Dani Harper's Blog, page 19

My Favorite Hero - Part of the Lovestruck Giveaway Hop

Chris Hemsworth bears an uncanny
resemblance to hero James Macleod
from my book, Changeling Dream --
but while I like him a lot, he's not 
my favorite!As a romance author, I fall a little in love with each one of my heroes. It’s not a conscious or deliberate thing – it just happens, at least if I've done my job right, LOL. I feel like I know them, and I've become close to them.  I root for them, boo when bad things happen to them, and cheer loudly when they win. 


And after the book is finished, it takes me a long time to get into a new project with new characters. It's true – I suffer from PHL – Post-Hero-Letdown.

My Favorite Hero (so far...)
These wolves are siblings and
remind me a lot of the Macleods!Oh how I missed shapeshifter Connor Macleod after I finished writing Changeling Moon! After all, I'd gotten to know how he thought, how he felt, how he moved and what he would likely do in any given situation. It’s no wonder that he naturally reappeared in Changeling Dream when his brother, James, needed a hand. And both brothers made their presence known in the third book, Changeling Dawn. Yet both were eclipsed by the unexpected hero of that story. It began like this, with the youngest sister of Connor and James.......
Kenzie Macleod belongs to a long-lived family of Changelings who can turn into wolves at will. They were forced to leave Scotland when wolves were being exterminated there, and those terrible times have left her with a serious distrust of humans....
Actor and writer Jay TavareFound these pics recently and wassurprised to notice he looks a great deal like Josh Talarkoteen  -- and it's a total coincidence that they also share the same initials!!!)http://www.jaytavare.com/That’s as far as I got when up popped Josh Talarkoteen. I’m used to it – many of my characters, including the entire Macleod clan, simply walk into my brain anytime they feel like it and start talking to me. But this guy was new. Oh sure, I got his resume – tall, handsome, wildlife expert, airforce veteran, member of the Tahltan tribe – but it was the fact that he was 100% human that caught me off guard.
“I want in on your new book,” Josh said. “I want a chance with Kenzie.”
I blinked. “I’m not sure that would work. You’re not a werewolf.”
“Your Changeling world has plenty of mixed couples.”
“Yeah, but so far the humans have been women.”
Actor Jay Tavare“What difference does that make? They sure didn’t need any super powers in your stories – those women are strong and smart and more than a match for the werewolf men,” he said. “So why not give a regular guy a chance with a Changeling gal?”
“Look, I admit that you’re great-looking, but isn’t it going to be tough to impress a woman who can turn into a wolf? I mean, how do you compete with that?”
“You mean the fact that she’s faster, stronger and can leap tall humans in a single bound?” Josh laughed out loud. “So what? No hero worth his salt would be threatened by that. And besides, I’m looking to win her heart, not throw down with her in a cage fight.” 


Actor Jay Tavare and his dogI did a quick mental inventory of the books on my keeper shelf – and realized that there were a few heroes I loved who were not the magically-endowed half of the couple. I’d just never written about that situation before. So Josh got his chance in CHANGELING DAWN, and I couldn’t be happier. He proved to be one determined man, and everything a hero should be.
In fact, out of all the leading men I’ve written, Josh has become my favorite. (But don’t tell James and Connor…)
Excerpt from Changeling Dawn
Kenzie laughed. “So, I’ve been good and finished all my shopping. Do I get to go to the museum now?”
The museum, the moon, anywhere you want to go. “I don’t know—I think I should inspect what you bought and make sure it’s suitable.”
She clutched the lingerie bag to her in mock horror. Maybe not so mock… He grinned. “Okay, we’ll head out to the museum. And afterward we’re going to dinner. I’m starving.”
“You’re in a food court—how is that possible?”
“I’m a fan of real food, remember? Beside, I made reservations for us at a great place.”
“Reservations is such a strong word. Sounds an awful lot like a date. Which you will remember, I said I’m not doing with you.”
“You did say that. But that was before we bonded over shopping.”
“This was not true shopping. You consulted while I purchased necessary supplies. I’m not dating you.”
“Is that your final answer? Because you’re forcing me to pull out the big guns.”
“What big guns?”
“I have a new phone number on speed dial that you might find interesting.” He rattled it off and her mouth dropped open.
“Where the hell did you get that?”
“It’s not hard. You said your brother’s a veterinarian just like Stanton—and there aren’t many animal doctors in your little hometown. Two, to be exact, and they both work at the same clinic. I’ll just bet Dr. Connor Macleod would love to hear how you turned down a date with a good-looking veteran who has a respectable government job and owns his own house. You know how family works — you’ll never hear the end of it from your big brother. Maybe you’ll get lucky and he’ll tell your other three big brothers and they’ll all gang up on you. Not to mention your big sister.”
She folded her arms then and her chin came up. “I don’t care. Go ahead and call him. I’m not going out with you.”
“And then of course, there’s Mom and Dad, the sisters-in-law, great aunt, family friends…all of them wanting their little Mackenzie to be happy.”
“I am happy, dammit.” She looked like she was starting to sweat.
In slow motion, he pulled out his cell phone and poised his finger over a button…
“Okay, okay, you win. One — just one — date. But that’s all.” She didn’t look at Josh, just stalked off toward the nearest exit. “Do you get all your dates by blackmail?”
“Nope,” he said cheerily as he easily kept pace with her. “Only the ones that matter.”
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LOVESTRUCK GIVEAWAY HOP
Hosted by Under the Covers and Bona Fide Reflections   June 15 through to June 22, 2012
Here’s your chance to fall in love with Josh too! I’m offering a signed copy of Changeling Dawn plus a handy book tote to put it in.


To enter, just leave a comment and name one of your favorite heroes from a book! (Don’t forget to leave an email address so I can contact you if you win)  A winner will be drawn at random from the comments on June 23, 2012.  

