C. Fern Cook's Blog
March 18, 2025
tony hellerman
My favorite author, I have all his books and a few from his daughter.
He had written one book about skin walkers. He writes about the Navaho legends. I especially like how he paints a picture with his writing.
I found that I also try to paint a picture with my writing. I like to visualize the sitting; I want my readers to see what I see. Like Tony, I could visualize the sittings. I guess I write like that because of him.
I have written a series about skin walkers. The Navaho are not the only culture that has legends about donning the skin of a powerful creature to emulate their spiritual power. I have incorporated both cultures folklore.
Wild Evolution, book 1 of the wild series is the beginning of the series.
He had written one book about skin walkers. He writes about the Navaho legends. I especially like how he paints a picture with his writing.
I found that I also try to paint a picture with my writing. I like to visualize the sitting; I want my readers to see what I see. Like Tony, I could visualize the sittings. I guess I write like that because of him.
I have written a series about skin walkers. The Navaho are not the only culture that has legends about donning the skin of a powerful creature to emulate their spiritual power. I have incorporated both cultures folklore.
Wild Evolution, book 1 of the wild series is the beginning of the series.
March 1, 2025
everyday
Most days are met with boring and repetitive chores. Cooking, cleaning, going to work. Wishing someone else would make dinner or pick up the kids.
I suppose that is why in entertainment we have daring, life threatening, and scary scenes to take us away from drudgery.
A holocaust survivor once said, boredom is good. All we need is food, water, shelter; everything else is a luxury.
Sometimes, we forget what luxuries we really have in our lives.
Sometimes I have to remind myself, that writing fiction is a luxury and be thankful for that.
Thanks to those who have read my stories and especially for those who have liked them.
I suppose that is why in entertainment we have daring, life threatening, and scary scenes to take us away from drudgery.
A holocaust survivor once said, boredom is good. All we need is food, water, shelter; everything else is a luxury.
Sometimes, we forget what luxuries we really have in our lives.
Sometimes I have to remind myself, that writing fiction is a luxury and be thankful for that.
Thanks to those who have read my stories and especially for those who have liked them.
February 26, 2025
wolfbane
Wolfbane is an interesting plant. Steeped in folklore, both in movies and books.
In Harry Potter series it cures Lycanthrope, in the Dracula movies it keeps vampires away.
The plant is poisonous, many novels have used this poison to kill off many villains and heroes.
It is beautiful plant, the flower looks like many wildflowers, lovely shade of blue, It grows wild in the northern hemisphere. I have probably picked it and didn't know it was poisonous.
I have heard mentioned in some of the old classic wolfman movies, but not as a cure. I remember in one of the movies it was lethal to the wolfman.
I thought it made an interesting experiment to actually find some and see it is really poisonous.
Haven't decided if I am going to use it in future books; we'll see.
In Harry Potter series it cures Lycanthrope, in the Dracula movies it keeps vampires away.
The plant is poisonous, many novels have used this poison to kill off many villains and heroes.
It is beautiful plant, the flower looks like many wildflowers, lovely shade of blue, It grows wild in the northern hemisphere. I have probably picked it and didn't know it was poisonous.
I have heard mentioned in some of the old classic wolfman movies, but not as a cure. I remember in one of the movies it was lethal to the wolfman.
I thought it made an interesting experiment to actually find some and see it is really poisonous.
Haven't decided if I am going to use it in future books; we'll see.
February 15, 2025
free book
I was wondering if anyone is interested in a free copy of Wild Evolution, book 1 of the wild series.
The fourth in the series is coming out this fall.
If you are email @ cferncook@yahoo.com
The fourth in the series is coming out this fall.
If you are email @ cferncook@yahoo.com
February 10, 2025
my beliefs as a child
when I grew up. I was into werewolf lore. I had an uncle who liked to eat raw hamburger. One of the myths I learned said that werewolves eat raw meat. I too started to eat raw hamburger, I still do today, In posh restaurants it is known as tartar. Of course, we never went to posh restaurants.
The other myth that I use to talk about was that werewolf's ring finger was longer than their middle finger. Being the kid I was, I would try to show that my ring finger was longer.
I don't think anybody believe I was a werewolf.
The other myth that I use to talk about was that werewolf's ring finger was longer than their middle finger. Being the kid I was, I would try to show that my ring finger was longer.
I don't think anybody believe I was a werewolf.
February 4, 2025
wolfman
As a child I watched the 50's and 60's horror films, my favorite was the Wolfman with Lon Chaney. I always felt sorry for him. He was so vulnerable.
