#FreeWolves - P.J. MacLayne

Which Book To Read First? #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne July 28, 2024 July 29, 2024 Open Book

July 29, 2024

Which book of yours do you recommend readers start with?

That’s not an simple question to answer.

It depends on your favorite genre. Technically, I write in three genres. Four, if you add in my work in progress, which is a semi-historical female private investigator story. If you consider only my currently published books, it narrows things down. Slightly.

Let’s start with my urban fantasy/paranormal series of 3 books, The Free Wolves.

Although there is an underlying story arc, each book is written as a stand-alone. The stories can be read in any order. The one I suggest you read first? Wolves’ Gambit, the last one I wrote in that series.

I’m proud of that story. But then, I’ve always been a fan of the underdog, and the book is filled with them, but they are strong enough that they demanded my original planned plot be changed. As a result, I defied all the expectations I’d set for the plot. Tasha, my main character, was a blast to develop.

For those of you who haven’t read Wolves’ Gambit. Here’s the blurb:

Wolf-shifter Lori Grenville was rescued from near-slavery and a brutal pack leader by the Free Wolves. To pay back the favor, she’s dedicated her life to helping others in the same situation, leading shifters to safety and a new start, risking her life in the process. She’s faced down alphas and has no qualms in undermining pack structure.

Now she’s challenged with the task of restoring an alpha to his rightful place. If she gets it right, she can stop a war from ripping apart two packs and spreading across an entire state. If she fails, she’ll be among the first to die.

There’s still the option of walking away and letting the Jaeger and Destin packs destroy each other. That means she’ll fail in her original mission of rescuing the daughter of the Jaeger alpha before the girl is forced into marriage for political gain.

Lori hasn’t failed in a mission yet. This one may be the exception.

Here’s the link for more info and where you can buy the book: https://www.pjmaclayne.com/?page_id=224

The Harmony Duprie series and the Jake Hennessey books

These two sets of books are tied together, despite being different genres. The Harmony Mysteries are what I call almost-cozy-mysteries, because they defy the rules of true cozies. The Jake stories are crime/suspense, but Jake is an integral part of the Harmony timeline. Confused? It gets worse. The Fall of Jake Hennessey and the Rise of Jake Hennessey are a complete set, but they also serve as a prequel and a sequel to the six Harmony Duprie books.

So, which of the eight books to read first? I’d suggest The Marquesa’s Necklace, the first book in the Harmony mysteries. The stories are in chronological order but written as standalones, so it makes sense to read them in order.

Here’s the blurb The Marquesa’s Necklace:

Harmony Duprie enjoyed her well-ordered life in the quiet little town of Oak Grove—until her arrest for drug trafficking. Cleared of all charges, she wants nothing more than to return to the uneventful lifestyle of a historical researcher she once savored.

But when her beloved old car “George” is stolen and explodes into a ball of flames, it sets off a series of events that throws her plans into turmoil. Toss in a police detective that may or may not be interested in her, an attractive but mysterious stranger on her trail, and an ex-boyfriend doing time, and Harmony’s life freefalls into a downward spiral of chaos.

Now she has to use her research skills to figure out who is behind the sinister incidents plaguing her, and why. And she better take it seriously, like her life depends upon finding the right answers.

Because it might.

And here’s the link for more info and where to buy The Marquesa’s Necklace: https://www.pjmaclayne.com/?page_id=232

So, that’s two starting points to my books. Now let’s go check out which books we should read from other authors on this hop. See the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

July 29, 2024

Which book of yours do you recommend readers start with?

Catch Them All – However You Want #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne January 14, 2024 January 14, 2024 Open Book

Jan 15, 2024

Do your books have to be read in any particular order?

This is another one of those questions that I can’t answer with a simple yes or no.

I’ve tried hard to write my books so they can be read in as standalone stories. It hasn’t always worked. The Harmony Dupre stories can be picked up and read individually, but they were written in chronological order and it makes sense to read the series that way. That way, the reader doesn’t have to stop and think about the backstory.

But then you throw the Jake Hennessey books into the mix and things get complicated. After all, The Fall of Jake Hennessey was written as a prequel to the Harmony books, but I recommend it be read after The Marquesa’s Necklace and Her Ladyship’s Ring so the reader gets a different view of the interplay between Harmony, Jake, and Eli. The Rise of Jake Hennessey can be read as a solo story, but it ties up the entire Harmony story arch neatly. So the answer to the question is yes, but no. The books can be read in any order, but I suggest you read them in (mostly) the order in which they were written.

