The Origins of Werewolves with D.L. Jackson

In celebration of my upcoming release, Black Hills Desperado, Book 3 in The Black Hills Wolves series, I’m talking werewolves, both real and imagined.

The legends of werewolves have many origins. Some, arose from poisoning. Moldy rye bread, a daily staple of peoples living in the 1600 and 1700 has been found to be the roots of many hysterias. From witches, to men that changed to wolves, what tales and beliefs the poisoning spun, would carry forward to today. Later, this hallucinogenic substance, Ergot, would become the base of the infamous drug LSD, the very same the CIA experimented with in the 60’s, only later becoming a dangerous recreational drug.

Yet, Ergot was not the only source of the werewolf myth. Many others went back as far as ancient Greece, to where some claimed Atlantis did its own monstrous experiments, splicing man to beast, and inevitably was the reason the gods destroyed the five-ringed island. Tales like the Minotaur were born. Other legends of werewolves descended from something much more real, in fact a creature that still lives in the wild today.

La Bête du Gévaudan, or the Beast Gévaudan, is not a myth. Nor was it a drug induced hallucination. In the mountains of south central France between 1764 and 1767, the beast killed over 60, men, women, and children. Its jaws were said to crush whole bones like chalk. It wasn’t until recently, historians believe a serial killer trained the creature. From the descriptions of eyewitnesses, and later accounts from experts at a museum where the stuffed beast was kept after it was killed, it is believed the creature came from a menagerie, a collection of exotic creatures of the very wealthy. This beast? What was it if not half man and wolf?

A hyena, the only creature of that description that could crush bones with its powerful jaws and leave the massacred corpses behind in the condition they were found.

 

Author Bio:

D. L. Jackson is an award-winning author of urban fantasy, science fiction, military romance and erotic romance. She loves to incorporate crazy plot twists, comedy and the unexpected into her worlds. As a U.S. Army veteran, she naturally adores men in uniform and feels the world could always use more. She does her part by incorporating as many sexy soldiers in her novels as she can. When she isn't writing or running the roads, you can often find her online chatting with her peers and readers. Grab a cup of iced coffee, pull up your virtual chair and say hi. She loves emails and blog visits from her readers. www.authordljackson.com

Blurb:

She’s a bad girlfriend.

Nothing Xio Davis does is right. When she abandons her pack, riding out of town on the back of a stranger’s motorcycle, she finds she’s bitten off more than she can chew. First, it’s small-time crimes, then bank robbery. As Xio sinks into the criminal underworld, the FBI catches up with her. Now, she’s got one way out: snitch.

When Xio turns state's evidence against a Mexican drug lord, Agent Marcus Cazador steps up to take her home, giving up his career, his place in the El Paso pack, and all he knows to protect her.

Xio claims she’s not the same wolf who left ten years before, but can she convince Marcus she’s changed her wicked ways? Or will the Black Hills be the end of the road on her long journey to redemption?

Excerpt:

“Good morning, Miss Davis. Let me introduce myself. I’m Special Agent Marcus Cazador of the FBI. Didn’t anyone ever tell you banks are most often robbed within the first few minutes of opening? We figured you’d be here, after the invitation we’d extended. Safest bank in Texas. I can see you liked the billboard at the port of entry. You and I have a lot to talk about, but business first.”

He’d used her real name, one she hadn’t heard in ten years. It sounded strange coming from his mouth, but also right, as though he’d been born to say it. Not good. This man was dangerous in so many ways. “Bite me.”

“You have no idea how much I’d like to.” A knee pressed down into the center of her back, and he yanked her arms behind her and slapped cuffs around her wrists. He rolled her to her back, sat her up, and tugged the mask from her face. “At last we meet.” And then he spoke the words she’d hoped never to hear. “You have the right to remain silent.”

Links:

Author D L Jackson         

Backward Momentum

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*********************************Give Away************************************

Today, I am giving away a signed copy of Slipping the Past. Simply comment and leave your name and email to get in on the drawing. You will have until midnight of this post to qualify. I will draw a prize the following day and notify the winner. Remember to check out the other blogs I’m visiting, on my calendar at Backward Momentum. On one of those posts, I will be drawing a winner for an ARC copy, advance reader’s copy, of Black Hills Desperado in e-book. I’m only giving away one, so be sure to visit the different blogs.

Happy hunting,

D. L. Jackson