How would you describe your writing style/genre?
I tend towards writing paranormal stories. I blame this on having been an avid watcher of The X-Files, Scooby Doo, the earlier seasons of Supernatural, and half a dozen ghost hunting shows. Add to that I played Vampire the Masquerade and Werewolf the Apocalypse, it’s no wonder that I found myself scribbling down stories about paranormal critters.
And as much as I want to write dark, deep, weighty fiction, I find that I can’t. Or at least I’m not able to yet. I tend towards lighter writing. I see my books more as a beach read than a classic of literature. And that’s not an insult. There are places for both types of stories, and everything in between.
What was your first published work? Tell me a little about it.
My first published work is my second sold work.
Due to how publishing schedules work, I sold two short stories in a short time period. “Reading The Leaves,” a story about a woman reading tea leaves for a werewolf, sold first to an anthology, but it was “The Twisted Princess” that first was published on a now defunct website. “The Twisted Princess” is a fantasy story about the unlikely friendship that develops between the princess who was sacrificed to a dragon in return for her kingdom’s safety.
Both stories are available for free when you join my email list.
How did you choose the topic for this book?
I knew that Jordan needed to experience some of the consequences of her choices, even if she didn’t fully understand what they would be. She’s been facing it from the vampire side for a while, but now it’s time for the werewolves to have their turn. While Montgomery and Thorn are supporting her, she finds out that she has allies and enemies that she didn’t even consider.
Also, the first two books were focused on vampire world-building. This story I wanted to focus more on the werewolf side of things. While Jordan isn’t a member of a traditional pack, I was able to dive into the werwolf side of things a little more with this book. This book is exploring tensions between packs, but I do have a few ideas for the next books that will involve internal pack politics more.
Who has been your favorite character to write and why?
Officially, they are all my favorites. Each has a unique part to their personality that are a joy to write, including (and especially) the villains. Unofficially, in this series it bounces back and forth between Jordan and Thorn.
Jordan is me blundering my way through my twenties. My standard operation is to put her in a situation, ask myself, what is the worst possible choice she could make, and then write up the incident report. Which is what authors want to do with their characters. The best choice is often the safe choice and makes for a boring story.
Thorn, on the other hand, is what would happen if I removed my brain/mouth filter. He will say what he is thinking at that moment, damn the consequences. Or that is his public persona. I’ve been dropping hints that what he is in reality is much more interesting.
We know what you like to write, but what do you like to read in your free time, and why?
Urban fantasy, obviously, as well as sci-fi and historical fiction, with the occasional nonfiction history or biography interspersed. As of the time of writing, the last five books I have read are, No Gods, No Monsters by Caldwell Turnbull, The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi, The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty, Where Peace Is Lost, by Valerie Valdes, and Thornhedge, but T. Kingfisher.
Obviously I’m in my fiction mode right now, but I will be shifting over to other things shortly. Right now I’m thinking my next book will be Spook by Mary Roach or In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson, or Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World by Christian Cooper. My choice will probably be made by which book I stumble across first.
Sheryl R. Hayes has a new MMF paranormal book out (bi, poly), Jordan Abbey book 3: Chaos Kin.
In the town of Rancho Robles, can one werewolf protect the Children of the Wolf and the Bat? Chaos Wolf Jordan Abbey has made friends among the Black Oak Pack even though she refuses to join it. The same can’t be said of the vampires, but her life has taken a turn for the better.
That is until Enya Blevins, sister to the werewolf who turned Jordan, arrives in Rancho Robles. She wants to know who killed her baby brother and is less than impressed by the Chaos Wolf. Enya wants revenge, starting with Jordan and ending with the vampires infesting the area.
Jordan is prepared to flee, but a technicality makes her an Alpha Werewolf. Now she must stand her ground to protect her nascent Pack and those she loves.
The past has come back to bite her. Does she have the fangs to bite back?
About the Series:
In the Northern California town of Rancho Robles where the Children of the Wolf and the Bat share an uneasy coexistence. One werewolf woman threatens to upset that balance.
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“You ready for this?”
