#𝟙 𝕚𝕟 𝕃𝕖𝕤𝕓𝕚𝕒𝕟 - 𝔽𝕖𝕓 𝟙𝟚, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟛 | « WAM book one » When Sam is attacked by a rogue werewolf, she must do everything in her power to stay alive, survive the transformation, and bring the rogue to justice before she loses everything go...
Welcome back to Le Loup-Garou, or as it's now called, We Are Monsters. What you're about to read is the final draft before I start seeking an agent to get this published. I've considered self publishing, but it doesn't feel right for me. Anyway, we're in for quite the ride. The goal of the story doesn't change, but how we get there surely will.
For one thing, the novel is being taken from first-person perspective back to third, as it was in the original draft from 2018, the one time I've won NaNo. Whether or not perspectives will change mid scene, I'm undecided. We'll see in the moment, I suppose!
For another, I want to smooth things out a bit more, make the book even more accessible to people not familiar with certain things, like Canada, French, or queer relationships.
This novel has been years in the making and has been through four different versions which are all vastly different. Originally, it was never meant to see the light of day. I started this story (under the working name Running With The Boys after the Lights song, which I was listening to as I wrote the rough first chapter!) for NaNoWriMo back in 2016 with only the first chapter. It was completely different from Sam's rough day at work! It was a way for me to find my voice and explore my traumas to begin healing. As I healed, the story evolved, and eventually I stopped writing it altogether somewhere mid third draft.
Then, just after my birthday in 2019, I stumbled across a bit of French-Canadian lore that really stuck with me. Beware the 'Loup-Garou' is a tale told by Hubert Langlois for CBC Radio (link in the comment on this paragraph) and is not only the inspiration for the novel's name, it inspired me to take this novel and run with it. It gave me drive I had been lacking for far too long. Suddenly, I was ready to touch this story again and turn it into what it is now. Oh, the story also gave me an idea related to the werewolf lore, which I won't say here for obvious reasons, but you may recognize!
Even though the majority of the novel is new and unlike any of the other drafts, its essence has remained the same. A young woman with a love of running up against a rogue, traumatized werewolf. Exploring her inner self to survive her new way of life. Love of all sorts based in mutual trust and respect. It was important to me that my characters navigate a variety of mental health issues and learn to live with them rather than miraculously be cured.
So, dear reader, thank you for taking the time to open my story. Every view, every vote, and every comment fills me with joy. I urge you to leave feedback on anything, good or bad, so long as it's constructive. This novel means the world to me and I want to make sure it becomes as good as it can be. Your opinion is welcome and matters.
xoxo
- Holland Weathers they/them/it
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