Of course, my stepdad always thought it was funny pretending to be the wolfman and chase me around the house. It didn't make me hate the wolfman, just my stepdad.
Of course, my stepdad always thought it was funny pretending to be the wolfman and chase me around the house. It didn't make me hate the wolfman, just my stepdad.
January 31, 2025
Native American lore
I had been fascinated by the fact that some cultures believe that the skin of an animal will give the wearer the powers of the animal.
Vikings were one; the bear skin or wolf skin gave them courage of the that animal.
I had heard a Native American legend about the wolf skin, or the skin walkers. That may be a true legend, I don't know.
Anyway, I was intrigued with the idea, this became the wild series.
Vikings were one; the bear skin or wolf skin gave them courage of the that animal.
I had heard a Native American legend about the wolf skin, or the skin walkers. That may be a true legend, I don't know.
Anyway, I was intrigued with the idea, this became the wild series.
October 22, 2010
werewolves with a passion
I know some of you readers are thinking, all right erotica. I know this genre is huge but this is not my genre. What passion I am talking about is Dan's and Lizzy's passion for all living creatures. This is my passion too, so why wouldn't it show up in my wrting.
If you have read any of my reviews or comments from my readers you will find statements like this: Her love of animals comes through in her writing. In the back-story of all my stories you'll find animals. The horrors in the Wild series are not for the squeamish.
The first of the Wild series, Wild Evolution, involves illegal trapping and loss of habitat for a local wolf pack. The second in the series, Wild Justice, deals with canned hunting facilities. The third in the series, Wild Legacy, encompasses the issue of unnecessary animal testing for medical labs.
Some of the bears in Wild Justice are described as having their teeth pulled and declawed. This comes from the barbaric practice called 'bear bating'. This is where they take domestic bears, declaw them and pull their teeth then chain them up in a pen. Then they let the dogs loose. People have the audacity to call this training their dog to tree bears for hunting purposes. They do this in front of cheering crowds. It is probably the same people that go to illegal dog fighting matches. I can't believe people could be so heartless.
You'd think this only happens in third world countries, but it happens right here in the US. The Humane Society of the United States just ran an article about this in their All Animals magazine in the September issue called 'Torment in the Arena'. This gives me nightmares. You can't get much more horror than this.
The canned hunting facility is where they fence in an area so the animal cannot escape. The hunter pays big dollars to hunt bears, wild African goats, boars, elk, or whatever they can get a hold to make a good trophy head for the mighty hunter to hang in their den.
They hunt these animals down using four-wheelers and dogs. The animal has nowhere to hide. Packs of dogs tear the poor animal's flesh right off the bones before they are called off so the mighty hunter can get a good shot. The hunter's bullet is a release from the terror and pain the animal goes through for the all mighty dollar.
In the US we still test to see if soap in the eyes will sting, is that stupid or what? Many rabbits snap their necks trying to wiggle out of the straps that hold them down so they can free themselves from the causic solution dropped in their eyes. This is done to see if the solution will cause redness or swelling when they already know it does.
You can't get much more horror than this, that is why I choose to use real life horrors in the Wild series. I have to admit I get some pleasure in letting the bad guys get what they deserve in the Wild series.
**permission granted by the Humane Society of the United States to mention the aritlce in All Animals called 'Torment in the Arena."
If you have read any of my reviews or comments from my readers you will find statements like this: Her love of animals comes through in her writing. In the back-story of all my stories you'll find animals. The horrors in the Wild series are not for the squeamish.
The first of the Wild series, Wild Evolution, involves illegal trapping and loss of habitat for a local wolf pack. The second in the series, Wild Justice, deals with canned hunting facilities. The third in the series, Wild Legacy, encompasses the issue of unnecessary animal testing for medical labs.
Some of the bears in Wild Justice are described as having their teeth pulled and declawed. This comes from the barbaric practice called 'bear bating'. This is where they take domestic bears, declaw them and pull their teeth then chain them up in a pen. Then they let the dogs loose. People have the audacity to call this training their dog to tree bears for hunting purposes. They do this in front of cheering crowds. It is probably the same people that go to illegal dog fighting matches. I can't believe people could be so heartless.
You'd think this only happens in third world countries, but it happens right here in the US. The Humane Society of the United States just ran an article about this in their All Animals magazine in the September issue called 'Torment in the Arena'. This gives me nightmares. You can't get much more horror than this.
The canned hunting facility is where they fence in an area so the animal cannot escape. The hunter pays big dollars to hunt bears, wild African goats, boars, elk, or whatever they can get a hold to make a good trophy head for the mighty hunter to hang in their den.
