Gute Nacht, Freunde.
Today, I dug into a short story I'm writing for a charity anthology.
It's set in my Wolf world but not part of the series - instead, a bunch of kids are having an adventure on a beach.
It will also contain some nudism, but nothing spicy at all (it's kids!).
Deadline is March 30, 5k words max, I know I can do it.
#WordWeavers 3/14. Antagonist POV: Do you want to be perceived as “good?”
Aleister McCraw: "I am the Alpha. You can see that I'm good because my pack is thriving. We have a village of our own, we have plenty of income, our females are fertile.
"Yes, sometimes I have to bring people back in line and punish them, but that's to be expected. Not everyone knows what's good for them. Especially that Helen*."
*Heather
A Wolf's Mate, Wolves of the South 9
(WiP)
#PhantastikPrompts 13.03.
Gibt es eine folgenschwere Entscheidung im Leben deiner Hauptfigur?
Lucky bereut es zutiefst, Dylan gehen zu lassen. Beide hatten gehofft, dass die Gamer Community sie dann in Ruhe lassen würde.
Mit ihr an seiner Seite wäre er nicht auf Felicia hereingefallen und Dylan hätte nie Joker getroffen.
Und jetzt steckt er in einer ganz miesen Situation, umgeben von Leuten, die glauben, sie könnten sich in Wölfe verwandeln.
A Wolf's Mate
(Wip)
#PennedPossibilities 609 — Can you tell us about a secret that your antagonist/villain is willing to take to the grave?
Aleister McCraw will never tell anyone that he is scared of women. His parents raised him with a hard hand and within the confines of their home, his mother ruled, even as his father was the pack's Alpha.
He never allowed his wife any freedom, beat it out of her right after their mating. And he rules his pack with an iron fist.
A Wolf's Mate
#WordWeavers 3/9 Could you survive a day in your MC’s shoes?
I suppose I could make it through a day as Lucky. Less sure about Heather - but I think I'd manage while they are in Asheton or Wilmington.
But when things get rough?
I'm not a very brave person. I do what I must, but generally, in my simple life, that's doable. (I'm Autistic, so not always easy, but doable.)
A Wolf's Mate, Wolves of the South 9
#PennedPossibilities 608 — Does your MC have any nicknames?
Yes!
Lucky is a nickname, his real first name is Davis, but he hates it. So all his friends call him Lucky.
Right now, he isn't sure he likes it anymore, though, he's had a lot of bad luck lately and barely escaped with his life.
And while he loves his emotional support wolf, he can't deal with the fact someone wants to tear her from him.
A Wolf's Mate, Wolves of the South 9
#ScribesAndMakers 3/7 - Many authors write the book they couldn't find. What does your work offer that you couldn't find elsewhere?
I write wolf shifters without the alpha nonsense and without spice.
Hard to find.
I always hated that alpha stuff (glorified patriarchy and male toxicity, in my eyes), and my Wolves refused to share their bedrooms with me.
Fine. I don't mind being different.
#PennedPossibilities 607 — Antagonist / Villain POV: Where are you in your life right now? What are you most pleased with?
Aleister McCraw: "I'm exactly where I want to be. I'm the Alpha of a strong pack, we have a good home, we are financially secure, our females are breeding, our warriors are strong.
"Now I just need a good mate for my son, to ensure the next generation.
And I will not let Helen destroy my plans."
A Wolf's Mate, Wolves of the South 9
#PennedPossibilities 606 — Is your MC keeping any secrets? Can you tell us more without giving away any spoilers?
Well, Heather is keeping a *huge* secret from Lucky, to spare his feelings.
Actually, he's refusing to accept that she's a wolf shifter. So he's never seen her as a woman, until... okay, that's a spoiler.
The reader knows about Heather's secret, but she can't bring herself to shock him.
Yes, it'll backfire.
A Wolf's Mate, Wolves of the South 9
#PennedPossibilities 605 — SC POV: If you had a “do-over” button, what one event in your life would you like to have a second chance at?
Timonthy McCraw: "I wish I'd never told my Dad that I like Helen. He took that information and ran with it, and even I have to bow to him.
I thought I wanted Helen, but it was a boy's dream, an infatuation.
Now I wish I had told him that I want her sent away. We'd all be much happier.