Ready to return to the list of blogs participating in the Lovestruck Hop? Here’s the link: http://underthecoversbookblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/lovestruck-blog-hop-sign-ups.html

Summer Reading -- part of the Shameless Summer Blog Hop

Dani's back porchIt's summertime and the reading is easy! One of my favorite places to spend time with a book is my back porch. I grow tons of flowers in pots out there, have a few little touches of Mexico here and there and look out on a small woods. And just to add some spooky inspiration for the paranormal romances I love to read and write, there's an abandoned house in the midst of the trees! (You can just see the brown shingled wall in the background - "Cabin in the Woods" anyone?)

Recently I fell in love with Karen Marie Moning's Fever series, so that's been my summer reading project so far. On book 3! Also on my list are more of the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher (I'm on Book 3) and the Iron Druid series by Kevin Hearne (I'm on Book 4). And because summer is a perfect time to reread old favorites from the keeper shelf, I'm just finishing the Circle Trilogy by Nora Roberts. Last but definitely not least, I have my copy of Lover Reborn by JR Ward standing by --- I'm a dedicated BDB fan!

SHAMELESS SUMMER GIVEAWAY HOP


So tell me, where is  YOUR favorite reading spot? 

As part of the Shameless Summer Giveaway Hop, I'll be drawing a name at random from the comments on June 16. Prize is a signed copy of the second book in my shapeshifter series, Changeling Dream, and a tote bag to put it in!

(PS - each Changeling book can stand alone, so you don't have to read them in order)

Be sure to include an email address with your comment so I can contact you if you win. And yes, this giveaway is INTERNATIONAL!

CHANGELING DREAM was chosen 
as one of  the  Top Ten Books  of 2011 
by  LoveVampires.com
"...a near-perfect example of  shapeshifter romance..." 


Thanks to Jen at Red Hot Books, Brie at Romance Around the Corner & Michelle at Michelle's Book Blog for sponsoring the hop. Here is the LINK to get back to the list of participating blogs (118 at last count! Woo hoo!)
http://www.redhotbooks.com/2012/03/shameless-summer-giveaway-hop-sign-up.html

The Legend of Ogopogo, the Lake Monster of British Columbia

Most people have heard of the Loch Ness Monster, but did you know that “Nessie” isn’t alone? There are three other legends in the British Isles alone, plus there are no less than 16 mysterious water creatures alleged to be living in Canada and 22 in the USA!
Like Nessie, some people theorize that Ogopogo
is a leftover creature from dinosaur times,
such as a type of plesiosaur“Ogopogo” is the most famous fresh water monster in Canada, believed to reside in Lake Okanagan, British Columbia. First Nations peoples told stories about the “water demon” or “snake in the lake” long before European settlers arrived, and some native pictographs (rock art) have been found that are said to depict the beast. According to legend, Kel-oni-won was a man possessed by a demon, and he murdered a respected elder named "Old Kan-he-kan " with a war club. The Creator punished Kel-oni-won by changing him into a lake serpent forever. The tribe then named the lake after Old Kan-he-kan (Okanagan)
Squally Point, Rattlesnake IslandNative tradition also holds that the lair of the monster was a cave beneath Squally Point near Rattlesnake Island, just offshore from Peachland, BC.  No one would attempt to cross this particular lake without bringing along small animals to drop in as offerings! However, the story is told of a visiting chieftain who refused to believe the creature existed. He deliberately canoed near Squally Point, and suddenly the monster rose up and whipped the water with his tail. The chieftain and all who were with him were pulled underwater, never to be seen again. 
Lake Okanagan, British ColumbiaAnother story recounts that when a horse bent down to drink near this area, the monster seized the horse's nose and pulled him under! Yet another account tells of a group of natives planning to row to the town of Kelowna for supplies.  On the way, three of the lake monsters attempted to tip their boat! The men escaped and returned to their home and no one tried to cross the lake for a very long time.
The Salish people in the area called the lake monster N'ha-a-itk, or “lake demon”. The Chinook peoples called it "wicked one" and "great-beast-on-the-lake." In 1924, however, a Vancouver newspaper reporter parodied a British song, “Ogo-Pogo, The Funny Foxtrot” in order to make fun of the reported sightings of the time:
His mother was an earwig;His father was a whale;A little bit of headAnd hardly any tailAnd Ogo-pogo was his name.
Unfortunately, the native names for the monster were promptly forgotten or ignored, and the creature has been called Ogopogo ever since!
Sightings of the creature consistently
mention its long neckRecorded sightings of the monster by Europeans date back to the mid-1800s (which predates the first sightings of Nessie in Loch Ness by about 60 years!) In 1854, settler John MacDougall was in a canoe, swimming his team of horses across the lake. Without warning, the horses were dragged under by forces unseen. He was forced to cut the lead ropes to save the canoe from being pulled under as well, and narrowly escaped. The horses disappeared without a trace.
The first recorded sighting of the creature was by author Susan Allison in 1872. She was watching the lake for signs of her husband returning from a canoe trip, when suddenly she saw an unusual animal swimming against the waves. In 1880 timbers were going to be floated to Osoyoos to Judge and Emily Hayne's ranch. The hand-sawn timbers were being made into a raft, and as they were building it, a Mr. Postill saw the N'ha-a-itk raise its head from the water and watch them! In 1890, Thomas Shorts was captain of a steam ship on the lake and claimed to have seen a finned creature about sixteen feet long with a head like that of a ram. The monster disappeared, however, when Captain Shorts turned the ship in its direction.
Sightings have occurred about six times a year on average ever since, some by large groups of people at the same time. On September 16, 1925, a large creature was seen swimming in the lake by about 30 cars of people parked along a beach! The government subsequently announced that the new ferry being built for travel across the Okanagan Lake would be equipped with special "monster repelling devices"! On July 2, 1947, several boaters reported seeing the monster about the same time. On July 17, 1959, a number of people saw a huge creature with a long neck for about three minute before it submerged.
In 1990 Canada issued a stamp featuring the OgopogoWitness accounts vary somewhat but most tell of a serpentine creature from 12 to 70 feet long, glossy black or brown, that undulates through the water. It isn’t clear if the creature actually has a number of humps or if it just looks like that because of its method of locomotion. The Ogopogo is described as having a goat-like or horse-like head on a very long neck. Some witnesses describe their sightings as “logs suddenly coming to life” and swimming away at great speeds, often against the waves.
Occasionally, the creature has been sighted out of the water. In the summer of 1989, a couple out for a walk at night witnessed a large unknown creature emerging from the water onto the shore. Other sightings had been reported in that same spot.
Is it possible that Okanagan Lake has an undiscovered animal, or “cryptid”, living in it? It’s certainly large enough to hide one. The lake extends from Vernon in the north to Penticton in the south, about eighty miles. Surrounded by mountains, it’s been compared to a coastal fjord with its steep-walled deep water basin. The lake depth plunges to nearly 1,000 feet in places! It’s been theorized that underwater passages connect the lake to other bodies of water in – and native tradition says that other lakes in the region have similar creatures!

