Guest Post + Giveaway: No Remorse by MaryLynn Bast

This is the first stop on my blog tour for the release of my first novel No Remorse. Thank you Kelsey for having me and thank you all for stopping by! 

I got into the story for No Remorse when a good friend of mine sent a link to a short story contest featuring werewolves about two years ago. I had never written about werewolves and thought it would be a good challenge. Every werewolf story I ever read or watched on TV was always about men and I wanted to change that up a bit. I wrote the beginning with a woman in mind and it begins like this:

“The wind howled as she ran through the heavily wooded forest. Or was the howling the beast that haunted her? Amber knew she should keep running, but stopped in her tracks. She was tired of always running from the darkness that followed her everywhere. She gave in to the hot searing pain, falling to the ground, quickly shedding the clothes that bound her to the human world. Throwing her head back, screaming when her flesh crawled and her bones began the painful cracking and popping. Rain poured through the trees while Amber clawed at the wet soggy ground, her head feeling like it would explode. The flashes of lightening, followed by the loud rolling thunder, swallowed her howls of pain. On all fours, Amber panted, the transformation was complete. She was alone in her own world of nightmares.”

I wrote the short story, but never submitted it to the contest. I was involved in writing Softest Touch, so I set Amber aside. However, the werewolf kept calling; that passage had stuck with me. So I went back to visit with Amber a bit more and it all began to slowly take shape in my mind. Working through my ideas, getting them written down, I then went back through many, many times. Adding here, taking away there until Amber’s character finally took shape and I was able to move the story forward.

I was sitting in Japan when those final words were typed at 3am in the morning. Of course I jumped up, did a silly happy dance and then sat staring at the screen thinking now what? I had no plan in place as to what I was going to do, didn’t even know where to begin. I have written all my life as a hobby, but never got anything to the point of being novel length and I was at a total loss as to what to do. Finally with guidance from friends I was able to get through the beta reading and editing process and as a result No Remorse is finally published and is available through www.amazon.com. Here’s the LINK.

No Remorse is a fantasy romance novel detailing Amber’s life as she remains on the run all her life, hiding because she has special abilities that no other werewolf has. The packs ruthless council leader has been plotting for decades to capture and experiment on her to find out the source of her abilities, and what those abilities actually are. Even Amber is still learning her of own capabilities. Being alone, Amber is tormented with the memories of her past and being ripped from her mother’s side. Concealing her identity from the world that she is a werewolf and hiding from the council makes for a lonely life on the run. When she runs into Blake, she struggles with her emotions and what it takes to be around other werewolves. Amber must decide if she will stay with Blake, possibly risking his life in the process, while learning to deal with ongoing pack issues, and the council.

No Remorse is the first book of the series. My plan is to write four more stories. Softest Touch is the second story in the series and was actually the first story I was working on. No Remorse moved ahead and came out first because it seemed to be a better beginning for the series. My website www.heartofawolf.com shows my plans for the series and gives a detailed history of how werewolves came about, in my world anyway.

I have several short stories that I am working on as well. One of which is “A Justified Kill” that will be coming out mid-summer in an Anthology. This story will give you a glimpse into Amber's life before No Remorse and who her wolf chooses as her fist victim.

Please visit www.heartofawolf.com to find more information and to follow my blog. I am on twitter, Facebook, author page, email: MaryLynnBast@heartofawolf.com.

GIVEAWAY

Go to www.heartofawolf.com to view contest rules to win First Prize: Signed No Remorse book, Bookmark and $20 Amazon gift card. Second Prize: Signed No Remores and Bookmark. Other prizes include 5 ebook givaways for No Remorse and 5 ebook give aways with your choice of Vampyre Kisses or Werewolf Decent.

Once again, Kelsey, thank you for having me and for everyone who has stopped by. I look forward to hearing your comments, thank you all!

Claws and Canines, MaryLynn Bast