Character Q&A – Coffee With Taryn Coleman

Suzanne Wright was really sweet and she gave me the contact info for Taryn Coleman from Feral Sins fame and after some phone tag we connected and she invited me to come and see what wolf pack territory is really like. Let me tell you… when your momma tells you that there are wild men out there she hasn’t even begun to dream up the males I met while visiting her neck of the woods. I can’t tell you just where I was because I gave my word over a few martinis and promises made over cocktails can never be broken but I will give you a little snapshot of my final coffee convo. It’s not like we kissed so I can totally tell!

I’m so very excited to be visiting the area. I wasn’t sure what to even imagine when you invited me here, Taryn, but this place is incredible. Oh, and thanks for mentioning Ladies Night at Pulse. I don’t know exactly what it was that I danced with but he had more of everything than any human male I had ever dated before. All I can say is woah. Super duper woah.

I’m a little confused about the vibe around here for the holidays. I can’t put my finger on it but there seems to be something a bit different between human and shifter Christmas cheer. Why is that?

I think it’s because preternatural beings are much more open and accepting of anything ‘magical’. Most humans tend to be negative and skeptical, so they don’t always let the Christmas spirit take them over. Then again, neither do some shifters – like my father and Greta, for instance. It takes a lot to make those two crack a smile.

When I was growing up we had certain traditions and when my grandparents passed away they fell away as well. Are there specific pack traditions that carry over when mates into one pack from another? Are you and Trey going to be starting any new traditions with your new family?

I’m not really sure about other packs, but I’d imagine they each have their own traditions. As Trey’s not really one for celebrating anything and his parents weren’t the type to have traditions, the pack has never really celebrated the holidays before I came here. The only tradition they had was that Dominic liked to watch The Grinch every Christmas Eve. So we kind of made it up as we went along, being sure to set up and decorate a Christmas tree on the first day of December. I put Lydia and Grace in charge of the other decorations. They went a little overboard and the caves look like a freaking winter wonderland, but Kye loves it. It’s irritating the shit out of Trey, though. He’s way too serious.

I was here at the cafe yesterday morning and I couldn’t help but overhear some of the males talking about buying gifts for their mates. It sounded as if it was quite common to buy rather expensive, grand gesture presents. Is this one of those shifter specific traits or just something familiar to this region? You, know–keeping up with the Joneses thing.

I wouldn’t say it’s common. It’s all about the individual. It’s simply about what a shifter feels will make their mate happy. If their mate is happy with shiny, expensive things, then they’ll most likely get it because we’re spoiled by our mates. On the other hand, there are people like Grace and Rhett who like to make each other stuff.

And what about female mates and grand gesture gifts? Do you buy big gifts or do big things? No pun intended of course.

Trey scowls at even the idea of receiving a gift, so it’s difficult to buy him things. Plus, he’s someone who’s happy with the simple things in life. It’s not often he’ll say he wants something. I just get him what I think he won’t scowl too deeply at. That’s a challenge in itself.

When we, as humans, have big holiday gatherings we’re cheap as hell. When I was a kid and we had family Christmas with our extended family things were really rough and we got lots of underwear and socks. Do packs buy gifts for each and every member individually or do you do white elephant exchanges? I can’t imagine what you could have got for Greta. Gimme a hint! Is she too old to get something that vibrates?

We all buy each other a little something. Mostly, though, if the gift doesn’t come from a mate or a close relative, it won’t be an intimate gift – a shifter would consider that a little like trespassing. Instead, we get novelty or gag gifts. I bought Greta wrinkle cream and the Love Dice Game – the prude will most likely shriek. I’m looking forward to it.

Other than Greta was there anyone you had a hard time buying a present for? I can never seem to figure out what to buy for my father-in-law. I actually think I have forgotten him for the last three or four years. Taryn, who did you want to forget?

The only person who is more difficult to buy for than Trey is Ryan. The guy is mostly mute and likes to communicate through grunts, so it’s hard to guess what he likes and dislikes. Because he reads a lot and moves like a ninja, I bought him katana bookends.

Oh! I know a good question! Who dresses up as Santa at the caves? Please tell me it’s Tao. Good god would he by an ironical jolly old St. Nick. Or do wolves have someone that dresses up like Romulus and Remus to deliver gifts? If they don’t, maybe they should.

Actually, having someone dress as Santa wasn’t something the pack did. But of course, they do now because I’m here, I’m bossy, and they wanted to help Kye celebrate his first Christmas. It was literally a case of whoever drew the short straw and, ironically enough, it was in fact Tao. He certainly wasn’t jolly about it, though.

I know you have to be getting back to Trey and the pack. It was so nice of you to meet me here at the cafe for a bite to eat. It’s a little less overwhelming in this place with the Phoenix Alpha female sitting with me–and your entourage. Do you always have body guards with you everywhere you go?

Yup. I wasn’t too happy about it at first – I can look after myself so it pricked my pride a little. But when I became pregnant with Kye, it made sense to have extra protection. Both Kye and I are guarded vigilantly now, but that’s pretty common for Alphas and their offspring and it keeps Trey from hyperventilating.

Thanks again. I really loved it here. Maybe I’ll get to come back for another visit. Next time you can find a nice, unattached man-imal to play tour guide for me while I’m here. I like them tall, dark and dirty–if you don’t mind me putting in my order now. Please stay safe. I wish you and your family a the happiest of holidays, Taryn! May you have the biggest present under the tree.

Also by Suzanne Wright: