The
Fur, Fangs, and Felines series
The idea for this series came from my love of cats. I have another shifter series with a black cougar, an animal that doesn’t exist. And while I’m very fond of him, how many of us really have a cougar or tiger as a pet?
Not me, lol.
But what I do have is a lovely little opinioned gray cat. I adore the little bugger, I really do. He showed up two years ago on Halloween night and adopted us. And that was that, lol. Now he’s my writing buddy and is often what keeps me going.
As it turns out, I like shifter stories as much as I like writing them. One thing I noticed was there was an abundance of really large cats out there. They’re big, they’re sexy, and they’re dangerous. But what about the smaller versions? Don’t they deserve some love too, lol?
And that’s how the series was born. Here you’ll be able to see my pic inspirations of the characters, settings, info on them, and other things.
~ ~ ~
The first book in the series is called Trouble Comes in Threes.
Out of the punishing weather and full of tuna, Dolf and Tal are happy to be snug in Kirk’s house. But then their human goes outside for firewood and suffers a nasty fall that leaves him unconscious. Now the two cats have no choice but to reveal themselves.
Kirk wakes up to find the two kitties are actually Dolf and Tal. They’re cat shifters—and his destined mates. Being part of a feline threesome is enough for Kirk to grapple with, but soon he learns they come from a clowder that doesn’t believe humans and shifters should mix. Kirk knew those two cats would be trouble. Little does he know the real trouble lies ahead.
Release date: Trouble Comes in Threes In Threes - December 26,
2014
~The three main characters:
*Dolfoon Hoyer – cat shifter. Of the three, he’s the more dominate. Dolg had black hair and icy blue eyes. He’s tall with a swimmers build: long and lean with tanned skin. Dolf is the son of the ruling alpha and is next in line to lead.
His title is: Head beta and yes, he’s a total top. His age is 150 yrs old but due to slower aging, he looks twenty-five(ish). Dolf runs the finical part of his and Tal’s construction business.
*Talise Martin – cat shifter. He’s a switch and has the same build and eyes as Dolf. Tal has long white-blond hair and golden skin. He’s an Omega and the same age as Dolf but also looks around age twenty-five(ish).
He runs his own construction company and mostly works for their clowder. He also built his and Dolf’s home.
All that changes New Years Eve and a approaching snow storm… in the South. God help us all, lol.
2015 Rainbow Awards Best Gay Paranormal Romance Runner-Up
* * * *
Behind the Eight Ball #2 in the series
Blurb:
A cool morning, a yard full of birds, and a kitty on a mission. What more could a werecat want? Beta Heller Wirth has it all, except a mate—a shifter mate, that is. The last thing he wants is one of those dangerous humans who kill without remorse. Heller knows about that firsthand. So what does the goddess Bast do? She gives Heller exactly what he does not want—a human: business owner Lawson Dupre.
Lawson hasn’t a clue what just happened in his car detail shop. One minute a cute client is about to pass out, and then he perks up and starts flirting. Next thing, he runs out the door like the hounds of hell are after him. Learning that Heller is a werecat doesn’t freak out Lawson. He happens to be one of those rare humans who knows paranormals exists. He even lives with one. Watch the fur fly as Heller and Lawson battle hurt feelings, misguided beliefs, and a power shift in Heller’s clowder.
Release date: Behind the Eight Ball - October 30, 2015
Heller Wirth – tall with long, dark wavy hair that fell to his shoulders. He had the facial hair along his jawline with a mustache and goatee. His slightly slanted eyes were a dark sapphire blue. Job: website designs, lawn service.
Age: 150 yrs old but looks around 30ish.
Job: beta; has a lawn service/website designer for clowder businesses. Mostly on-call for Alpha since his job has less restrictions.
His scent: Coconut
Drives black Chevy
Was close to Dolf, until Dolf mated Kirk.
Heller is one of the 4 betas. He was against bringing a human into the clowder. Heller’s dated only paranormal. He tries to avoid humans as much as he can. After the Joining Ceremony with Kirk, Heller didn’t come to the party after. Dolf worries Heller wouldn’t protect Kirk. But Heller’s problem with humans is something much more personal
He’s the surly/rude type, but is really quite high strung and easily upset. He's not a bad guy, because he's trying to stop being an ass to Kirk. But he snaps, and then feels bad, then tries to fix it, then gets mad when people don't get over his idiocy as quickly as he does. That goes to show he's very mercurial and emotional. He's defensive, too, which means he's been hurt/fears being hurt, which leads him to being such an ass.
Sister’s name: Lynette
Mom: Tiffany—did a lot of charity work and social events connected to several clowder’s around West Falls.
Dad: Douglas—owned several fast food restaurants
Heller’s cat: black with shades of brown through the coat. Longhaired. While in shifted form, his eyes should be that bright blue.
