I’ve always loved shapeshifter stories and knew that I would write one. Now, I’ve written twelve and I have ideas for so many more.



The idea of people who could, not only turn into an animal, but who had those animal traits and lived by the rules of that type of animal’s lifestyle, intrigued me.

I read many stories in which the person just happened to shift into some kind of animal, but they were otherwise unaffected by that animal. I wanted stories of people who were truly merged with that animal on such a fundamental and profound level that you could feel it when the traits of the animal began to manifest while that person was in human form. And, when in animal form you felt that the personality and beliefs of the human were somewhere deep inside the animal.

When I decided to create my own shapeshifter world I chose leopards for many reasons. One was that I love leopards. I love the majesty of them, the grace and power. They are both beautiful and dangerous all at once.


As I began my extensive research on leopards I realized that leopards from different regions have their own differences from one another. That’s part of the reason I chose the Amur leopard for my Texas leopards. Amur leopards can be found in Russia. I’d already researched Russia and even the Russian mob for other books, so this seemed both natural and fun to write.



Amur leopards are growing extinct. Sadly, there are less than 100 Amur leopards left in the wild. These leopards are one of the most endangered. They are strong predators. I wanted to bring these amazing animals to people’s attention and I wanted to be able to discuss the issue of their slow extinction without it sounding like a lesson.



Mitya Amurov, the hero of Leopard’s Wrath, embodies all the traits of an Amur leopard. So much so, that he doesn’t trust himself. With good reason. Leopards have terrible tempers. They are very dominant. They take what they want or what they need to survive.
Mitya, in my mind, is an example of a shapeshifter character that merges and blends both human and animal. You feel how Mitya struggles to keep his leopard and his leopard traits under his control, which isn’t always possible. It couldn’t be. Not if I’m being true to the rules I’ve set up for my world. The leopard needs to be equally dominant at times. It needs to push at Mitya, insisting on having its way.

The one thing both Mitya and his leopard can agree on is that Ania Dover is special. She calms them. She calls to them on a basic level. And, they want her. Need her. With her leopard pushing at her, recognizing Mitya’s leopard, a sort of dance begins. Sometimes volatile. Always erotic.
Leopards embody passion and when that explodes within the confines of a human body, that passion owns them.

Leopard's Wrath is out now!

Let me know what you love about shapeshifter books. Which of mine are your favorite? Who else writes good shapeshifter books?