New Map for My Fantasy Town - Shipsfeather, Ohio

New Map

When I began writing The Shapeshifters’ Library series I realized that like any fantasy universe, my world I needed maps and drawings to keep my imaginary town consistent.

I could visualize the library and the town, but as characters moved around  Shipsfeather, Ohio readers might also want a map. And I needed to keep my descriptions consistent.

I drew sketches of the town and then began to make the library more real, So much of both Released and Retrieved take place in the former shapeshifter academy turned into public library. The lovely old domed building is remodeled into a high tech modern library without losing the charm of the original building.


In Retrieved, as my dog-shifters and werewolves spread out in a wider area over the town, a new map was needed as they excavate a ancient mound, endure a Survival test, and run and swim a Quadrathlon. And then, there's the location of the werewolves bookburning ceremonies.
 
 My talented friend Beth Bass, who loves fantasy, offered to turn my sketches into real drawings, forcing me to be even more specific about the town.
 
In Released, the town library burns and instead of rebuilding, the town buys a cursed academy on the river considered haunted by the local residents. As Liberty Cutter explores the building, she meets Chronus an Old English Sheepdog who begins to talk to her. As he tells her about the dog-shifters she learns hundreds of dog-shifters still live and work in levels below the library, unable to leave due to a curse by book burning werewolves. She accepts his stories of shifter magic reluctantly as she is brought into their world.

What isn’t included is the deeper levels. Below the library are more levels where the shifters live.They have a research library, gyms, spas, cafeterias, medical facilities, living quarters, and everyone’s favorite – the Starbarks café. The details of these levels I’ve left to the readers’ imaginations.

Hope you all enjoy visiting Shipsfeather.

Thanks again to Beth for the wonderful drawings.

See the other maps and floorplans.

Tucson Festival of Books 2013

Chronus and I at the Tucson Festival of Books

Chronus hands out dog biscuits and bookmarks

Kari Thomas, paranormal romance author,

 turns

 hairdresser for the day.

"Relaxing the Writer"

Writers relaxing at my "Relaxing the Writer" Workshop

Sunday at the Arizona Dreamin' Valley of the Sun RWA Booth

The 2013 Tucson Festival of Books was a giant event held on the University of Arizona campus (during Spring Break). 

More than 300 presentation, panel discussions, and 275 exhibitors delighted the crowds. The fourth largest event like this in the U.S., authors included Jodi Picoult, Maggie Stiefvater, Nevada Barr, J.A. Jance. James Rollins, Diana Gabaldon, R.L. Stine, some others, and me.

Despite the cold rainy Saturday (cold for Tucson), 120,000 people attended enjoyed the programs, food and fun. I presented my Relaxing the Writer workshop in a warm dry room.

Sunday was perfect with something for everyone. I especially loved spending the day in the energetic Arizona Dreamin' booth managed by the amazing Kris Tualla and Morgan Kearns!

More Wolves!

I couldn't resist posting the latest photos of my friend Doris playing with her wolf friends at Healing Wolf's Medicine Wheel Lodge.

The top photo shows Doris with Mahota and Jhertoma and the picture below is Doris with a surprise visit from Kyra.

For more about Doris, her dogs, and wolves

see these previous posts:

Doris (White Wolf) McFadden and the Wolves
The Wolves of Medcine Wheel Lodge
Wolf Rescue

Donna Boyd's Werewolves
Greyhound Rescue 
Doris McFadden Dog Lover and Trainer for 70 Years




Photos by David G. Benson

Is Your Dog Is a Shifter?

How To Tell If Your Dog Is a Shifter

1. Have you met your dog’s parents?

a. No

b. Yes

2. What is your dog’s favorite food?

a. Kibble and dog biscuits

b. Pizza, hamburger, and filet mignon

3. How does your dog get along with other dogs?

a. Loves to play or fight with other dogs

b. Ignores them like they’re another species

4. Where does your dog prefer to sleep?

a. Dog bed or crate

b. King sized bed with duvet

5. Does your dog prefer spending time with you

a. Watching TV

b. Reading a book

6. Does your dog have unexplained absences?

a. No

b. Yes

7. Does your dog have friends you’ve never met?

a. No

b. Yes

8. Do bookmarks move after your dog has been home alone?

a. No

b. Yes

9. Did you ever find your favorite book in your dog’s bed?

a. No

b. Yes

10. Does your dog enjoy walks to bookstores with outdoor cafes?

a. No

b. Yes

11. If you ask your dog what is his/her favorite book, does he/she

a. Growl or ignore you

b. Try to tell you that you have low-brow taste

12. Does your dog come home smelling like

a. Dead animals and skunk

b. Old books and internet cafes

13. Does your dog alphabetize his/her toys?

a. No

b. Yes (definite dog-shifter librarian tendencies)

14. Is your dog was smarter than your brother? Prettier than your sister?  

a. No.

b. Yes

15. Do you find unidentifiable stains on unworn clothes in your closet?

a. No

b. Yes

     16. Does your dog look bleary-eyed after a long night reading?
a. No
b. Yes

17. Has your dog suggested you sign up for an obedience class?

a. No

b. Yes

A = 0 point

B = 1 points

Scoring

0-5 Regular dog (Lucky you)

6- 9 Not sure (Be careful)

10-17 Definitely a dog-shifter (You may have a problem)

No one characteristic will distinguish the dog-shifter (or part dog-shifter) from a regular domestic canine. In general, watch a dog who is usually smart or good looking. Size does not matter. Any size from English Mastiff to Chihuahua could be a shifter. Also note that a werewolf can masquerade as a common dog or wolfdog. 

