I wish werewolves were real

I woke up today to a very strange email. I'm sure you've all heard me or some other writers say that characters come alive for them. Some of us even talk to them like they're real people, just to get a feel for how they might react. While I don't talk to my characters, I do play out conversations in my head, to see what feels natural and believable for them.

Since werewolves are kind of my thing (vampires too), I've done extensive research on the subject. While I wish they were real, sadly, there is no evidence to prove it. Of course, there's also no concrete proof against it either.

If you're wondering what I'm rambling about, I'm trying to understand that email I mentioned. I'm not going to reveal names or copy and paste the whole thing, because I think that would be a dick move. But it's just too unusual to keep to myself.

Someone wrote to me to ask if I could help them get in touch with Marco. For those who have read my Lilith Mercury series (and a few other books he makes a guest appearance in), you know that Marco Barak is head of the largest wolf pack in the US. While he does have some basis in reality, for his personality and appearance, Marco is very much a work of fiction.

At first I thought the email was just a fun prank. But the more I read about how desperate this person was to find a "real" werewolf who was willing to turn them, the more worried I became.

I've never tried to present the Lilith series as anything other than a work of fiction. Yes, I love it. Red (Book One) was my very first book and the series will always be close to my heart. But I was not writing from personal experiences with werewolves.

This person was very articulate. They wrote a detailed letter begging me to put them in touch with Marco so they could meet up with him and become a part of the pack.

They also think that I am Lilith.

I haven't responded directly, and I probably won't. To be honest, that letter was unnerving. However, I did want to say here, in the open, that I write fiction. I am not a werewolf or a hybrid of any kind and I do not know how to contact Marco, other than to write about him. Unfortunately, Marco is real only in my mind and in the minds of those who enjoy reading about him. He is fiction.

I do not read within my genre

Prepare yourselves, I'm going to vent. I know that as authors we aren't supposed to EVER comment about reviews. We are supposed to just sit back and take whatever anybody wants to dish out, and act like it never happened. Yeah, right. Everyone at some point reads their own reviews and gets pissed off. It happens. We are just people like everyone else.

The thing that has bothered me since I first got published is being compared to other authors. It is both rude and presumptuous to post a review saying whom the author has read and where she/he got their inspiration from. Every time I read something like this I want to yell, "You don't know me!"

That's right, they don't. They don't know crap about me or my reading preferences. So, in order to clear up the confusion, I'm going to spell it out.

I DO NOT READ WITHIN MY GENRE. You know why? Because of crap like this.

I have not ever, nor do I ever intend to read anything by Laurrell K. Hamilton, especially not Anita Blake that I am sick of being compared to. I have nothing but respect for Hamilton, but I am sick of hearing about her books.

I have never read anything by J.R. Ward. Ever.

I have never read Anne Rice, though I do own a copy of Interview With a Vampire. It was a gift.


Here are the authors that I do enjoy.

Shakespeare - Yeah, you read that right. I have gotten lots of inspiration from old school writing.

Dean Koontz - I love his descriptions. Each time I read one of his books, it makes me a better writer.

Stephen King - I am a fan of his short stories.

Joe Hill - Horns rocked.

J.K. Rowling - While reading book 5 in the Harry Potter series, I had to stop and start writing my own series. She inspired me to take that first step. I haven't looked back since.

What's on my shelf right now? Some more Dean Koontz, Gregory McGuire's Wicked, and H.P. Lovecraft.

I realize that vampires and werewolves are not new concepts. But no one has ever told MY stories before. Why? Because I invented them. Having a similar theme or idea does not make someone a copycat. Minds who write tend to work in similar ways. The same can be said for any other job. We specialize in forming our thoughts a certain way. So, it shouldn't come as a surprise when tons of authors have similar themes. However, as long as their characters and worlds are different, who cares?

This is far different than simply not liking what someone had to say in a review. Do I think that authors should blog about that? Probably not. But this is calling me a plagiarizer! I just had someone say (in a review) how they "didn't mind" that I took all my ideas and story themes from someone else. Are you kidding me?! In what world is that okay to say to someone?!

I have never stolen an idea from anyone. I have never decided to copy a character idea from anyone. Period.

I invented the character of Lilith when I was in the 8th grade! She was my superhero. I even drew a picture of her and everything.

I looked everywhere for the picture, but can't find it right off hand. Still, somewhere in my house are my sketches, from the early 90's, of Lilith and my ideas for Dracula.

As I'm sure you all can understand, I'm furious. I never even copied off of anyone's homework assignment before, let alone stole story lines. Just like when I was in school, I HAVE MY OWN WORDS to express how I feel, and my own ideas. I don't need to borrow someone else's.

Thank you very much!

What is relaxation?

Don't ask me. It would appear that I no longer understand the concept. Relaxation is what I thought I was going to do today. I had plans to sit with my dog and watch TV, never changing out of my pajamas. I've earned it. My plan in January was to take the year off from new projects and re-release all my backlist books that were no longer under contract. So, that's what I've done and I've busted my ass at it too.

I just re-released Wicked City a week ago, and The Dread Moon two weeks before that. This year I've re-released, SIX books! Not only am I adding new content and proofing thoroughly once again (and so is my writing partner), I'm doing the cover art for these books. Don't get me wrong, I love every minute of it, but I'm tired. I need to workout more and clean my house. LOL

So, my plan for the day got changed slightly. I said, "Okay, I'll clean the house, and then watch some TV with Roscoe." That quickly got changed to include checking my email and Facebook.

The next thing I know, I'm sitting here re-formatting the next book on my list, Eden. Why? Well, one reason is I feel compelled to do so. I feel as if I can't work on something completely new until I finish putting these backlist titles back out there for readers. I hope that makes sense to someone besides me. If it doesn't, just blame it on OCD.

I would like to finish the Bound by Blood trilogy I started working on. I would also like to write books 6 and 7 in the Lilith Mercury series. However, I can't take on either of these projects because my mind will not stop focusing on the backlist that needs to be finished. I have no idea once I'm caught up, which of these projects will be finished first.

I know there are many readers waiting to see what happens to Lilith and I know that no one likes to wait. I do apologize, but rushing the story would make it less than what I intended. I'm sure no one wants that. I do need to rest my mind here and there.

I thought I would at least take the holidays off, but it appears I am not capable. Although, I'm still wearing my pajamas. At least one part of the plan didn't change.