Last week, I got the final comments back for my 3rd Wolf’s Bane novel. I’ve made it to the middle of the romance I’ve been working on, but I’m going to take a break now, staple my fanny to my desk chair, (ouch!), and plunge into rewrites. None of the critiques were major. All of them were good, and all of them do-able, so if I work at the manuscript for a week, I’m hoping to have it done. I’m still struggling with a title. I called the book Magicks Unleashed while I worked on it because that fits the story, but there are so many urban fantasies with “Magic” in the titles that I’d like to think of something else.
I combine a lot of different supernaturals in the Wolf’s Bane books. My female protagonist is a witch who falls for a gargoyle, one of the guardians of Bay City. The gargoyles work with a pack of werewolves to protect people from supernatural rogues. In this novel, the characters feel their ages and pasts more than usual. Wedge, the alpha of the werewolf pack, grew up in Oregon, where his father was the alpha of that pack. He’s lived a long time. Not as long as Damian, the gargoyle, who was carved from alabaster and sat atop a church in Europe for ages until the city breathed life into him. Their enemy, Morpheus, was driven away by gargoyles when he practiced the black arts in Europe. Often, the longevity of their lives weighs on them. And long lives can bring lots of baggage. The two young vampires they rescue have been kept caged and mistreated since they were infants.
Writing their stories made me think about mortality, and it didn’t seem so bad. My husband was ready to retire at sixty-five. But what if you were like Methuselah and lived to be 969? Who’d want that? Okay, the alternative is dying. That’s pretty much of a downer, but things are supposed to look up after that, right? A change of scenery is good? What would it be like to be a witch, like Reece or Hecate, and live one lifetime after another?
I found one of my favorite quotes on Jonathan Cainer’s horoscope site. It’s from a top business expert, Stephen Covey. “We are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey.” My mind can’t wrap itself around immortality, but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t want it here on Earth, as it is now, century after century, even if I didn’t age. I think I’d get tired, emotionally weary. But supernaturals persevere. And good ones, like my protagonists, find meaning in life by protecting mortals who are too weak to protect themselves. If nothing else, that makes for great stories:)
Judi Lynn 
I think young people would chose to live forever. time gives us perspective and wisdom to recognize our brief life span is a gift and not to be squandered. As for me, I’ll enjoy immortality through your wonderful supernatural characters!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The young people I’ve met think they ARE immortal–impervious to disaster–a wonderful feeling while it lasts. I enjoy reading about immortals, too:) I can live vicariously through them. Aren’t faes immortal? Your protagonist in SUMMONED?
LikeLike
I must admit, I’ve always fancied being immortal.
On another note, re your second sentence, fanny has a slightly different meaning here in the UK… 😉 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Uh-oh, I bet your meaning is naughty:) I can picture you as an immortal. Do they have concerts on Mount Olympus?
LikeLike
I would live forever… then I could watch the world and its people change (whether to evil or good!)
LikeLike
I vote for good! I think we’re evolving, but at a REALLY slow pace.
LikeLike
There’s a bit of controversy around that quotation, which derives from another: “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” Both Wayne Dyer and Stephen Covey attribute the original to Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, the controversial Jesuit priest and scientist. (Yes, I’m a theology nerd.) I do think it would be amusing to substitute “werewolf,” “vampire,” or “gargoyle” for “human.” Which I guess is what a story of this nature does, yes?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Theology nerds are always interesting. Deep thinkers. And part of the reason I love writing urban fantasy is because supernaturals are MORE than human, but not true immortals. I think that gives them intriguing challenges.
LikeLike
This reminds me of the song from Porgy and Bess, the line in It Ain’t Nessicarily So, when Sportin’ Life sings sbout Methuselah living 900 years: “but who calls that livin’ when no gal will give in to no man what is 900 years.” And therein ends the lesson.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just noticied the spelling error…what comes with only 3 hours of sleep.
LikeLike
I can’t function on 3 hours of sleep. At least you could think in sentences:)
LikeLike