It’s easier with the Free Wolves series. Those books are true standalones. There is an underlying story arch, but I’m probably the only one who cares about it. That’s on purpose. Each book has a different main character, although they take place in the same ‘world.’ (FYI-I’ve had another book in the series floating around in my head for a while, and when I get it written, the story arch may become important.) However, reading the books in the order I wrote them allows the reader to have a clearer picture of the overall world.

To make this all a little clearer, I’ve listed the books in suggested reading order below. Links to the other authors on this hop are also there.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

The Harmony Duprie and Jake Hennessey books. (link to the page on this website)

The Marquesa’s Necklace
Her Ladyship’s Ring
The Fall of Jake Hennessey
The Baron’s Cufflinks
The Countessa’s Brooch
The Samurai’s Inro
The Ranger’s Dog Tags
The Rise of Jake Hennessey

The Free Wolves

Wolves’ Pawn
Wolves’ Knight
Wolves’ Gambit

My Most Favorite Cover #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne July 16, 2023 July 16, 2023 Open Book

July 17, 2923

Post your favorite cover from your books and explain why it’s your favorite.

One? Just one? I’d offer you my entire gallery of book covers because I’m in love with my cover artist’s work. (Shout out to you, K.M. Guth.) Can I pick one and a backup?

I’ve learned a lot watching her do her magic. Not enough to duplicate her results, but at least I understand what she is doing and why. I can even offer intelligent suggestions! She may shoot them down, but rarely, I come up with something worthwhile.

Back to struggling to pick my favorite. Here it is.

I love the ferocity in the model’s eyes. She looks like she could tear you apart with just a glance. It fits my main character’s personality completely. What really amazes me is that at least three different pictures have been combined to create this image.

And I’m no artist, but I love how the background colors draw attention, and how those colors are reflected throughout the cover. To my eyes, the cover is a work of art.

I will confess that Lori, the main character of Wolves’ Gambit, is also one of my favorites, and that may have influenced my choice of cover.

Here’s the blurb.

Lori hasn’t failed in a mission yet. This one may be the exception.

Because I can, I’m going to reveal my runner-up cover. It’s a totally different style. Which makes sense, because the story is nothing like Wolves’ Gambit.

I am going to include a gallery of covers below. While I love all the covers in the Harmony Duprie Mysteries, seeing them together heightens the impact.

What are the favorite covers of other authors on this hop? Find out by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

July 17, 2923

Post your favorite cover from your books and explain why it’s your favorite.

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

The Food They Eat #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne April 9, 2023 April 9, 2023 Open Book

April 10, 2023

What does the food your characters eat reveal about their personality?

She longed for a rare steak to satisfy the blood lust licking her paw had awakened, but she hadn’t found a gas station yet selling them. She sighed. Beef jerky would be on the menu.
Wolves’ Pawn

What do wolf shifters eat? Raw meat, of course, when they have the option. Except they have a human side, and a no-nonsense doctor that insists that pack members include fruits and vegetables in their menus. I played with the concept throughout the Free Wolves’ series. In Wolves’ Knight, there is a community celebration that includes steak and casseroles, and in Wolves’ Gambit, steak is mentioned several times as a part of meals.

I took it farther in Wolves’ Gambit, joking about how a Wyoming pack can’t raise cattle because the cows can sense the dual nature of the wolf shifters, and are skittish around them. Chickens, however, don’t seem to care.

The wolf part of my shifters leads to many minor plot points around food. They have rules about what they can hunt and when. Pregnant does are never to be killed. A large stag is considered off-limits because of his potential to expand the local herd of deer. Who says a wolf shifter can’t be an environmentalist and understand their impact on a future food source? Also, there are other rules about verifying if an animal is another shifter or not before attacking them to make them a meal, which would be unethical. (Attacking them in battle is a different set of values.)

It makes sense. The closer you are to nature, the closer you are to your food source. So my wolf shifters and food are tied together.

How about the other authors. What does food reveal about their character’s personalities? Follow the link below to find out.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

April 10, 2023

What does the food your characters eat reveal about their personality?

1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

A Picture is Worth – You Know The Rest #IWSG

By P.J. MacLayne January 31, 2023 January 31, 2023 IWSG

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the February 1 posting of the IWSG are Jacqui Murray, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Pat Garcia, and Gwen Gardner!

