A Plethora of Paranormals - The Science (or Magic) of Shapeshifting

There are a lot of paranormal romances out there. A LOT. And I love to read the genre as much as I enjoy writing it. And I also think it would be safe to say that a large majority feature shapeshifters.

Not too long ago, most, if not all, shapeshifters were of the wolf variety. Since then I've seen bear, feline, and even dolphin and shark. I myself have written shifters that were elephants, alligators, Newfoundlands (a "big-ass" dog), coyotes, wolf (Lupan), bear, red deer, ball python, and now a bald eagle. And in every case, I can envision how these big hulking men can morph their bodies into those forms.

But then there are those forms which leave me scratching my head. Duck shifter? Hedgehog shifter? Tarantula shifter? The vision of a man squeezing himself into that teeny-tiny form leaves me in stitches. I  can see a guy or girl becoming something that's relatively equal in size and weight to their human bodies, but to shrink into a form that can be held in the palm of a hand is perplexing. Science can "explain" the former, but wouldn't it take magic to perform the latter?

What unusual shapeshifters have you run across? I'd love to hear some recommendations!

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New!

PREDATOR OF THE PINES
Subwoofers, Book 4
Contemporary Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
by Linda Mooney
Word Count: 33.3K
$2.99 e (and coming soon to print and audio book!)

Alligator, Bear, Cougar, Deer, Eagle
They found each other by accident.
They became a team for life.

While preparing for a hurricane that’s heading straight for the Bag It and Tag It lodge, William “Brew” Estes makes a last-minute run to the market to grab supplies. While there, he heads off a robbery and saves the day…all in a day’s work for the former Marine.

Celeste Hart is exactly where she never wanted to be. When the robbery goes wrong, she knows this could be her only chance to get away. She runs, despite the storm that’s on the way, knowing that if they catch her again, they could break her this time.

The moment Brew laid eyes on the blonde, he knew something was up. Later, when he sees her walking down the road, he can’t leave her without cover, so he offers her a place to stay, if only through the storm. But neither can deny the connection they feel for one another.

When the truth comes out, will Brew and his partners turn her in to the police for her part in the robbery? Or will they help her escape the grasps of her stepbrother and his cronies?

Warning! Contains culinary skills, knowledge of firearms, driving wind and rain, a $5 bet, unbelievably tender kisses, a color brochure, love by candlelight, and a struggle to protect the woman who was becoming more precious to him than his own life.  

Excerpt and buy links.