Shelli Rosewarne

Hi all,

Happy Sunday – have been deep in the editing cave all week, but nice to see a wee bit of sunshine this weekend. It does happen in Scotland occasionally!

I’m still on with Scarlett Legacy – my Little Red Riding Hood inspired book. While I’m a bit of a sucker for fairy tales as it is, especially re-imagined versions, this one has always drawn me more than most – probably due to the wolf element. I find wolves fascinating, not only are they just gorgeous but they’re such an intriguing mixture. Of course, they can be scary and vicious hunters, but they are also very group orientated – generally staying in family groups and with pairs mating for life. They are good parents, highly intelligent, affectionate in their groups, not to mention the rich folklore and mythology surrounding them. To me, they always seemed rather victimised and misunderstood – so perhaps it’s not too strange that in my version the ‘Big Bad Wolf’ is a little different.

In this excerpt though Natalia is getting her first experience of a world she hadn’t imagined, so perhaps understandably isn’t reacting very well 🙂

Natalia could feel her jaw on the floor, she was unable to move, unable to speak, her eyes simply gazing in shocked horror and complete disbelief. This really could not be happening, any minute now she was going to wake up in her bed after drinking way too much wine at the party and this was all going to be a messed up dream. The huge wolf stepped towards her, his lip drawing back over rows of jagged white teeth and she gave a squeak of fear.

Run. The command ran through her mind, overtaking everything else, and she mindlessly obeyed it. Picking up her skirts, she whirled on her heel and fled, racing through the trees, heedless of the branches that tugged at her cloak and the roots that made her stumble. The only conscious thought left in her mind to get as far away as possible. When she finally stopped her legs ached and her chest burned as she tried to catch her breath, sinking to the ground as sobs ran through her.

Really hope you enjoy! And don’t forget to check out the other great excerpts here