š Who needs Groundhogs?
It's a rodent, people. Not a meteorologist.
Six more weeks of winter? I donāt need a groundhog to tell me that. The 1+ weeks of sub-zero temperatures, a foot of snow, and tons of shoveling convinced me without any fanfare. Groundhogs are part of the sciuridae family (theyāre closely related to squirrels, prairie dogs, and chipmunks). That means weāre basing our long range forecast on Chip & Daleās cousin Phil. Thatās okay because itās ātraditionā but the same people who believe in the groundhogās ability to predict weather laugh when I tell them I write romance about aliens and wolf shifters. Go figure!
If Iām going to rely on a furry creature, it will be my German Shepherd. I talk about Elsa a lot because sheās my constant companion throughout the day and night. GSDs are personal shadows, never leaving their alpha alone. And yes, some of my insight into wolf behavior in my first paranormal books (Broken Shifters series) were based on my last shepherd, Hailey. When I started writing alien romance and thought a pet dog would be a nice addition to the heroās farm in Alien Wanted, I knew I couldnāt simply plop a German shepherd into the story. After all, alien planets demand their own unique life forms. Thatās when I developed the idea of a skoth, a breed which appears in a few stories, including my upcoming book, Stuffed by the Alien. Like a German shepherd, the skoth protects the family and home, has its own quirky nature, and is an undeniable source of love. But thatās where the similarities to GSDs end. A skoth is ugly and dangerous (six legs, droopy eyes, furless, claws, quills running down its neck), but readers quickly learn that you can't judge an animal by its appearanceāmuch like people.š
By the way, this is Elsa eating snow (apparently we donāt feed her enough⦠just joking!). My 5-year-old pup is crazy about the snow and doesnāt understand why I donāt want to play when itās -10 degrees. Keep in mind, sheās the one with the fur coat. I have a polyester coat that gapes at the bottom allowing every gust of wind in.
You might think that more time inside the house for me would give me more time to write. Just the contrary. I can focus on my writing when thereās no snout pushing up on my arm or paw pounding my keyboard. In other words, my routine is if I plan to write, tire Elsa out first. Exercising her inside with training, playing āfind itā, tug, and indoor soccer just doesnāt do the trick.
Yes, Iām looking forward to spring (or temps above 20 degrees, Iām not picky). For those of you āstuckā indoors, I hope youāre reading some heart warming books (under a cozy blanket, of course). There are a bunch of promos below. And if I get myself in gear (and Elsa gives me the time I need), Iāll make another post within the week for some Valentineās Deals on a few of my books.
Have a great week!
Julie










Love this take on Groundhog Day! The skoth concept is genius becasue it captures what makes dogs special while honoring alien worldbuilding. I had a shepherd mix years back and teh constant companionship thing is so real. They're literally shadows with fur.