family Bible, as the last Campbell had died without issue and they were trying to find Elizabeth’s line. My family didn’t have the Bible that would prove their ties, but another more distant family did, so the history goes. I wanted a happy ending!

Book Addict: Your descriptions of Ian’s castle were thorough – did you research Scottish castles? Have you visited Scotland and/or a castle?

Terry Spear: I went to see several castles in Scotland in September, took pictures of them, and listened to some wonderful tour guide lectures. But I also have read about castles over the years and then made up my own to suit the story. The ones I loved the most were the ones mostly in ruins. Why? I think it was because I could use my imagination more to envision the occupants of a medieval time better, and how the castle would look today.

Book Addict: Julia’s books have been referred to in your previous books (apparently she’s very popular with the lupus garou crowd, lol), but this is the first time that we’ve actually met her. How do you keep all your characters straight and how do you choose who you’ll write about next?

Terry Spear: She’s done well with her lupus garou fans. It’s neat when you can have a secret fan base, don’t you think? It would be like a vampire writing about vampires, but only other real vampires knew they were based on the truth…

Of course, not everyone likes that she writes bout werewolves. Even though she doesn’t give a totally accurate picture of them, some worry that she might give enough about them away that people might begin to believe they really exist. Which for the werewolves would be a disaster.

My coworker at the library where I work suggested I write about a poor werewolf, but I’d wanted to write about a Highland wolf clan next. So I thought why not write about a laird who is about to lose his ancestral home and has to put up with an American film-making venture? But who would the heroine be? I thought, well, what if I had the romance writer sneak in with the film production crew to use Ian’s clan as a basis for her next story and help her to overcome her writer’s block? Sometimes, fans ask to see more of certain characters. Like with Meara, Hunter’s sister in To Tempt the Wolf. I really wrote her as an annoying sister, so hadn’t really thought anyone would want to see her find a mate to love. But several fans did. LOL. So I wrote the SEAL in Wolf’s Clothing (coming out in Spring 2012). My editor had been te one that joked that it would be fun to have a whole team of SEALs who were wolves, and I kept thinking about it, unil I thought, why not match up one of Hunter’s SEAL team members with Meara? But neither thinks that’s a great idea in the least. :-)

Book Addict: I like the world you’ve written for your wolves. You’ve written seven books in this series so far, and they encompass different heroes/heroines and wolf packs – how many different types of lupus garou are there (red, white, gray, etc.)? How long do they typically live?

Terry Spear: There are really only two- gray wolves and red wolves. Arctic (white) are really gray wolves. Wolves in the wild only live between 6-12 years. Up to fifteen or so in captivity. I couldn’t make them that short lived in my stories, and I based them on a semi-immortal creature because werewolves were hard to kill in the old horror stories, unless they were shot with silver bullets. So why not a semi-immortal creature?

Book Addict: Do you have a specific place/time to write? Is your desk messy or neat? Do you have a day job or is writing your full-time occupation?

Terry Spear: I work full time, so I write before and after work and during my days off. I have to or I’d never meet deadlines. My desk – okay, since you can’t see it, it’s very clean, no dust, no salt dotting the mahogany wood (from eating quick homemade meals while getting my writing down at night after work), no movies sitting on the corner (which somehow ended up on my desk and should have been left on the coffee table for this weekend, if I can get to them), no box of Kleenex sitting on the extended table (not for crying during emotional scenes but for annoying allergies), no bills sitting on the desk (if I tucked them away neatly somewhere, they wouldn’t get paid)…so yes, my desk is perfectly neat.

Book Addict: When you’re not writing, what do you like to read? Do you read other books in your genre?

Terry Spear: I LOVE Highland romances, and though I don’t write them, I love regency romances. I also love time travels. I don’t read werewolf stories unless I receive them in a contest that I have to judge. But none of the ones I have read are similar to mine, which is good. I don’t want to ever feel I am borrowing from someone else’s world. That’s partly why I love reading historical romances so much.

Book Addict: What’s coming up next for you?

Terry Spear: Right now I’m working on Heart of the Jaguar (Fall 2012 release date), the first in the jaguar series, lots of research, and lots of new world building, so it’s been fun! After that, probably Tom’s story, from Destiny of the Wolf.

Book Addict: Thanks again for answering my questions – I enjoyed Heart of the Highland Wolf and am hoping we’ll see some of Ian’s brothers in their own stories (hint, hint!).

Terry Spear: Thanks so much for having me, and yes, definitely!!! Duncan is in the next Highland story – though the title will probably change, but he’s in the Grand Cayman Islands being distracted by a female wolf when he’s trying to track down their stolen money in The Highland Wolf in Paradise (Fall 2012).

Thanks again for having me, Patti!!