February 1 question – If you are an Indie author, do you make your own covers or purchase them? If you publish trad, how much input do you have about what goes on your cover?

Yes, I am an indie writer. It’s a decision I made back when I first entered the wild world of publishing. I knew from the beginning that I was not qualified to create covers. When it comes to fonts and color shading and perspective, I’m lost. Luckily, I had a resource that knew all that. She’s designed all my covers. Thank you so much, K.M. Guth!

Thanks to the joys of video conferencing, I’ve been able to watch her weave her magic. It amazes me, frankly, how she can morph things to suit her needs. She’ll ask for my input, but I normally defer to her as the expert. Now and then, I’ll spot something she missed, but that doesn’t happen very often.

Many of the covers she’s designed for me are below.

Check out some of the other talented folks on this hop by clicking on the links below.

Until next time, please stay safe.

Dreams, Nightmares, and the Art of Writing #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne April 24, 2022 April 24, 2022 Open Book

April 25, 2022

Do dreams/nightmares influence your writing? Do you keep a notebook by your bed to write down ideas?

The spring rain had left puddles in the dirt road but she no longer tried to avoid them. Under other circumstances this would have been a pretty ride. The young pale green leaves not yet entirely covering the branches she brushed by glittered in the sun that had finally chased away the storm clouds. Even the fresh scent of the earth moistened by water was unable to mask the smell of the hot motor between her legs. She didn’t know how much longer the bike would last the way she was pushing the engine.

Wolves’ Pawn

That’s the opening to my first book, Wolves’ Pawn, and yes, it was the result of a dream. I had no idea when I woke up where it would lead, but I sensed it couldn’t be ignored. So, I started writing.

Still, I lost part of the dream and had to work from scratch once I got past the opening scene. But that was okay, because the plot didn’t go where I’d anticipated.

“But, P.J.,” I hear you saying, “Why didn’t you write it down?”

I used to keep a paper and pen on my nightstand for just that reason. But the problem is — I’m a deep sleeper. If it’s not time to wake up, I don’t. The pen and paper do me no good. (When it is time to wake up, I’m awake, just like that.)

Most of the time, I don’t even remember my dreams. I might know I had a dream, but not any details. My memories don’t leave enough behind to form the foundation of a story. And boy, do I have some crazy dreams. How about a female PI chasing kidnappers around a cruise ship and up the hills in Italy? Or a wolf taking down a motorcyclist? Wait, that’s one’s a book.

So, I’ve given up on the whole idea of keeping a notebook on the nightstand. I never used it, anyway.

Now, my desk is a different story. Sitting here typing, I can count five notepads within easy reach, all different sizes. That way, I can grab one that’s the right size for the job.

How about our other authors? You can find out by following the links below to their posts.

As I say every week – until next time, please stay safe!

April 25, 2022

Do dreams/nightmares influence your writing? Do you keep a notebook by your bed to write down ideas?

“Misfits, Rebels, and Malcontents.” Best Lines #OpenBook

By P.J. MacLayne January 30, 2022 January 31, 2022 Open Book

Jan 31, 2022

Share some of your favorite lines from your writing. How about some of your worst ones if you still remember them?

“Misfits, rebels, and malcontents.”

That’s my favorite line from the book Wolves’ Gambit. It’s how a wolf from a traditional pack described the members of the members of the loosely knit organization called the Free Wolves. It’s the story of Lori Grenville, who has made it her life’s mission to help unhappy shifters escape from overbearing alphas and dangerous situations. Another of my favorite lines from that story is “But the years of fighting and fleeing had scarred her, and hope didn’t belong in her vocabulary. Only plans and action.”

Sometimes, I get lucky and good lines come to me. More often, I have to revise several times to get the words just right. Take this little piece from The Baron’s Cufflinks, the third book in the Harmony Duprie Mysteries. “I recognized the technique—he hoped the silence would make me uncomfortable and I would say more. It didn’t work. I waited. He sighed.” I can’t tell you how many times I revised those words. They didn’t even exist in my first draft.

I had lots of fun writing my current work-in-progress, called The Fall of Jake Hennessey, because Jake and Harmony match wits throughout the story. There’s a scene where they trade pick-up lines.

