Blog Tour: Guest Post by Andrea Cremer Author of Wolfsbane (+ giveaway)

Wolfsbane Blog Tour

Welcome to the next stop in the Wolfsbane blog Tour hosted by our friends Mundie Moms. I'm very happy to be a part of this tour, since I am a HUGE fan of Andrea Cremer and her series Nightshade. OUaT will also have a second post during the tour on July 29th, which will be my review for Wolfsbane. Today though we bring you a guest post from Andrea on Wolfmythology and Penguin Teen is providing a set of the series to one follower. You will have a chance to win a paperback copy of Nightshade and a hardcover of Wolfsbane.

Andrea Cremer Links: Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

A common response to Nightshade from readers is the comment that it’s one of his or her favorite werewolf books. As much as I understand where that idea comes from, I think it’s time for me to take and stand and say Nightshade and Wolfsbane are not werewolf books. Here’s what I mean:

I’ve lived long in the realm of paranormal/fantasy proudly bearing my badge of vampire girl. That’s right; I came on board as a fan of vamps, not werewolves. I was Team Edward for all four books of Twilight. I prefer Bill and Eric to Sam in True Blood. But before you start throwing tomatoes, let me tell you why.

Friends who knew I was a vampire girl presumed that meant I love ALL forms of paranormal, so they’d push werewolves at me enthusiastically. I wasn’t interested, and I couldn’t figure out why. After all they were fierce, strong, magical – all things I liked. So what was the problem? And then it hit me – I didn’t like werewolves because I love wolves.

That’s right – I’m a wolf girl, but a real wolf girl. I grew up so far north in Wisconsin that it’s practically Canada. Wolves roamed the forests of my homeland. I also loved National Geographic television specials even more than cartoons. So by age 9 I could rattle off biological and ecological info like a pro. Wolves to me were beautiful, intelligent, social, and graceful.

Werewolves seemed to be none of these things. The werewolves I’d encountered on page and screen were hideous – half man/half beast, usually ugly, often unintelligent, driven only by rage or bloodlust.

And worst of all: they didn’t want to be wolves. Lycanthropy occurs as a curse, or a disease. The end goal of most werewolf tales was to kill the wolf or free the affected person of the wolf curse.

I couldn’t come to grips with that idea. If someone asked me – hey wanna turn into a wolf? I’d say “heck, yeah!” Wouldn’t you rather be a wolf? From what I know of wolves, the answer is indisputably YES.

Nightshade’s Guardians are my way of coming to terms with my love of wolves and my trouble with classic werewolf tales. Calla – the alpha female who narrates Nightshade – is powerful and revels in her life as a wolf.

Her troubles arise not from her ability to shift, but from the ways in which her masters try to limit her power, to restrain her freedoms.

Wolves also inspire me because of their sociability.

Pack relationships offered a wonderful way to explore a world of friendship, servitude, loyalty, and betrayal. While Nightshade is about Calla’s journey, it’s also the story of her pack. The other wolves in the book play key roles throughout the trilogy. Wolves offered a wonderful framework around which to explore relationships, love, fear, and rivalry.

I still love vampires, but I have to say I think I’m switching teams. Wolves carry a magic and mystery to me that captured my heart and hasn’t let go. It was just a matter of finding my own way to tell their story.

OUaT is a proud member of the Eydis Searcher Group.

To see all the stops on the Wolfsbane Tour, click HERE to go over to Mundie Moms page. 

OUaT wants to give a big thank you and hug to Andrea and Mundie Moms for letting us take part in Wolfsbane tour. A big Thank you to Penguin for the great giveaway for each blog. Can't wait to do it again next year for Bloodrose. Remember to come back and see us on 7/29 so you can read my review for Wolfsbane. 

To Enter:

• Fill out this FORM
• Giveaway ends August 8th at midnight
• Love to hear your comments on Andrea's post