An Introduction by R.E. Butler
It all started with a scene in my mind: It’s night in the woods. A man stands on the front porch of a small cabin, facing off against a group of werewolves intent on getting past him to the she-wolf inside. They’re not going to get by him as long as he’s got a breath left in his body.
At the time the scene first appeared in my mind, I was the busiest I’d ever been in my career to-date: it was the early summer and I was editing two books for two different series, handling a marketing blitz, and doing a book tour for another, different series. And in the middle of all of that craziness, the scene played in my brain on an endless loop; a movie stuck in one section that just kept repeating and repeating.
Finally, to give myself some peace, I wrote it. But I couldn’t stop there. In three weeks, I carved an entire story around that one scene, with my sexy hero defending the she-wolf. The story refused to remain silent, and I’m sincerely glad that I gave in when I did and gave the characters life.
In my books, there's a general live-and-let-live feeling between humans and supernatural creatures for the most part, but I wanted to explore a world where that was not the case. The laws of the Wilde Creek Pack state that wolves can't mate with humans or they will be banished from the pack and their family forever. This law changes the stakes of a relationship between a human and a wolf and asks the question...if you loved someone, would you walk away from everyone in your life? You'll have to read the book to find out!
It all started with a scene in my mind: It’s night in the woods. A man stands on the front porch of a small cabin, facing off against a group of werewolves intent on getting past him to the she-wolf inside. They’re not going to get by him as long as he’s got a breath left in his body.
At the time the scene first appeared in my mind, I was the busiest I’d ever been in my career to-date: it was the early summer and I was editing two books for two different series, handling a marketing blitz, and doing a book tour for another, different series. And in the middle of all of that craziness, the scene played in my brain on an endless loop; a movie stuck in one section that just kept repeating and repeating.
Finally, to give myself some peace, I wrote it. But I couldn’t stop there. In three weeks, I carved an entire story around that one scene, with my sexy hero defending the she-wolf. The story refused to remain silent, and I’m sincerely glad that I gave in when I did and gave the characters life.
In my books, there's a general live-and-let-live feeling between humans and supernatural creatures for the most part, but I wanted to explore a world where that was not the case. The laws of the Wilde Creek Pack state that wolves can't mate with humans or they will be banished from the pack and their family forever. This law changes the stakes of a relationship between a human and a wolf and asks the question...if you loved someone, would you walk away from everyone in your life? You'll have to read the book to find out!
Hi R.E.!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on how you started your new series. I truly love it – I can’t gush enough about it, hence this little interview.
First, my thoughts on the book – just so you and everyone else knows why I adore this new series.
You will probably never catch me writing a book where the guy is human and the girl’s…not. In my mind, this creates an imbalance. Shifters are typically stronger than humans, right? If that’s so, then how can a human man protect his shifter lover if she is stronger than he is?
So in my mind, this kind of union DOES NOT make sense. Until of course R.E. proved me wrong with Mate of Her Heart.
AND THAT’S ALL I’M GOING TO SAY. I DON’T WANT TO BE ACCUSED OF SPOILING THINGS FOR YOU!
On to the questionnaire then ---
First – and I know we covered this before but I still have to ask. I love the heroine’s name – Eveny – so any special story or inspiration behind it?
Thank you so much! Originally, I’d planned to name the heroine Avery, but with her brother being named Acksel, I decided to go in a different direction. I messed around with the spelling of Avery and eventually settled on Eveny. I chose it because it’s unique and she’s in a unique situation.
I also adore asking about casting so if you were to pick an actor and actress to play Luke and Eveny, who would it be?
For Luke, I picture Zac Efron. I think he’s adorable and underneath the amazing smile and blue eyes, he’s got a fantastic body. I can easily see Eveny snuggling up on the couch with him watching TV and also all the hot between-the-sheets action, too. For Eveny, I picture Nina Dobrev. Not only is she beautiful, but she possesses both the sweet, girl-next-door and sexy-vixen personalities that Eveny embodies.
Okay, Nina Dobrev makes sense - but Zac Efron? Totally did not see that coming but now that you've mentioned it, yeah, totally makes sense! And - a really hot Zac in the form of Luke - swoon.
Errrr...anyway...Luke and Eveny are meant to be together – that much was obvious from the very start. But when writing their story, were you ever worried about Luke seeming weaker than Eveny or Eveny appearing stronger than Luke?
Because the first scene in my mind was the stand-off between Luke and the wolves, I already knew that he was a strong character - physically and mentally. Luke knew going into things that he would need to use his own strengths to his advantage to be able to protect Eveny. I never doubted that the readers - along with Eveny - would find him strong in all ways.
This may take you some time to answer / write so feel free to ignore it – it’s really the reader in me asking. Like I want to know how Clark Kent and Lois Lane are to each other when they’re in the bedroom, stuff like that. :D In this case, if Luke and Eveny went on a honeymoon – where would it be? What would they do (umm, other than what’s obvious) and what would likely go wrong during their romantic vacation? Mmm…I think I’d rather read this as a novella! :D
Since they spent some time in the woods already, there would be no romantic, cabin getaway for them! I’d bring them to the East Coast - New Jersey of course! - and get them a cute little rental on a private beach. What could go wrong? What wouldn’t! Sunburn, sand in uncomfortable places, seaweed, getting pinched by crabs. But all the wonderful things that would go right! Moonlit walks on the beach, midnight swims minus the suits, tanning oil and warm sunshine...
Mmm...a sunburnt Zac/Luke? Sexy! :D
And I'm getting distracted again. Anyway, I loved and hated Acksel – for obvious reasons, too, for people who have read the book – but ultimately he won me over so I’m pretty excited about his book. When will it be out and do you have a blurb for it?
