Silver Under the
Moonlight – Excerpts
1. “The leaves
rustled in front of me and I froze, gasping when I was met with eyes the color
of whiskey. I was mesmerized by those eyes, even once I realized they belonged
to the largest white wolf I’d ever seen. I should have been terrified, but I
wasn’t. If anything, I was drawn to this animal. Before I could stop myself, my
feet were moving towards the majestic beast. I watched in awe as he knelt
before me, nudging my hand with his snout. I sank down to my knees and gently
stroked his head.
I had never seen a wolf outside the zoo, let alone
within city limits. I never would have guessed it would be so docile. The
connection between us was confusing to say the least.
How could I be linked to this wild animal when I
didn’t feel it with my own family or anyone else in my life? I was suddenly spilling
the events of the evening to him as though he were my closest confidant. It
wasn’t until I noticed I was surrounded by darkness that I realized how late it
was. I rose to my feet, saddened to be leaving my new friend. My heart broke a
little when he whined at my feet. It seemed like he felt just as connected to
me as I did to him. I had no bloody idea what was happening right now.
“I’ll come
back, same time tomorrow,” I whispered, dropping a kiss on his soft fur.
I could
have sworn he nodded, but dismissed the idea with a chuckle. The only thing I
knew for sure was I needed to see him again.”
2.
“My draw to Dax was beyond a physical one. It was
though on some cosmic, spiritual level we were intrinsically linked. I suppose,
given the fated mates thing, this was exactly the case. I rose to my knees,
throwing one leg over him so that I was straddling him. I grinned when his eyes
widened and linked my hands behind his head, pulling him closer for a kiss.”
3.
“In a matter of minutes, the room had emptied with the
exception of the few of us looking after the kids. I looked around, Leslie was
here and there were probably thirty kids ranging in age from infant to preteen.
To say they were rambunctious would be an understatement. I couldn’t help but
laugh when one of the toddlers came running at me, jumped in the air, and
shifted just as he reached my arms. I caught him with an oomph, scratching
behind his ears without even thinking about it.
“Wow,
you’re definitely a shifter’s mate,” Leslie laughed.
“What makes you say that?” I asked, giggling at the
pup in my arms and his friends who were hopping about on my feet.
“Because I can’t think of any other human who wouldn’t
have been freaked the f*ck out by that,” said the blue-haired girl beside me,
“I’m Sage, nice to meet you, Silver.”
I grinned at her, loving her bluntness right away.
“Sage, must you be so crude? There are little ones
around,” Julianne admonished.
“Sorry, ma’am. Doesn’t change the fact that our girl
here is the perfect addition to our pack.”
“She’s family,” Leslie said, smiling.”
4.
“He walked out and I was glad that he’d come to clear
the air. I pushed down the cynical part in me that was screaming that this was
all bullshit. If it wasn't, though, Dax and his parents would be thrilled that
he seemed to be turning a corner. Things had been going well in my life. I
should have known it wouldn’t last.
I walked
out the door, threw the bag in the bin, and turned to go back in. Instead, a
fist came flying towards me. I didn’t have a chance to react before it
connected with my face, pain exploding across my jaw. I jumped back to try
avoiding the next punch, but his reach was too long and he connected with my
temple. Tears sprang to my eyes and I struggled to stay upright. I shoved hard
against him, trying to get back to the door to scream for help. He grabbed my
wrists, holding them painfully.
I opened my
mouth to scream, but his hand clamped down on it, muffling any noise I was
making. Terror filled me as he dragged me towards a car. I was filled with
dread when I realized the trunk was open and waiting for me. He landed another
fist to my face and the world started to fade around me. I fought to stay
conscious, but he was just too strong. I was forced into the trunk, everything
going dark as the car pulled away.”
5.
“We stalked around each other, blood pouring from our
wounds, but unwilling to concede the fight. We fought ferociously, a flurry of
claws and teeth. Years of bar fights had made him a more than competent
fighter, though he focused more on cheap shots. He didn’t think things through
like I did. He came at me, but I ran full tilt at him, slamming him into a
tree, his ribs shattering on impact.
Each time
he tried taking me down, I attacked strategically. When he moved to sink his
claws into me again, I sidestepped and bit down on his leg. The power of my jaw
snapped his ulna, the crunching of bone echoing in the air. He cried out; his
leg now crippled. I didn’t waste any time. I bit down on his flank, tearing his
flesh.
