Thanks, Lisa, for having me on your blog today.
My new story, The Altered 2, was released yesterday. It’s the second book in the Lycanaeris series.
I love writing secondary characters, almost as much as the main ones, but usually their stories are all nicely wrapped up by the end of the book. When I finished The Altered, however, there was so much more I wanted to write for Sam and Ash. They’d become almost as important as Jordan and Daniel, and I knew that I had to give them their own book. It was one of the easiest stories I’ve written in the sense that I loved almost every moment, which never usually happens. I think every writer has days when the words just won’t come, but for Sam and Ash it flowed so well, I was done in record time.
The Altered 2, is more focused on Sam and Ash and their internal conflicts, rather than external events. Both of them experienced significant change at the end of book one, and this book follows their developing relationship as they navigate their new lives.
Blurb: A remote farmhouse in Cornwall seems the perfect place for Ash to settle into his recently altered status. Starting a new life there with Sam—the shifter he can’t stay away from—should be easy this far from London where they faced so much danger. So why does adjusting seem impossible?
Sam has issues of his own. He has to get used to his human form again after living the last eight years as a wolf. It’s hard when human worries weigh so heavily on his shoulders. Life is much more straightforward from a wolf’s perspective, until Ash needs his human support.
Ash’s problem is simple: he’s fearful of shifting fully. How can he believe he won’t hurt Sam when his genes were altered to create a killer? Despite repeated reassurance, his anger and resentment increase. Only one thing is certain: if Ash can’t learn to trust himself soon, he’s in danger of proving himself right.
Buy Links: Amazon US
Excerpt: The floorboards in the hallway outside his room creaked. Sam knew who it was long before the accompanying knock on the door.
Ash.
Ash knocked twice, only pushing the door open a little when Sam howled softly for him to come in.
“Oh, hey.” Ash stuck his head around the door, his dark hair a tousled mess as usual. He frowned when he saw Sam. “Um. Keira said today was a human day. But, er….” He came fully inside and closed the door behind him. “Don’t you fancy it?”
Ash walked over to Sam’s bed and sat on the bottom corner, propping his elbows on his knees.
Sam sighed and padded over to sit next to him, placing his head in Ash’s lap. As soon as Ash’s long fingers were in his fur—stroking back and forth—Sam felt a hundred times better. The soothing touch spread warmth throughout his body and Sam closed his eyes, letting it chase away whatever had been bothering him earlier.
Ash’s touch always had this effect on him. Sam had known what that meant from the very first time they’d met.
Ash was meant for him.
Everything about Ash: the way he looked, his scent—which drove Sam crazy sometimes—and even his voice, made something in Sam settle. Something he’d been missing for years. It was that feeling that had helped Sam to shift back in front of other people for the first time in eight years. That, and the fact that some fucking guard had a gun pointed at Ash’s head.
The thought had been instinctive, the need to protect rushing through him and forcing his body to react accordingly.
He couldn’t stay human, though.
Everything felt simpler as a wolf. He understood what went on around him, knew what people were saying and wanted to help them, but it had been easy to remain outside of everything. To not feel any guilt.
About the Author: Annabelle Jacobs lives in the South West of England with her husband, three rowdy children, and two cats.
An avid reader of fantasy herself for many years, Annabelle now spends her days writing her own stories. They’re usually either fantasy or paranormal fiction, because she loves building worlds filled with magical creatures, and creating stories full of action and adventure. Her characters may have a tough time of it—fighting enemies and adversity—but they always find love in the end.