Time to Research Jaguars!

I have finished and sent off THE HIGHLAND WOLF IN PARADISE to my editor!!! Woohoo! I had so much fun writing Duncan's story--he's the youngest brother, the dark warrior, from HEART OF THE HIGHLAND WOLF (coming Jun 1). On a mission, he intends to find get their stolen money back from Sal Silverman--only he catches a whiff of a female wolf at the airport at the Grand Cayman Islands...and that's all she wrote... :)

Normally once I've finished a wolf book, I'd just jump right in to start my new wolf book. (Actually, I've already started Tom's story.) But this time, I have to start on the new jaguar shifter. Which means it's time to research them. Thanks to Donna for sending me some info and the picture above.

I was watching some videos photographed in the Amazon on jaguars. And I've been reading up on them...just like I did with wolves. I keep seeing the hero pacing as a jaguar...wonder where the heroine is--see her, see her surprise at seeing him.

:) I keep coming up with different scenarios of why she's there, why he's there, how they meet, and what the trouble is for both...and all that neat stuff.

It's fun starting a new series. It has all kinds of neat possibilities. Until I begin to build my new world--the possibilities are wide open. But once I start the first book--that's it! Because once the world is set up a certain way, I can't deviate from that world from book to book. :) Sure, there can be exceptions, just like there are in any REAL world. But in general, the world can't change at whim, or through forgetfulness. :) Me forget my world? Nah. LOL

Just think--what if my wolves, who upon death, revert to their human form if they were a wolf upon death (that's because in the werewolf literature I read in days of old always showed their world that way)...then if in one story I didn't do this--could I?

Of course! BUT I'd have to show a darned good reason why. :)

So if a jaguar shifter dies, what happens?

Well, the world is new, wide open, I can do whatever I want with this series. But what if I kept it the same as the werewolf world? What if any shifter would end up in the same way?

I think there was a black panther movie that I saw where when the shifter died, he became human again. But I can't remember for sure.

Or, I could do the opposite. Which would be more intriguing? More difficult to deal with? Which would work better for the story?

Essentially that's the key. What works better for the story? Or in this case, the series.

So I'm off on a big cat adventure--and to start the new series.

It's a challenge--but I'm excited to get started. Have you started any new projects lately--that make you wonder where you're going next?

My garden makes me wonder that all the time!

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com