Jordan nodded. She and Montgomery had pulled over three blocks from the entrance to the Black Oak Pack’s compound for one last quick discussion. “Got the Uber request programmed in to meet me here. If things go wrong, we run.”
Montgomery shook his head, hand tightening on the steering wheel. “No, you run.”
Jordan’s expression tightened. “I’m not leaving you.”
“Jordan, you have to run without me.” Montgomery stared at her until she looked away. “I know you’re afraid of what will happen to me. But they won’t harm me. To do so is to risk open conflict with Elder Marcus.”
Jordan bit back her response. Alpha Shane may have a vested interest in living in peace with the Elder of the Conclave of Rancho Robles. That didn’t mean that these strangers who came from far away would have the same desires. Add to the fact things were personal between Montgomery and Enya, and the odds were that they wouldn’t be thinking about insulting the vampires in the area.
She sighed and recited the plans they had come up with the night before. “If things go south, I run back to the Cataluña and wait for you or Thorn. If after twenty-four hours, neither of you show up, I ask Elder Marcus for help getting someplace safe. You and Thorn will join me once you’re able to.”
Montgomery smiled and nodded. She noticed a tear in the corner of his eye. “Hopefully, it won’t come to that.”
She didn’t bother to say that he didn’t sound like he believed it any more than she did.
Jordan closed her eyes but lifted her head as she and Montgomery drove up to the gate of the Black Oak Pack’s home territory. As if by mutual consent, neither of them spoke as Sentry Rodriguez waved them through. There was no point hashing out their plans further. In the next ten minutes, they would know if she would have to run and hide with her tail between her legs.
The silence continued as they walked to the front door. Angela opened the door before she had a chance to knock on it, focusing on Jordan instead of Montgomery. The blonde blond werewolf arched her eyebrows in a question.
Jordan shook her head ever so slightly.
Angela’s lips pressed together as she narrowed her eyes. Jordan could hear her thoughts. Why am I not surprised? Instead, she gestured them inside. “This way please.”
The entire pack was gathered, clumping together in little knots around the room. Pamela met her eyes and then turned her attention back to her conversation with Tran. Alpha Shane, Envoy Blevins, and Talespeakers stood by the cold, dark fireplace. Angela took her place with the rest of the younger people in the room. The tension in the room ramped up as the four highest-ranking werewolves focused on her and Montgomery. Alpha Shane dipped his head in greeting. “Chaos Wolf Abbey, Mr. Cooper.”
Enya was far less formal, not giving Montgomery and Jordan a chance to greet them. She assessed Jordan, head lifted so she stared down her nose. “Were you able to retrieve the fangs?”
Jordan drew herself up to stand straight and as tall as she could. “No.”
Everyone around her tensed, which she expected.
“This isn’t her fault,” Montgomery said. “She didn’t know—”
“Silence, vampire!” Enya snapped. Her focus was on Jordan as she paced forward. “It’s not completely your fault. I blame you as much as I blame him.” She nodded towards Alpha Shane. “And him.” Her gaze turned towards Montgomery.
Alpha Shane’s shoulders hunched. He shifted his weight but said nothing.
She felt her ears flatten, an impressive trick as she was in her human form. Jordan opened her mouth, trying to force her words through her snarl. To her surprise, Billy, Juan, Tran, and Maria surrounded her and Montgomery with Angela taking the point in front of Jordan. Jordan couldn’t see her expression, but the young woman stood stiffly, legs apart, and fists braced on her waist.
Confused, Jordan looked at Billy on her right, eyes wide. “What’s going on?” she whispered as Montgomery put a hand on her shoulder.
“We’re saving your skin,” he said. “Now, shush.”
Angela looked at Enya. “Jordan shouldn’t be treated as a chaos wolf. She is—”
“Angela!” Alpha Shane barked, glaring at her.
His daughter didn’t stop speaking. “—An alpha wolf in her own right.”
Sheryl R. Hayes can be found untangling plot threads or the yarn her three cats have been playing with. She is equally likely to be shooing one of them off the keyboard as she is working on her novels and short stories. In addition to writing, she is a cosplayer focusing on knit and crochet costumes.
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