July 20, 2012 – YA Chit Chat

Hi everyone! I have a fantastic surprise today. Author J.A. Belfield is here to talk werewolves, romance and hot guys.

In case you don’t know, Julie is the author of the oh so popular Holloway Pack series. Her prequel, Eternal, just released July 1, 2012 and the next novel in the series, Blue Moon, releases December 1, 2012. If you love Urban Fantasy stories about werewolves, you have GOT to read these books. They are sizzling hot, enticing, sexy, fun and chocked full of very, very hot males. (Ethan, Ethan, my heart be still). If you aren’t familiar with this series, head over to J. Taylor Publishing or your bookstore of choice and buy them up. You won’t regret it.

And now, with no further ado, I give you J.A. Belfield!

Pack Life or Pack up and Go?

I get asked a lot of questions about what inspires me, what makes me choose paranormal romance/urban fantasy, what the fudge made me decide to write about werewolves.

The first is the hardest to answer.

The second simply because of the escapism it offers.

The third … well, in all honesty, werewolves, and how my mind views them, fascinate me. More than just werewolves, though, provide that fascination. It’s more about the appeal, the trials and tribulations of leading a Pack life.

As a male, living amongst males who are bonded to you through more than brotherhood, more than friendships, more than blood even, would have to be pretty much like constantly feeling as though you are ‘home’.

As a female? The only female? Living amongst males all bigger, stronger, and naturally more dominating than you?

Yeah, doesn’t sound that appealing when put like that, eh?

But give me a moment and I’ll state my case. Read on …

– Emotional meltdowns aside, you’d never have to explain your behaviour, however off the wall it might seem to the human eye. As someone prone to random and spasmodic slips into my totally whacky self—you know, that little corner of your personality that’s seriously unhinged and so only your very nearest and dearest and most trusted folk get to see …? I could totally see the appeal of never ever for one minute having to put up a front or having to be sensible just because it’s expected of you or worrying that you just might be the weirdest person in the room …

– Security. If you’re a werewolf in a pack, or mated to a werewolf who’s in a pack, you’re pretty much guaranteed unwavering and unquestionable protection. These guys would go to the ends of the earth to protect each other. Which means they would always go to the ends of the earth to protect you.

– Special treatment. Hey, what’d you expect? We’re female. And even if human blokes haven’t all figured it out yet, we are all worthy and entitled to being treated as special. Werewolf males aren’t human males. *smile* They’ve figured it out.

– Being the smallest CAN be all that. Yeah, yeah, I know I kinda weaved this into the why it might not sound appealing but gimme a second and I’ll explain my reasoning with a list:

1) I LOVE bear hugs. I get them off my brother EVERY time I see him. He’s a foot taller than I am (and I’m 5’7), and he’s broader than I am (I’m no skinny bean when it comes to my linebacker shoulders), but when he gives me a brother cuddle the dude makes me feel delicate and dainty and (dare I say it) feminine.

2) The teasing. What’d’you mean that doesn’t sound like fun? It IS fun. To be teased in the most affectionate way because of a bonded love is the best kind of teasing in the world. Sure, it’d no doubt ‘P’ you off occasionally. But people on the street ‘P’ folk off all the while. Strangers. Better to get riled by those you love enough to make up with—those who will then help you to laugh it off—those who will be sporty when you catch ‘em unawares because the fact you’re smaller means you have to be smarter in your revenge, which means the dudes never ever see it coming … *cough*

3) Manipulate them into certain positioning on hot sunny days, and your drinks may never need heat protection from the sun again—because huddling behind one of those guys is like being cast into shadow by an eclipse.

4) Like to shop? Convince one of the Pack to accompany you, and darling, you’d never have to carry your own bags again. 😉

– Whilst there are many more reasons I could list, I figured now’s probably the time to play my wild card: Werewolf males aren’t shy; they aren’t insecure about how they look; and they are all seriously on the buff side.

They also have a tendency to be naked … A LOT.

So … did I convince you at all? Pack life … or pack up and go?

An unmarried woman living in a house of men breeds hearsay and lore. If only the villagers knew the truth.
It’s not Jem Stonehouse’s marital status that brings unwanted strangers to town. Rather, it’s that she is the only female werewolf in existence — a prize to any pack.

Sean Holloway, the love of Jem’s life, has gone to great lengths to protect her. As a new attack becomes imminent, Sean realizes he must take greater measures with Jem’s safety or risk losing her forever.

His first task must be to marry her, but a force greater than the largest werewolf stands in his way.

Her mother.

Links to Julie:

http://www.jtaylorpublishing.com/books/14
http://www.jabelfield.com/
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