The Wolves are Howling at the Door, by Alexis Morgan

Author Alexis Morgan set out to write a vampire romance — but even short stories can have some unexpected characters! Find out how werewolves made an unplanned appearance in Alexis’s new story for Harlequin Nocturne Bite, A Vampire’s Vindication, in her guest blog…

by Alexis Morgan, author of A Vampire’s Vindication (Harlequin Nocturne Bites, August 2010)

I have to admit that until recently I’d never given much thought to writing short stories.  As a writer, I’ve always enjoyed working with a large ensemble cast of characters and exploring the complex set of circumstances that leads to the happily-ever-after for the heroine and hero in my books.  I really like delving into the thought processes of some of the secondary characters, and especially the bad guys.

In a short story, the plot has to be much more linear in nature.  Each sentence and each scene has to be carefully crafted to maintain a sharp focus on the hero and the heroine.  I often write far longer than the desired length and then go back to cut and restructure until I’ve polished the story until it shines.

That doesn’t mean that sometimes the story won’t take an unexpected turn, which is exactly what happened when I was writing A VAMPIRE’S VINDICATION.  The story is about vampire Griff Tyler and Keelie Bronson, a mixed-blood chancellor, as they come to terms with events from their shared past.  Together, they have to get beyond the lies to the truth, finding love along the way.

That’s all well and good, but what about the werewolves that decided to show up right in the middle of my well-thought out plot?   What was I supposed to do with them, especially in a story that was supposed to be about vampires and chancellors?   I’d like to say that I had the strength to ignore their howling insistence on being included in the story.  Unfortunately, I’ve always had a soft spot for wolves, even ones who sometimes walk on two legs and can pass for human.

My solution?   When Griff needs an extra layer of protection to keep Keelie safe during the daylight hours, he calls upon his “canine” security force.  Kipp and Garrett only make a brief appearance—just long enough to make Griff realize the strength of his feelings for Keelie as he watches her innocently petting his friend’s fur.

Oh, yeah, I definitely had great fun writing that scene because it worked on more than one level.   And I’m pretty sure Garrett and Kipp will soon be back demanding a story of their own.  I’m making no promises, but…Did anyone else just hear a wolf howl?