Terry Spear

About the author:
A retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, Terry Spear has an MBA from Monmouth College. An eclectic writer with a PW Best Book of 208 (Heart of the Wolf), she writes paranormal romance as well as historical and true life stories for both teen and adult audiences. Spear lives in Crawford, Texas. For more information,please visit www.terryspear.com.

http://www.terryspear.com/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/terryspear
https://twittercom/#!/TerrySpear
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/tspear



Heart of the Highland Wolf
~Terry Spear


Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publish Date: June 1, 211
ISBN-10: 1402245521
ISBN-13: 978-1402245527
ASIN: B004Y5AV1K

Each holds a secret they can't possibly overcome alone...
Julia Wildthorn is sneaking into Argent Castle to steal an ancient relic,but reluctant laird Ian MacNeill may be the key to unlocking the one answer she really wants discovered...

From brilliant storyteller Terry Spear, modern day werewolves meet the rugged Highlands of Scotland, where instinct meets tradition, and clan loyalties give a whole new meaning to danger...


The Giveaway:
Sourcebooks has generously offered a copy of Heart of the Highland Wolf to two lucky winners!!

To enter, leave a question or comment for Ms. Spear and a way to contact you if you win. US and Canada only. Contest ends June 17.


33 comments:

  1. Thanks again for having me, Patti! Let the party begin!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Patti, for answering all the questions I want to know. And I'm so glad I now know the desk of Terry's looks just like mine. I've followed the Lupus Garou through the 7 books. And I'm so happy to have a new family of hunky Scottish Brothers to follow. I love Scotland and Castles too. This is another Winner, I'm sure. Cheers!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. LOL, Donna! At least I'm in good company!!! My critique partner is back in Scotland without me this time, though she offered for me to go too! And I would have loved to! It's a place of magic! Thanks so much, Donna!

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a great interview Terry and Patti, I loved reading it. Sorry, I live in Holland, so can't enter the contest. There actually is a vampire series, where a female vampire writes vampire books, Susan Sizemore writes them.

    I must admit, haven't come accross your books before, but am certainly going to try some.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Nice interview. I can't wait to read this book, I've really enjoyed all the other books in the series.

    danni0113 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great interview, y'all! I can't wait to dig into this series! Shifters AND the Highlands?? Yes, please! :-)

    justforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow best way to do research, visit Scottish castles :D I am in awe

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love your wolf series! Can't wait to read about your jaguar.

    kissinoak at frontier dot com

    ReplyDelete
  9. How interesting that you live in Holland, Aurian! I hope you do check out some of my wolves and fall in love!!! :) Thanks, Aurian!

    Thanks so much, Danni!! I hope you enjoy the MacNeill clan-their such wolves!!! :)

    Thanks, Chelsea! Yeah, I couldn't wait to write about them, and have another of the series finished, and two more Highland wolf stories contracted that I can't wait to write!

    Oh, yeah, Blodeuedd...my critique partner was going with a friend of hers and I said I wanted to go along. She said why don't I and I said I will! We had a blast, although I didn't drive and let them do so instead while I took pictures from the backseat. And did the backseat driving--no, no, other lane!!! :) Hehehe..

    Thanks so much, Estella! I'm having fun with it. 19,000 words left to go! :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. If Heart of a Highland Wolf were made into a movie, who would you pick to play the main characters? Thanks for the giveaway.
    marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi, Marlene, I never can say about stuff like that. I think that often new talent is overlooked and so I would hope that some new upcoming Scottish hunks could play the parts. Forget: "There can be only one." My motto is: "There can never be enough." :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Awesome interview. I'd like to know where the character development is inspired from for highland wolves. How does each one develop a unique person in your mind because they seem so very complex. Thanks!

    Hollybwright at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
  13. Great interview.Can't wait to read Heart of the Highland Wolf.It sounds really good.
    elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  14. Holls, thanks so much! Great questions! I used the Character Naming Guide to select suitable characters (not names) for the characters in the beginning, which gave me the basis for their characterization. You see, it gives a hint of what the name means and so I used this to make a basis for the characters. Duncan is the dark warrior. He's the youngest of the quadruplets so he feels he has to prove something. Which also goes along with birth order. Ian is the gift from God, which he attributes to his mother being glad he was first and got the ball rolling, so she praised God for it. Cearnach is ever cheerful, except when he's in charge and then he's as much a warrior as any of the brothers. And Guthrie goes with the flow. He's their financial wizard, always having his nose in a book on how to make money.

    But a lot of their character development comes from conflict and how they react to it. Like when Cook is unavailable to prepare the meals and what they do about it. I had so much fun with that quandary and Ian and his brothers' response to it. :)Thanks again for asking!

    Thanks, Elaing8! Hope you love it!

    ReplyDelete
  15. You have really nice covers for you books. Do you have a favorite?

