{"id":1154,"date":"2016-04-23T19:00:42","date_gmt":"2016-04-23T23:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kate-hill.com\/compellingbeastsblog\/?p=1154"},"modified":"2016-04-20T22:10:34","modified_gmt":"2016-04-21T02:10:34","slug":"werewolf-week-interview-with-marina-finlayson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kate-hill.com\/compellingbeastsblog\/2016\/04\/23\/werewolf-week-interview-with-marina-finlayson\/","title":{"rendered":"Werewolf Week: Interview with Marina Finlayson"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"MoonbornTell us a bit about yourself.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m an Aussie author who\u2019s loved fantasy since before I even learned to read\u2014as a tiny thing I loved fairy tales and was terrified of wolves. Maybe there\u2019s a connection there. Wolves do get a pretty bad rap in fairy tales. My parents tried to convince me that there was no reason to be afraid of wolves, since there aren\u2019t any in Australia. But logic and phobias have nothing to do with each other, and my fear of wolves continued into early adulthood. My big brothers used to delight in howling outside my bedroom window at night, or locking me outside in the dark.<\/p>\n

How long have you been a werewolf fan?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Remember how when you were a kid you used to pick at scabs on your knees, and even though it hurt, you couldn\u2019t seem to stop? My feelings about werewolves are a bit like that. Though I found wolves (and werewolves) so frightening, I was perversely drawn to them as well. I did eventually stop being afraid of real wolves, but werewolves continue to scare and delight me in equal measure.<\/p>\n

What was the first werewolf movie you ever saw or the first werewolf story you ever read?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first\u2014and only!\u2014werewolf movie I ever saw was An American Werewolf in London. I knew going to see it was a bad idea, but I allowed my friends to talk me into it. Big mistake. I still have horribly vivid memories of some of the more gruesome scenes in that movie.<\/p>\n

Why did you decide to write a werewolf story?<\/strong><\/p>\n

There\u2019s just something so compelling about werewolves. There are a million stories and films about them, so obviously a lot of people find them fascinating. Maybe it\u2019s because they\u2019re primal terror all mixed up with man\u2019s best friend. Sure, they\u2019re terrifying, but they\u2019re also loyal and fiercely protective. You\u2019d want one on your side in a fight. I had a character like that in my trilogy The Proving. He started off as the terrifying attacker, but quickly grew to take on the role of protector and much more, despite being intended for a walk-on role. He was just so much fun to write that I ended up giving him his own story.<\/p>\n

Would you tell us about your latest werewolf story?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Moonborn<\/em> is that story, about the werewolf Garth.<\/p>\n

Garth grew up as the human stepson of the pack leader, always looking in at pack life from the outside, wanting to be part of it. It seemed like such a great idea to get his werewolf brother to turn him. Or, at least, it did until he was stuck up a tree in the middle of nowhere, losing blood by the bucketload, with a crazed werewolf waiting for him to fall.<\/p>\n

And that was even before the pack leader found out what he\u2019d done. The risk of dying from the Change hangs over Garth\u2014but suddenly dying looks like the easy option, compared to living as part of the pack. Because Garth\u2019s never been the kind of guy who follows the rules, but now he has to learn fast or lose everything.<\/p>\n

A small sample of Garth\u2019s attitude in Moonborn<\/em>:<\/p>\n

Trevor hoisted the backpack containing the heavy length of chain and the first-aid kit onto his back as if it were empty, and Garth felt the familiar stab of envy at his baby brother\u2019s strength.<\/p>\n

\u201cWish this was silver,\u201d Trevor said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the hell for?\u201d Garth locked the car and headed off down the trail. Long fingers of shadow stretched ahead of him on the rough earth. Only an hour or so until sunset. They needed to move if they wanted to be well away from civilisation before the moon rose. \u201cI\u2019m not bringing that shit anywhere near you. One scratch and you\u2019re dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just worried.\u201d Garth cast a glance back at his brother. Trevor\u2019s young face showed a strange mix of emotions: nerves at what they were attempting warred with the thrill of his first time out under the full moon. \u201cI don\u2019t want to hurt you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan\u2019t make an omelette without breaking some eggs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trevor pushed up beside him and gestured impatiently. \u201cI mean really hurt you. What if\u2014what if I can\u2019t stop?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what the chain\u2019s for, genius. Relax, would you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Marina Finlayson is a reformed wedding organist who now writes fantasy. She is married and shares her Sydney home with three kids, a large collection of dragon statues, and one very stupid dog with a death wish.<\/p>\n

Marina\u2019s website: www.marinafinlayson.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Connect with Marina on Facebook: Marina Finlayson<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy on Amazon: Moonborn<\/a><\/p>\n

Tweet<\/a>
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