A Wolf's Mate, Wolves of the South 9
#WordWeavers 3/4 How much does money matter to your antagonist?
For Aleister McCraw, having lots of money is proof of power.
Which means that he both has a lot of money and is constantly looking for more. He has an entire pack working for him, as well as profitable investments and companies.
Plenty of money to use for getting Heather back. Because no expense matters when he has to prove his power.
A Wolf's Mate, Wolves of the South 9
#WordWeavers 3/3 MC POV: You get to spend a fun night out with anyone. Who do you choose and where do you go?
Lucky: Oh, I don't do nights out. But if I absolutely have to, it'll be to an old-fashioned arcade. With Dylan. Too noisy for Heather.
Heather: I'd love to go out with Lucky, for an evening walk. If he could join me in the fur, that would be a dream coming true, but I don't fool myself. It won't ever happen.
A Wolf's Mate, Wolves of the South 9
(WiP)
#PennedPossibilities 604 — Is your MC one to be confident under pressure, or do they struggle with it?
When he's at his computer, Lucky is in his element. He handles pressure with ease, confident in his knowledge and abilities.
Among people, not so much.
Heather has been taught to obey, forced to conform all her life. Now she craves to be free, but she has learned to live under pressure and fake obedience.
This will save them both.
A Wolf's Mate, Wolves #9
Gute Nacht, Freunde!
Wrote 800 words this morning for the Spicy Shifters - finally got the chapter finished, so it'll be posted on Friday.
A Wolf's Quest is still rising in the ranks, it's such an amazing experience - and it's all thanks to you! Grab the book for free!
(It made just #13 in Fantasy Romance, absolutely stunning!)
I can sense my mood shifting upwards - correlation, causation, whatever. It's wonderful.
Love y'all. 
I did not think that it could get even better, but A Wolf's Quest made it to #17 in Romantic Fantasy on Amazon COM.
That's all due to you! All of you who are downloading my book from Amazon (and elsewhere!) are helping my Wolves become more visible.
Thank you so much!
All the stores: https://books2read.com/WolvesSouthQuest
Buy direct: https://shop.hannah-steenbock.de/b/wolvesquest
#PennedPossibilities 603 — How would you describe your MC’s handwriting?
Lucky has horrible handwriting. There is a reason he prefers a keyboard. His handwritten notes are a scrawl he can barely decipher.
Heather, on the other hand, has really good handwriting. It came with her education to be a good housewife - she has to be able to write perfect birthday cards and label preserved goods accurately.
A Wolf's Mate, Wolves of the South 9
(WiP)
#WordWeavers 3/1 - Introduce your MC to your best friend. Where would you do it? Would they get along?
I'd introduce them in my own irc chat channel, and yes, they'd get along fabulously.
Because Paul is an IT guy and Lucky is a hacker.
They know their stuff. They can laugh at bugs together and exchange stories of DAUs.
(German term: Dümmster Anzunehmender User - stupidest user imaginable).
A Wolf's Mate, Wolves of the South 9
(WiP)
Wohooooo!
"A Wolf's Quest" just jumped to #38 in Free Romantic Fantasy on Amazon COM!
*does the happy dance*
Find it in my own store, DRM-free:
https://shop.hannah-steenbock.de/b/wolvesquest
Or grab it from your favorite store:
https://books2read.com/WolvesSouthQuest
It's free!
#WordWeavers 2/25: MC POV: If you could have any job in the world, what would you choose?
Lucky: I love being a hacker. It's who I am. I just wish people would leave me alone so I could do my jobs.
Heather: Everything! They tried to force me to be a housewife, and I hated that. I want to try out everything! Oh, I have to choose? *pouts*
Okay, maybe I'll start with learning how to ride a motorcycle.
A Wolf's Mate, Wolves of the South 9
(WiP)
Gute Nacht, Freunde.
No new words, but a great chat with my writing buddy.
She asked a great question about Lucky - and now I know what happens at the climax and the resolution. (And I know what happens in the chapter I'm in and the next one.)
Plus I have a logical segue from this book and what happens there to Wolves #10.
Yes. I will write yet another Wolf book, and I know one of the MCs, the basic plot and the title: A Wolf's Pack.
Very happy about that!
