Mermaids, selkies, and other shape shifters of the sea have long been some of my favorite characters within the paranormal sub-genre of romance. For one thing, these shape shifters aren't cursed by evil or created through some parasitic virus. They are part of the old magic, lost among myth and mystery. Who knows what lurks among the ocean deep?In my Shifting Tides trilogy, one man’s ultimate quest for power troubles an undersea world already rife with dark danger and political intrigues, forcing three women to face down their fears and embrace their destiny.
I based that one man, my villain Nick Sharkey (oh yep, I went there, lol. After all, I love a pun just as much as I do universal irony), and his clan, on the ancient Formorians of legend. Half shark, half human, the Formorians were a giant race of creatures who raided the coasts of Ireland, and were the enemy of the Tuatha Dé Danann (The people of the Goddess Danu). Often, they would invade the rivers from the sea and claim the land and any female humans caught between as theirs by force. The Sídhe (pronounced She) did battle with these pirate-like invaders. So who won this epic war? Some folklorists point to the fact that the Sídhe are said to have retreated to a place under hill, within a magical dimension they created. Which would seem to mean that the Formorians won, continued their raping and pillaging of humans and their settlements, eventually becoming more and more human as they interbred the species, for generations diluting the Formorian bloodlines.
But another bit of folklore survived which speaks of the Sidhe regrouping and returning much later to defeat the remaining Formorians. Those Sídhe intermarried with humans as well, and their offspring became the Druids (wise ones) of each non-Formorian settlement. By blending in, they disappeared. Perhaps some of these descendants of the Sídhe are still alive today, fighting the descendants of the Formorians. :) Makes for an interesting story, at least that's what first captured my imagination when I decided to sit down and write my own shape shifters romance.
Fun & Games Mini Contest For Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013
Want to enter to win a signed copy of my paperback, Shifting Tides? Simply leave a comment on this post and tell me which aquatic shape shifter is your favorite among: Mermaid/Merman, Selkie (seal), Shark, or some other kettle o' fish? :D
Winner will be drawn at random from all entries, on or around November 18, 2013 Contest ends midnight Sunday, November 17, 2013. Good Luck!
Remember, anyone leaving a comment for the mini-contests this week are also entered for the Amazon or B&N gift card drawing.
Must be 18+ to enter. The odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. Contest void where prohibited by law. I strive to make my prize winners happy, however, as with all my contests, it is the participant’s responsibility to check the blog to see if their name is announced as a winner, and/or to respond to winning notification emails in order to claim your prize. Prizes must be claimed within 30 days of contest winning announcement. If not claimed within 30 days, the prize will either be added to another contest, or a second chance drawing at my discretion. Not responsible for lost/stolen mail.