Dani Harper
Author of the Changeling series of shapeshifter romance novels
www.daniharper.com



GIVEAWAY

You could win a paperback copy of
"Field Guide to Lake Monsters, Sea Serpents, and Other Mystery Denizens of the Deep" by Loren Coleman and Patrick Huyghe   

To enter, leave a comment about sea monsters or other cryptids (undiscovered creatures). Do you think they could exist? How do you think you would you react if you saw one? Be sure to add an email address so I can contact you if you win!

Giveaway is over at midnight, Eastern time, May 31, 2012. A name will be drawn at random on June 1, 2012. This particular giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. 

Excerpt from CHANGELING DAWN --- part of the Sinful Sirens Giveaway Hop

Heat Warning
This is an over-18 event!   As my post for the Sinful Sirens Giveaway Hop, I've chosen an excerpt from my latest shapeshifter romance, CHANGELING DAWN.  


There was no resisting Josh’s talented mouth. Kenzie sank into the kiss as smoothly as a swimmer slides below the surface of the water, and the wolf within her seemed to sigh. In fact, her alter ego was as fully present as her human self, as if it was watching everything through her eyes, feeling everything through her skin. She was two beings at once, something which had never happened before, and yet she had no time to wonder at the oddity of her dual awareness. Because she wanted Josh, and that knowledge was both thrilling and freeing. She wanted and everything about him – his touch, his scent, his arousal pressing against the denim of his jeans – said that he wanted her too. ... Then and there Kenzie decided she would have what she wanted. 
Read more about Changeling Dawn at
http://www.daniharper.com/CHANGELING_DAWN.htmlJosh’s strong hands on her were tender. And cool. Changeling body temperature was much higher than a human’s, and right now she was burning up but not with fever. She found herself craving the gliss of his hands, soothed by their coolness as much as she was aroused by their caresses. 
Outside, the darkened sky cradled a buttery moon, glimmering between the mountain peaks yet outshining the city lights. Moonlight pooled in the center of the wide bed and Josh knelt in it, drew her up to her knees as well – then turned her as smoothly as if they were dancing so her back was against him. One powerful arm cradled her close enough that she could feel his erection pulsing against her crease despite their clothing. His other hand stroked her from shoulder to thigh.
“I’ve been wanting to do this,” he murmured and slowly, thoroughly kissed the nape of her neck. Exquisite sensation rocketed through her and her breasts tightened almost to the point of pain. As if he knew, he cradled them in his hands and softly thumbed the nipples. Her clothing felt cumbersome, hot, heavy and very much in the way. She wanted to pull off the restraining fabric, but he had caged her with his arms and simply continued to place slow, deliberate kisses on the back of her neck. Kenzie had never thought of that spot as particularly erotic, but her body quivered like a taut wire. The new thong she was wearing was already soaked through with sheer anticipation. 
He worked his way over to the side of her neck, bringing a whole new array of sensations. Her earlobe was seized in gentle teeth and she could swear that an electrical current suddenly connected every part of her to her ultra-sensitive core. Another touch like that and she was sure to start vibrating like struck crystal…. 
Time to turn things around. She’d accepted Josh’s lead, luxuriated in his touch, but now she wanted to do a little touching of her own.... 
Dani Harperwww.daniharper.com 

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SINFUL SIRENS 
GIVEAWAY HOP

My blog, WAY PAST NORMAL, is one of over 130 sites taking part in the “Sinful Sirens Giveaway Hop”.

What’s a Hop? Every blog on the list hosts a giveaway and you can HOP from one blog to another!  (You don't have to visit them all - each has their own giveaway that is separate from all others - but it would be a whole lot of fun to try!)  

MANY THANKS to the two hosts of this hop – Under the Covers AND Guilty Pleasures Review sites.

For my giveaway, I'm offering a signed copy of my shapeshifter romance, CHANGELING DAWN and a Dani Harper TOTE BAG to put it in!

TO ENTER --- leave me a comment -- Tell me who you think is the HOTTEST book character ever. Talk sexy heroes to me!

NOTE - One entry per person please. Make sure to include an EMAIL ADDRESS so I can contact you if you win! 

My giveaway runs until midnight on May 20th. I’ll be drawing a winner at random from the commenters on May 21.  BTW, my giveaway is INTERNATIONAL!

HOP LINK - This link will get you back to the list of over 130 participating blogs at UNDER THE COVERS REVIEWS –  http://underthecoversbookblog.blogspot.ca/2012/02/heat-up-your-summer-sinful-sirens.html 

The North American Black Panther - More than a Myth?

Out of all the posts on my blog, THIS is the one which has garnered the most attention --- close to 12,000 views since I first published it in June of 2010. 

*************
A cryptid is an animal whose existence is unconfirmed. But a cryptid can also be a known animal in an unexpected place, and black panthers fall into this category.

A panther is a term applied to several species of big cat when they occur as solid black. Leopards, bobcats and jaguars for instance are usually spotted – but melanism (an increased amount of dark pigment caused by melanin) can cause any of these species to be all black. Spotted and all-black kittens can occur in the same litter. Black may even be able to become the dominant color in a small breeding population.