“I’m going to need you to step away from the freezer, Jake. You’re melting the ice,” she said with a grin.
He should have known she wouldn’t give up easily. She’d beat him at this game, but he’d make his best shot with lines he remembered from high school. “Did you just come out of the oven? Because you’re too hot to handle.”
The grin got bigger, and she waggled her eyebrows. “That’s a nice shirt. Can I talk you out of it?”
“If you were a library book, I’d check you out,” he replied, putting on his poker face.
She rolled her eyes. “I don’t know whether to give you extra points for that one because it’s relevant, or take one away because I’ve heard it more than once. But here’s mine. You’re so hot, you must be the cause of global warming.”

I haven’t decided on a release date for the story yet, but it’s coming soon.

Now for the worst lines. Most of them I manage to forget after they’ve been erased. What I do have are some entire scenes that I deleted, and I won’t impose them on my readers. I don’t think anyone wants to read over a thousand words of Jake overseeing a furniture delivery, or a deleted love interest for Tasha in Wolves’ Knight.

But here’s a short one to close out. Back to where we started – this is from a deleted scene from Wolves’ Gambit.

Conversation in the room resumed and the guard, after giving the pitcher back to Princess, retook his position. She gulped, but found the courage to fill the rest of the water glasses before scuttling back to the bar.

Want to find out the best and worst lines from other authors? Come with me and follow the links below. And, as always, until next time, please stay safe!

Jan 31, 2022

Share some of your favorite lines from your writing. How about some of your worst ones if you still remember them?

Rules:

1. Link your blog to this hop.

2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.

3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.

4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.

5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

See all the links!

Pets and Animals and the Story #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne May 2, 2021 May 2, 2021 Open Book

May 3, 2021

Do pets (or other animals) play an important part in your books? Tell us about them.

Let’s begin with a philosophical debate. I have a series of shifter books. My main characters are human-to-wolf shifters, but I sprinkle a variety of other shifter forms into my stories as well. (Imagine a rabbit shifter hanging out with the wolves!) My characters are aware of their animal nature when they are in human form and they don’t lose their human nature when they are in animal form. So, I don’t consider them animals.

My shifters also know the impact they have on the animals they interact with. From Wolves’ Gambit: “It’s not like we can take up ranching. Have you ever seen how cattle react to our presence?” and later “Chickens don’t care that we are shifters.” I’ve made jokes about how they can’t have pets. I’m going to exclude the animal side of my shifters from this discussion.

But animals are a natural part of my shifters’ lives. Crows play a minor part but are an important tribute to Dot’s (My female MC) Native American heritage in Wolves’ Pawn. (Yes, I know birds are technically not animals!)

A raucous noise broke her meditation, and she opened her eyes to find a large crow sitting in front of her. It cocked its head, uttered a single caw, and flew away. One large black feather drifted down from the sky. Dot picked it up and stuck it into the scarf wrapped around her arm.

In Wolves’ Knight, there’s a scene that explains how my wolves interact with wildlife:

Tasha cautiously lifted her head the same time the wind changed direction. “That’s a beauty, and not another shifter,” she sent as a large white-tailed buck stepped into a patch of sunshine. She counted the points on his rack. Ten. “What’s he doing here?” They hadn’t been quiet before the deer showed up.

Although the pack didn’t depend on the local wildlife for food, hunting was a natural part of their lives, and few large animals were found on pack land anymore. Even rabbits and squirrels were not as plentiful as they were years ago.

“It’s almost hunting season. He probably got chased out of his territory by someone scouting for a good spot for a blind. Are you going to take him down?”

“Does the pack need the food?” Tasha’s other-self licked its lips in anticipation of fresh meat, but the deer was larger than she and Elder Fenner could eat in one sitting.

“No.”

“Well, crap.”

I’ve been considering adding to the Free Wolves’ series. There are so many potential stories. Heck, I could see a whole different series coming out off Wolves’ Gambit. If you’ve read the series, you know Counselor Carlson deserves his own story. What part would animals play? I can’t predict. But I have the feeling they’d be worked into the story somehow.

How do our other authors incorporate animals into the books? Follow the links below to find out!

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

May 3, 2021

Do pets (or other animals) play an important part in your books? Tell us about them.

Not Your Usual Hero #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne June 21, 2020 June 21, 2020 Open Book

June 22, 2020

What are your favorite kind of characters to create? To read?

My door was securely locked with the rubber bumpers slid under it as far as they would go, the curtains closed, and my lights dimmed to make it seem I’d gone to bed.

