dog shifter — Eli's Blog

"How to Save a Life" (Howl at the Moon #4) is releasing Aug 28, 2017. It's now available on Amazon for pre-order.

CLICK HERE to read an excerpt

CLICK HERE to go to the Amazon pre-order page.

Stay tuned for my traditional desktop post on release day!

Blurb:

Rav Miller looked into the terrified, intelligent eyes of the chocolate Labrador on death row, and knew he’d do anything to save him. When the dog, Sammy, escapes and heads to Mad Creek, Rav follows. Mad Creek. The town had become legendary in Rav’s mind after he’d met that bizarre group last year. Rav dismissed his crazy suspicions back then, but when he arrives in Mad Creek, he knows it’s true. Dog shifters exist, and apparently they all live in the California mountains. It’s enough to blow a bad boy’s mind.

Sammy has something in common with Rav—neither one of them trusts people. After Sammy’s abuse as a dog, he particularly dislikes tough-looking men like Rav. But when Sammy gets a chance to work with rescued dogs at the new Mad Creek shelter, his deep compulsion to help others overcomes his fear. Rav and Sammy bond over saving strays. If they can each find the courage to let someone else in, they might find their way to love.

Sheriff Lance Beaufort doesn’t like humans moving into Mad Creek, especially not the tattooed and defiant Rav. When Rav starts a rescue shelter, the town thinks he’s wonderful! But Lance isn’t fooled. He doesn’t buy Rav’s innocent act for one second. How much does Rav know about the quickened? What is his game? And why did he have to show up now, when Lance and the other town leaders are overwhelmed by all the new quickened pouring in?

Rav knows how to save a life. But can he save an entire town? Can he rescue Mad Creek?

This is an 80,000 word novel, book #4 in the "Howl at the Moon" series. It features a new couple and can be read as a standalone, but we recommend reading the series in order.

Eli

Desktop: How to Walk Like a Man

It's my tradition to do a desktop post when I have a new story release, showing images that inspired my story. Today is release day for “How to Walk Like a Man” and here's my desktop post!

"How to Walk Like a Man" is the second book in my “Howl at the Moon” series. It features a brand new couple and romance, but it’s worthwhile to read “How to Howl At the Moon” first to get into the setting and universe.

NOTE: All of these images were taken off the web and fit my mental picture of the story. However, none of them are actually related to the story or characters IRL!

ROMAN:

I searched for quite a while to find the right ‘mental model’ for Roman. He’s a big guy and definitely military in personality and bearing. But I didn’t want a typical chisel-jawed model type. I found this photo below and loved it for Roman. He has a longer face and his ears stick out a bit. And, of course, he’s gorgeous! So apologizes to whoever this actually is (no, I don't know his name), but I liked this image as my inspiration for Roman.

MATT:

I have to admit, I have a weakness for guys with a sense of humor. That was Matt’s most important attribute for me. Ryan Reynolds fits the bill and is a nice mixture of hot and funny/real.

SHERIFF LANCE BEAUFORT & TIM

Lance and Tim’s romance was featured in the first book in the series “How to Howl at the Moon”, but they’re in this second book as well.

MAD CREEK

My husband and I lived in Oakhurst, California for a time. That’s how I picture the setting for Mad Creek, up in the California mountains. But Mad Creek is even smaller and more remote that most real towns in the area.

Above – looking down on the town from a ridgeline with Roman and Matt!

THE SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS

SHERIFF’S OFFICE UNIFORMS AND GEAR

For the Sherrif’s office vehicles and uniforms, I used those from other towns in the Sierra Nevadas. I found some photos that even included service dogs!