This is Lawson. (human): about 6 foot
Description: Light brown hair cut short on the sides and left long and curly on top with a part of one side. Eyes are gray. Thinner top lip, fuller bottom, long & thin nose. Kind of a round face. Has stubble too. Body is stocky, with wide shoulders.
Weight: 180
His age: 35
His job: owns The Perfect Touch Auto Spa and Detailing Shop (Vehicle washed by hand using state of the art chemicals for luxury vehicles with gentle wool wash mits, then dried with microfiber cloths. Then the machine polishing begins. Depending on the vehicle and its specific needs, this could be a five step process (or more). The entire interior is completely deep cleaned using professional extractor machines and enzyme chemicals, removing all bacteria and dirt, bringing your vehicle back to showroom condition.)
Hours: Monday–Thursday & Sunday, 12 p.m.–6 p.m. • Friday & Saturday, 9 a.m.–8 p.m.
Scent: ocean-sharp, clean & salty
Mom’s name: Rhonda
Dad’s name: Justin
* * * *
It Takes Two to Tango #3 in the series
Blurb:
Can two very different men find the love they need to survive?
Remi Ginn’s an easygoing werecat with a love of snarky T-shirts who would be perfectly happy with a human mate. Is that what the goddess Bast gives him? Of course not. Instead she gifts him with Marshell, a Vetala: a snakelike nonshifter who drinks blood to survive. A man who’s just as toppy as Remi—and even more powerful than the West Falls Clowder’s Alpha and heir apparent.
While Remi decides whether he can handle the fates’ choice, hunters attack Marshell. In an explosion of passion, Remi and Marshell mate and Remi declares Marshell his. Now they have to figure out how to make their relationship work as they dance around each other.
The clowder is in turmoil, and Remi’s acceptance of Marshell rocks the very foundation of the insular group. The consequences will be far-reaching. And if that isn’t problem enough, the situation with the hunters is far from resolved… as the appearance of an Alpha werewolf proves.
It Takes Two to Tango - September 26, 2016
Remi Ginn – cat shifter
Height: 6’
Weight: Sleekly sculpted and streamlined - 165 lbs
Description: shoulder-length dark hair ( not a true black) and dark sapphire blue eyes. High cheekbones and strong jaw, thin mustache over lush lips. Eyes are bright blue in cat form.
Age: 150 yrs old but looks around 25ish.
His scent: woody, spicy fragrance: leaf buds, wet twigs, tree sap, bark, mossy earth, and the faintest hint of spring time rain
Drives: old work truck for now. Car burned up.
Personality: easy going and funny. Jokes a lot. Dependable. Loves T-shirts with sayings on them
His cat: Black short hair with white paws and whiskers. Paws are the only thing white
Job: Name of store: Old World Floors - Owns a flooring store Tal often uses for jobs. Did own a ‘69 Mustang but lost it in a fire.
Lives in the country: his drive is lined with mature trees. The top of the trees angled out, almost as if reaching across the road toward each other. Sun peeked between the trees. House is an old, smaller plantation home. Has huge, round white columns that reached to the roof in front of the house. Been restoring it off and on. Bought it in 1902. Converted the carriage house into a garage. He claims there are ghosts in the attic. owns the thirty acres around him.
Marshell Foles - paranormal (Vetala)
Vetala are a type of paranormal, almost snake-like, that hunt in pairs so they can capture their prey. They don't usually hunt solo. They appear human until they attack, at which point they reveal sharp teeth and blue, snake-like eyes.
Height: 6’3
Weight: two-forty pounds of muscle with a massive chest. The man was built brick shithouse. Arms were muscular, and has ebony skin.
Lives alone in the country and rents.
Age: 100 yrs old but looks around 30ish. (born 1915)
His scent: primordial and kind of wild, sharp with a hint of musk; metallic/ozonic--it smells like something you forgot a long time ago
Drives: black SUV
Kills: 3 men. First was the hunter who attacked 10 yrs ago. 2nd was when someone robbed him in NYC. Marshell gave up his wallet and the robber still stabbed him. 3rd was the hunter who just attacked him.
Fangs - They possess extremely strong, sharp fangs that can rip open a human throat. The top two central incisors were very long and pointy, and so were his canines. A Vetala's bite marks on their human victims resemble the marks of a vampire attack.
A Vetala preparing to feed.
§ Paralyzing Venom - Vetala paralyse their victims with a venomous bite. It knocks the victim out cold, and causes a ringing in the ear along with weakened strength.
§ Feeding - Like vampires, they feed on human blood.
§ Super strength - Vetala appear to have enhanced strength that allows them to overpower even well built humans.
Super senses - Vetala appear to possess enhanced hearing, as one was able to detect someone sneaking behind his back.
