Mar 24, 2010

Eva Gordon - Guest Blog and Contest

PVN welcomes Eva Gordon author of fantasy and paranormal stories. She states, "I love to create stories that combine my passion for mythology, romance and werewolf lore."

[Eva will giveaway an ebook copy of Werewolf Sanctuary
The contest is international. See detail at the end of the post.]
 [This contest has ended}

Wolves as Archetypes in My Novels
                                                           

I would like to tell you why my fantasy and paranormal novels center on wolves as main characters, or spirit guides.  In my debut fantasy novel, Mystic Stone of the Tenth Realm (soon to be resold), my hero is a Scottish werewolf, an alpha of his own pack.

My current series is an epic lycan series, The Wolf Maiden Chronicles. Book 1, Werewolf Sanctuary released May 2009 followed by Beast Warrior (August 2009), which takes place during the Viking era. White Wolf of Avalon is due out in late March 2010. My totem guide is the raven but my heart guide is the wolf. I’m not alone. Numerous authors are following the call of the wild.

Why is the wolf a common archetype in many myths and stories, even today? Nothing sends a chill down your spine more that hearing a wolf’s howl in the night. While at a wolf sanctuary, I spent the night in a trailer on the grounds and was privileged to hear night after night of thirty wolves in their nightly serenade.  No sound is more awesome.

Yet in the past the wolf had a more sinister reputation. During the development of agriculture and domestication of livestock people settled down and pushed out old hunting deities. Wolves were vilified as part of pagan beliefs and turned the wolf into Satan’s ally. Fear of the wolf once ruled Europe. Wolves were hunted and exterminated. Legends of werewolves were rampant. Little Red Riding Hood and the story of Bisclaveret brought fear to the hearts of many. Many accused of being werewolves were tortured and or burned at the stake.

Today there is more of a movement to save the wolf and what was once considered a savage killer is now becoming a spirit guide for folks who need a strong archetype and for environmentalist who see the wolf as a “spokes creature” for nature. So why is the admiration and fear of the wolf so universal?  My own explanation is that the wolf’s biogeography, high intelligence; and social interaction helped them enter into the mythos and literature.
    
The wolf is ubiquitous, found throughout most of the world from the icy Tundra in the Northern Hemisphere to the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula.  Even in countries where the wolf is not found such as Australia, there are canines that serve as a wolf proxy such as the dingo. Here in our modern homes and cities our pet dogs are constant reminders of our “wolfen” companion. We after all, created the dog from the ancestral wolf, as our most loyal companion.

 Wolves display common social and intelligent behavior similar to our own. They both play and have a strict social status, just as some of our cultures have. They communicate with their kind, much the same way we do, both vocally and in non-verbal ways. We have kings and presidents, they have the alpha pair. Humans low in status such as slaves and peasants certainly were low on the pecking order or in a wolf pack the omega. Wolves also mate for life, which endears them to people who long to have a long and loving relationship with a mate. How romantic!

What impressed me the most about the wolf sanctuary was the relationship between two wolves, Beasly and Barksalot. Beasily a white wolf had been rescued from a cruel man who gouged his eyes out, leaving the wolf blind and helpless. He was brought to the sanctuary and became friends with another rescued wolf, Barksalot, who literally became his “guide dog”.  Beasly grabbed on to Barksalot’s tail and would be lead around. Barksalot would also bark to communicate with Beasly. Barking is unusual for wolves. Beasly was unusual in that he was the only blind alpha known. He passed away last year and soon after his two other companions joined him. These similarities to human behaviors let us see the good and bad in us in them.

We long to emulate their hunting prowess. Wolves use team strategy and their powerful carnassials to bring down a much larger prey. Imagine a hero that can do damage without a weapon.

The wolf is universally regarded as creatures of prophesy and omens, and have connections between the worlds of the living and the dead. The wolf is affiliated worldwide with magic, medicine, healing and transformation.  In Native American culture the wolf is an important archetype. They had great respect for the wolf and often offered prayers before a hunt to the wolf spirit. Wolf spirit was also powerful medicine for shamans who traveled to the world of the dead.  In the New World, there never was an attempt to eradicate the wolf from their land by the indigenous people.  In Europe just as in the New World, myths and stories about wolves are universal. Early Europeans Respected the Wolf as Protector and Teacher. From the Steppes of Asia Minor to the British Isles the Wolf was mighty totemic protector. Hecate, an Ancient Greek deity was worshipped as a goddess with three wolf heads. Rome was founded by Romulus and Remus who were fed by the she-wolf, Alcala.