If you have a dog-shifter, provide high quality reading material and don’t complain if your computer is on when you wake up in the morning.

To learn more about dog-shifters read
 Released (The Shapeshifters' Library Book 1)
Retrieved (The Shapeshifters' Library Book 2)

 Leave a comment telling why you think your dog could be a shifter? 

And for a chance for you 

and your dog to win a great prize 

visit  

the great blogs I'll be visiting 

between February 1st and 16th!

February 1 Arias Dark Muse Review
February 2 Wanted Readers Excerpt
February 6 Forget The Houswork I'm Reading  Review
February 7 Known To Read  Review/Feature
February 8 Hanging With Bells  Guest Post
February 9 Books, Etc. Review
February 11The Wormhole Review/Guest Post
February 12 Melissa's Mocha's Mysteries And More Author Interview
February 13  A Buckeye Girl Reads  Excerpt
                   Tales of Topaz-Book Spotlight
February 14 A Book Obsession Review
February 15  Literati Literature Lovers Excerpt/Author Interview
February 16th Amys Booket List Guest Post 

Thanks Colette from ABG Reads Book Tours

for setting up the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sybilla - Character Interview

Sybilla Romano Dinzelbacher, 

LLD, Restaurateur (Black wolf, Beta Female)

I should have been the heroine of Amber’s series The Shapeshifters’ Library because I’m way more interesting than that librarian Liberty or that chocolate Labrador retriever Children’s Librarian, Godiva. I would have taken over the entire series except for my husband Harry. Don’t get me started about Harry, but marrying him was not one of my better decisions. His shaggy innocent good looks were so different from the slick confident werewolves prowling around the law school campus. I was rebelling and his half-breed persona caught in a moment of rebellion.

When his father gave him the opportunity to move to Ohio, run a bank, and wait for the ancient pack Alpha to croak, it seemed like a first step in moving on to bigger things. I’m ambitious. Settle for being a small-town banker’s wife? I don’t think so. I’m a big pack girl.

Amber is telling me I shouldn’t give away that happens in Book Two Retrieved. Cute. Like puppy dogs chasing books. I will tell you a couple of really good things happen to me in that book and I get to shine.

Anyway, if Amber had wanted a heroine with a little sex appeal to heat up her books, she should have given me more pages. But what can I say, she’s the author. I get to be the villain, which suits me fine. I’m one of the most important characters and got my own POV, which is cool because without my viewpoint you’d think books and libraries are wonderful and worth saving. I’ll tell you about the werewolf plot to destroy books and libraries. Who else lets you in on the good stuff?

I wear sexy clothes and own a trendy bistro which serves the best food you’ve ever eaten. Forget the stale donuts in the library’s staff room, my French chef’s flaming deserts are to die for.

Harry is Beta Male to Elsie Dustbunnie (and you thought my name was dumb). In book one, she’s retired from the public library but still runs the pack. I do give her credit for burning down the old library, but when the librarians moved into the old dog-shifters’ building we had to figure out how to put them out of business and kill all the dog-shifters still in the basement. That old bag needs a new hip and a quick trip to the old wolves’ home, but she thinks Harry with lose the town to the dog-shifters, if she turned her tail for a minute. She’s right. Harry would flub the whole thing. But she won’t let me have a go at running the Pack because she’s so jealous of my youth and beauty.

I try to get Harry to be a man – or a wolf – but his dog blood makes him wishy washy. I’ll admit when old Harry is in wolf form he still can light my fire, but the rest of the time – if I were a reader - and I’m NOT – I’d rather curl up with a good book.

I do my best to destroy every book I find. I love the rituals when we run around in the woods on four feet and toss books onto bonfires. 

So read The Shapeshifters' Library Book One:Released to see if I can nudge Harry and Elsie into burning down the town library. And don’t miss Book Two: Retrieved. I get to be Pack Alpha and battle the librarians for control of the town with the help of a hunky ex-Marine wolf by the name of Blaze.

Oh, and Amber’s reminding me to tell you both books are sweet, despite my efforts.

So read The Shapeshifters' Library Book One: Released to see if I can nudge Harry and Elsie into burning down the town library. And don’t miss Book Two: Retrieved when I get the bigger part I deserve. And Coming soon Book Three: Recovered where I really shine!

Released (The Shapeshifters’ LibraryBook One)

Complete List of Characters 
in 

the Shapeshifters' Library Series