The Totem Trilogy-Speculative Fiction Author Christine Rains
Thanks so much for having me on your blog today, Juneta. And it’s a pleasure to host you on my blog. These guest post swaps are tons of fun!
I always love getting a peek into other writers’ spaces. Not only the worlds inside of their heads, but where they dwell too. Whenever I’m playing around with concepts for stories, I find that little things in my environment influence me and pull me one direction or another. It’s funny how normal these things might be and yet they spark grand tales.
When I played with the idea for a new urban fantasy series, I wanted to step away from what I normally did. The heroes wouldn’t be hunters, demons, or vampires. I chose shifters, but I didn’t want to go in the wolf direction. I also didn’t want to base it on common myths and legends. I wanted to go someplace darker and more terrifying.
Yes, that shaggy polar bear is totally scary! Okay, maybe not. That’s Baby Bear. My son got him on a trip to the Toronto Zoo over five years ago. We saw a baby polar bear there who kept trying to push down the fence. My toddler thought it was hilarious. Baby Bear has guarded his bed at night ever since. I hadn’t remembered seeing any polar bear shifters. Bear shifters, yes, but they were always men. What if my heroine was a bear shifter? That would be a cool story to write.
In the half-bath off our master bedroom, the light switch plate entertains me every time I sit down. Those three little bears had so many adventures. Hey, what if I have three heroines instead of one? Sisters. All so different, but loyal to each other.
Yes, three polar bear sisters. Of course, they couldn’t be
anywhere but the north. Siberia? I was tempted, but it should be someplace I have some knowledge about. A destination I’ve always wanted to go.
Every year, we hang an Alaska calendar in our kitchen. Both my husband and I have always wanted to travel there. The mountains, the wilderness, the beauty. I’ve been there so many times in my mind, I would live with my heroines in the Land of the Midnight Sun.
I began to think about these polar bear shifter sisters so much, I started to dream about them. I guess it did help I had polar bear pillowcases!
Finally, a picture of my cat. Just because. Well, he did 
help to inspire my lynx shifter, Ransom. Young, playful, and thinks he’s all that. He’ll give you that look which says “Yeah, you know I’m beautiful.”
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About the Author:
Christine Rains is a writer, blogger, and geek mom. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s going on adventures with her son or watching cheesy movies on SyFy Channel. She’s a proud member of Untethered Realms and S.C.I.F.I. She has one novel and several novellas and short stories published. Totem is her most ambitious project yet consisting of nine books.
It’s pretty cool to see how life influences writing. Cute bear your son has.
Thanks! I was giving away Ty beanie polar bears for giveaways earlier this year, and my son just had to have one of them. So now Baby Bear is a big brother!
I’d show you my space, but it’d take me a while to clean it up for pictures. LOL
Excellent inspiration all around you. Love the light switch.
Thank you, Elizabeth! You’ll notice I only showed very limited spaces in those pictures. Hehehe! 😉
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It’s like your subconscious was working on this story way before your conscious mind ever got to it. 😉
Totally! It makes me wonder what might come next. I’m staring at my Capt. Mal bobblehead right now!
Well, you have to include the cat too! That’s cool how the things in your house inspired you. Totem is a fantastic series! I’m looking forward to reading the next one.
Yes, Thunder refused to be left out! *LOL* Thank you, Cherie. I now need to find the time to get back to writing. =P
Love the idea of totems. I’m thinking of finding mine. Maybe that will straighten out a few questions I have.
I’ve become fascinated with them. I have a few I’d like to be mine!
Thanks again for having me here today, Juneta. This post was a lot of fun for me. 🙂
Your welcome. Thanks for having me too. I would have replied to comments on your blog but it won’t let me.
Love this post, Christine! It was so much fun to see where you got your inspiration. People always ask writers where they get their ideas. All we really ever have to do is look around, right? 🙂
Thanks, Madeline! Inspiration is all around us. I love playing what ifs with normal everyday things. 🙂
They were meant to be polar bears. And you’re right, I’ve never seen shifters who were polar bears.
They totally were! Funny thing, I had never seen polar bear shifters before I wrote this series. Now I’m seeing bear shifters a lot more. Not many polar bears, but still a lot of big fuzzy shifter men!