Behind the Scenes: Killer in Wolf’s Clothing – A Sizzling Paranormal Gay
Romance
By
Kelli A. Wilkins
This “Behind the Scenes” blog is part of a series examining my
romance novels. In each blog, I’ll talk about why I wrote the book, share my
thoughts on the plot and/or characters, and reveal what I loved most (or least)
about writing the book. Warning: Blogs may contain spoilers.
Hi
everyone!
Today
I’m showcasing my incredibly unique gay romance, Killer in Wolf’s Clothing. It’s a blend of mystery, danger,
super-hot erotica, and romance… with an unusual paranormal twist.
To make
things a little easier to understand, here’s the book summary…
Killer
in Wolf’s Clothing
A super aggressive
Alpha male, a serial killer, and a visit to a kinky sex club… What has Larry
gotten himself into?
When Larry learns that his boyfriend Greg
changes into another man during the full moon, he has a hard time accepting
it—until he meets Deke, Greg’s alternate Alpha personality.
Deke doesn’t play nice and has no time for
games. He only wants two things—to get laid and to get revenge against the
arsonist who murdered his friends. Finally free from Greg’s restraints, Deke is
ready for action, and Larry is more than willing to submit to Deke’s needs.
Together, Larry and Deke set out to find
the killer. Their hunt takes them to an all-night Alpha sex club where things
heat up for the two of them. But when Larry unwittingly falls into the clutches
of the murderer, it’s up to Deke—and Greg—to save him before it’s too
late.
***
I wrote Killer in Wolf’s Clothing several years ago when Amber Quill Press was looking for
werewolf/shapeshifter stories. This novella is a hybrid of both subgenres.
It’s a “werewolf” story in the sense that Greg was bitten
by someone and transforms during the full moon—but he doesn’t become a
traditional werewolf with pointed ears, fur, and a tail. He shapeshifts into an
Alpha male named Deke.
The book is an interesting character study. I wrote three
very different male heroes/leads, and intentionally made Deke and Greg polar
opposites. Larry is caught in the middle and likes things about both of them.
Deke is 100% human, but embodies lots of animalistic
traits: he’s gruff, territorial, and says all he wants to do is eat and have
sex. His transformation is more Incredible
Hulk than American Werewolf in London.
Personality-wise, Deke is the opposite, or shadow side,
of Greg: he’s domineering, rude, wild in the bedroom, aggressive, and doesn’t
care about anyone but himself. He’s all Alpha. But deep down, Deke is a
sympathetic character who wants to do the right thing. He feels responsible for
the deaths of his friends. He has a good heart under his rough exterior.
Deke and Larry have an interesting relationship. Larry is
drawn to Deke’s sexy body and aggressive sexual appetite. He wonders if he’s
cheating on Greg when he’s with Deke, but Deke assures him he’s not.
Greg is struggling with the fact that each month he turns
into Deke, and he’s not happy about it. He doesn’t trust Deke, so he chains him
up each month during the full moon. As you can imagine, Deke hates Greg for
denying him a life.
Although the book is a paranormal romance
involving a serial killer, I knew I had to balance the dark subject matter with
a light tone; otherwise the story would get too heavy. (After all, this is a
romance!) So I decided to have a little fun with the story and the
characters.
That’s where Larry comes in.
When Greg tells Larry he turns into another person, Larry doesn’t believe him. (After
all, who would?) They have a few humorous exchanges, and Larry doesn’t take any
of this seriously, until he sees a video of Greg transforming into Deke.
I added in dashes of humor via Larry’s interactions with Deke
to offset the drama and danger Larry and Deke get into as they track the
killer. Larry has a sarcastic wit that breaks up the tension—and drives Deke
crazy.
Things get hairy (pun intended!) for them at the end of
the book, and it looks bleak for all three heroes. But I’m happy to say the epilogue
ties up all the loose ends nicely.
Some readers/reviews didn’t get the humor, or were
annoyed this wasn’t a “traditional” werewolf book. Well, that’s on them. Right
from the start, the reader is drawn into a wacky world of paranormal fantasy.
A few unkind reviewers didn’t even read the whole book
before slamming it. But others got the humor and had this to say:
“4 stars! Killer in
Wolf's Clothing offers a different and very creative take on
werewolves. I loved the whole concept. Two very different people sharing a body
that changes too. Hot, sexy, and a little kinky, this one tells a very engaging
story. Larry and Greg are great as a couple but Larry and Deke really
smolder. The transformation of Greg into Deke is detailed and the whole idea just
pulls you in. Add a crazy serial killer and a werewolf sex club to the mix and
you a wild ride. Great fun!” - Emma, Night Owl Reviews
"Killer in Wolf’s
Clothing was a delight to read. Deke is so different from Greg in
his sexual needs and desires. Larry enjoyed both men for different
reasons. Then trouble brewed and they all had to work together. Kelli
A. Wilkins has penned a tale that will heat your blood and increase your heart
rate as you become immersed in the hot love scenes and the terror of
the murderer. Killer in Wolf’s Clothing shows that you
never know who your neighbor is." - Sensual Reads
“4 stars! Killer in
Wolf's Clothing is a quick fun read that will hook you from the
beginning. A bit different than I'm used to regarding werewolves, but I totally
enjoyed the book. Recommended for all who like the horror genre with a twist of
fun.” - Susan, Sweet-n-Sassi.blogspot
I had a lot of fun writing this story, and
went out of my way to make it outrageous at times. Did it work? I think so. It’s
very different from all the other romances I’ve written (gay or straight), and
it’s my only book that mentions the Christmas season. (That’s why I saved this
blog for December.)
I hope you
enjoy reading this very unusual romance. I loved creating these quirky
characters while offering a unique look at the werewolf legend.
Order
Killer in Wolf’s Clothing here:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G3V9VWW
All other platforms: https://www.books2read.com/u/mYRB6x
Be sure to follow my blog for the latest
updates and visit me on social media. You can read more “Behind the Scenes”
blogs here: www.KelliWilkins.com/blog
I also made a
Facebook page for my gay romances: https://www.facebook.com/GayRomancesbyKelliAWilkins/
Happy Holidays!
Kelli A. Wilkins
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has
published more than 100 short stories, 20+ romance novels, 7 non-fiction books,
and 5 horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes
to scare readers with her horror stories.
Her latest novel, In Another World, was
published in 2022. This contemporary mystery/romance is set
in the world of the paranormal.
She released two horror shorts, More
Than I Bargained For and Silent Sentinel in 2021.
Like to write? Check out Journaling Every Week: 52 Topics
to Get You Writing. This fun and innovative guide to
journaling is filled with hundreds of thought-provoking prompts designed to get
you writing about your feelings and emotions.
Follow Kelli on her Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins and visit her
website/blog www.KelliWilkins.com for a full title list and social media links.
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