Guest post: Toby Stone’s writing playlist

Photo courtesy of Hic Dragones
Photo courtesy of Hic Dragones

Today we have a guest post from author Toby Stone, whose debut novel, Aimee and the Bear, has been praised as “as unique and astonishing as it is chilling” and “enchanting.”

In the novel, Aimee is an eight-year-old girl who escapes her mother’s cruelty by fleeing to the “Other Place.” There, her teddy bear becomes a real bear and children get away from troubles at home by attending the Night School. But when a witch awakens, the Other Place is endangered, and so is Aimee’s younger brother.

Werewolf Wednesday: Rhiannon Held on the modern werewolf

It’s my pleasure today to host urban fantasy author Rhiannon Held, writer of werewolf novels Silver (2011) and its sequel Tarnished, which is out now. I asked her about a possible writing soundtrack, but also about what she thought of the werewolf’s place in culture today. As befits a writer whose werewolves’ social dynamics are rich and complex, she had some fascinating thoughts to share. Take it away, Rhiannon!

Rhiannon HeldWhen David invited me to do this post, he asked for my thoughts on an interesting topic: What does the werewolf mean as a monster in today’s fiction? I don’t know the answer myself — but while we’re overrun with vampires and zombies, the werewolf seems stuck — at least in the popular consciousness — in old tropes, and doesn’t seem to have the same impact on pop culture.

I think at least part of the answer lies in an idea that I’ve held for a while: we seem to use or discard our monsters based on what kind of metaphors they’re good for. What do I mean by that? Let’s take vampires as an example. Back in history, when they were hairy-palmed ugly monsters, they seemed like more of a metaphor for the unknowable evil that jumps out at you from the dark.