Werewolf Legends and Lore with Dani Harper + Giveaway!
I’m excited to have my Kensington sister Dani Harper here today!! She just released the third book in her Changling trilogy, Changeling Dawn, and she’s here to talk about some pretty fun stuff!
Plus, there’s a GIVEAWAY!!
Plus, there’s a GIVEAWAY!!
Dani’s shapeshifter series about the Macleod family and their friends! Long-lived and able to become wolves at will, they call themselves Changelings. Almost two centuries ago, they were forced to flee the wolf exterminations in Scotland and start a new life in the wilderness of northern Canada.Today, that wilderness has been largely settled, and an entire community has sprung up around the Changelings. The Macleods and their pack live as humans most of the time, hiding in plain sight. But there’s just enough unspoiled forest left for them to joyfully run as wolves whenever they please. They seem to have the best of both worlds – but there are still dangers lurking for their kind. And love, when it arrives, brings dangers and complications of its own.
The two highest laws in the Changeling world are never harm a human and never turn a human against their will. The wolf within, however, has its own primal rules. If a Changeling’s life is in danger, the wolf will emerge to defend it. It will also rise, unbidden, to defend a mate at all costs. And Changelings mate for life.
Each book in the series can stand alone, because each focuses on one member of the Macleod family. The first novel is Changeling Moon, the second is Changeling Dream. The third novel was just released, Changeling Dawn. For info and excerpts, check out Dani’s website at http://www.daniharper.com.
Hi, I’m Dani and one of my hobbies is collecting wolf and werewolf myths and legends, and I’ve brought seven of my favorites to share with you.
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In some European legends, particularly in Scandinavian countries, some rivers and streams are said to be “lycanthropic”. This means that you can become a werewolf just by drinking the water! Lycanthropic water is said to possess a “lurid sparkle” and a faint smell that is like nothing else. As it flows, the water makes sounds that resemble human voices, and dogs and horses are afraid of it. - Reports of an enormous wolf-like animal in North Wales date back to 1790, when a stagecoach travelling between Denbigh and Wrexham was attacked and overturned by an enormous black beast almost as long as the coach horses. Known as the Welsh Werewolf, its attacks continued for a few years then mysteriously died out. Two centuries later, beginning in 1992, over 70 sightings of a large wolf-like animal have been reported!
- In Mexico, the werewolf is called the “nahual”. A nahual is a witch who can shapeshift into a black wolf or coyote. According to the legend, not every witch can achieve this transformation — only a few have a natural gift. In addition to having the inborn talent, the witch must also jump over a wooden cross, or go into deep trance-like sleep, or put on an animal skin, or cover his or her body with an ointment made of herbs.
- Werewolves in Sweden and Norway are called the ‘Varulv’. According to the legends, these people become werewolves by choice by putting on an enchanted article of clothing such as a belt. They are not necessarily evil, and in fact, in some stories only the most faithful could achieve the transformation!
- In Latvia, ancient texts show that the wolf was honored as a deity or as a servant of God. In old Latvian folk songs the wolf is called God’s dog. When wolves howled, they were once said to be praying to God and should not be ridiculed or hunted. The Greeks of Athens also had great respect for the wolf and decreed that any man who killed one had to pay for the funeral for the animal.
- The 11th Century Russian Prince Vseslav was considered to have been a werewolf and capable of superhuman speeds. One account says: “Vseslav the prince judged men; as prince, he ruled towns; but at night he prowled in the guise of a wolf.” A commemorative coin, showing Vseslav and a wolf, was released in 2005.
- Legend says that the town of Gubbio, Italy, was being terrorized by a large wolf that preyed on both livestock and humans. Saint Francis was said to have the power to talk to animals, and he went alone to speak to the wolf about its habits. He was successful in negotiating peace between the villagers and the wolf, and the creature lived among them like a dog for the rest of its li
If you enjoyed the above, consider pressing the LIKE button on my Facebook Fan Page. I post wolf and werewolf trivia there every day!
GIVEAWAY!
One lucky commenter will win a signed copy of Changeling Dawn. This is an International giveaway and a name will be drawn at random on Tuesday, Feb. 10. There are several ways to earn points to better your chances of winning — the first step is to leave a comment or ask Dani a question!
Cynthia Eden Talks Paranormal Power
SUPER HAPPY RELEASE DAY to my friend Cynthia Eden!
Cynthia is here today talking about POWER. Paranormal power, specifically!
~ One random commentor will WIN a copy of NEVER CRY WOLF, which releases today.
~ Five random commentors will WIN a custom bookmark made for NEVER CRY WOLF.
RUNNING WITH A DANGEROUS CROWD
Lucas Simone is not the kind of guy you mess with. He’s big, he’s strong, and his eyes hint at a wilder side most women can’t handle. Of course, that’s because his predatory instincts are no metaphor—he’s a genuine Grade-A top-quality werewolf, tough enough to fight his way to dominance over the scariest pack on the West Coast. There’s only one chink in his armor. Unlike most alpha dogs, Lucas has a reputation for protecting the weak and innocent.