But is there such a thing as a black mountain lion (also called cougar or puma)? Wildlife experts say no because no one has ever photographed or shot one. However, verbal accounts exist from history. Black panthers were well-known to the early settlers in the Appalachian mountains and the Ozarks. Frightening encounters with black panthers were published in Texas newspapers in the 1800s. The history of Montgomery County, Arkansas, is said to contain the experience of one Emily Stacy. Home alone with her children, she was forced to load a musket and shoot through the door at a panther that was trying to get into her house. In the morning, the panther - described as a black mountain lion lay dead on her porch.

This illustration of a “Black Puma, Felis Nigra” is a watercolor drawing by James Hope Stewart published in 1843 in “The Naturalist’s Library, Mammalia, Vol. 1, Cats” by Sir William Jardine. Inside, it says that the puma, also commonly known as panther, mountain lion or cougar, is native to North, Central and South America. It’s been said that two black cougars from America were exhibited in London in the 1700s, although evidence no longer exists to prove they were actually cougars and not another type of big cat.

If the many sightings of black panthers in recent years are not of melanistic cougars, what else could they be? Many people don’t know that the American West, especially the Southwest, was the natural home of jaguars. They were almost completely hunted out by the early 1900s, and the last known pair were shot in Arizona by 1965. It was 2001 before photographic evidence proved that jaguars had returned to the United States. (There are better pics of jaguars to be found but THIS pic is from video footage of one of the jaguars in Arizona.)

Is it possible that black jaguars are responsible for some of the black panther sightings? Are black jaguars newly returned to the US also or have they been here all along? Perhaps natural selection played a role in their survival – black cats might have been better able to stay out of sight and avoid being killed by hunters.

In many instances, witnesses to the black cats may be misjudging their size. A jaguarundi is a cat closely related to the cougar but much smaller. It can occur in several colors including solid dark gray or chocolate brown. The cat is known to live in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and Florida. Jaguarundis have also been reported in several states bordering these ones. From a distance, people would notice the jaguarundi’s build is unlike that of a house cat (see photo at right), and it has a very long, thick tail like a cougar’s. It could easily resemble a black panther. Plus, the jaguarundi likes the daylight hours, making it easier to be spotted by humans.

The exotic pet trade might provide another reason for black panther sightings. In 2009, the Humane Society of the United States pointed out that of the estimated 5,000 to 7,000 tigers in the country, only 10 percent are in zoos: the rest are privately owned. It’s the same with many other big cat species, as it has been unbelievably easy to purchase these animals as pets in the past (more and more legislation is being written now to ban exotic pets). Dealers may employ selective breeding to create a more attractive (and expensive) “product”, including black panthers. Big cats may escape or may be deliberately set free by owners who can no longer afford to keep them. Most don’t survive on their own for long – but some just might.

Another possibility exists because most big cat species can interbreed, and many big cats possess the genes for a black coat. If a pet leopard escaped or was released, is it far-fetched to imagine that it might breed with an indigenous mountain lion? For that matter, a wandering wild jaguar might meet up with a wild cougar. In either case, some new DNA might be introduced into the existing wild population.

Meanwhile, there’s no doubt that confirmed sightings of normal-colored cougars are on the rise in places other than the western United States and Canada. These creatures once roamed almost all of North America, and may be regaining some of their former territory. In recent years, cougars have been spotted in Michigan (http://www.savethecougar.org/ ), Alaska, Kansas, Indiana and even West Virginia. Since there are several subspecies of mountain lion, perhaps one or more of the subspecies are able to naturally produce black offspring. And a black lion might be found anywhere their usual-colored siblings are. For instance, the Florida Panther is really a cougar – and there have also been reports of black cougars in that state.

While many plausible explanations exist for the existence of an American black panther, there is also the slimmest, slightest chance that it’s a true cryptid – a brand new species or subspecies that we know nothing about. Just such an animal is appearing in other countries. Hundreds of black panther sightings are reported in Britain every year and also in Australia.

Dani Harper
http://www.daniharper.com/

Your turn – Do you think black panthers could exist in the United States? Have you ever seen any of these big cats in ANY color?

CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF – Part of the May Monster Madness Hop

*LUPINE – adjective meaning
 “of, like, or relating to a wolf
or wolves”  How do you become a werewolf? Most of us think first of the Hollywood movie tradition – that if you’re bitten by a werewolf, you’ll automatically turn into one. This method is actually quite rare among the many lupine* legends and lore from around the world. Because I write novels about shapeshifters, I collect shapeshifter trivia. Today I dusted off some of the more interesting ways and means of becoming a werewolf – all of them involuntary!


In many countries on both sides of the Atlantic a person could become a werewolf against their will if someone cursed them. Often, the person doing the hexing was not a witch but a priest!
If you weren't "good" you might
be cursed to become a werewolf.
But if you offended the devil
(by being too good?) you could
receive the very same curse!From Russia to France, if you didn’t go to church or offended God in some other way, you could be officially cursed with lycanthropy. This was said to happen to those who failed to attend annual confession – do this 10 years in a row and you’re automatically a werewolf.

In 14th century Normandy, the varouage was an excommunicated person who became a werewolf between Christmas and Candlemas or during Advent. During this time, the sinner was either redeemed – or doomed to belong to the devil and run as a wolf forever. (By the way, in Finland, if you were lucky enough to break the spell, you were still stuck with a wolf’s tail for the rest of your life!)
Because they would not accept Christianity, St. Patrick is said to have cursed the ruler of a Welsh tribe and all his followers to become wolves! It’s said that the curse lasted 7 years, but other versions of the story have them turning into wolves EVERY 7 years for the rest of their lives. This is similar to the curse delivered by Saint Natalis (or Naile), who condemned an Irish clan to werewolfism for some long-forgotten sin. Forever after, every member of the clan would spend 7 years of their lives as a wolf.
If your parents were werewolves, you were likely to be born one too. But curses abound for anyone born on the wrong day. In Italy, it was bad luck to be born on the winter solstice, December 20-21, and a sure way to become a shapeshifter. In many other European countries, it was believed that children born on December 24th, Christmas Eve, automatically became werewolves. Apparently it was a divine punishment for competing with the Christ child!

In Romania, this legend went a step further. Children conceived on Christmas Eve were cursed to become werewolves because their parents were supposed to have abstained from sex at that time!

