Recently my poor husband was put in the awkward position of explaining gargoyles to his grandmother. She has a copy of STONE COLD SEDUCTION, and it's safe to say she's never read a book in the paranormal/urban fantasy genre. EVER. Like I said, it was awkward.

I thought I should probably come up with a short tutorial on gargoyles to clear up any confusion on the topic. This information will also come in handy if you ever have a philosophical debate about supernatural creatures.

Gargoyles are made out of stone. Yes, that means everywhere and no, it doesn't limit their movement. (If that sounds impossible, let me point out that vampires are dead and somehow they don't rot.) However, they're not stone all the time. Like shifters, they can change at will. When they're emotions run high and their control slips, you might also get a glimpse of a rock hard hottie. Just don't piss them off.

Gargoyles can fly and baby, it's all about the wingspan. From a functional standpoint, their wings have to support their weight. But let's be honest, we're not interested in functional, are we? Heck no. Size matters. The bigger the wingspan, the better the gargoyle is. At protecting. Their wings are weapons and means of transportation. They might also be erogenous zones, but you'll have to find that out for yourself. Ahem.

Gargoyles aren't all ugly. Quite the opposite. Michelangelo knew if you're going to carve a form into stone, you've got to carve perfection. Need proof? Meet Jax...

Gargoyles have feelings too. This one is important. They might be made out of stone, but their emotions are real. Maybe you have one in your garden, or you've seen one peering from the eaves of a Gothic-style building. Those guys are protection their space and do they ever get credit? Nope. Whether they look like a garden ghoul or Jax, they all deserve a little love.

Gargoyles fight for the good guys. People think they're evil, but they were created to guard against evil. Independent studies have proven the hideous faces gargoyles make repel evil spirits 5 times better than the leading...er...I mean, they can be ugly because it scares the hell out of evil.

The bottom line is that gargoyles rock (pun intended). They can be ugly or sexy, but they're all protectors. The next time you see one, you should definitely give him a hug. If you're lucky, he'll show you his wings. *winks*

So go forth and hug a gargoyle. Trust me, he'll thank you.