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More Great Reading
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Last Wolf Standing
- by
Rhyannon Byrd
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Silhouette Nocturne-486
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Mar 2008
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Paperback
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Category: Paranormal
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List Price: $ 5.25
- Our Price: $ 4.20
- You Save: $ 1.05 (20%)
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Describe the world of the Bloodrunners Trilogy.
The world of the Bloodrunners is a dark, sensual world not so very different from oursexcept in their world, the paranormal creatures we consign to a realm of fantasy and fiction really do exist. That’s where the purpose of the Bloodrunners comes into play. These half-breed protectors are charged with the task of keeping the existence of the Lycan world hidden from humans. And when wolves turn rogue, hunting innocent humans as preyit’s the Bloodrunners’ job to hunt down those werewolves and kill them. Theirs is a violent, dangerous existence, caught between the human and Lycan worldwhile belonging to neither.
Last Wolf Standing is the first book in the Bloodrunners Trilogy. Can you tell us about the common story arc that runs through all three books?
I’d love to. Beginning with the first book (Last Wolf Standing, March 2008), the Bloodrunners discover an alarming increase in the number of Silvercrest Lycans turning rogue. And as if that isn’t bad enough, these new rogues have been taught how to dayshift, enabling them to take the shape of their beasts during the day, making them exceptionally dangerous. At the same time, the Runners are hunting a sadistic rogue who is targeting blond, blue-eyed human girls. The hunt continues through Book Two, and by Book Three (Last Wolf Watching, May 2008), the investigations culminate in a final confrontation which has lasting repercussions for the pack. As the series continues, new challenges are introduced as the Silvercrest Lycans deal with changes in their evolving social structure. They are threatened by neighboring werewolf packs seeking to take advantage of them during this time of vulnerability.
Despite not being entirely human, would you agree that the three heroes in the trilogy are alpha males?
Without a doubtwhich is one of the things I love most about them. In true alpha male fashion, the Bloodrunners are dark and deliciously intensewilling to die for the things they believe in and the people they care about, while at the same time doing their best to protect themselves from emotional involvement. Guarding their hearts, the last thing they want is to make themselves vulnerable by falling in love. But what’s so wonderful about alpha males is that when they finally meet the one woman who turns their world on its head, they fall hard. In fact, it’s an alpha male’s complete and utter devotion to his woman that I believe makes him so wonderful, and the Bloodrunners do this in a way that’s not only impossibly sexybut incredibly poignant, with a depth of emotion that will hopefully touch the reader’s heart.
What do you think it is about werewolves that makes them popular, and to many, sexy?
I think it’s the complexity of their characters and the intensity of their emotions. They possess fierce, aggressive personalities along with heightened senses and passionate physical hungers, all of which make them incredibly sensual heroes. But it’s the combination of their predatory natures and human tenderness that really makes them specialthat provocative blend of the warrior and protector. With a werewolf hero, an author can take a character to the darkest edge of physical cravingand yet, what makes him so wonderfully seductive is when that visceral sexuality is tempered with powerful emotion and warmth.
I love to create heroes who are hard and dark and bigger than life on the outside, while being just that little bit damaged and vulnerable on the insidewhich fits a werewolf hero to perfection. And when the right woman comes along, breaching his emotional defenses, magic can happen. Though they’re still dangerous hunters, when it comes to their mates, these heroes are the most loyal, devoted, and romantic of men, which I believe accounts for a great deal of their popularity.
Werewolves have had many incarnations in our culture over the years. How much existing lore did you use in this trilogy and how much did you create?
When I first began this series, I decided that I really wanted to have fun with the world and come up with ideas that I thought the readers would enjoyand that would work to make the relationships as compelling as possible. I ended up using several traditional elements of werewolf folklore, and then took them a step further. One example would be the way that werewolves shift into the shape of their beasts. In keeping with traditional lore, the Bloodrunners are only able to completely shape-shift at night. However, they are not controlled by the moon and are able to decide how much of their body they wish to change. They are also able to release their fangs and claws during the daytime. And in Last Wolf Standing (Book One), the Bloodrunners discover that rogues have been taught how to dayshift, enabling them to fully change beneath the power of the sun.
Another example would be their bite. In keeping with traditional folklore, a Lycan bite holds the ability to change a human into a werewolf. However, in the Bloodrunners series, if the Lycan is biting his life matethat one person meant by nature to belong to himthe bite does not cause a change. Instead, it creates a blood bond between the matesor a metaphysical link that binds them together forever.
You are a new author to Harlequin. What has your journey been like?
This past year has been incredibly busy, but absolutely amazing. Coming from the close-knit world of e-book publishing, it was really scary at first to take the leap to New York. I worried and stressed and basically drove my poor husband crazy while writing Last Wolf Standing. It was an emotional rollercoaster unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, but completely worth it. I have an amazing editor at Harlequin who is wonderfully supportive and who has taught me so much. There are times I still have to remind myself that this is actually happening, because it’s such a dream come true. Do you have something lined up after this trilogy ends?
I’m thrilled to say the world of the Bloodrunners is going to continue! This year I’ll be working on Books Four and Fivewhich are set to release in early 2009, before the release of my first HQN title. The entire Bloodrunners series is broken into three sections, and the middle section will present a new set of challenges for the Drake siblings; Eric and Elise, as well as their older brother Eli, who has been banished from the Silvercrest pack. The fourth book in the series is Eric’s story, and I’ll begin work on it this spring.
Anything else that you would like to mention?
I’d just like to say thanks to all of the readers who have written me, asking about my Nocturne books. Without you guys, none of this would be possible! I hope you’ll enjoy the world of the Bloodrunners
and look forward to the continuation of the series.
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