They hunt these animals down using four-wheelers and dogs. The animal has nowhere to hide. Packs of dogs tear the poor animal's flesh right off the bones before they are called off so the mighty hunter can get a good shot. The hunter's bullet is a release from the terror and pain the animal goes through for the all mighty dollar.
In the US we still test to see if soap in the eyes will sting, is that stupid or what? Many rabbits snap their necks trying to wiggle out of the straps that hold them down so they can free themselves from the causic solution dropped in their eyes. This is done to see if the solution will cause redness or swelling when they already know it does.
You can't get much more horror than this, that is why I choose to use real life horrors in the Wild series. I have to admit I get some pleasure in letting the bad guys get what they deserve in the Wild series.
**permission granted by the Humane Society of the United States to mention the aritlce in All Animals called 'Torment in the Arena."
the evolution of the wild series
How the wild series evolved
The Wild series began when I was a patrol deputy in the Colorado Mountains. I worked in a county that was cattle country. As charming as that seems, many of the ranchers killed anything that crossed their property they didn't like.
This did not sit well with me, the great animal lover that I am, I believe all animals have right to live on this planet. As a patrol deputy, I could do nothing about it unless it was an endangered species or poaching involved.
I have always been the storyteller, I imagined a rancher that shared his land with all creatures including the dreaded wolf. This turned into a skin walker or werewolf story. A good story always takes on a life of its own. While I was writing the series, the story developed in ways I had never imagined when I first set out to write the first book.
What would happen if you were attacked by a vicious animal? What if that animal turned out to be human, a changeling? Would you tell the cops about the person you killed in self-defense? Would you hide the body and tell no one? Who would believe your story?
How would this affect the rest of your life? How could you put this behind you and just forget about it? Wouldn't you be on edge? Suspicious of everyone? How could you live a normal life from then on, especially if you became the creature that attacked you?
Wild Evolution is about how Dan chooses to hide the body because he thinks no one would believe his story. He worries that if anyone found out, he would be charged with murder. It is hard to be a mellow when you are obsessed with keeping your secret a secret.
Wild Justice is the continuation, how Dan tries to live a normal life and get married and have family. How he tries to live the American dream of owning his own business.
Wild Legacy continues with Dan's attempt to raise a family and try to blend in with the rest of the community. This is how the Wild series evolved.
The characters are composite of people I have met through my real life experiences. The first in the series has a great deal of crime scene processing in it. The law enforcement officers are composites of officers I had worked with. The crime scene processing is as real life as possible; this comes from my experience as a crime scene investigator when I worked with Boulder PD.
Just like my books, I have also evolved as a writer doing this series. I have learned a lot from the feedback from readers. I enjoy hearing from readers and hear about what they think. I invite any questions you might have about the series, my writing, or experiences in law enforcement.
The Wild series began when I was a patrol deputy in the Colorado Mountains. I worked in a county that was cattle country. As charming as that seems, many of the ranchers killed anything that crossed their property they didn't like.
This did not sit well with me, the great animal lover that I am, I believe all animals have right to live on this planet. As a patrol deputy, I could do nothing about it unless it was an endangered species or poaching involved.
I have always been the storyteller, I imagined a rancher that shared his land with all creatures including the dreaded wolf. This turned into a skin walker or werewolf story. A good story always takes on a life of its own. While I was writing the series, the story developed in ways I had never imagined when I first set out to write the first book.
What would happen if you were attacked by a vicious animal? What if that animal turned out to be human, a changeling? Would you tell the cops about the person you killed in self-defense? Would you hide the body and tell no one? Who would believe your story?
How would this affect the rest of your life? How could you put this behind you and just forget about it? Wouldn't you be on edge? Suspicious of everyone? How could you live a normal life from then on, especially if you became the creature that attacked you?
Wild Evolution is about how Dan chooses to hide the body because he thinks no one would believe his story. He worries that if anyone found out, he would be charged with murder. It is hard to be a mellow when you are obsessed with keeping your secret a secret.
Wild Justice is the continuation, how Dan tries to live a normal life and get married and have family. How he tries to live the American dream of owning his own business.
Wild Legacy continues with Dan's attempt to raise a family and try to blend in with the rest of the community. This is how the Wild series evolved.
The characters are composite of people I have met through my real life experiences. The first in the series has a great deal of crime scene processing in it. The law enforcement officers are composites of officers I had worked with. The crime scene processing is as real life as possible; this comes from my experience as a crime scene investigator when I worked with Boulder PD.