Silver knife - They can be killed by being stabbed in the heart with a silver knife (Knife must be twisted once to complete and effectively kill). When they die their bodies crumble apart.
* * * *
At Sixes and Sevens book 4 Book in the series:
Blurb: Werecats mating with humans was bad enough…. But an Alpha werewolf?
Blurb: Werecats mating with humans was bad enough…. But an Alpha werewolf?
Aidric’s life takes an unexpected turn when he meets Alpha Carter Lovelock of the Dark Lake Pack—who is apparently his mate. Now Aidric must decide whether to accept the mate the goddess chose, or deny her gift because cats and dogs just don’t mix.
Carter is in a pickle. He always assumed his mate would be a female werewolf. How else is Carter supposed to carry on his line and retain Alphaship? When Aidric comes into his life, Carter’s ex, Sabrina, isn’t giving up easily. Her brother, Delaney, is a thorn in Carter’s side, and some of the other werewolves go out of their way to make Aidric feel unwelcome, including one of his deltas, Evan.
Unfortunately, what little headway they make is destroyed during a full moon hunt when enemy werewolves attack Aidric and threaten the pack house where the Dark Lake pups are kept—an ambush that could have devastating consequences on their future.
Werewolves are notoriously insular, and before Carter and Aidric can build the life they want with each other, they’ll face a fight for acceptance.
Height: 6’1
Weight: 160
Hair: collar-length wavy, fly away sable brown (has some reds and blacks in it) hair and
Eyes: Lapis blue eyes.
Face: Scruffy with a thin upper lip and full bottom lip. Cute smile. Apple cheeks. A dimple in one cheek that is seen when he smiles
Job:
Age: 150 yrs old but looks around 25ish.
His scent: Vanilla/ Vanilla cupcake
Drives: Truck
is one of the 4 betas.
Personality: A little stuffy and anal. Stickler for the rules.
Height:
6’4/muscular
Weight: 260
Face: His face was round and strong, with a square
jaw. Has black scruffy beard and a diamond earring in one ear.
Hair: bald but has hair on chest, arms, legs. Also
has a beard, but it’s not thick. Hair color is black.
Eyes: Hazel/Golden Brown
Job:
Alpha
Age:
looks 35/165yrs. Been looking for his mate for the last sixty-five years
His scent: woody
notes of oak and sandalwood
Drives: Chevy truck
and new, black Corvette
Personality: arrogant, but then most werewolves are.
Pack name: Dark
Lake; also lives several hours away.
Worship: werewolves worship the god Fenrir
* * * *
Book #5 in the series: The One and Only
Blurb:Turmoil in the West Falls clowder has reached a boiling point.
Brier Fendon, the last unmated beta, is sweating bullets. His goddess has swept through their ranks, handing out mates willy-nilly. While he would be okay with a human as a mate now, thanks to the changes his Alpha has brought, he’d still prefer a werecat. And he sincerely hopes the goddess Bast has taken note of that, because he figures he’s next.
Careful what you wish for.
Reports of an unknown werecat in clowder territory spurs unease, and Brier is sent to investigate. Fortunately, the scent still remained, but there’s something disturbing about it. All werecats have a personal scent marker, all except for this one. What Brier’s smelling—or not smelling, as the case may be—is impossible.
Tyler Smith has suffered a lifetime of abuse from the paranormal community. His own species considers him an abomination. Hated and reviled since he isn’t a pure werecat, Tyler has learned the hard way not to trust anyone but his mate, Seth. But although he’s an outcast, Tyler is more special than anyone knows, and he has a choice to make.
Seth Galloway is the most feared paranormal to ever exist, thanks to his abilities. What he’s capable of is the stuff of nightmares, and if he has to kill to protect his mate, Tyler? So be it. He has before, and now Tyler’s goddess has set him and Tyler on a path that may end with even more death and destruction.
Fear of the unknown and a lifetime of pain are just some of the roadblocks Brier, Seth, and Tyler will face. Bast has waged a war to bring her children out of their isolationism and bigotry, and things have spun out of control. A threat hangs over them all and death looms on the horizon. A sacrifice will have to be made, and Tyler’s choice will dictate the future of werecats—and other shifter species as well.
Height: around 6’2
Weight: 170 lbs.
Eyes: eyes are a sky blue
Long and lean like the rest. Toned body. Long, lighter brown hair that’s straight. He parts in on one side and lets it flip over. Lightly tanned skin.
Face: Angular face, slim nose. Has a mustache and hair on bottom of the chin.
His cat: sable color cat- solid over the body, but his face and the outer most of his ears were darker. He looked like a Burmese, except his eyes were a funny, bright blue. characterized by blue almond-shaped eyes, a triangular head shape, large ears, an elongated, slender, and muscular body but big like a Savannah. Sable/burnt umber coat color
Age: 150 yrs old but looks around 30ish.