Birth order could also determine your fate. If you were the seventh boy of seven boys born in a row (no girls inbetween), then you would become a werewolf. This belief was so prevalent in Argentina (where the werewolf is called a lobizon) that seventh sons were commonly abandoned, given up for adoption or even killed! In 1920, the president of Argentina countered this by declaring all seventh sons to be his official godchildren.
A Polish legend says that if a witch lays a belt of human skin across the threshold of a house in which a marriage is being celebrated, any member of the wedding party that steps over it is immediately transformed into a wolf. The wolves are forced to serve the witch for a year, then regain their human form and return to their lives.
As if there weren't enough ways to become a werewolf, it was also possible to become one by sheer accident! In some stories, if you happen to lock eyes with a wild wolf, it could cause you to turn into a wolf within a few days.

Legend also says that a “lycanthropic flower” grows wild in the Balkan Peninsula, with a sickly death-like scent and white or yellow blooms. If you pick these flowers, you become a wolf!
Not even water is safe. If you unknowingly drink from a "lycanthropic" river or stream, you could become a werewolf. In some European legends, especially in Scandinavian countries, lycanthropic water is said to possess a "lurid sparkle" and a faint smell that is like nothing else. Other legends say that drinking from any body of water where a wolf pack has recently satisfied their thirst will cause you to become a shapeshifter!
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MAY MONSTER MADNESS BLOG HOP

What’s a Hop? Many of the blogs on the list host a giveaway as well as a monster-related post and you can HOP from one blog to another, reading and entering as you go! It's a great way to discover new blogs and meet new people!


(You don't have to visit them all but it would be a whole lot of fun to try! Those that feature a giveaway host it separately from all others, meaning they'll each draw and announce their own winners.)

MANY THANKS to the hosts of this hop – author Annie Walls , Little Gothic Horrors and Something WicKED This Way Comes .

For my giveaway, I'm offering a signed copy of Book 3 in my shapeshifter series, CHANGELING DAWN and a Dani Harper TOTE BAG to put it in!  (check out the "Paranormal Novels" button to learn more about my work or go to my website at www.daniharper.com )

TO ENTER --- leave me a comment answering this question: What or who is your favorite "monster" or "monsters"? Anything or anyone from movies, TV shows or books, and from any genre -- urban fantasy, horror, paranormal romance, you name it! 

NOTE - Make sure to include an email address so I can contact you if you win!  I’ll be drawing a winner at random from the commenters on May 8th.  BTW, my giveaway is INTERNATIONAL!

Below you'll find the list of participating blogs.

How to Protect Yourself from Fairies – part of the Spring Fling Blog Hop

‘Tis Spring and the fair folk flourish. Indeed, they are at their strongest in the month of May.






I know what you’re saying. Why would you need protection against a cute little fairy? The truth is, in most countries where legends of fairies exist and where the belief in fairies lingers, many of the Fair Folk are not all that cute. Or little.
And they definitely are not nice.
Legend has it that the term “fairy” can be applied to a wide range of supernatural beings who possess considerable magical powers. Sprites, boggarts, pixies, banshees, brownies, hobgoblins, elementals, trolls, elves and many, many other creatures can all be lumped under the single heading of “fairies”. 
According to the old stories, fairies could be so beautiful that mortals were unable to resist them, or so ugly that mortals could perish from fear. There were light fairies who were mostly good and dark fairies who were mostly evil. Still others were both friendly and hostile, helpful and mischievous, kind and cruel. This amoral unpredictability made most fairies very dangerous creatures. Your only hope as a mere mortal was to avoid the fairies, repel the fairies or appease the fairies.
AVOIDING FAIRIES
Fairy Mound in IrelandIn the Celtic countries (Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England), children used to be cautioned to stay away from fairy mounds. These are strange solitary hills in odd places, such as the middle of a field. These round grassy knolls were believed to be entrances to the underground fairy realm. Venture too close and you could disappear, never to be seen again. It was especially dangerous if you were a beautiful woman or a handsome man. You might be spirited away by fairies looking for a mortal mate!
Steer clear of certain trees late at night, especially hazel, thorn, alder and oak, because they’re favorite haunts for fairies. You could find yourself pinched and hit as you walk by – or tangled in the branches until morning.
Farmers knew better than to enter a mill at night. That was the time that fairies brought their grain to be ground. Interrupting fairies when they were working could earn you a failed crop or other curse.
You needed to watch where you were walking because a strange tuft of grass or stray bit of sod could trigger a spell if stepped on. Your path through the woods could suddenly disappear. If you were crossing an open field, you might keep veering in the wrong direction or cross it only to arrive on the same side you started from. It’s called “being pixie-led” and it could happen in broad daylight.
Certain ponds, lakes and rivers were said to be the haunts of kelpies and other water fairies. If you came to these waters alone, you could be pulled in by these nasty creatures and drown. It was said that your spirit would then be forced to live in the fairy realm forever. Stay away or use the buddy system.
REPELLING FAIRIES
St. John's WortGarlands were often made of marsh marigolds and hung over the barn doors to protect the horses from being ridden to exhaustion by fairies. Flowers, especially primroses, were spread over windowsills and hung above the door-posts of the house for safety. Your best bet, however, was a plant called St. John's Wort. Wearing it was said to provide strong protection from fairy magic and mischief.
Fairies could vanish at will and remain invisible to mortal eyes as long as they pleased. Carrying a four-leafed clover would allow you to see the fairies – but only once. A Celtic tradition was to sew several of the clovers into a tiny bag to be worn around the neck. You could then discern the fairies once for each clover in the bag. In some legends, the clover was said to allow you to see through fairy glamors and magical disguises.
Iron in any form has always been the best protection against fairies – it was like kryptonite to Superman. If you kept an iron nail in your pocket, you couldn’t be carried away by them. A pair of iron shears hung on the wall near a baby’s bed was said to prevent the child from being swapped for an ugly fairy baby. Horseshoes could be nailed over doorposts.
Red berries kept fairies at bay, especially if they were from rowan trees, mountain ash or holly.
Even humble oatmeal was said to be a fairy repellent, if you carried it in your pocket or sprinkled it on your clothes. As long as you didn’t mind looking flaky, you’d be safe.
APPEASING FAIRIES
In many cultures, protection from fairies was achieved by cooperation and respect.
If you were Welsh, for instance, you might leave bread and milk on the back porch at night as an offering for the fairies. This was said to prevent them from playing pranks on the family and might even gain their favor. (Note – they liked butter, cream, and ale too. Especially ale.)
If you spilled salt in Ireland, you might throw some over your shoulder in order to give the fairies their share. If you passed a body of water, or even a well, you could drop in a piece of silver for the fairy that lives there. If you were milking a cow or goat by hand, you would probably let the first few squirts fall to the ground to appease any unseen fairies that were thirsty.
Many of the kindlier fairies were said to be offended when they saw a lack of hospitality and courtesy among human mortals, and would punish such offences severely. On the other hand, if you were fair and honest with your fellow mortals, and practiced generosity, the fairies were likely to treat you in kind. Or, at the very least, leave you safely alone!