Ancient Celts respected the wolf as a totem and often as a spirit guide. In Ireland, King Cormac was nursed by a she-wolf. In the Viking world to be a member of the Wolf Clan, Ulfhednar was the greatest honour. Viking warriors believed that if they died a heroic death they would be turned into magnificent wolves. Vikings also believed wolves chasing and devouring the sun and moon caused eclipses. Two wolves accompanied Odin, ruler of the Norse Gods. He created the wolves Freki (Hungry One) and Geri (Greedy One) as loyal companions.

Today the wolf is once again a positive force in literature and as an important part of the predator/prey relationship that keeps nature in balance. And those hot one mate werewolf lovers make us long for the coming full moon.


Eva Gordon: Author of Paranormal and Fantasy Romance/Werewolf Expert

http://www.ravenauthor.com

http://evagordon.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/evagordon

Fan me on Face Book
 








NOW FOR THE CONTEST

Eva is offering an ebook copy of Werewolf Sanctuary to one lucky winner

CONTEST IS INTERNATIONAL

*Ask Eva a question: One chance

*Make a pertinent comment: One chance

You may also:

*Link to this contest on any of the social network sites, including Twitter, or your own web page. Let me know the url:  One chance for each link.

*If you are a Google follower (see sidebar on right): One chance

*If you are a member of the PVN Facebook page: One chance

*If you are an email subscriber: One chance

*If your email is not associated with your ID, please put the address in your response.

Contest ends April 7, 2010
 [This contest has ended} 

27 comments:

booklover0226 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
booklover0226 said...

Hi, Eva.

You're a new author for me and I look forward in starting this series.

What is your opinion on book trailers? Do you think they help in book sales?

I'm an email subscriber.

I'm a follower through GFC

Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com

Aik said...

Hi Eva,

Have you ever faced any difficulties while writing your books? If yes, then how do you overcome them?

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Julie S said...

I agree that the wolf is a very interesting character and is used in many ways by many authors. What inspired you to be a paranormal writer?

juliecookies(at)gmail.com

SandyG265 said...

Hi Eva,

Do you think that the american indian legends of skinwalkers have anything in common with the legends of werewolves?

I'm an email subscriber

Anonymous said...

Hello Eva -- it's great to see you here on PVN! Congrats about the upcoming print release of White Wolf! It's been a great read so far; I love how you mix history with magic and wolf lore.

Do you think the werewolf legend also came about to explain certain human behaviors, such as serial killers, that humans at the time couldn't fathom?

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

+1 Loved the pic of you in front of Stonehenge. Did the hair stand up on your arms in this magical place?

+1 Of all the paranormal creatures out there, I think the wolves are the most interesting. They have a family bond and loyalty that sets them apart.

+1 Twitter-@alterlisa
http://patricias-vampire-notes.blogspot.com/2010/03/eva-gordon-guest-blog-and-contest.html

+1 Facebook--Lisa Ann Richards 2 seconds ago
http://patricias-vampire-notes.blogspot.com/2010/03/eva-gordon-guest-blog-and-contest.html Contest is International!

+1 blogged-
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/p/contests-and-giveaways-memes.html
RECENT GIVEAWAYS THROUGHOUT THE LAND

+1 email subscriber -alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com

+1 GFC follower(Lisa Richards)

+1 a member of the PVN Facebook page- Lisa Ann Richards

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com

http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

(\___/)
(='.'=) Happy Easter from Bun!
(")_(")

Bestiary Parlor: The Musings of a Zoologist Turned Author said...

Hi Tracy,
I personally don't look at trailers when considering books. They might help a little but not as much as the back cover blurb.

Bestiary Parlor: The Musings of a Zoologist Turned Author said...

Hi Aik,
The main difficulty when writing books is not having enough time to do as much as I would like to.

I finish a book really fast but must patiently wait for my critique partners to return their comments.

Bestiary Parlor: The Musings of a Zoologist Turned Author said...

Hi Julie,
I love fantasy novels and because I write werewolf stories I am considered a paranormal writer, however, I tend to think of myself as a fantasy romance writer within a lycan universe.

Bestiary Parlor: The Musings of a Zoologist Turned Author said...

Hi Sandy,
Skinwalkers are known by many Native American names, The Mohawk limmikin, the Navajo yeenadlooshi. They are different from the European versions in terms of how one becomes a werewolf. Within the different native tribes there are different versions. Often they are considered evil, controlled by dark forces. Sometimes they become other animals such as coyotes, owls, crows or beetles.

