Just one more month until Wolf Tales 11 releases–this one is sort of different from my others in the series. It all started with the presidential election a couple of years ago, during the primaries when I saw Michelle Obama for the first time and had an absolute “holy shit” moment…she IS Keisha Rialto. Exactly as I have pictured Anton’s mate from the beginning–tall and strong and really a “kick ass” personality. Anyway, I filed that tidbit away in the back of my mind, and kept trying to figure out how I could somehow use the resemblance in a story. When i sat down to write WT11, I still wasn’t certain, and then it came to me.
What if the two San Francisco packmates who were pregnant–Tala and Lisa–were kidnapped in order to force the Chanku to assassinate the president? And what if the only way to save the women and protect the president and his wife was for Keisha to act as the First Lady’s double? And then, of course, what if things go terribly wrong, and there’s a chance Anton might be lost forever? Well, I wasn’t really planning on that, but you know how it is when Anton has a plan? Uh huh…this one doesn’t quite work the way he intends. I can promise you a really good story with this book, and a lot of fun as I mix a bit of politics (which we’re all absolutely SICK of at this point!) and a whole lot of sexy Chanku action to come up with a story that doesn’t go anywhere in the direction you expect it to go!
Here’s a brief little clip, and there’s a full first chapter on my website, but only if you’re 18 or over. And here’s an excerpt of the moment when Keisha dons her disguise for the president and first lady–Keisha has arrived in wolf form as has Nick Barden, who will be acting as a bodyguard for the REAL first lady:
~~~~~~~~~
Anton glanced at his watch. “We need to hurry. Keisha? Sweetheart, why don’t you go with the First Lady and get ready. I want your hair, make-up, everything the same.” He leaned over and unfastened her collar. She 
glanced at the president’s wife and winked, much to the lady’s obvious surprise. Then Keisha trotted in the direction of the bedroom.
Anton stayed in her head. Be gentle. She knows what to expect, but until you’ve actually seen someone shift…
Keisha’s soft laughter echoed in his mind, and they all heard the First Lady’s gasp of shock. Anton grinned. “It appears my wife just shifted.” He reached into the bag and grabbed a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt. “Nick, why don’t you go ahead and shift. At least you can keep the president’s wife company while you wait here.”
AJ removed Nick’s collar, and the young man rose from four paws on the ground to two human feet.
Tall and slim, he still had a youthful build with broad, bony shoulders, dark olive skin and long, dark hair. His high cheekbones and dark coloring could have been Middle Eastern or Native American, but he was beautiful no matter what his race. He nodded his head in respect as he quickly dressed.
The president shook his head slowly, obviously bemused. “I know what you told me, but if I hadn’t seen that, I never would have believed it.” As soon as Nick slipped into his sweats, the president shook his hand. “I am trusting you with the safety of the most important woman in my life.”
“I’ll keep her safe. You have my promise.”
“Well? What do you think?”
Keisha—at least he thought it was his mate—stood in the open doorway wearing a dark teal blue gown. With heels, she stood almost as tall as the president, and with the subtle use of makeup and her long hair tucked up under the shorter wig, she no longer looked anything like herself.
Grinning broadly, the First Lady stepped up beside her. Instead of showcasing their differences, her proximity only made their similarities more profound. Other than her slightly lighter complexion, they could have been twins.
Anton checked his watch once again. “Ma’am. Meet Nick Barden. Nick will stay with you this evening. He’ll be in mental contact with me at all times and can keep you informed on what’s happening. His mate is involved in the rescue of our two kidnapped pack members, so he’s got a link to that action as well. He’ll shift into his wolf form if anyone comes to the room. This floor is supposed to be secure, but we really can’t know for certain. Don’t allow anyone in. Remember, you’re not supposed to be here. Don’t answer the door unless it’s one of us—Nick will know since we can all communicate telepathically.”
The president kissed his wife, a long, slow kiss that reminded all of them how serious the night had just become. Then he held his arm out to Keisha. She wrapped her fingers around his arm, and with all the grace of a queen—or the wife of a president—allowed him to escort her from the room.
Anton glanced back in time to see the First Lady fold her hands as if in prayer. Nick stood beside her, but she seemed totally unaware of his presence. Her eyes were on her husband as he stepped swiftly out of the room. Then her glance flashed to Anton.
Once again he dipped his head in respect. “We’ll keep him safe. I promise. Nick will watch over you. If you have any questions, ask him.” He shrugged. “Very few know of our existence, but I’m sure Nick can answer whatever concerns you have. It might help you pass the time a bit faster.”
“Thank you.”
Her surprisingly calm smile was the last thing he saw as he quietly shut the door and followed the others to the waiting elevator.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wolf Tales 11 will release around Christmas time–the actual date is December 28, but the books usually show up a week or so early. Wolf Tales 12, the final book in the series, will be out in July. It takes place five years after WT11, and with any luck will answer all your questions about the Chanku. I’m still hoping to do a second generation series–ya never know!
HellFire and Nocturnal are still on the shelves if you haven’t read them yet–Crystal Dreams, my story in Nocturnal, has been nominated for a BOOKIE award, as has the entire anthology. I also found out this week that I’m up for a Lifetime Achievement Award from Romantic Times Book Reviews magazine, which is pretty cool. I’ll be choosing a winner from among those leaving a comment, so if you want a chance to win a book or a stuffed “Bumper” dog, leave a note, and thanks for coming by!
(4th of July is another one). But right from the start we were amazed at how families we’d just met insisted on us sharing their festivities and for us- being all alone in a strange land- it was very comforting. In some ways I’ve come to prefer Thanksgiving to Christmas as its all the love and sharing without the hassle of gift buying.
