Interview with Eva Gordon Author of The Wolf Maiden Chronicles

Today we have an interview with Eva Gordon who writes the Wolf Maiden Chronicles.


(Yes, that's a photo of her at Stonehenge, how cool is that?)

Have you always wanted to be a writer or is it something you discovered along the path of life?

Writing is something along the path of life. I taught AP Biology and Anatomy Physiology and found that students liked my made up stories, like that I travelled back in time to talk to Charles Darwin to prepare for the lecture on evolution. My favorite story I told my students was that my husband was a werewolf and I had to run home on the full moon to lock him up. I kept building on all these stories until I ended up writing a novel.

How has your writing path evolved? Where did you start?

I always enjoyed creative writing even when I was studying the biological sciences. I read a lot and knew that someday I would write. After retiring my horse I had more time to write and so here I am, about 6 years later.

Do you commit to a daily writing goal? Like so many words or chapters?

Yes, I’m either writing, editing or researching. I work about 4-6 hrs. When writing my story I do about 2000 words a day.

If you could give a new writer one piece of advice, what would it be?

Find a good critique partner that understands your voice and does not try to change your story.

Are you a long time paranormal fan or new to the “Other” world?

I have always loved the paranormal, but in terms of reading I’m a fan of fantasy, science fiction and werewolf stories. The one element I need in the books I read is a strong romantic element, which keeps be engaged.


How did the idea for your newest book/series come about?

I love wolves and have volunteered at a wolf sanctuary and teach wolf lore. I’ve always loved the werewolf in story and myth and decided that my hero had to be a werewolf. My first fantasy novel, The Stone of the Tenth Realm’s main character was a werewolf. I soon decided I wanted to create a universe where lycans live amongst us in a secret society since ancient times. My universe in the Wolf Maiden Chronicles has all the elements of mythology, fantasy and paranormal romance throughout the ages.

Tell us a little about your newest book.

Werewolf Sanctuary, an action packed romance between an alpha male lycan, and his wolf maiden. The first in a series titled, The Wolf Maiden Chronicles, each depicts historical romances between alpha Males and their human wolf maidens. Beast Warrior (Viking era) and White Wolf of Avalon (Arthurian times) will follow in late July and Fall 2009.

Since ancient times, the Lupercal Council has kept their people’s werewolf identity a well-guarded secret. Referring to their kind as lycans, they shift into a bear-sized wolf, bearing unique markings reminiscent of Maori or Celtic tattoos. The pack shifts during the full moon and are under the control of their alpha male leader. The alpha male and alpha female are not bound by the full moon and can shift at will. Lycans can only breed with their kind. The exception are the alpha males, which can only mate with human women known as wolf maidens, who bear the five-toed paw print or mark of the wolf on their left hip.

The story begins with Lupercal society in peril due to an unknown disease infecting their young offspring. The children who do survive the pestilence, shift too early into wolf cubs, lose their distinct markings, and end up becoming normal wolves, unaware of their human consciousness. Normally immune to most known diseases, the Lupercal has few of their own doctors and must seek the help of a human outsider to find the cure.

Wyatt Weylin, alpha male of the Montana pack, and leader of a team of mercenary lycans, flies to a World Wolf Conference in San Francisco, where he hopes to convince leading authority on wolf diseases, veterinarian Dr. Madeline Styles to come to his wolf sanctuary and find a cure. The minute he sees her he feels drawn to her striking good looks. The sensory chemistry is instant. He tries to suppress the feeling, knowing that he is forbidden to fall for a human. Wyatt discovers that the vegetarian animal doctor has the mark of the wolf and he claims her as his life mate. Madeline slowly learns about Wyatt’s true nature and the fact that she has been claimed, and like all lycans, wolf maidens are microchipped to prevent escape. She is told that she has three moons to decide if Wyatt is the right alpha for her, and if not, she must choose another.

However, she can never leave their society. Angered and confused she first balks at the idea until she witnesses the entire pact shift, and learns that her own grandmother was a wolf maiden who lost the alpha mate and love of her life. Feeling the strong connection with Wyatt, she decides to pursue the cure to thelycan cub disease. To complicate matters Bisclavaret, Wyatt’s enemy and bad alpha lycan from the Bayou, is determined to make Madeline his wolf maiden, one way or another.

There are 7 praising reviews about Werewolf Sanctuary on Amazon. Let me share a few.

By Valorie Barto (Hollywood, FL) -
Let me just start by saying I finished this book in 2 days! Please everyone do your romantic soul a favor and go out and get yourself a copy. The romance and humor grabbed me from page 1. Wow Eva what a wonderful story you spin, I find myself wishing to be a Wolf Maiden! Kudos and Bravo for the first Wolf Maiden saga! I am breathlessly awaiting the release of Beast Warrior your next installment!

An excellent first installment from a great new author, May 11, 2009
By Elizabethann (Small town Missouri)
This review is from: Werewolf Sanctuary (Paperback)
A devastating illness is ravaging the lycan packs around the world. Helpless to save themselves, the Alphas of the surviving packs agree to bring in a human specialist. Wyatt, the alpha of the Montana pack, contacts Madeline Styles, a local vet and wolf expert, to try to find out what is harming their packs, and find a cure.


What Wyatt discovers when he meets Madeline is that she is a wolf maiden-a very rare woman who can mate an alpha werewolf, and bear his children. The attraction between Wyatt and Madeline is instantaneous, but will Madeline understand when Wyatt reveals his secret? Will Madeline be able to cure the mysterious disease before more lycan children are afflicted? Will the dangerous enemy hunting Madeline end their love before it has a chance to grow?


