by Wildlife Ecologist, Jess Taylor, FMC of We Were Meant to Be Wolves

Not all women want drama. The bruises masked as passion. Storms disguised as love.

Some of us just want a safe place to pitch a tent before the weather turns.

If you've read some of Sangay's wilderness thrillers and have a sudden desire to go camping in rough country while the sky’s turning, here’s what I’ve learned (usually the hard way):

Avoid low ground. It might feel sheltered, but water will pool there when the rain hits. Flash floods don’t care about your sleeping bag.

Don’t camp under dead limbs. “Widowmakers,” we call them. They look solid—until the wind picks up. Look up before you lie down.

Watch the tree line. That open view might be pretty, but it also means exposure. Wind rips harder across clearings. Find a break in the trees.

Stake low, tight, and angled. Your tent should hug the earth, not fight the storm. Stakes at 45 degrees, rain fly taut, guy lines anchored.

Trust your gut. If the spot feels wrong, even if it checks the boxes—move. Animals trust instinct. We should, too.

In the end I didn’t need much. Just a dry place. Warmth.
No more lies. No more danger. Just enough trust to close my eyes.

And I definitely didn’t want a man to hurt me.

I wanted someone who checks for widowmakers before me sits down beside me, like Tucker.

Wait. No. I remember now. Don't trust Tucker.

Coming the Summer

We Were Meant to Be Wolves is an eco-thriller with a supernatural twist, rooted in real-world conservation, identity, and the blurry lines between what we love and what we fear.

If you’ve ever worked in rescue or fallen in love with something untamable—you’ll feel this one in your bones.

Need a wilderness hit. Read the TWs and check out a different kind of Adirondack thriller:Ledge Pond