What Inspired The Vallesm?
Writing the Mortiswood Tales books is a great lot of fun...making up magical realms, and creating a mix of evil and good creatures including Dybbuk demons, undead Draugar, and Vallesm. Although I adore all of my characters in their own way, I do have one clear favourite. Which is it? The Vallesm!
I’m always interested in watching any fantasy film with wolves in it, and of course, reading books which feature wolves. If I visit a zoo I’m always super excited if there are wolves there, and can’t resist snapping lots of pictures if I’m lucky enough to lay eyes on them when they emerge from the undergrowth of their enclosures. I’ve not been fortunate to encounter a wolf in the wild—as some studies believe the last recorded wild, English wolves in the British Isles were eradicated way, way back in 1760 I don’t stand much chance of seeing any here either!—but I do have the next best thing. Well, I think it is!
I’m always interested in watching any fantasy film with wolves in it, and of course, reading books which feature wolves. If I visit a zoo I’m always super excited if there are wolves there, and can’t resist snapping lots of pictures if I’m lucky enough to lay eyes on them when they emerge from the undergrowth of their enclosures. I’ve not been fortunate to encounter a wolf in the wild—as some studies believe the last recorded wild, English wolves in the British Isles were eradicated way, way back in 1760 I don’t stand much chance of seeing any here either!—but I do have the next best thing. Well, I think it is!
So, not being able to have an actual wolf as a pet, I have a Siberian husky instead. He is, of course, the inspiration behind the Vallesm. I found having him really helped bring the Vallesm to life as I wrote it, as I knew exactly how my pet pooch would move, look, and behave. Of course my dog is not completely like a wolf but he isn’t exactly completely unlike a wolf. From the way he looks over his withers at me, the way his amber eyes narrow when he seems to be studying something, and to how soft and thick his fur feels, he is, in most parts, my Vallesm!
About The Book
Mortiswood: Kaelia Falling is the second book in the Mortiswood Tales series...
Losing those she loves and learning she’s The Chosen One catapulted Kaelia’s life into the fast lane. Having battled Dybbuk demons, discovered an unexpected ally in the form of a Vallesm, and ventured through Niflheim, her adventure is far from over.
Determined to fulfil her destiny as the one who will destroy The Salloki, Kaelia still has many obstacles to overcome. As secrets rise to the surface and Kaelia’s powers continue to evolve, she is not the only one fighting a battle...
Can Calix find a Rosealrium bloom in time to stop Cadence’s transformation? What exactly is the truth behind Bran’s connection to the goddess Hel? And will Kaelia finally uncover what happened to her mother?
One thing is certain, Kaelia is not the only one who is evolving...
Losing those she loves and learning she’s The Chosen One catapulted Kaelia’s life into the fast lane. Having battled Dybbuk demons, discovered an unexpected ally in the form of a Vallesm, and ventured through Niflheim, her adventure is far from over.
Determined to fulfil her destiny as the one who will destroy The Salloki, Kaelia still has many obstacles to overcome. As secrets rise to the surface and Kaelia’s powers continue to evolve, she is not the only one fighting a battle...
Can Calix find a Rosealrium bloom in time to stop Cadence’s transformation? What exactly is the truth behind Bran’s connection to the goddess Hel? And will Kaelia finally uncover what happened to her mother?
One thing is certain, Kaelia is not the only one who is evolving...
Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Goodreads | Smashwords
About Gina
Gina Dickerson lives by the Thanet coast on the north-eastern tip of Kent, in the UK, with her family and playful Siberian husky. She is a full-time author and writes romantic suspense with a twist, horror, and fantasy because her characters refuse to play nice and wind up with more than a few bone-rattling skeletons in their closets.
She is the author of the magical fairy tale The Pennington Christmas Curse, published by Limitless Publishing, the murderous romantic suspense novel Unveiling Christmas, the twisted short story collection, Underleaf, as well as the fantasy, adventurous romance series Mortiswood Tales. She has also written fashion and shopping columns for a local newspaper, and had poems and short stories published in collections.
When she’s not writing, Gina loves rummaging in vintage clothes shops, taking way too many photographs, and leafing through fashion glossies.
She is the author of the magical fairy tale The Pennington Christmas Curse, published by Limitless Publishing, the murderous romantic suspense novel Unveiling Christmas, the twisted short story collection, Underleaf, as well as the fantasy, adventurous romance series Mortiswood Tales. She has also written fashion and shopping columns for a local newspaper, and had poems and short stories published in collections.
When she’s not writing, Gina loves rummaging in vintage clothes shops, taking way too many photographs, and leafing through fashion glossies.