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First of all, huge thanks to author Selena Blake,  Bitten by Paranormal Romance Reviews and  Reading Between the Wines  for hosting this terrific hop! The Grand Prize is a brand new NOOK (The Nook is being given away on Selena Blake's site.  Entrants have to go to her site and use the raffle form there.) but there are fun book-related giveaways at every single stop on the hop!


My own giveaway is a signed copy of Changeling Dawn (Book 3 in my Changeling series). Plus, you'll get a Dani Harper tote bag so you’ll have something wolfish to carry your book in. This giveaway is international!

TO ENTER, please leave a comment on this blog post and an email address so I can contact you if you win.  Talk fairies with me -- do you like them, or do you know any good books that feature them, or who is your favorite fairy character, or whatever you want to tell me.  The giveaway runs to midnight, Friday, April 27, and I’ll be drawing a winner at random on Saturday, April 28.

To get back to the list of blogs participating in the Spring Fling Blog Hop, go to this link: http://site.selena-blake.com/2012/04/spring-fling-blog-hop-april-23-27/
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Changelings and Thunder Gods – part of the Hunky Hero Giveaway Hop

The men in my shapeshifter series are sexy. I get a few emails a week from readers asking if they can have a “Connor” or a “Culley” of their very own (most are joking, a few I’m not quite sure...). But of all my leading men, the one who seems to set female hearts a-flutter the MOST is – *drumroll*
James August Macleod !
Yup, the oldest brother of the shapeshifting Macleod clan is the one informally designated “most likely to attract groupies”. Interestingly, he’s also the one least likely to pay any attention to them. Not because he doesn't like women, but because he's more the hyper-loyal-to-one-woman kind of guy. He’s the strong, silent type and when James isn’t being silent, he’s gruff and just a little on the impatient side. That’s because he’s out of practice when it comes to being human.
James, you see, has been a lone wolf, literally, for more than three decades. The tragic loss of his wife and unborn child to a murderer literally drove him from his humanity. He’s wandered far from both family and pack in the form of a great white wolf …
Now, lots of people ask me where I get the ideas for my characters. And I have to tell them that they show up on their own. I always know the characters extremely well before I know the story. They pop up in my head, fully formed and usually in conversation with other characters. In the case of the Macleods, the whole gang of them arrived at once. (It gets very noisy in my head some days…)
So if you’ve read Changeling Dream, you know that James is often kidded about being a Viking by his brothers. It’s partly because of his imposing height and muscle. And partly because the entire family is dark-haired, yet James has piercing blue eyes, pale blonde hair and wears a close beard. The Viking-like gruffness might have something to do with it too, LOL.
Imagine my surprise when I watched the movie Thor for the first time – my husband will testify that I pounded his popcorn-holding arm when Chris Hemsworth came onscreen, exclaiming “That’s JAMES! That's James Macleod!”. In fact, I may have said it more than a few times … but not more than twenty, I’m almost sure.
I’d say it was a case of art imitates life – or maybe art imitates life imitates art? Chris Hemsworth is a gorgeous actor and a good one. I totally enjoyed his performance in Star Trek but he took my breath away in Thor. He probably had no idea that he’d accidently brought TWO characters to life at the same time – Thor and James Macleod.
That’s okay. It can be our secret.
Dani Harper
www.daniharper.com

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The Hunky Hero Giveaway Hop is now CLOSED
Congrats to SUZAN from Northern Ireland - her name was drawn from the big green mixing bowl (yeah, I know, not very high tech but it works!)  She'll be receiving a signed copy of Changeling Dawn (Book 3 in my Changeling series) and a Dani Harper tote bag.

Thanks to everyone who came by to read the blog, and double thanks to those who commented. Be sure and check out my newest post and giveaway!


To get back to the list of blogs participating in the Hunky Hero Giveaway Hop, go to RIVERINA ROMANTICS at http://riverinaromantics.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/hunky-hero-giveaway-hop-sign-up.html
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Sheep in Legend and Lore - special joint blog & giveaway with I SMELL SHEEP

http://ismellsheep.blogspot.com/ I talk a lot about wolves on this blog. I also write novels about wolves, I post trivia on Facebook about wolves, I tweet about wolves... But some of my best friends are wild and, well, woolly!


I've paired up with the fabulous review site, I SMELL SHEEP, for a special dual blog and giveaway*, so today I'm writing about -- SHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!