Job: beta
Seth Galloway - Shadow Walker
Tyler Smith -werecat
~Unfinished Matings:
What happens in unfinished matings: Pain is the first sign, a horrible pain, described like being broken into tiny pieces slowly. They have no idea why it’s so painful. The next step is the shifter stop sleeping and eating. After that, the voices start. Finally, the shifter spirals into madness and goes feral. At this point they’d shift and stay shifted; they’d look and behave like rabid animals. Their humanity would be gone by now and another shifter would be tasked with ending his/her suffering.
~Recessive Gene:
Thanks to advanced technology, the shifter community figured out humans who had a recessive gene could be mates. That gene mutated during the blood transfer between humans and shifters allowing humans to develop shifter abilities like rapid healing and lifespan expansion. This way the human mate lived as long as shifters. The mating scent identified which humans carried the recessive gene. While a shifter could mate with a human who didn’t have the gene, that human wouldn’t receive shifter abilities. They would only live an average human lifespan.
~Werecats
Werecats are territorial, living within clowders, each of which is (usually) headed up by a male Alpha. Werecats usually live separately from average human society in order to keep their existence a secret. Many werecats, and paranormals in general, view the biggest threat to their society as humans and therefore value their species privacy above all else. It is an extreme offense to tell a human about the existence. There are some that don’t like humans.
~Government
Paranormals have laws, a government, and punishments suited to their kind. The paranormals in each territory vote for which elected alpha was on the ballot. The winner led that territory and their title was territory leaders. They were like human governors.
There are five territories in the US: Eastern, Central, Mountain, Island, and Western Zones. Those five territory leaders joined with other territory leaders from around the world to make up the Alliance of Paranormals which had over a hundred members. They had the power to change laws voted in by territory leaders. It’s like the humans Supreme Court. This group makes all the decisions regarding paranormal.
~The Ranks
Alpha:
The Alpha is the leader, they try their best to keep up with the going ons within the clowder. They see each of the members as family and make important decisions that reflect the growth and welfare of the clowder. The Alpha creates the rules and makes sure they are properly enforced for his clowder. The Alpha decides on ranking, assessments, and banishments of wolves.
Another important responsibility of the Alpha is to provide and maintain territory. The Alpha provides an emotional centre for the family and focus for friendly feeling in the clowder. One of the most important social functions of the Alpha is to help maintain an even temper and bond of the family. During meetings, most issues are discussed with the betas. The Alphas have the final say so in everything, yet act only for the good.
Beta:
The beta is the second ranking individual within the dominance hierarchy. They show commitment and loyalty to the clowder, also acting as a discipliner to reinforce the Alpha's decisions. The Head Beta stands in as Alpha when the Alpha(s) are not present.
They answer to no one but their Alphas, but are expected, as with all members, to show respect. They also assist the Alphas with any conflicts and enforce the rules, keeping peace. In meetings, the betas' answers and suggestions are the second most important, being trusted advisers to the Alpha, only thinking for the good of the clowder as a whole.
Delta:
The Delta is a cat in training for beta position. They are third in rank. Deltas usually become the next beta after training is complete but one can remain delta without moving to beta position. When this is the case, if ever the current beta is removed from their rank, steps down, changes rank, or leaves, the delta may take the place as the new beta at the Alpha's request.
~Subordinate Ranks:
Elder:
An elder is a shifter with great experience and knowledge. In the past they may have held such high ranks as Alpha and/or beta. An Elder's opinion is greatly respected; can be an advisor to both Alphas and betas. They are role models and express maturity in their thoughts and actions during serious discussion or conflicts. An elder they voice their opinions and concerns when they feel it is necessary with the utmost respect to their leaders.
Scouts:
Scouts are responsible for warning staying in touch with other clowders and keep friendly relations. They are to report any important changes to the Alpha and beta. These include: if a new clowder is formed scouts are to find out who is the Alpha or Alphas, and if they is peaceful. Another change includes the banishment of a certain cats. Scouts find out who was banished from where and why.
Caretakers:
A shifter who shows interest and skill in caring for weakened clowder members. They also watch over the older or ill. The Caretaker of the Clowder ensures when any shifter is wounded, they recover properly not putting too much stress on their wounds. They serve as a support unit, and try to keep the clowder in a healthy state. If they feel a cat is not strong or rested enough to hunt, they are to inform the Alpha. Caretaking does not mean healing; its means helping to survive, to watch over and make sure one does not further hurt themselves.
Omegas:
The Omega is a peacekeeper. They tend to be blond, or in rare cases, red-headed. Easy going and laid back. More submissive than the rest. Often seen as a status symbol.