Whether it
was the wrath between us or the fact shifters have accelerated healing, I
didn’t know, but by all rights, we should have dropped by now. I was vaguely
aware of other wolves arriving, gathering in a circle around us, all growling
low in their throats. He hurled himself towards me again, but I rocked back on
my haunches, pushing off, my jaw closing on his throat. I knocked him onto his
back and loomed over him, sinking my teeth deeper into his throat.”
Can you, for those who don't know
you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?
I’ve always been a writer in some
form or fashion. It kind of got pushed to the wayside for many years, between
raising my children as a single mom and the crazy hours I had to work.
Several years ago, due to health
reasons, I was unable to work as I had been. Suddenly my life wasn’t something
that made sense anymore. It was at that point I turned to writing. I needed an
outlet for the pain and frustration and it fit perfectly. Now that my kids are
grown, I have the time to truly dedicate to writing
What is something unique/quirky about you?
I’m very bendy LOL. I can Bend
and lock my fingers in some very unnatural positions. I can dislocate my
shoulders on command. Both very useful traits if I want to get out of
restraints of some sort ;).
What are some of your pet peeves?
Hmm, so many to choose from LOL.
I hate when people chew/talk with full mouths. Just…ewww. Getting stuck
behind people going 10 under the speed limit in the fast lane. My biggest pet
peeve though, is people who judge others based on their life choices. I don’t
believe any one person is in a position to control who or what another person
is or thinks.
Where were you born/grew up at?
I was born in Niagara Falls,
Ontario, but grew up about an hour north of Toronto. I’ve moved a lot in my
life though, so there’ve been lots of cities between. Two years ago, I landed
back in Niagara.
Who is your hero and why?
For a very long time, my mother
would have earned this spot. I love her dearly and she’ll always be a hero to
me, but my youngest son has stolen this spot. He has faced a lot of adversity
in his life, but always fights his way through it. I’m so proud of the
way he’s able to stand up for himself and be confident enough to do so, at the
young age of 18. Once he sets a goal, he does everything in his power to reach
it, even if it seems impossible.
What do you do to unwind and relax?
Since Covid hit, I’ve stayed very
close to home, focusing on my writing, reading a lot. I listen to music quite a
bit. I watch too much TV. A lot of my normal activities were off the table due
to the state of emergency/lockdown for so much of the last year.
Now that people are finally
getting vaccinated, I feel more comfortable going a bit further than home. This
weekend I’m staying with friends that I haven’t seen for a year and a half. Of
course, it’s 4am, they’re asleep and I’m answering these questions!
I’m hoping that, at least once
this summer, I’ll be able to get away for a few days, free of technology.
Everyone needs to step away sometimes
How to find time to write as a parent?
The most I accomplished while my
kids were growing up was journaling and some poetry. I’m not sure I could have
done then what I do now. I’m in awe of the parents that manage this and so much
more!
Describe yourself in 5 words or less!
Overachiever, fair, fiercely
protective, sarcastic.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I’ve been reading longer than I
can even remember. My mom taught me to read and write at the age of 3 and I
never looked back. My down time, in school and at home, was always taken up by
one or both of them. I started winning contests in elementary school and
continued through high school.
I wrote mainly poetry until a few
years ago. What started off as a “short story battle” with my son, quickly
turned into my first published book, and then my second. It was enough to make
me realize how much I’d missed writing and decided to make a go of it.
Do you have a favorite movie?
I’m not sure I could ever choose
just one favourite! It really just depends on my mood. Some days, I want a
feel-good movie, often based, at least in part, on a true story. Others, I really
need to see explosions or bad people getting the crap beaten out of them
(Equalizer :P). If I just need something in the background while I read or
write, I’ll throw on something like Twilight. No idea why, it’s just kind of my
go to for when I can’t decide on something!
Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?
I’m not afraid to admit that I
laugh, cry, and get angry right along with my characters as I write. I think,
if I had to choose, it would be either Accepted or Dark Trio.
As a writer, what would you choose as your
mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
I think my spirit animal would be
a phoenix I love the idea of rebirth and rising from the ashes. Many times in
my life I’ve been knocked down and forced to completely change the way I live
my life. Whether it be family changes, health issues, or otherwise, I start new
and just keep fighting.
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