Sarah King is counting on that protective impulse—it’s the only thing standing between her and certain death. There are only two problems: one, she’s not quite as innocent as she’d like Lucas to believe. And two, if he doesn’t stop stoking Sarah’s animal lust, it’s only a matter of time before her own wild side gets unleashed…
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Let’s Talk PowerHi, everyone! Thanks so much for checking out my post today—and a huge thanks to my awesome host Joan for inviting me over!
For this post, I want to talk about power. Power can come in various forms—and when you start talking about paranormal characters, well, power can sure mean many, many things.
The hero of NEVER CRY WOLF is a wolf shifter, the alpha of his pack. So, yeah, he knows a thing or two about power. You want protection, you want strength, then you turn to Lucas because he can generally kick butt.
When I wrote his book, I wanted to give him a heroine that would be just as strong as he was…just as powerful. But I didn’t want her to be a wolf. Instead, I created Sarah King to be a charmer. In my paranormal world, charmers are beings that can communicate with animals. (Think the cool snake charmers, but imagine that those guys actually talked to snakes like Harry Potter could. J) Sarah King is a charmer who can communicate with wolves, and while on the surface, it may seem like her paranormal gift doesn’t give her the same power that Lucas possesses, well, that surface glance would be deceptive.
Different powers…different degrees of danger. Remember the old line about how opposites attract? When I write, I like to give my characters opposite power characteristics. That tends to make things interesting. J When I wrote about my Ignitor heroine (a woman who could burn anything, any time), I paired her up with a demon who could control fire in ETERNAL FLAME. Opposite powers, but when those two got together, the sparks flew.
So, tell me…what’s your favorite paranormal power?
One random commenter will be picked to win a copy of NEVER CRY WOLF.
Cynthia Eden www.cynthiaeden.com
NEVER CRY WOLF—Available 6/28/11 Kensington Brava
Be afraid of the big, bad wolf…
>Cynthia Eden Talks Paranormal Power
>SUPER HAPPY RELEASE DAY to my friend Cynthia Eden!
Cynthia is here today talking about POWER. Paranormal power, specifically!
~ One random commentor will WIN a copy of NEVER CRY WOLF, which releases today.
~ Five random commentors will WIN a custom bookmark made for NEVER CRY WOLF.
RUNNING WITH A DANGEROUS CROWD
Lucas Simone is not the kind of guy you mess with. He’s big, he’s strong, and his eyes hint at a wilder side most women can’t handle. Of course, that’s because his predatory instincts are no metaphor—he’s a genuine Grade-A top-quality werewolf, tough enough to fight his way to dominance over the scariest pack on the West Coast. There’s only one chink in his armor. Unlike most alpha dogs, Lucas has a reputation for protecting the weak and innocent.
Sarah King is counting on that protective impulse—it’s the only thing standing between her and certain death. There are only two problems: one, she’s not quite as innocent as she’d like Lucas to believe. And two, if he doesn’t stop stoking Sarah’s animal lust, it’s only a matter of time before her own wild side gets unleashed…
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Let’s Talk PowerHi, everyone! Thanks so much for checking out my post today—and a huge thanks to my awesome host Joan for inviting me over!
For this post, I want to talk about power. Power can come in various forms—and when you start talking about paranormal characters, well, power can sure mean many, many things.
The hero of NEVER CRY WOLF is a wolf shifter, the alpha of his pack. So, yeah, he knows a thing or two about power. You want protection, you want strength, then you turn to Lucas because he can generally kick butt.
When I wrote his book, I wanted to give him a heroine that would be just as strong as he was…just as powerful. But I didn’t want her to be a wolf. Instead, I created Sarah King to be a charmer. In my paranormal world, charmers are beings that can communicate with animals. (Think the cool snake charmers, but imagine that those guys actually talked to snakes like Harry Potter could. J) Sarah King is a charmer who can communicate with wolves, and while on the surface, it may seem like her paranormal gift doesn’t give her the same power that Lucas possesses, well, that surface glance would be deceptive.
Different powers…different degrees of danger. Remember the old line about how opposites attract? When I write, I like to give my characters opposite power characteristics. That tends to make things interesting. J When I wrote about my Ignitor heroine (a woman who could burn anything, any time), I paired her up with a demon who could control fire in ETERNAL FLAME. Opposite powers, but when those two got together, the sparks flew.
So, tell me…what’s your favorite paranormal power?
One random commenter will be picked to win a copy of NEVER CRY WOLF.
Cynthia Eden www.cynthiaeden.com
NEVER CRY WOLF—Available 6/28/11 Kensington Brava
Be afraid of the big, bad wolf…