Thanks
for having me on your blog today. I'd like to talk about Therianthropy.
Therianthropy
is the ability, or curse, that allows humans to transform into animals. There
are many examples of it throughout mythology and folklore and it has become the
basis of more and more popular culture. Lycanthropy relates specifically to
werewolves and is the most common example, particularly in European cultures,
which is why I chose to write about it. But if people were given the choice of
an animal they could transform into, would wolves be the most common
response. Of the myriad of animals,
birds, fish and other beasts inhabiting the planet, it would seem that wolves
might not be the most popular, if given a choice that is, considering there was
such a choice.
If
I had to choose, it would be difficult decision. A swan maiden is another
mythological form of Therianthropy and would give me a chance to fly. Selkies are seal-type creatures when in water
and human when on land, so I could swim effortlessly through the ocean. But if
I had to be honest I think I would chose Ailuranthropy, the ability to turn
into a cat. And not one of the great cats, but a simple house cat. Especially
when I see how many people love their cats, and how well cats are treated. I
would love nothing more than sleeping all day in a warm sunshine. Snuggling up
to someone when it gets colder and leaping around the house as if I own it. And
not to mention being able to understand just what my cat thinks of me.
Cloaked
The Wulfkin Legacy Series
Prequel
T.F. Walsh
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Date of Publication: Jan 4, 2016
ISBN: 1440596646
ASIN: Coming soon
Number of pages: Coming soon
Word Count: 26,000
Cover Artist: Erin Alexander
Book Description:
Raised by an overly protective wulfkin pack, Daciana leaps at the chance to venture into the human world for her one-year independence ritual. But after someone steals the endangered bear cubs she’s been assigned to protect, she must locate them or lose her job and return home in disgrace. The sexy inspector on the case isn’t making this any easier. He knows nothing of her kind, and wulfkin rules forbid relationships with humans.
Newly divorced Inspector Connell Lonescu trusts no one but himself. He’s convinced relationships are a waste of time and thinks burying himself in work will ease the pain. Yet he’s attracted to the gorgeous and mysterious Daciana, even if there’s something slightly odd about her. Can Connell learn to trust the sexy but secretive woman?
Cloaked is the prequel to Cloaked in Fur, book 1 in The Wulfkin Legacy Series. Find out how Daciana and Connell fell in love and set in motion the paramount events that forever change their lives and those around them.
Cloaked in Secrecy (Book #2) – March 2016
Cloaked in Secrecy (Book #2) – March 2016
Cloaked in Blood (Book
#3) – May 2016
Sign up here for
T.F. Walsh’s newsletter to keep up to date with latest releases, special
offers, and exclusive content.
Excerpt:
CHAPTER ONE
DACIANA
Damn bear.
Leaving footprints on the outskirts of the forest, winding around the apartment
blocks, and scaring locals for the past week. No wonder the cops had threatened
to shoot him on sight today.
Sunrise wasn’t
far away; neither was my transformation from wolf into human, so I had to
hurry. Romania’s morning breeze wove through my fur, and the distinct
dried-clover-and-grass scent screamed bear. He was definitely here—always just
before dawn.
Not that I
should care. Wolves and bears weren’t the best of friends. But I’d seen the way
humans made killing us a sport, and I couldn’t stand to see any animal hurt.
Careening around
the corner of the building, I halted and silenced my breaths.
Fifteen feet
away was a frizzy, brown bottom sticking in the air. The bear that belonged to
that butt balanced on the edge of an oversized trash can, head down inside, his
scratching and grunting muffled.
A few steps
closer, I snarled, the sound vibrating through my chest.
The bear jerked
upward, a butter container sitting over his nose. He clacked his teeth and
forced an expulsion of air, throwing the container off his face.
I backed up.
Yep, this might be a funny moment on television, but not when you were the one
facing the six-foot animal standing on hind legs.
He flopped back
onto all fours and momentarily gazed back at his trash.
I have no plans
to take your garbage. A growl slipped past my throat, and I lowered myself,
feigning attack posture. Come on, boy, get out of here before it’s too late. I
stalked forward.
He swiped at me
with a front paw, huffing.
I jumped back
and circled him.
But he lunged suddenly,
slapping the concrete ground several feet from me, and stood there, his mouth
hanging open. He roared and made a pulsing sound deep in his throat.
Oh, he felt
threatened now. Good.
I ran around him
in a circle, faster. His claws swatted at me, inches away, but once I was at
his back, I leapt closer and nipped his hindquarters.
His bawling
echoed, but I hadn’t drawn blood, and it sure as hell was better than a bullet.
The crunch of
leaves sounded, followed by footfalls, from around the building behind me.
I flinched and
sniffed the air. Humans.
The bear turned
and ran away from the trash, from me, from the city, heading toward the forest.
I chased after him to make sure he got as far away from here as possible.
He bolted
faster, his paws hitting the ground with each pounce.
“The bear. And a
fucking wolf?” a disembodied voice boomed from my left.
In the empty
grassland between the apartment block and the woods, two police officers with
rifles watched us. They were there to hunt the bear and broke into a run in our
direction.
Fuck, this was
bad. Really bad. I burst into the dense Transylvanian forest behind the bear,
trampling foliage and dried twigs. He’d swung right and already put distance
between us. He was safe, but what about me?
Heading straight
ahead, I sprinted across forest floor, dodging low branches. I glanced behind
me. Footfalls resonated, and the two figures raced my way.
Heavy breaths
strangled my lungs as I bolted. The ground flew beneath me and fresh
pine-scented air splashed over my face, promising escape. Except my heart was
attempting to break free from my chest.
A shot was
fired, and I scampered faster. Ten pulse-wrenching minutes later, the police
were nowhere in sight or smell range. That didn’t mean they couldn’t still be
trailing after me.
The first
ripples of a transformation into my human form crawled through my back legs. I
scrambled up the hill, claws digging into the soil for leverage with each rapid
lunge.
Not yet.
My body
shuddered, and I stumbled forward, shivering uncontrollably as thousands of
tiny bite-like nips swarmed across my flesh. I whimpered, and a long exhale
gushed past my lips. The change was happening.
About the Author:
TF Walsh emigrated from Romania to Australia at the age of eight and now lives in a regional city south of Sydney with her husband. Growing up hearing dark fairytales, she's always had a passion for reading and writing horror, paranormal romance, urban fantasy and young adult stories. She balances all the dark with light fluffy stuff like baking and traveling.
Subscription to newsletter: www.tfwalsh.com/subscribe-to-my-newsletter/
Posts
1 comment:
Great to be on your blog... thank you:)
Post a Comment