Yes, the blurb for Acksel’s book - The Alpha’s Mate (Wilde Creek 2) - is actually at the end of the first book in the Coming Soon section. The book is going into editing in January and I hope to have it out in the spring.
I actually went back to the book to check this and lo and behold - the blurb is there! After reading the epilogue, I think I just went straight to writing the interview. I was that excited! LOL
SPOILER (highlight if you will): I was really hoping – after everything that’s happened – he’d have a human mate and boy was I glad when I saw in the preview that he’d have one. After all the grief he’s given to Luke and Eveny, he deserves A LOT of human trouble of his own! (But of course I’m still rooting for his HEA in the end) End of Spoiler.
Hee hee! I’m having a ball writing his story.
Last question – for the series in general – any chances that a character from this series will end up with a character from the Wolf’s Mate series?
Interesting idea, but probably not. Their worlds are not really interchangeable since Wilde Creek is not in the same “world” as Allen.
Thank you for answering all my questions – sorry if some of them are too detailed. You know how readers can be such fan girls and won’t stop asking questions if you let them! J
I loved to answer the questions, Marian! Very thoughtful and unique, lots of fun!
Till next time! :)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on how you started your new series. I truly love it – I can’t gush enough about it, hence this little interview.
First, my thoughts on the book – just so you and everyone else knows why I adore this new series.
You will probably never catch me writing a book where the guy is human and the girl’s…not. In my mind, this creates an imbalance. Shifters are typically stronger than humans, right? If that’s so, then how can a human man protect his shifter lover if she is stronger than he is?
So in my mind, this kind of union DOES NOT make sense. Until of course R.E. proved me wrong with Mate of Her Heart.
AND THAT’S ALL I’M GOING TO SAY. I DON’T WANT TO BE ACCUSED OF SPOILING THINGS FOR YOU!
On to the questionnaire then ---
First – and I know we covered this before but I still have to ask. I love the heroine’s name – Eveny – so any special story or inspiration behind it?
Thank you so much! Originally, I’d planned to name the heroine Avery, but with her brother being named Acksel, I decided to go in a different direction. I messed around with the spelling of Avery and eventually settled on Eveny. I chose it because it’s unique and she’s in a unique situation.
I also adore asking about casting so if you were to pick an actor and actress to play Luke and Eveny, who would it be?
For Luke, I picture Zac Efron. I think he’s adorable and underneath the amazing smile and blue eyes, he’s got a fantastic body. I can easily see Eveny snuggling up on the couch with him watching TV and also all the hot between-the-sheets action, too. For Eveny, I picture Nina Dobrev. Not only is she beautiful, but she possesses both the sweet, girl-next-door and sexy-vixen personalities that Eveny embodies.
Okay, Nina Dobrev makes sense - but Zac Efron? Totally did not see that coming but now that you've mentioned it, yeah, totally makes sense! And - a really hot Zac in the form of Luke - swoon.
Errrr...anyway...Luke and Eveny are meant to be together – that much was obvious from the very start. But when writing their story, were you ever worried about Luke seeming weaker than Eveny or Eveny appearing stronger than Luke?
Because the first scene in my mind was the stand-off between Luke and the wolves, I already knew that he was a strong character - physically and mentally. Luke knew going into things that he would need to use his own strengths to his advantage to be able to protect Eveny. I never doubted that the readers - along with Eveny - would find him strong in all ways.
This may take you some time to answer / write so feel free to ignore it – it’s really the reader in me asking. Like I want to know how Clark Kent and Lois Lane are to each other when they’re in the bedroom, stuff like that. :D In this case, if Luke and Eveny went on a honeymoon – where would it be? What would they do (umm, other than what’s obvious) and what would likely go wrong during their romantic vacation? Mmm…I think I’d rather read this as a novella! :D
Since they spent some time in the woods already, there would be no romantic, cabin getaway for them! I’d bring them to the East Coast - New Jersey of course! - and get them a cute little rental on a private beach. What could go wrong? What wouldn’t! Sunburn, sand in uncomfortable places, seaweed, getting pinched by crabs. But all the wonderful things that would go right! Moonlit walks on the beach, midnight swims minus the suits, tanning oil and warm sunshine...
Mmm...a sunburnt Zac/Luke? Sexy! :D
And I'm getting distracted again. Anyway, I loved and hated Acksel – for obvious reasons, too, for people who have read the book – but ultimately he won me over so I’m pretty excited about his book. When will it be out and do you have a blurb for it?
Yes, the blurb for Acksel’s book - The Alpha’s Mate (Wilde Creek 2) - is actually at the end of the first book in the Coming Soon section. The book is going into editing in January and I hope to have it out in the spring.
I actually went back to the book to check this and lo and behold - the blurb is there! After reading the epilogue, I think I just went straight to writing the interview. I was that excited! LOL
SPOILER (highlight if you will): I was really hoping – after everything that’s happened – he’d have a human mate and boy was I glad when I saw in the preview that he’d have one. After all the grief he’s given to Luke and Eveny, he deserves A LOT of human trouble of his own! (But of course I’m still rooting for his HEA in the end) End of Spoiler.
Hee hee! I’m having a ball writing his story.
Last question – for the series in general – any chances that a character from this series will end up with a character from the Wolf’s Mate series?
Interesting idea, but probably not. Their worlds are not really interchangeable since Wilde Creek is not in the same “world” as Allen.
Thank you for answering all my questions – sorry if some of them are too detailed. You know how readers can be such fan girls and won’t stop asking questions if you let them! J
I loved to answer the questions, Marian! Very thoughtful and unique, lots of fun!
Till next time! :)