Bestiary Parlor: The Musings of a Zoologist Turned Author said...

Hi Nicole,
Nice to see you here. Thanks for liking White Wolf of Avalon.
Yes, part of the legend may have been a way to explain the serial killer of the past. These criminals are not new. Children were often warned not to walk alone in the forest for the same reason we tell our children not to talk to go to far and not talk to strangers.
I believe the story of Little Red Riding Hood was a clear warning not to trust strangers.

Bestiary Parlor: The Musings of a Zoologist Turned Author said...

Hi Lisa,
Yes, standing in front of the ancient stones was magical. It was crowded, yet when my son took this picture no one appeared in the background. Perhaps I was in another realm for a brief moment.

jellybelly82158 said...

Hi Eva, you are a new author for me but this series sounds great.
What made you decide to go with paranormal romance versus urban fantasy?

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Bestiary Parlor: The Musings of a Zoologist Turned Author said...

Hi Jellybelly,
I like werewolves but I know there is a fine line between paranormal and urban fantasy. I read and think like a fantasy author and not sure if I can label myself as one specific genre. My subgenre of historical werewolf novels feels like a fantasy novel to me.

Nicole, The Book Lover said...

Hello!

Firstly I wanted to say that I have not read any of your books before, but after reading this post I think I will need to get my hands on them.

My Question;
With the success of the Harry Potter series and now the Twilight series the literary world seems to be in a paranormal hotspot at present, in comparison to say 20 years ago when there was paranormal fiction but it wasn't so clearly in the forefront. Looking back on such writers as Mary Shelley and John Polidori, the avante garde authors of this genre, how do you think they would feel about this new generation of paranormal fiction?

I am a Google Subscriber.

Cheers!
Nicole Trist @ Books, Books Everywhere
http://bookywooks.blogspot.com/

Bestiary Parlor: The Musings of a Zoologist Turned Author said...

Hi Nicole,
I think writers like Mary Shelly might raise a brow or two. These days there here is such a variety of stories and creatures. More hot sex and descriptive violence.

I'm hoping the historical paranormal sub-genre takes off. Publishers are still shying away from this sub-genre.

Bestiary Parlor: The Musings of a Zoologist Turned Author said...

Speaking of books, my new novel White Wolf of Avalon: Werewolf Knight is now available in print. Just hours ago. Yahooo!

Here is the Amazon link http://bit.ly/cEDR3D

Patricia Altner said...

Wonderful news, Eva!

Always great to see another of your books in print!

jeanette8042 said...

I've heard wonderful about your series Eva! I love reading about wolf shifters so your books are on my TBR pile!

Cherry said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Cherry said...

Just dropping by to have a little nosey :)

And congrats to Eva on her new release!!

Re-posted your contest at: http://contests-freebies.blogspot.com/2010/03/win-werewolf-sanctuary-at-patricias.html

Twitted about it at: http://twitter.com/cherrymischivus/status/11023449227

Bestiary Parlor: The Musings of a Zoologist Turned Author said...

Thank you all for commenting. Do keep in touch and check out my blog http://evagordon.blogspot.com for all my updates.

misskallie2000 said...

I had forgotten that wolves mate for life. A pity humans don't.

I admire your research and travel to find out all about wolves.
Eva, You are new author for me. Thanks for the great interview.

I am a follower via GFC

I am a subscriber via email

I follow via twitter(@misskallie2000)

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

+1 Thank you Eva for the post and the giveaway! I really enjoyed reading about your researches, it is interesting that wolves were feared and yet at the same time revered. ooh the story of Beasly and Braksalot is adorable :-)

+1 I would like to ask what kind of books do you like to read for pleasure? Who are your favourite authors?

+1 I tweeted here: http://twitter.com/Stella_ExLibris/status/11316916098

+1 I spread the word on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000899165880&ref=nf

+1 I'ma Goggle follower

+1 I'm also an e-mail subscriber

+1 also a member of PVN Facebook fan page

stella.exlibris (at) gmail DOT com

Unknown said...

I am also new to your books. But would love to start reading your series. Where do you get your inspiration from? Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

Donald said...

Thank you very much for your blog. Wolves are indeed enjoying a re-interpretation.

I was curious in reading your essay, what has most surprised you in your research for your writing? What materials did you use in the process?

Thank you,

Donald
DonaldJacobUitvlugt(at)yahoo(dot)com