This was an amazing story! Ms. Gordon creates an enthralling spin on the legend of the werewolf, complete with her own version of the mythology surrounding them. The characters are very well written, and the reader instantly empathizes with the plight of the lycans. The chemistry between Wyatt and Madeline is very believable, and really will make you wish for a lycan of your own! The secondary characters are also very well written, and Ms. Gordon manages to create the perfect balance of personalities. Even the villains were very well done! All in all, this was an excellent start to what I am sure will be an amazing series. I look forward to reading more from this author!


A paranormal romance you can sink your teeth into., June 2, 2009
By G. Pruszkowski "bookworm_gp" (Philadelphia, PA USA) -
This review is from: Werewolf Sanctuary (Paperback) Werewolves are the stuff of legends, personifying wildness and inspiring fear and fascination. If you love these mysterious creatures you'll enjoy "Werewolf Sanctuary" by Eva Gordon. It's the first book in the "Wolf Maiden Chronicles," a paranormal romance you can sink your teeth into. After his plane crashes in enemy territory in Afghanistan, Colin Taylor is rescued by Special Forces. But this force is more special than most. Wyatt Weylyn and his six man team are Lycans, men who can shape-shift into wolves. They will earn twenty million dollars for this mission, money they can use for their wolf sanctuary in Montana. A mysterious ailment is killing Lycan children. The disease is affecting all the packs and the number of Lycans is dwindling. It's time to call in outside help.

Wyatt is hoping to recruit a veterinarian, Dr. Madeline B. Styles, to research a cure. He goes to a seminar in San Francisco where she is a keynote speaker on the Ethiopian Wolf. There's an immediate attraction and when Wyatt discovers she has the mark of the wolf, he claims her for his mate. When Madeline learns Wyatt's true nature and is told she must accept him or another alpha, she's angry and confused.


Can Madeline accept Wyatt and her heritage? Or will she succumb to Wyatt's worst enemy who is determined to have her for himself.


Eva Gordon makes it easy to believe that Lycans really exist. Her background in science and her love of wildlife add a reality to her story that makes it truly convincing. She puts a new spin on werewolf mythology and has created a society that's detailed and well thought out. The characters are fully developed. Wyatt, the alpha male werewolf, is a delicious hero. The animalistic yet sensual love scenes between him and Madeline heat up the pages. If you like a good story with romance, steamy sexual encounters and action, then look no farther. This is a terrific debut; I can't wait for book two.

What books are currently on your to-read list?

Any Jacqueline Carey books. A few new books have been released but I have not had a chance to pick them up yet. When I’m writing I don’t get much time to read until I’m done with the rough draft.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Terry Goodkind, Jacqueline Carey, Louise McMaster Bujold and being a science nerd I also like reading natural history books and am waiting to read Bonk by the author who wrote Stiff.

If you could entertain a character from a book, who would it be and what would the evening be like?

I would love to entertain Richard from Terry Goodkind’s Sword of Truth series. Richard and I would probably be searching for the Third Book of Ordin. Richard is heroic and loving but not too demonstrative. We would sit by the campfire and hold each other. Wyatt Weylin from my novel Werewolf Sanctuary would be fun to entertain. Like all my alpha lycans in my novel, the evening with Wyatt would be erotic and too hot to describe on this blog.

What is your strangest habit?

Probably not too strange for a child, but I do still make sure the closet doors are shut before going to bed.

If you weren’t a writer what would your career be?

I would still be either a wildlife biologist or science teacher. On occasion I do teach werewolf and wolf lore and am involved in wildlife education.

When you are not writing, what can you usually be found doing?

Outdoors. Kayaking, hiking , biking or running. I might be volunteering at a raptor rehab center or at an animal sanctuary.

Please tell us a little more about yourself before you go.


I write fantasy and paranormal novels with a strong romantic element. My debut fantasy, The Stone of the Tenth Realm, was published summer 2008 by a small UK Press, Libros International. A second fantasy, Gaia’s Keeper, is forth coming. I have also written the sequel to The Stone of the Tenth Realm, Alchemist of the Tenth Realm.

Werewolf Sanctuary is Book 1 in my epic Wolf Maiden Chronicles, a paranormal romance series involving male alpha lycans and their human mates known as wolf maidens.

Werewolf Sanctuary is a contemporary that will lead to all the other historical paranormal tales in the Wolf Maiden Chronicles. Book 2 in the series, Beast Warrior, takes place during the Viking era. Book 3 follows with White Wolf of Avalon.

I love to create stories that combine my passion for mythology, romance and werewolf lore. I have a BS in Zoology and graduate studies in Biology. I have taught high school Biology, Environmental Science and Anatomy/Physiology. My background in science and passion for wildlife biology adds credibility to my writing.

I also moonlights as a faculty member of the Grey School of Wizardry, an online school for kids and adults interested in magic and lore. A member of Romance Writers of America, I have also taught workshops on wolf lore and falconry for writer groups. I have volunteered at a wolf sanctuary and other wildlife rehab organizations.

Thanks for having me here today at Fang-tastic Books.

Eva Gordon
Author of Paranormal and Fantasy Romance
http://www.ravenauthor.com/
http://www.vanillaheartbooksandauthors.com/Eva_Gordon_WKIK.html

Would you like to win a free pdf of Werewolf Sanctuary? Just leave a comment to be entered into the contest.

Want to check out something cool on Eva's blog? Every month on the full moon she "interviews" a famous werewolf from literature or historical accounts. Isn't that cool, sounds like fun. To check it out visit http://evagordon.blogspot.com/ on the next full moon. Which you can keep track of with a widget I have along my sidebar to the right ->