Just like my books, I have also evolved as a writer doing this series. I have learned a lot from the feedback from readers. I enjoy hearing from readers and hear about what they think. I invite any questions you might have about the series, my writing, or experiences in law enforcement.
werewolf folklore
When I first developed the story for the first novel in the Wild series, Wild Evolution, I wanted a rancher that shared his land with all creatures including the dreaded wolf pack. I wanted the rancher to interact with the wolf pack. Naturally, this fell into the werewolf genre.
In researching werewolf lore for the novel "Wild Evolution", I came across some interesting tidbits of information:
* Lycanthrope is derived from the Greek language meaning wolf and man.
* It seems that there is werewolf folklore in all cultures.
* Only in the American movie culture does the werewolf curse cause an involuntarily transform to the werewolf state because of a full moon.
* The Norseman believed that a man would possess the characteristics of the animal if they wore the hide of that animal, such as a bear or a wolf.
* In American Indian culture, it is called the skin walker. The belief is similar to the Norseman; if you wore the skin of the animal, you would possess their attributes. In many Native American tribes, it is considered taboo to don the pelt of a wolf.
To spot a werewolf, look for these characteristics:
* born on December 24th
* has red hair
* the index and middle finger are the same length
* and has a craving of raw meat
I had an uncle that possessed many of these characteristics but I personally don't believe he was a werewolf.
The most unusual tidbit of information about werewolf myths from around the world came from Argentina. They believed that the seventh son would become a werewolf. Many parents killed the seventh son or gave them up for adoption.
In order to stop the practice they finally made it a law in the 1920's that the seventh son would become the president's godson at baptism and receive a gold medal. This law is still enforced today.
This just scratches the surface of werewolf folklore from around the world, but many of the myths have similar characteristics, I found that to be very interesting. I also found it very interesting that almost every culture has legends or myths about the werewolf.
I picked the skin walker folklore because of the Native American connection. My grandfather came from the Blackfeet tribe but would have nothing to do with the reservation or the U.S. government's Indian government programs. He said they were disgraceful. In his time they were.
I had an uncle who was from the Kickapoo tribe; between him and my grandfather we spent a lot time out in nature. I have had an attraction to the Native American folklore because of my grandfather and uncle; so, the Native American skin walker legend is the one I choose to go with.
In Wild Legacy, I have chosen to continue on with this and expand the story to include the skin walker legend from the Norseman region. The continuation of the series will expand on this aspect of the legend, reaching back to the old country folklore in the next book.
In researching werewolf lore for the novel "Wild Evolution", I came across some interesting tidbits of information:
* Lycanthrope is derived from the Greek language meaning wolf and man.
* It seems that there is werewolf folklore in all cultures.
* Only in the American movie culture does the werewolf curse cause an involuntarily transform to the werewolf state because of a full moon.
* The Norseman believed that a man would possess the characteristics of the animal if they wore the hide of that animal, such as a bear or a wolf.
* In American Indian culture, it is called the skin walker. The belief is similar to the Norseman; if you wore the skin of the animal, you would possess their attributes. In many Native American tribes, it is considered taboo to don the pelt of a wolf.
To spot a werewolf, look for these characteristics:
* born on December 24th
* has red hair
* the index and middle finger are the same length
* and has a craving of raw meat
I had an uncle that possessed many of these characteristics but I personally don't believe he was a werewolf.
The most unusual tidbit of information about werewolf myths from around the world came from Argentina. They believed that the seventh son would become a werewolf. Many parents killed the seventh son or gave them up for adoption.
In order to stop the practice they finally made it a law in the 1920's that the seventh son would become the president's godson at baptism and receive a gold medal. This law is still enforced today.
This just scratches the surface of werewolf folklore from around the world, but many of the myths have similar characteristics, I found that to be very interesting. I also found it very interesting that almost every culture has legends or myths about the werewolf.
I picked the skin walker folklore because of the Native American connection. My grandfather came from the Blackfeet tribe but would have nothing to do with the reservation or the U.S. government's Indian government programs. He said they were disgraceful. In his time they were.
I had an uncle who was from the Kickapoo tribe; between him and my grandfather we spent a lot time out in nature. I have had an attraction to the Native American folklore because of my grandfather and uncle; so, the Native American skin walker legend is the one I choose to go with.
In Wild Legacy, I have chosen to continue on with this and expand the story to include the skin walker legend from the Norseman region. The continuation of the series will expand on this aspect of the legend, reaching back to the old country folklore in the next book.
