Ryana Hunter

Dо yоu publish оn Neobook ? 

does shadows and scars have sexual content in it? 

Environments that make us what we are - or do they?    (Part 2)
          
          In Shadows & Scars, Will makes a joke about being old because he’s twenty-eight. Technically, he’s past his mid life point since most Soldiers of Night die in their fifties. They die as soon as they get too slow for the monsters. Before death by battling a monster sounded great, but once Maeve is with them, neither is too sure they're ready to perish so soon. 
          
          But what about their parents? Why were they soldiers so young? All good questions. Without getting into too much detail, for Ander it’s simple. His parents died when he was an infant, so it forced him into the lifestyle without any choice. For Will, his father was a Soldier of Night and his mother, before she died, was an associate that worked with the Soldiers of Night. Neither of them had a choice. 
          
          Neither of them really knows how to have a successful relationship. With their lifestyle, relationships don’t make sense and put others at risk, so Will and Ander don’t bother. Maeve isn’t great at relationships because of how off-putting her ability can be, historically it’s ruined her bonds. 
          
          Maeve understands that both Ander and Will have problems and it’s not a good idea to get close to them but she can also see who they are, past the walls, past the soldier training, who they might have been if their environments were different. Will and Ander might not believe they can be redeemed, but she does and she’s willing to fight for it. Fight for them.
          
          But how did Maeve's past influence her choices now? A child or divorce and middle child she's naturally a mediator and always seeks harmony. With her high level of empathy even if she doesn't completely understand where someone's head is she can usually sense where they're at emotionally. Unlike most people she trusts her intuition when it comes to others, even if they scare her. 
          
          Next time I'll look at the characters from Savage Petal!

Environments that make us what we are - or do they?    (Part 1)
          
          If you've read any of Shadows & Scars then you know Will & Ander grew up in a dysfunctional environment that made them who they are. Part of the story is their journey to grow from that place to something different, better. However, this can be challenging. I think and this is only my opinion; it takes people time to view themselves as different than the environment they grew up in & the others they were surrounded by.
          
          It’s more challenging for Will and Ander because they can’t really get away from the structure that has always been in their lives. Both have been raised as Soldiers of Night since they were born. In service to the cause before they were teenagers, they can’t function without it. They know it’s not reflective of a “normal” life, but also could never accept a safe, normal life. 
          
          The war with monsters is a lifelong commitment. For the most part, Will has no issues with that, at least that’s what he tells himself. Despite Ander’s tendency to be removed from humanity, he yearned for a different life & wanted to be a surgeon, to save people in a different way. But it’s not until Maeve becomes a part of their life that they both reexamine their situation & consider other possibilities.

New Chapter of Shadows & Scars today!!  Thanks for all of your support!

So you might not know this but the world that Savage Petal takes place in is the same world as Shadows and Scars, just at different times and places. Which means it might not seem like it but the monsters are the same or at least similar. 
          
          Some monsters mentioned in Shadows & Scars...
          Werewolves. The most basic definition of a werewolf is a person transformed into a wolf, or capable of assuming a wolf’s form. Sometimes it’s based on a lunar cycle or a curse. It depends on the legend or story. There have been so many shifter books, the only consistent thing I’ve seen is that it sticks to the basic definition I just put. Otherwise, it’s the author’s interpretation of what that really means.
          
          In my world, it’s based on people that can shift into a werewolf. It’s genetic, but that doesn’t rule out passing it on by a bite or scratch. How's that possible? Simple there are born werewolves and made werewolves. Their ability to control their beasts ties a lot into how they became/are a werewolf. And much like people, it’s not that cut and dry. Even born werewolves, there are differences. Genetics are genetics. Not everyone looks or acts identical, neither would werewolves.
          
          So what about vampires? Much like werewolves, there’s a lot of literature devoted to these sometimes charming, sometimes terrifying creatures. I'm taking the definition “one who lives by preying on others” for my world. But do they drink blood? Yes. Do they explode or burn in the sun? Sometimes, think of sun as an allergic reaction. They primarily use their mental abilities to lure, control, and consume their prey.
          
          Shades, you might not be familiar with that term, but almost everyone’s heard of ghosts. These range from less threatening spirits that roam because they aren’t ready to leave this plane of existence or don’t realize they have. To the more violent shades that are filled with rage and have completely disconnected from any humanity they may have had. 
          
          More to come...

Happy Holidays to all that celebrate! For any that struggle during this time, I get it and I hope today and the days that follow get a little easier as we move toward the new year and spring. 
          
          In my stories I rarely focus on birthdays (although I know the characters b-days for planning purposes) or holidays, UNLESS it makes sense for the story. Perhaps because most of my tales are monster centric? Although for fun sometimes I like to imagine what certain holidays would be like with the characters.
          
          Maybe after I finish these two books I can write a short story about some of the characters celebrating a holiday. The big question would be which holiday?
          
          1. Halloween
          2. Winter Solstice
          3. Christmas
          4. New Years
          5. Autumn Equinox
          6. Spring Equinox 
          7. Other ideas?
          
          Let me know what you think! As always, thanks for reading  and I look forward to bringing more stories to all of you in 2022!

Some random thoughts about Shadows & Scars...
          
          Shadows and Scars is written in the three main characters POV’s which can sometimes be jarring for readers but was needed for this series. Will, Ander and Maeve all have their own distinct voices and their own way of viewing things, so depending on the scene, it’s colored by their emotions and experiences.
          
          Ander struggles a lot in this book because he’s very removed from humanity as a whole, which is reflected in his voice. One of his go to ways to relieve stress, anger or basically any discomfort is to call back to his medical training and/or anatomy. For Ander, discomfort would be defined as anything that caused him to have a strong emotional response.
          
          Will pretty much lives in denial for the majority of the book and get furious any time someone challenges that denial. I love the conflicted nature of both Will and Ander as they fumble through their lives and try to adhere their code. 
          
          Unfortunately Maeve doesn't come from the same background and struggles to understand their perspectives. However because of her own family conflict, training and working at the behavioral center she is far more tolerant and understanding than most would be in the circumstance. 
          
          I think what I found most interesting as I wrote the series was the dynamics between the characters as they learned to function together all the while seeking out monsters to destroy. 
          
          Anyway I'm posting this next chapter a bit early because I don't want to miss posting it tomorrow and I will be busy when I'm supposed to. Thanks for your interest in Maeve, Will and Ander's story.

New Chapter of Savage Petal today!!  Thanks for all of your support!

My Savage Petal readers! I wanted to first say thank you for your support and wanted to get your opinion...
          
          1) which is your favorite character so far and why? 
          2) what's something you're looking forward to finding more out about?
          3) which character is your least favorite and why?
          4) if you were in Forest Haven as a creature - which do you think you'd be??
          
          Thanks again for your interest and looking forward to hearing from you!