*Note - To qualify for either draw, you MUST ENTER BOTH. Yes, it's our sneaky way of making sure you get the FULL SHEEP EXPERIENCE!  (instructions at the end of the blog)


**********************************************SHEEP IN LEGEND AND LORE
In Guangzhou, China, there is a statue commemorating the Five Sheep. It is said that the people used to eat only fish, until five gods came to earth riding on five sheep. Each sheep was a different color and held an ear of rice in its mouth.  The gods instructed the people to plant the rice and blessed the city against famine. The gods flew back to the sky but the sheep remained standing until they became stones. Guangzhou is nicknamed "Five Sheep City", and all sheep are believed to be lucky.
In Greek mythology, Eros (Cupid) fell in love with the mortal Psyche but Psyche had to win over his mother, the goddess Aphrodite. Aphrodite was jealous of Psyche's beauty and commanded her to perform a number of impossible tasks --- and one of them was to obtain a snippet of fleece from every member of a certain flock of sheep. Of course, this was not an ordinary flock. They were the wild Meloi Khyseoi, vicious golden-fleeced sheep with sharp horns and venomous bites!  Fortunately, the spirit of the river spoke to Psyche and told her that the sheep were only violent in the heat of the day. Following the river's instructions, Psyche waited until the day grew cooler and the sheep drowsed in the shade. She then was able to obtain the fleece without being harmed.
On the island of Crete, the villages around Mount Psiloritis (now Mount Idi) were said to raise sheep with golden teeth. The people believed that there were such rich deposits of gold in the mountain that the grasses drew gold from the soil, and when the sheep ate the grass, the gold was deposited on their teeth. A monk first recorded the phenomenon in 1415. The real cause turned out to be a plant called nevrida, which the sheep eat in great quantity. Lambs are born with white teeth, and the teeth begin to turn yellow then deep gold as the animal ages. It takes quite a long time for the process, and when the teeth finally become golden, it's time to butcher that particular sheep.     A Crow legend tells of a man possessed by evil spirits who tries to kill his stepson by pushing him over a cliff. The young man is saved by seven mighty bighorn sheep.  The leader of the sheep is Big Metal and he re-names the boy Big Iron. The seven sheep grant him gifts of power and wisdom, surefootedness and keen eyesight. Big Iron returns to his village with knowledge for the people, such as how to build a sweat lodge. He also carried the message that the Crow people would survive only so long as the river winding out of the mountains is known as the Bighorn River. Big Iron became a strong and wise man who lived a long life. He asked to be buried next to the Bighorn River so he could be close to the seven mighty sheep in the afterlife.

Hades was the Greek god of the underworld and also of wealth. Black sheep were sacred to him. He was worshipped but seldom petitioned (in the belief that he could not be swayed) but occasionally mortals would make prayers and bang on the ground to make sure that Hades heard them. They sacrificed black sheep (always at night) and allowed their blood to flow into pits dug into the ground in the belief that it would then reach Hades. Whoever offered the sacrifice however had to turn his face away in case he caught a glimpse of the underworld god. Every hundred years on April 30, a festival was held in honor of Hades, and black sheep and other black animals would be in high demand.
The story of the Golden Fleece was told since at least 800 BC, and probably earlier. The Greek king Athamas was said to have married Nephele, a cloud nymph, and together they had twins, a boy and a girl, Phrixus and Helle. But Athamas was unfaithful. He sired children with a mortal woman, Ino, and then divorced Nephele so he could marry Ino instead. Nephele was cast out of Athamas' court, but he kept her children. Ino hated the stepchildren and plotted to kill them. Before she could do so, Nephele sent a flying ram with golden fleece that carried her children away. Sadly, Helles fell off and was drowned in the sea, but Phrixus made it to safety. He married the daughter of a king, and gave the king the sheared golden fleece of the ram as a gift. This is the same fleece that Jason and the Argonauts would later obtain. Incidentally, the constellation and zodiac sign Aries represents the golden flying ram that rescued Nephele's children.
An Irish tale tells of King Fiachna, who was forced to make war upon King Lochlann. He took ten battalions into battle, and slew 300 of Lochlann's men. But venomous sheep were released from Lochlann's tent. These sheep slew 300 of Fiachna's warriors each day. They caused immense slaughter and terror and no one could stand against them. Finally, Fiachna's entire army was forced to climb the trees of the forest and remain in their branches, while the sheep raged on the ground below, bleating terribly and tearing up the ground. Embarrassed by his army's plight, King Fiachna was determined to climb down and take on the sheep alone, but a stranger came along with a monstrous and magical dog. The creature killed every one of the savage sheep at its master's command. The stranger then ordered Fiachna to take over the kingdom of Lochlann, which he did.
In modern times, the most famous sheep in the world is likely Shrek, a Merino in New Zealand that evaded shearing for six years by hiding in caves. He was finally captured in 2004 and his wool was sheared on national television. The wool weighed an amazing 60 pounds – most Merino fleeces are about 10 to 20 pounds at the most. Shrek became a celebrity, getting to meet the prime minister of New Zealand and promoting a children's charity. Shrek celebrated his 10th birthday with a fundraising stunt for the charity – he was shorn on top of an iceberg that was floating off the coast of New Zealand at the time, wearing special crampons on his feet so he could walk without slipping. Shrek lived to the ripe old age of 17, which is said to be 90 in human years.
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AND NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY....
As I mentioned, I've paired up with the fabulous review site, I SMELL SHEEP, for a special dual blog and giveaway. To qualify for either draw, you MUST ENTER BOTH. 
All we need at each site is a comment about the blog and an email address so we can contact you if you win. That's it!
When you're finished here, go to http://ismellsheep.blogspot.com/2012/04/sheeps-are-wild-event-giveaway.html 
My giveaway is a stuffed sheep that's as big as my executive secretary, Fiona the Pug (the pug is NOT being given away, she says!) and swag from my Changeling series of shapeshifter novels.
PS - this giveaway is International. 


You'll have to check out I SMELL SHEEP to see what goodies they're offering! Here's the link again,  http://ismellsheep.blogspot.com/2012/04/sheeps-are-wild-event-giveaway.html 


Thanks for reading my blog. Good luck to you all!  

