World Building 101

Scanning through reviews (I shouldn’t, but I do), I noticed the phrase wolf-shifter used to describe Daniel, the hero of A Taste of Scarlet. I understand this is a common designation in paranormal romances that feature humans who’ve acquired the ability to shift into werewolf form.

But in the Treeland Pack storyverse, werewolves are a separate species. Pure bloods can shift to human form from birth. This may be a small distinction, but for me it’s critical to who they are–werewolves capable of appearing human. Not converted humans.

By the same token, in the Treeland world, humans can not become werewolves. Doesn’t happen. Mixed blood werewolves come from a male werewolf mating with a human woman. They may or may not be capable of shifting to wolf form. There’s no way to know until puberty. Those who never shift are latents. Of those who do eventually transition, most die.

A kind reader stopped by to explain that the term shifter refers to any paranormal creature who can phase between at least two forms--usually human and a beast of some kind. Made perfect sense to me after she explained it. :)

Fortified with this new knowledge, I now understand my wolfies are shifters, my demons aren't, but my dragons are.

When I read, exploring a new world is definitely part of the fun. Do you like to discover new realities or do you prefer your fiction set in well established worlds?