    Stephanie G
    sgradel(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hello Terry!
    Congratulations and good luck with your new release! I love Highlanders and wolf shifters. I can't wait to see them combined. I've read several excerpts on various blogs and I'm intrigued by how all the characters seem to be hiding something. It will be interesting to see the secrets start to be revealed.

    user1123 AT comcast DOT net

    ReplyDelete
  17. I've read the first 4 books to this series and they are absolutely amazing! Really some of the best wolf stories I've read. Can't wait to dive into the world of Jaguars:) Thanks for all the time, effort, and research you put into your stories Ms. Spear and CONGRATS on this latest release! Wishing you much success for the future!

    yadkny@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Congrats on the new release Terry! I can't wait to read this book!

    Is it easier to make male hero's out of highlanders?


    dani3222001(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Congratulations on your new release! And oh boy does it sound like you have a great many other wonderful books in mind that are coming up. My question to you is What made you want to write about shifters? And mainly about werewolves? Thanks!
    LadyVampire2u AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Yikes, my answer yesterday must not have "taken". *sigh*

    Thanks, Stephanie! Yes, the cover art folks do a wonderful job! I love all of them, but my favorite is Heart of the Highland Wolf because of the kilted man, of course, getting to see his handsome face, and the rest of him, and the way the wolf's head is up above on the picture. Love it! And Dreaming of the Wolf. Jake Silver loves to photograph wildflowers as a hobby, and I found the most gorgeous purple daisies growing wild in Colorado, so I wanted something like that. They make the cover a purplish cover and then Jake's eyes are golden, absolutely beautiful!

    Stacie--Thanks so much. Yes, they're hiding all kinds of things. :) That's the fun with stories for me, all the mysteries that need to be solved!

    Lolarific, Thanks so much!!! Well, they have an inherent sexiness, I have to admit, but just being wolf will do it!!! :)

    Ladyvampire2u--I loved East of the Sun and West of the Moon about a Norwegian tale about prince who was cursed and must be a man at night and a polar bear by day. I loved the romance and wanted to see a happily ever after. I loved Lady Hawk, and Greek mythologies where gods would take on some other form to visit mere mortals...so I've always loved the idea of shifters! :) But I wanted them to have a happily ever after. The stories I read did not. Werewolves--only because they're based on real wolves--because they're loyal to their mates, protective of their family, hunt and play together. I would never have been interested in making them beasts. :) So I've thoroughly enjoyed writing about them. :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thank you for sharing this interview! My question is did being in the military help with the needed self-discipline needed for sitting down and getting the writing of a book. Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to win the giveaway. I have not read this series and will be looking it up.

    dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi, Denise, thanks! No, I've always been extremely goal oriented and self-disciplined. It truly does help if you are working full time and trying to keep up with deadlines and setting your own also. :) Hope you give the series a try and love it, Denise! Thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I know a number of people who are salivating to get there hands on this! I've also read a few reviews praising it! I'd love to win it!

    rootml1 AT hotmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Mixing Wolves and Highlanders is "Delicious". I definitely can't wait Terry to read Heart Of The Highland Wolf.Love your Wolf stories. I'm also looking forward to your 2012 Seals book. :) Thanks for the interview. And you are super lucky in having gone to Scotland. It's my dream to make it there as well.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Thanks, Meggerfly!! The Highland wolves are definitely worthy of salivating over!

    Thanks, Carol!!! I think that you will LOVE the SEALs book!! I want to go to Wales and Ireland too!!! And I wish I could do the garden tour in England. And.... :) Thanks again!!!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Terry, other than wolves, what other animals would you find interesting to write about?

    meredithfl at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hi Meredith! I'm writing the first of a new jaguar shifter series, so that's been fun to write about! :) I used to tease Cheryl Brooks about having cat and dog fights between our series, so I thought why not? Jaguars and wolves? They won't exactly fight, but I'm having fun with the first jaguar story and referencing werewolves. :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thanks for the giveaway!!

    Here's a fun question for Ms. Spear! What's hotter? Highlanders or the wolves? ;P

    I would love to win!

    Annie
    alltherhage AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  29. Highland wolves. Couldn't resist, Annie! :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hi Terri,

    Thanks for the giveaway

    My question: what book are you currently reading and who are some of you favorite pnr authors?

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hi, Annie! My answer to you disappeared! I must not have done the captcha thingy or something!

    A Highland wolf of course! :)

    Keisha, I just finished the audio book by Amanda Quick,QuickSilver, and have Christine Feehan's Dark Possession to listen to next. :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. LOL Terry, there's a character naming guide? I never knew....

    I also agree with Stephanie, you're covers are all really nice.

    Thanks for popping in to answer questions!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hi Patti, Yes, it's a great guide for giving some additional character to a character!! Thanks for having me!!

    ReplyDelete