Fun with Changelings --- A Tour of "Werewolf Central" plus giveaway

LOCATION – The Village of Dunvegan – a small northern Canadian town that's literally Werewolf Central in my paranormal novels, Changeling Moon, Changeling Dream and Changeling Dawn.  
* * * * 
You step off the dusty bus into the late afternoon sun, sweaty, tired and your luggage is missing. Somebody takes your arm and steers you to a shiny red pickup truck – a small white-haired woman with bright eyes, flawlessly French-rolled hair and a tailored citrus green pantsuit.
"The Pack has run up to Elk Point for a special meeting, so I'll be your tour guide today. Name's Birkie Peterson and I'm the power behind the throne at the North Star Animal Hospital." She barks a laugh and slaps the steering wheel. "Means I'm the receptionist and bookkeeper and Jill-of-all-trades there.  Believe me, you haven't lived until you've hosed blood and manure off the ceiling, dear."
You have a hard time imagining that. With such an impeccable appearance, Birkie looks like she would be more at home in the back of a limousine than hosing out a livestock pen. Yet she handles the big truck as if she'd been born behind the wheel.
"That wide water you crossed on the way here is the Peace River. Gonna tell you right off, it's a misnomer. Smooth as silk on top, but there's a powerful current underneath. Lots of folks drowned there over the years.
"People say there's more than one ghost on that bridge too. Jumped, you know."
You don't want to be distracted by ghost stories. You tell her about the werewolf book you're writing, the one that proves it all, and you want to include a chapter about Changelings.
She eyes you then. "Heard about that. The Pack leader, Jessie, says that since you know Changelings exist, you're to get the full trea-, I mean tour. Connor didn't agree, mind you and I don't know if I do either, but here we are. Sure hope you know what you're getting into."
You say you're glad to get a firsthand look at Dunvegan, and you're excited as the truck turns away from Main Street.
"This is Hemstock Ave." Birkie points to a stretch of curb. "And right there's the spot where Zoey was attacked by a rogue Changeling. No screaming and fainting for that gal, she gave almost as good as she got. Still, it's lucky Connor came along when he did because a human can't hold out against a Changeling for long. They're too strong, too powerful. Bigger than ordinary wolves you know. And the one that attacked Zoey was crazy as a bedbug to boot."
Out of the corner of your eye, you spot something huge and black moving behind the shrubbery. But when you turn to look, there's nothing there.
"Up ahead of us is Dunvegan's town hall," she continues. "Zoey almost changed into a wolf right there in the middle of a council meeting. So much for trying to keep Changelings a secret after an incident like that." She shakes her head.
Again your eye catches furtive movement, this time between a house and a stand of lilac bushes. Again, nothing.
"Over there is a place you want to remember, the Finer Diner. Looks like just a gas station and burger joint, but let me tell you, it's got the best food in town. Bill and Jessie Watson own that operation. I'll take you to lunch there in a day or so when you're settled. Jessie's the Pack leader by the way – you have a problem, you see her about it. She's not much bigger than me, but don't be fooled. She's leader for a reason, and what she says, goes."
Was that a gleam of silver fur between the cars back there? You wonder why people keep such big dogs here. At least, you think it was a dog…
Birkie turns the truck onto Third Ave and a small house comes into view with a crooked sign on it that says MUSEUM. "There's an old diary in there from 1904, with an eye-witness account of a man turning into a wolf. Kathleen Summers has kept it under lock and key for over thirty years. Still, the page got photographed somehow and put in the paper a few years back, so although Kathleen won't show it to you, you can find it in the Dunvegan Herald Weekly morgue."
She chuckles at the look on your face. "Oh, not a real morgue, hon – although we have one of those too – this is where the newspaper keeps all its old issues. You can read all the old werewolf stories there too. Goodness knows we've had more than a few of those in recent years. And the murders of course."
You shiver at that. You've heard of those. And you've heard that the killer wasn't human.
Birkie carries on as if violent death is an everyday occurrence. "Have to go to Macklin's down the street here if you want any sporting goods. Do you fish? I like to go for trout on the weekends, sometimes get a few perch to fry up. Sergeant Fitzpatrick, now, he likes to fish for sturgeon. I see him on the river quite a bit. When he's not fishing, he heads the RCMP Detachment in these parts, and if he asks you for a date, say yes. He's a good man. Connor is too, but he's taken. Mind you, his younger brothers are still available and all those Macleod men are easy on the eyes. Big, strong, sexy types -- just what a gal needs to get her blood going.
"And as you know, they're all Changelings too. Fitz included. Best place to hide is in plain sight, don't you think?"
Even the police sergeant can turn into a wolf at will? Suddenly you're very uncomfortable.
The sun has just slid below the horizon when the truck pulls into the parking lot of a sprawling modern building. "Welcome to the North Star Animal Hospital. It's after hours now but I can show you around. You might want to walk around the loft where the big white wolf – that's our James – slept for a while. Or the couch in Connor's office with wolf hair all over it from Culley. See that area over by the dumpster? Well, all the blood's gone now of course but that's where the showdown happened not too long ago."
What showdown? You ask Birkie to explain.
"I forgot that you probably hadn't heard of that yet. Tell you what, let's come back to this later. Right now, we'll head out to a couple of the sites where the attacks took place. By then it'll be moonrise and the Pack says to bring you up to Elk Point then."
The hair on the back of your neck stands up. You don't like the sound of that invitation, and say so.
"Just part of the tour, hon. Practically the whole Pack'll be there – maybe 35, 40 wolves tonight. Full moon too. You'll get to meet them all, get the whole experience." Birkie smiles sweetly, "You know, for your research."
Suddenly you don't give a damn about the book you're writing. As the truck slows down for a stop sign, you half leap, half stumble out and run for all you're worth. There has to be a bus out of town tonight. A car you can rent. A taxi you can commandeer. Something. Anything.
A howl slices the cool dusk air. A hunting howl...

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GIVEAWAY - In honor of the subject, I have a small stuffed wolf and some Changeling series swag for one lucky winner. This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL!
All you have to do to enter is leave me a comment*, plus an email address so I can contact you if you win. Winner will be drawn at random from the comments on April 14, 2012.
*Anything to do with paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Tell me what you're reading right now or tell me if you've read any of my Changeling books, or tell me what interesting new creature (or great twist on a classic creature) you've run across in a book lately. Or wolves -- we could talk about them too, LOL. 
PS - Yes, I thought I had a functioning Rafflecopter form set up for this, but it refused to cooperate. So we'll go back to the old-fashioned way!  


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