I was about to break a rule, and I wanted no interruptions. Or witnesses. The plot was unethical at best and illegal at its worst. I planned to use my access to the Oak Grove Police Department’s records for personal gain.

From The Samurai’s Inro. Book 5 of the Harmony Duprie Mysteries

I fell in love with Harmony while I was writing her first book. She was a quiet, reserved person with an inner strength she didn’t know she had until she was forced to draw on it. It’s been fun watching her grow through the series, as she’s become more comfortable allowing that strength to shine.

I launched myself down the hallway. I’d be able to only take on one person, and my target was obvious. With a satisfying smack, I rammed into Annabelle’s back. The gun hit the tile floor with a loud clunk. She fell to her knees. Not good enough.

Jake should be able to handle Brent. I concentrated on Annabelle. An awkward and ill-timed kick landed between her shoulders. Although her hands hit the ground, she still wasn’t where I wanted her.

In the moment I got distracted checking for Jake, she recovered and rose to a standing position. She threw a hasty punch. It landed solidly on my shoulder. I staggered backward.

I’d been hit before. In practice. With gloves.

From The Baron’s Cufflinks, Book 3 of the Harmony Duprie Mysteries

I’ve always written Harmony as a someone who works within the law. Mostly. She’s been known to push the edges of legality. Never quite crossing over, but coming close. Except for in my current work-in-progress, The Ranger’s Dogtags. She’s pushing the line until it breaks.

And that’s how I like to write my characters. As works in progress. Constantly being challenged, constantly having to adjust.

And while that’s tough on Harmony, who loves routine, some of my other characters take to it easier. For example, there’s Lori Grenville, my main character in Wolves’ Gambit, from The Free Wolves adventures. She moves from one pack of wolf shifters to another, changing her name and her appearance, on a mission to help female shifters break free from traditional pack structure.

When the fangs dropped and claws sprouted, she forced herself to stay calm and made a show of adjusting her backpack. These men were the elite, and they only needed a moment to regain control of their emotions. When they were ready to talk, she would be as well.

“So, what kind of shifter are you?” Turtle asked.

“Wolf.”

“No, really.”

“Wolf.” Lori shrugged. “Even in wolf form, I’m small, but that’s the way it is.”

“Then why can’t we smell or hear you?’

She moved away the mental blocks that kept her secure. “Try now.”

Four voices flooded her brain and she held up her hands. “One at a time, guys!”

“How do you do that?” asked Turtle.

“Training. And it’s not perfect. A strong alpha can break through. Carlson can. But there’s no time for twenty questions. We need to get going.”

“Will you be able to keep up with us?”

Lori grinned. “You forget, I’m leading the way. You have to keep up with me.”

From Wolves’ Gambit, The Free Wolves Adventures

As much as I love writing strong women characters, I like to read them, too. And I want that strength to carry through the book. I once read a romance by a major woman author who, throughout the whole book, emphasized how the lead female character prepared to face the villain. But in the end, when the two were face-to-face, the major male character rushed in to save her.

Truthfully, it made me angry. After all the buildup, the ending was a disappointment. That book has been given away. No matter how well-written, it didn’t deserve a spot on my bookshelf. I don’t want my leading ladies to depend upon a prince to save them. I want them to rescue the prince sometimes.

What are your favorite kind of characters? Let’s talk about it in the comments. And don’t forget to check out the other writers on this hop. You can see what they have to say by following the links below.

Until the next time we get together, stay safe.

June 22, 2020

What are your favorite kind of characters to create? To read?

Tag: #FreeWolves

Which Book To Read First? #OpenBook Blog Hop

Which book of yours do you recommend readers start with?

That’s not an simple question to answer.

Let’s start with my urban fantasy/paranormal series of 3 books, The Free Wolves.

The Harmony Duprie series and the Jake Hennessey books

Catch Them All – However You Want #OpenBook Blog Hop

This is another one of those questions that I can’t answer with a simple yes or no.

The Harmony Duprie and Jake Hennessey books. (link to the page on this website)

The Free Wolves

My Most Favorite Cover #OpenBook Blog Hop

The Food They Eat #OpenBook Blog Hop

A Picture is Worth – You Know The Rest #IWSG

Dreams, Nightmares, and the Art of Writing #OpenBook Blog Hop

“Misfits, Rebels, and Malcontents.” Best Lines #OpenBook

Pets and Animals and the Story #OpenBook Blog Hop

Not Your Usual Hero #OpenBook Blog Hop

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